Envelope Templates

Several people have asked how I made the Laura Ashley wallpaper envelopes. I use the Kreate-a-lope templates from greensneakers. Three or four years ago at a sale, I found a set of about 8 templates for $8. It was 8 bucks well spent. I use those templates all the time. They work really well. And, by the way, I don't work for Kreate-a-lope because if I did, I wouldn't say that I'd have a really hard time coughing up the cash they're asking for these babies.

Check out the video below. The only difference is that I usually trace out the template and cut it out instead of tearing. I prefer the clean edge look.



Edit: I was so proud of embedding a video. This was my first time doing this. But, now I see it's out of whack and encroaching on the right sidebar's space. I don't have time to figure this out right now, so it will just have to stew on the back burner for a while. Grrr.....

Silly Me

Yesterday I pulled this piece of mail out of my mailbox, looked at the writing, and thought. Wow, somebody's handwriting looks remarkably like mine.

Then I realized why.

It was mine! I'd ordered some stamps and included a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Silly me.

Mail Register: Keeping Track

Different people have different systems for keeping track of their mail. Misty Davis posted about her system here. Still, she continues to have a bit of trouble knowing which items have been responded to and which still need answering, etc.

Let me tell you about the system I use to keep up with my incoming and outgoing mail. I base it on a system I perfected years ago for my sewing, crafting, and crocheting projects. My main problem then was that so many of the things I wanted to keep track of fit into more than one category. For example, I had a crochet heart pattern that used red, white, and blue yarn and resembled an American flag when completed. Would I file it under crochet, or hearts, or Patriotic/4th of July??
Do you see the dilemma? No matter which category I picked, I was afraid I wouldn't remember it could be an option in the others.

After much trial and error, I finally worked out a system that made sense to me and was manageable. I could locate instructions for any pattern in seconds. And that was the goal, after all. I catalogued all of my items with a simple numbering system, 1, 2, 3... New instructions were labeled with the next number and everything was filed in numerical order.

Next I made an index file with cards for each type of craft or activity. Birthdays, Christmas, Crochet, Hearts, Patriotic, Valentine's Day, etc. Say item #32 was that crocheted heart I mentioned above. On the index cards for Crochet, Hearts, Patriotic, and Valentine's Day I'd list #32. That way it could be filed in several categories all at once.

Conversely, if I wanted to make a heart, I could pull out the heart index card and find all projects that dealt with hearts listed by number, so easy to find. Oh, and to jog my memory, I typed up a master list, also in numerical order with a description of each item so I didn't have to dig through the actual files. Does that make sense?

I have a similar system for my mail log. All my correspondents are listed by name on individual index cards. The card contains name and address, email, and website info. Sometimes I include the person's birthday if I know it and a few notes about their hobbies or interests. Every time I receive an item from that person, the number of that item of mail gets written on his/her card.

As I open the day's mail, I assign the next numbers in sequence to each new item of mail. I also note the date it was received. Next I update each person's index card with the newly assigned numbers. As I answer back to each item, I list that on the envelope as well. If I want to locate all the items of mail Misty has sent me, I simply pull her index card and fish out the numbered items from the files.

Works for me. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to try to answer them.

Adirondack Rainbow

Every morning on my way to school, I drive by Yoder's Woodcrafts. And every morning these colorful Adirondack chairs catch my eye. They have been a welcome, cheery sight on many a grey, dreary winter morning.

One day last week I finally stopped and took a few photos. Don't the colors look crisp, clean, and refreshing? I could just imagine me and you and a few of our friends sitting in these chairs on a balmy summer's evening, sipping ice cold tea, talking and laughing well into the night. Come on over, have a seat. But, not in the yellow one! Dibs on the yellow one!

Update on Laura Ashley Envelopes

Okay, here's the deal. Last week I sent out the first batch of envelope requests. Lauren Jones, Maria Medford, Sharon C., Anita Elmore, Shannon Cartmill, Angela Jewell, Lisa Vineyard, Clare Wolfe, and Laurel Clayson should have received their packages by now or in the next day or two.

The photo above shows the next wave ready to post tomorrow. These go to Michelle Neuman, Elle Mental, Pat Bowman, Maria Ford, Rin Dawson, Stephanie Hauser, Wanda Dean, Karen Cameron, and Rosa Townsend.

Did I miss anyone?

Four Free Envelopes for the Asking

Are you like me? Do you love Laura Ashley prints? Yes? I thought so. So, you completely understand how I could not leave these rolls of wallpaper shoved into a corner of the Salvation Army Thrift Store??? Of course, I rescued them. And, in the spirit of sharing the love, I'm offering four envelopes made from this gorgeous pattern to anyone who asks.
That's right. Everyone is a winner. Just make sure I have your address. Email me privately if you like......stardust4821@yahoo.com or justletterrip@gmail.com. Enjoy.

P.S. All envelopes are the same size, approximately 5 inches by 7 1/8 inches. (made with green sneakers template)

Mail Art Madness January Edition

The two pieces of mail art above come from Jennie Hinchcliff. Yes, THE Jennie Hinchcliff of Good Mail Day and Red Letter Day fame.



Andrea Jay sent these two similar pieces. The stern looking lady reminds me of my 5th grade teacher. Yikes!



Sue Wood and I are traveling companions on The Crazy Train. If you compare this scan with Sue's original here, you can see the Octopus disembarked before the train pulled into The Crazy Barn at Crockett.



PostMuse of the Orphaned Postcard Project sends this one and writes that she is enjoying making mail art using some of her old postage stamp stash. Great idea!

Recent (and not so recent) Incoming

Check out this hand-decorated envelope by Sirpa. She also decorated the pages of the letter in a similar fashion. I admire doodles. I'm not a very good doodler. You can view much better photos here on her blog.



This cheery polka dot one comes from Anita in Tennessee. Hugs and prayers to you, Anita, on the passing of your mom.



It's always neat when someone connects from out of the blue. Linda found my address or my blog and just decided to write. Love it!

News from Wasilla

No, I don't know Sarah Palin and this post isn't about her. It's a letter (plus some pretty awesome goodies) from Tanna, one of my newish pen friends who happens to live in Wasilla, Alaska. I must admit though, in my first letter to Tanna, I did ask her if she knew Sarah Palin. She replied, "No, not personally... but I can see her house from here."

Still makes me laugh.

Introducing Farley

Meet my new friend, Farley. My pen friend, the lovely and talented Cari Polena, created him and sent him my way. How Sweet Is That! Check out her blog, Swanky Lifestyle, for cool mail art posts and more, lots more. She's made an entire finger puppet army you can see here.
Stay tuned for more posts from Farley.