YOU'VE GOT MAIL..ART! (FALL THEMED)

I'm busily working my way through a pad of K&Co fall themed paper that I bought last year.  Pumpkins, apples, gourds and mums..all just around the corner!

I'm using many of the tips and techniques offered by Roben-Marie Smith in this class and beginning to feel that I am building up a solid base for myself in this new venture.  My vintage photo of a young boy in overalls and holding a rake is the perfect finishing touch, I'm tickled to share him this way.  I have enclosed him in a glassine envelope so that his image can be reused by the recipients.

I used large expandable mailers for the larger two, creating a divided storage file the recipient could use. After doing four, I used those scraps to do a block/quilt look on the 5th one.  That makes me feel clever, reducing the scraps as I go.

Thanks for having a look!

YOU'VE GOT MAIL...ART

One of the modules in Roben-Marie Smith's workshop "You've Got Mail....Art" is about creating mail art using a catalogue as the base.  Truthfully the idea didn't grab me but I had some garden catalogues and thought I would give it a go.  I really like the result!

The base or substrate is a Vesey Fall Bulbs catalogue, I have used white gesso, a Hero Arts paint dauber in Neon Yellow, fine black and pink Montana Acrylic markers and created the mailing labels with underpapers from another project.  I also created a large tag to write on when I send this piece off.  I will fill the envelope when I know who it is going to and stitch around the sides of both the envelope and tag.

YOU'VE GOT MAIL ART

This is a workshop offered by Roben-Marie Smith at Every Life Has A Story.

This piece is created from a plain gift bag and has been folded and covered so that the recipient can unfold and use the gift bag.  Clever!  I adore the "reuseability".


Folded, sealed and ready to be covered and addressed.

The altered gift bag.  The handles are folded down to be enclosed in the final steps.  This is a scan so you don't see the dimension.

CREATE IT, MAIL IT, ALTER IT

I'm still head over heels for creating a stash of mail art!  The "Create It, Mail It, Alter It" workshop from the artists at "Art to the 5th" are so talented!  I am finding the creation of mail art pieces is a productive and useful way of learning new techniques to use in my art journaling.  This is stretching me in ways that I never thought I would be interested in.

A second take for me on Lorraine Bell's project from the workshop, created from a piece left over from the first one.  Gotta love that!

My take on Roben-Marie Smith's project.  Back actually.

Front.  I will wrap this in clear covering and address that as I didn't want to cover anything up.  The piece on the end is a small envelope that has been added and does open to a small compartment.

MIXED MEDIA FILE FOLDER/MAIL ART

Inspired by Lizzy Wurmann's tutorial "Mixed Media File Folder - Scraps of Darkness" which you can find on Youtube.

I'm lovin' the bright cheery summerness of this one!  I pulled the file folder, scrapbook paper for the scalloped border, stencils, stamps, ink, paint, gold and black pens and washi tape out of my stash...that felt so great!  See what I can do with this stuff I collect/store/hoard LOL

My plan at the moment is to use this folder for storing the mixed media sticker labels I have done following Leike Michelow's label tutorial which you can also find on Youtube.   That is one of my labels in the envelope window.

SCALLOPED FLAP MAIL ART

I know that I will discover my own style of creating mail art but in the meantime I am having some wonderful creative time following along with some "masters of mail art".  This piece was created by following Roben-Marie Smith's tutorial "Scalloped Flap Mail Art".

and the back!

So out of the box for me but I can hardly wait to put it into the "mailbox" and surprise someone!

HEART THEMED MAIL ART

Another piece of mail art to add to my stash!  Here I applied Christine's techniques and theme to create my own heart themed mail art.  Don't be afraid to take what you learn in one project and make it your own. I encourage you to check out her class "Hearts and Family Canvas".  Incredible opportunity to add to your technique tool box for $6!

and the back

MAIL ART

Having so much fun playing with new ideas from the 4 incredibly talented mixed media artists who put together the "Create It, Mail It, Alter It" workshop!

My 2nd piece in an underwater theme from Lorraine Bell's module.  LOVE it!

I mailed both pieces today, my "postmistress" hand stamped and enjoyed!

MAIL ART

I am often amazed when I think about the paths I have taken and crossed in my art journey and where they have led.  And the friends I have met!  Journey is a bit of a buzz word in our community but it "oh so fits".  In the new year I was looking to change things up and joined Christy Tomlinson's "The Art Society".  Christy had  set up a Facebook group for the members, from there a swap group started.  Most of the swap group members were also members of the "Documented Life Project" facilitated by the "Art to the 5th" group which also had a Facebook group.  In that group I found a Mail Art swap group.  Now I am spending a good deal of my art time on a completely different path.   The latest leg of this journey is the course "Create It, Mail It, Alter It" offered by "Art to the 5th".

The front of my first piece from Sandi Keene's module in the workshop

and the back

I'm sending this one off to a crafty friend here in Victoria, I am anxious to hear what condition it might arrive in.  Thanks for having a look.

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS ATC SWAP - BLISS ANGELS

My 12 ATCs arrived today!  In a fun decorated with the swap theme envelope, which held a sweet decorated box, which held a delightful decorated folded book which held all of the 12 ATCs!  Our Swap hostess Wendy Aspinall is such a sweetheart and went to such great lengths to make this swap even more special.  Click on the title of this post to go to her blog "Bliss Angels".

MAIL ART FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM

One of the discussion groups I have participated in at Pages In Time is the Mail Art Group.  We use the envelope and postal system to create art.  I received this earlier this week.  Absolutely lovely!  What a delight and it arrived in perfect condition.  This is from Bevely Heath of Stoke-On-Trent.

Front and back with a set of golden butterlies enclosed!  Thank you again Bevely!

HALLOWEEN MAIL ART

At Pages In Time I am participating in my first Mail Art Swap - what fun!  The rules at Canada Post have just changed - any decorated envelope etc going out of the country is considered a parcel so do check with them if you are wanting to do something.

There are 6 swappers so I will get Mail Art back from 5 others.  This is an example of what I have generally done.  I have used Distress Inks and Archival Ink.  I created a mask for the center and sponged Black Soot and Chipped Sapphire around the edges.

The fence is a punch by Martha Stewart - I have either adhered the fence on the envelope or used it as a stencil.  This witch and the bats are also MS punches - on some I have used a flying witch stamp.  The moon is another mask that I have used several of the yellow/orange Distress Inks on.  (Thanks Marilyn for the punches!)

I have used a Quickie Glue Pen to write the name and address of the recipient in and covered that with micro fine orange glitter.  The return address I have used a silvery glitter pen.

Here is my brilliant idea (yes, I checked with Canada Post) - at this point I cover the entire envelope front with clear cellophane packing tape and trim the sides with a kraft knife.  Then I turn the envelope over and re-write the sender/receiver addresses using the back as the front.  This is where the postage, customs form etc will also be.  This way the recipient gets their mail art without having all of that covering it up.  It will be brilliant if the recipients think so!

Part of the adventure of Mail Art is seeing how it survives the postal system.  I think that used to be simpler.  So is this not in the true spirit or is it adapting to change?   There is likely debate on that..