You Will Not Believe This Book!

I was not sure how to title this.  I have recieved many wonderful things in the mail over the last year, but the book I am about to reveal was the best book I got this year.  When I got the book and actually looked at it, well few items made me want to hug random strangers in the post office like this did : )
Malyss (her blog) and I have been corresponding for some time now.  We both had the same idea this year, show some love and send a book (expensive though it was).  She found this wonderous beauty! 

This book answers the question of what would happen if you gave a group of art students in Paris, France the assignment of making mail art.  They came up with some awesome paper crafts!  And many of the paper crafts are not too hard to reproduce.

One of the projects within!

Now after you pick up your jaw and shake off some of your envy, I have something great to share . . .ready . . .I feel as though the best way I can share this book with you,  is by recreating the mail projects within its pages step by step so you can see them for yourself!  Something like this, really should be shared with the world, (or at least our mail loving esoteric community).
The first project is the one pictured above.  I couldn't resist the drama, though it lacks practicality.  I thought one of my friends children would adore it, thus the butterfly theme.
First

Add caption

A blank card with some hand scrolling on the front of it. 

Second

Add layers and layers of cut outs.  It is best if you use thinner and lighter paper as cardstock is too heavy and weighted.  Unfortunately, mineis a wee bit flat because of the lack of lighter weight papers, but I am still very happy with the turn out!

Third

Thread bind it.  I used some old metallic thread here.  And finally, embellish to your hearts content!
I have no doubt that when this springs out of the envelope, the kids (toddlers) will love it!  And really that is what it is all about. 
My Best,
Becky

Trash?

Have you ever dumpster dove?  Scoured the trash bins at work?  Pulled something off the top of the trash can and pocketed it?  Let us all be honest here, we are among friends.  Well the other day, I snagged this from traveling to the land fill.

Side of a beer box

What?!?  I am not a beer drinker, preferring wine as my main form of alcohol, and had not seen these fun bits of design until they were in front of me at the dumpster.  Go Land Shark!  Thanks for encouraging the lost art of writing!  I would encourage you to send a postcard of thanks to them, but their own website issues did not allow me to find a contact address.

And what a pretty pop-up card!  I saw it on top at the post office trash can.  I do not know what the recipient had against the sender, but I can see a repurposing opportunity going on here. 
The below postcards are made from ad bits

Wanda sends me royal bits and I love using them.  

I still have a bit to refine my style, but I find the cutting up of ads very therapeutic and hopefully with enough time and honing I will be content with my efforts.  Though I am sure the recipients do not mind my experimentation, and if they do, nobody is mentioning anything : )

Anybody else want to share their recent trash-ortunities?

Keep Creating and Be Happy,
-b

Recycling Old Christmas Cards

This is Almost all of my received cards this year

Now that the holiday festivities are dying down, I just wanted to offer a few ideas on what to do with the Holiday cards you do not want to keep.  Last year I had a list of disposal ideas (link here)  This year I would like to add a another list of ideas.
Check out the Squido link for everything from boxes to gift tags. 
I have all the cards from my Mom, work, and myself gathered, now comes the question, donate to St. Jude's Ranch or tear them apart and use them myself?

My Best,
-b

Envelopes Revisited

Several folks made inquiries about how to make larger envelope books so I revisited the task.  I do not do the bigger ones too often strictly because I am uncertain what to put in all those slots. 
Option A

Insert one flap into the other to make a 2 part envie book.  See the above showing how they were inserted.

back after above step

Place one envie book to the flap of another single envelope.

Add the 4th and final to the inside of the first.

The finished product
Option B

Add end to end to end

Somebody had recommended one of these for photos and making a story book of a vacation or the like to give as a present.

In this version, I recommend a final flap cover

Option C
Not pictured but accordion style which would be flaps in one direction but alternating whether the flap was to your left or right. 

Option D
Grab a stack of matching envelopes and just work it out : )  It's fun to mix and match directions.

Finally I recommend to decorate liberally

And I hope that helps you all in creating envelope books! My Best,
-b

Good Bye 2011

I feel I would be remiss in not wishing all the folks who chance upon this blog a warm and hearty Happy New Year!  I would like to lay out my list for improving my blog, but after the whirlwind trip the last 3 days to Pittsburgh to visit a few friends, I am drawing a blank.  So my proposal is simple, feel free to leave suggestions! 
Blog posts I hope to continue with are
-crafting great mail projects
-showing all my incoming mail  (I do this for 2 reasons 1) I let people know I got their letters and 2) I started my blog after having the rush of seeing my letters appear on others mail blogs!)
-attempting more "humor" writings and musings

Hope this finds you all happy and healthy and steeling your determination to accomplish your goals!
My Best,
-b