Something creative that ISN'T mail!

Here's an ATC (artist trading card) I made yesterday... it's a car.

(I specified that because I can't remember what kind of car it is.  Old.  I don't know.)

Pretty simple supplies: a piece of Canson artist paper, a 0.05 Copic liner pen, and three colours of Inktense pencil.  

In hindsight, I should have used a heavier paper because the water did make it buckle a little.  But eh, learning experience.  

First I sketched it out lightly in pencil; then drew it out a little better with the liner pen.  I was working from a photo in a book.

Then I started adding layers of Inktense.  I love these pencils because they behave like watercolour pencils... until they dry.  Then the colour becomes permanent.  So you can layer over it and it doesn't move!  <>  I probably came back to it ten times over the course of the afternoon, waiting for it to dry, then adding more layers.  In between I was baking sugar cookies, so all in all, a pretty pleasant day.

I'm pretty happy with the finished product.  It looks REALLY good if you take a super-quick glance, and don't start at it too long and start to notice flaws.

Okay, that's all I've got for now.  Back later.

Love Shelley!

Sunday Mail!

Nah, we don't really get mail on Sundays.  Wouldn't that be AWESOME though?!

But.  Of course you can still send mail.  All you need is to know where a handy mailbox is; and have some free time to make something.  And some extra-loud music to drown out any fighting kids who may be nearby trying to drive you bonkers by fighting non-stop and calling each other names and wanting you to referee.*

Anyway, in the urgency to escape the madness in the kitchen, I suddenly remembered that you don't have to actually use REAL ENVELOPES to send mail - you can make a mail-containing-thing out of whatever you want.  Just tape it up good** so those little holes don't get stuck in one of the mail-sorting machines, and bob's your uncle***.

I have to go now.  There's a massive mess in the garage from the honey extraction we started yesterday.  And the bees found us, so there are about 800 of them buzzing around in the driveway, and they're frankly still kind of pissed that we robbed them yesterday.  So if you know a way to politely escort them back to their hive, I'd be happy to hear it.  My plan right now is to wait until they all go home at dark, then bring the empty frames back for them to clean up.  And I'll put up a 'No Loitering' sign in the driveway too.  That should fix the problem.

Ok bye.

Love Shelley!

____________________________________________________________________
*Your experience may vary.
**Yes, I know.
***No, I don't know what this means, either.  But I can't ALWAYS yell "ta-daaaah!"

Fancy Nancy

This afternoon I got pretty sick of working, so I busted out the el cheapo pencil crayons at my desk, and what do you know - my muse decided to join me for a few minutes!  It probably helps that I'm deliriously tired and my guard is way down.  She's sneaky; she likes to wait until I've given up on her, then she blows back into my life like a bad boyfriend fresh out of jail.  That's probably the worst metaphor I've used yet on this blog, too, so you're welcome for that.

I have a second one in the works - completely different, yet exactly the same.  (Don't ask, I'm even confusing myself right now.)

Stay tuned.

Love Shelley!

Mail - Still on a roll!

Here's the one lone piece of mail that's going out today:

BRAND-NEW PEN PAL - hopefully she has a high tolerance level for silliness, because the 5-pager in this innocent-looking envelope is kind of out-there.  That's the hard part about starting a new pen-friend relationship: the one-sided delivery of enough information - in a conversational format - to intrigue them and make them want to write back; without over-sharing too much and letting them see your crazy.  Not right away, anyway!  I like to save the Real Me for at least the third letter.

Oh, who am I kidding, it probably shines through in the first paragraph.

Wait - didn't I promise something inappropriate?  Yes, I did!

Okay, so I have another relatively-new pen pal.  He* was recommended to me through another friend.  So I threw together a letter and fired it off, and sure enough, back came an equally bizarre and offensive missive.  I might have some real competition here!  Check out the rating page he sent:

I don't remember using the word "virgin" but I'm proud anyway.  Also you have to like a guy who opens with a story about his 187-lb dog's anal leakage problem.

*Yes, "he".  I haven't had a boy pen pal before, mainly because most of the dudes that are looking for pen pals are writing from prison.  But I'm, like, 90% sure this guy isn't.  In prison, that is.  I'm willing to accept that he's a dude, based on his description of his ear-hair grooming habits.

I'm going to go check the mail.  Think happy thoughts for me!

xo
Shelley

Friday's outgoing mail

Still slightly lame, but getting marginally better:

I especially like the 7cent Pierre Laporte stamp, because it's got a ton of texture on it.  I don't know if it was letterpressed or what, but it is AWESOME.  Now the stamps are smooth and plasticky, and just not as official-feeling.  Anyway, it's gone now, but at least I still have the memory of it.  (deep, nostalgic, nerdy sigh).

And this one is just a sneak peek, because otherwise it will ruin the fun for the lovely lady who's going to be receiving this in the next week or two.  Once she gets it, I'll let you see the rest.  Deal?

I didn't make as much mail this weekend as I would have liked.  Instead I kept busy making salsa and tomato soup and getting a bunch of canning done.  I was going to make pickled beets too, but thankfully SADLY the beets are tiny this year and so it wouldn't be worthwhile to go to all that trouble.  I'm still looking into canning pumpkin for holiday pies, though.

Tomorrow I might have something a bit more entertaining for you, if you don't offend easily.  If you do... maybe skip a day.  I'll be back with good clean fun later in the week.

And now... back to work!

Love Shelley!

The muse, she is elusive right now

So I'm in the mood to write letters, lots and lots of letters, but do you think I can come up with ideas to decorate the envelopes?  Nope.  I think I'm out of practice!  I could cheat and look for ideas on Pinterest, but I decided just to go with it and let my muse come back in her own good time.  She will.  She always does.  She's a good shit.

In the meantime, this is today's outgoing mail.  Not my finest work, but still better than a poke in the eye with a frozen stick.  (I like to keep everyone's expectations nice and low.)  The postcard is from SomeECards and I'm not showing you the front because it's rude.  Funny, but rude.  Plus, I have to save SOME surprises for the recipients.

What are you sending out today?  Get going!

Love Shelley

PS: Lisa, I replied to your comment.  I KNEW you'd call me out, that's why you're my favourite!  The letters are written but the envelopes are... lacking.  They'll be in tomorrow's mail.  Pinky swear.

WANTED: New Pen Pals

Okay, so you know that I love the mail, Canada Post, my delivery driver, pens, papers, envelopes, and of course postage stamps.  I delight in going to the mailbox and seeing what exciting surprises await within.  But lately, that isn't happening so much.  Instead, I'm just getting, bills, statements, newsletters, flyers... all boring grown-up stuff that's beating out the happy mail by a ratio of like, 10 to 1!

Now, I have a bunch of pen pals, some of whom I consider close personal friends; and others who are mere acquaintances but who are still fun to write to and receive mail from.  So I don't know what's going on; maybe real life is getting in the way, or maybe I'm just not everyone's cup of tea*.  The bottom line, though, is that I NEED TO TAKE ACTION.

So, I've fired off a letter to the LWA.  They're going to hook me up with a couple of random new people, to see if we hit it off.  I'll send first, introduce myself, and see what happens.  Then, hopefully, slowly, steadily, my trips to the mailbox will become the highlight of my day again.

Want to play?  Either join up and see who you get, or if you want, hit me up.  I promise to write back.

Okay, that's all for now.  I'm off to go find some trouble, and I'll report back.  Because this blog is getting bo-o-o-o-oring.  Stay tuned.

Love Shelley!

*Pfft.