Places, Everyone!

The first time I recall seeing this place was in a movie.  Any guesses as to which movie?

This came to me after sending a request to a fellow mail blogger.
Can you send me a postcard?

Imagine painting all that lattice work!!!

Have a nice day!

P.S.

I made it on this blog!

Can You Send Me A Postcard

Scrap the Original and Use Scraps for a New

New what?

I have been working on two different lines of postcards.  Both are purely digital.  I was trying my hand at making digital products and software that I was/am not familiar with.  (I think that is a dangling particple???)

Today, I started a new line that seems to be a better fit.  I'm starting out with an actual physical card and using scrapbook paper, stamps, and other ephemera.  I am thinking that I am much more comfortable with working with the "real" stuff.  Hopefully, these turn out better.  (Live and learn, right?)

Here's a sneak peak:

ThE wRiTiNg On ThE wAlL

I recently partcicipated in a Swap-bot postcard swap that was different and fun.  We were to take a picture of some graffiti and turn it into a postcard, then send a copy to four partners.  I really enjoyed this swap and would love to do another one.

 This one was my contribution.  I found it on the side of a building in Meridian while I was attending the Dairy Days parade.  I have another photo I'm saving for future swaps!

Swap info:  Graffiti Postcard swap hosted by Kankalin.

The Beginnings of the Art Journal

The first part of the art journal is to be an introduction of myself.  Since my journal is small, I am going to make use of every possible surface; including the front and back covers.

To begin, I used a  brown craft paper envelope that has been collecting dust in my stash.  I decorated it with some stamps, a real French stamp, and a page out of some french book (gift from a swap buddy).  Inside the envelope will be a card made from an old divider page from a binder.  The paper is old handwriting paper that I stumbled upon at a garage sale last year.  The suitcases are ripped from (I believe) Victorian magazine that was free for the taking at our local library.  And I tried my hand at using a stamp pad of black ink to color the edges.

This is not the finished product.  I will be writing a brief introduction on the school paper.  The journal title will be on the little red frame that you see on the brown envelope; which will eventually be attached to the front of the green plaid journal.

The next entry I'm going to work on is titled, "Five Things I Can't Live Without."  What's on your list?

Free Books!

Great contest going on with the possibility of winning 10 FREE books!!!  Check it out:

 bookshoptalk.com

Art Journal for Beginners

I am participating in a swap where we are to each create an art journal.  Find Swap-bot description here.  There are choices of prompts in the description of the swap and we are to come up with some prompts of our own.  I have found a little blank book I got somewhere years ago (free, of course).  This morning's task has been to assemble some thingy's (technical term) for the "getting to know me" page.  Many thanks to awesome swap buddies & all the nifties they have sent me!

This is a whole new thing for me.  I've journaled forever, but inserting art never crossed my mind.  I am excited to stretch my imagination and my skills.  (Or gain some!)

To see the progress of the creator of this swap, check out her blog here.
Scroll down to see her memories ATC with the strawberries:  I was the recipiant!!!  I feel totally famous!!!

Thanks so much for visiting.  I appreciate all who stop by and inspire me to keep blogging!  You've made my day!!!

My Pen Pal History

When I was 6 my family moved from the Dayton, Ohio area to the north of Dayton, Ohio area.  I had one best friend and she and I were determined to keep in touch.  Which we did.  We have kept in touch for about 37 years!  Neither of us writes all the time, but we continue to touch base and send Christmas cards.

In middle-school, I somehow managed to get a pen pal who lived in Manchester Endland.  She wrote to me for a few years and even sent me souvenirs from the Royal Wedding.  (Charles & Diane)  Eventually, this gal stopped writing.

As I got older and began having friends who were going off on adventures around the globe, I started to get more international mail.  And when I crossed the U.S. I began writing letters to everyone I knew & especially those who would write back!!!  My mom and her sister (Bonnie) sent me awesome care packages.  I began writing back on anything I could find (candy bar wrappers, scrap paper, whatever).

My letters became even more fun when I had a very creative pen pal (a boy!!!) who had a great sense of humor.  One of my letters to him included a photo from the outside of my house of my bedroom window.  I had added some doodles and a detailed escape plan.  (I was home & bored to death for the summer.)

I was in heaven the year and a half that I lived in France.  A) because it was France  B) they have the coolest stationery stores C) again, France!!!  I was able to send home all kinds of crazy stuff; mostly to my family and I was getting letters from other friends who were stationed around the globe.  At this time, I also began using cassette tapes to record messages from all the great people I got to know and of all the sounds of France.

As I've gotten older, the internet, cell phones, kids have changed the amount of mail that has come my way.  I still adore mail and had a hard time not hearing back from folks.  (Not my folks; my mother has been my one faithful penpal ever since I flew the coup!)

What joy it was to discover that I was not alone!!!  After moving from Ohio I was quite lonely for mail and somehow managed to find Swap-bot, Postcrossing, and Walltype*.  I was hooked instantly.  The only thing holding me back was postage!  (or money; which is required to buy postage)

A couple of years ago some friends talked me into blogging.  I have nothing interesting to blog about.  After moving & finding others who love stationery, magnets, mailart, etc., I just started sharing my mail "adventures."  I'm sure very few friends even reads my posts.  Oh well.  But I've made another discovery:  other people blog about their mail.  Can life get any better???!!!  Now, if only I could find a way to pay for my new habit!!!

Mystery Postcard

This came in the mail a few weeks ago.  I have no idea from whom or why.

Or what!

Thanks anyway, Arkansas!

New Postcard Design

Instead of just buying, mailing, and collecting postcards, I have taken a jump to creating them.  My premier card features a photograph taken by my charming husband.  It is actually a photo of something silly that the boys made and it just happened to look cool by accident!  Can anyone guess what it is???

It has taken me forever to get it to be acceptable.  I'm new at using Pages by Mac instead of Microsoft Windows.  I do wish I had some fantastic photo editing software, but as my friend Wayne always used to say, "It is what it is."

Also, I have created a facebook page just for STUFFellaneous updates.  Not sure why, but everyone seems to be doing it, so I figured what the heck!  (Which is quite unusual for me!)  Who know.  It may all be for naught.  (Fingers crossed!)

A Break

Today, instead of spending my evening writing letters, creating zines, or some mailart, I played powder puff football with some new gal pals for the Star Parks & Rec.  It was fun!!!  And my team won!  Quite an enjoyable FHE!

Stamp it Up!

Vanilla Thrilla

Mail Art:

This lovely is from a new pen pal.

Homemade postcard tailored to my Effel Tower & Hello Kitty loves.

An inside-out envelope.