Old School Letter writing

The art or writing a letter and putting a stamp on and putting in the post box seems to be making a little bit of a comeback. It might be easier and quicker to send an email or text and have a reply instantly or the same day, but there is a simple joy in doing it 'old school'.
I have been handwriting letters for years, penpals that have come and gone, new penpals and dear friends who love the old way as much as me.

I spent some time today writing a couple of letters using some pretty cards I was gifted and a freebie from Frankie magazine. Its not only the card or letter I like to be pretty I very rarely send of mail without the envelope being all pretty too.
I had so much fun with these ones, using the rubber on the end of a pencil and my watercolours to make colourful dots. So easy but looks awesome!

Do you still write letters old school or have you moved with ahead with technology and email ?

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Handmade envelopes

The last lot of birthday cards I made I decided to go bigger instead of the standard blank cards you  can get at any craft store. Once I had made the cards however I realised I didn't have any envelopes the right size for them.
Being that they weren't really a standard size going out and buying envelopes wasn't really an option so I had a go at making some.

I pulled apart an old envelope I had been sent and made a template, it came together much easier than I thought it would. After finishing them off and addressing my envelopes it occurred to me that I had a whole heap of duplicate pattern papers that would make really pretty envelopes.
A fair bit of cutting sticking and a few mistakes and I had a big bunch of larger envelopes that are much prettier than the standard white store brought ones.

Going big might just be my new standard from now on.

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Penpal catchup

Every once in a while it is really nice to open the letterbox and see something pretty rather than those dreaded window envelopes that carry bills.
I received the prettiest happy mail from my penpal Heidi the other week which included the most gorgeous card to celebrate us moving into our new home.

I wanted to make something equally as pretty to send back to her so I pulled out a few supplies and made her up a little bag of embellishments she can use in her card making to add to my letter. The envelope of course had to be decorated too, so out come my stamps and water colours to make a pretty spring envelope!
While I was at it I made up another envelope ready to send a letter to my oldest friend, this time just using  lots of different size circles for a bit of  messy colour.

Almost time to start working on Christmas cards and tags. Do you make your own Christmas cards? Where do you get inspiration from year after year to make something you haven't already done before?

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Making those envelopes all pretty

Just popping in to share with you some envelopes I recently created ready to be sent out to my lovely penpals.
A little bit of doodling, some washi tape and some images cut from op shop books and alot of fun putting them all together.

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Penpal catchup

I have three lovely ladies who I'm lucky to have has penpals, I love writing to them and getting  their letters back in return. I feel like we have become good friends in such a short time.
A few weeks before we moved I sat down and made sure that I had all my letters written and ready to write so that they wouldn't get lost in the hectic jumble of boxes and bags in the move.

Some days - especially if I'm extra busy - I just write a lovely letter and send it off, but I love to play a little and make my letters look pretty and arty.
I may just have a huge collection of stationary that might possibly last years haha and still buying more. I'm not alone here right?

So now I'm all caught up and waiting to hear back from my lovely friends.
Will have a post about the decorated envelopes coming up in the next few days.

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Catching up on some penpal letters

 

All of my penpal mail seems to arrive at the same time, which is great but means I have lots of letter writing to do all at once.
The girls really outdo themselves with such pretty and creative letters and envelopes, I love receiving them and I know my postie gets a kick out of it too haha.

 

 

I had been a bit slack at replying (sorry girls) so i spent a few days catching up! This is usually the point I freak a little thinking omg what am I going to write, nothing is happening in my life of interest. Once I get started though it just flows and I find plenty to write, apologies if sometimes it appears im just dribbling nothing.

Then the messy fun part starts, decorating and putting it all together! I love finding new ways to send my mail and to decorate envelopes.
I think the op shop lady believes im weird with how many old magazines i buy haha but they are great for cutting out images and words to use in my letters and envelopes.

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Out going Happy Mail

SE Qld has had alot of rain over the last few weeks and even more happening at the moment with cyclone Marcia hitting up north and headed down the coast.
Its time to bunker down indoors and get creative, I've been writing lots of letters over the last few weeks and would like to share with you some of the creative ways I've decorated the envelopes.

Recently I found a cute kids sticker book at a thrift shop and it has been fun turning those stickers into some pretty mail, also used some images from my pile of old kids books as well as having a go at some drawing and painting.

I have alot of fun decorating the envelopes, I know the ladies at the post office think its really cute. One lady said to me the other week it was so cute and much nicer to see coming over the counter than the boring window envelopes that contain bills. Hopefully the friends I'm sending to love it as much.


Thanks for stopping by
Lis :)

Creative Penpals - Outgoing mail

Last week was all about writing letters to a couple of long time friends and penpals. I am having just as much fun decorating the envelopes as I am writing the actual letters.

 Just have a couple of simple ones to share with you this time, some drawing and a cutout from a children's activity book I picked up from  the op shop.

I have seen a few different ideas online of folding the letter up and writing in the creases so I thought it might be fun to have a try. Think it looks pretty cute, just hope Kate can understand it!

Have been busy working on my handmade gift list the last few weeks and will have some shares for you in the comming week or so.

Thanks for stopping by
Lis :)

Pretty Penpal mail

Who wouldnt love to get something pretty our of their mail box! Much nicer than a bill or boring white envelope dont you think?
Last weekend I spent a day making cards and getting sorted to send out cards and parcels for birthdays.

These are just a few of the decorated envelopes. Bright, fun and so easy to do. You can buy all sorts of stickers at the cheap shops, they have little pads of all different sorts for about $2. You can cut images from magazines and childrens books (I buy alot of both from thrift stores) and paste away creating your own unique mailart.

The envelope above I used sticker dots that I had on hand, you could also use paint or stamps to do the same thing. Maybe even change it up with triangles, starts or hearts, whatever takes your fancy!
Washi tape is great for decorating envelopes too, just use it as is or make shapes out of it.
Have a go at creating your own, its fun!

Thanks for stopping by
Lis :)

Creative Penpals

Popping in to share a couple of lovely packages I received in the mail this week from my lovely penpal buddies.
One from NSW and the other all the way from USA!

 

Checking the mail box when you have penpals is much more exciting, looking to see if today is the day you get something  pretty.
I'm lucky to have 3 penpals who are awesome  at writing back and always send such happy cheerful envelopes.
                               

I have also been busy sending out lots of cards and letters this week. It's such fun to finish the letter and then spend a little time making the envelope look amazing.
My local post office lady has commented a few times about how pretty they look.

Thanks for stopping by
Lis :)

Penpals

I have been on a real organising kick lately, trying to get things working a lot smoother than they were in both the home and my craft room.
When I first started writing to my penpal I had a little folder where I kept all her details and letters and other bits that she sent me.  That worked until I got two more penpals and the little folder was soon bulging, it was time to work out something else.
The folder I had originally I decided to keep (see photo above) it now has plastic sleeves with each penpals contact information, the paper bag envelopes you can see will eventually have cards with details about each penpal.

My memory int great and having to search back through letters to find names and birthday's and similar info is time consuming. Now it will be as simple as opening the folder and pulling out the card and having everything i need right there.
Next was working out how to store all the letters and gifts sent to me. I would eventually like a little suit case or basket, but went (for now) with what I had on hand, an old video box not being used anymore.
I made up a divider for each penpal and decorated them with washi tape and zentangles and then just added all my letters!

I still have to simplify how I store all my writing sets and notepads, for now they all just sit on a shelf. All my stickers and pretties that I use on letters and envelopes I have currently in a fabric folder that I received a few years ago in a swap.
I'm keeping my eye out for something I can have all my writing sets and stickers etc all together but for now this system works.

If you would like a penpal or if you have one already another one, then head on over to Mel from One Crafty Mumma's blog, she is still taking sign ups for her penpal swap.


Thanks for stopping by
Lis :)

Creative Pen Pals

Everyone loves getting "happy mail", pretty little packages or letters that come without that little clear window that usually means a bill. Its exciting to open it up and see what's inside!
When I saw on instagram an opportunity to sign up for a pen pal I jumped at the chance. When I was younger I was lucky enough to have a pen pal through Girl Guides, she was from England and we spent many years exchanging letters and cards.
When Magdalena from The Craft Revival put out the call for anyone interested I quickly emailed her through my interest and details. It turns out that I wasnt the only one interested, she had over 200 replies!
 A few weeks ago I received my email with all the details for my new penpal! I have to admit it was a little exciting, I had someone from overseas to write to and potentially become good friends with.

 I got out my pretty fabric wrap that I was sent in a swap organised by Mel from One Crafty Mumma. I made sure it was stocked with lots of goodies all ready for my letter writing. you can see a post Mel did about creating one HERE.






















Stationery wasnt something I looked at much online, or in local stores, but since joining up for a penpal I have noticed so much prettiness out there. I could go broke if I brought everything I wanted haha.

I got busy and wrote my first letter (ahem essay - sorry Tina) and sent it off to the USA. I hadnt thought about what I was going to do with or where to keep anything my penpal would send back to me. Mel did a blog post about a folder she made to keep all her penpals correspondence, you can see it HERE.
I didnt have all the materials to do one like Mel's so I searched around until I found a few things that would work.

A clear pastic folder (think it might have been an old address book cover) and I set about decorating it. I wanted something simple and not too fussy, the little notepaper pad I found a few weeks ago came in handy.
A few printed vintage bag tag inserts - all ready for penpals details inserted into business card plastic sleeves and it was beginning to take shape.

It took me awhile to work out the pages for holding letters, I didnt have any envelopes that would suit and I did think about cutting down file folders. Finally I found some lunch bags that were just perfect.
I decorated the front and attached tags on the sides for the name of my penpal. I have only made two at this point but figured it wouldnt be too hard to make up more if needed (wishful thinking here haha).

So there you have my quick simple creative penpal folder, if you have made one or intend to I would love to see it, please share!

Thanks for stopping by
Lis :)