My happy place

This is Group 546.

Our box is number 38, on Rural Route 5.  A lot of people don't know what group mailboxes are, although  they're becoming more common.  They save the mailman from having to make individual stops.  

I get a kick out of putting these crazy things into the outgoing mail at our group mailbox.  It's kind of my happy place.... the mailbox is at the end of the road and it's usually really quiet out there.  So in addition to picking up and dropping off my mail, which is already one of my favourite parts of the day, I sometimes stand there for a few minutes and enjoy the utter peace.  Or watch the neighbour do his loopy morning dance outside, depending on what time I get there.

Plus, I like to think the mailman enjoys this stuff marginally more than just picking up regular old bills.

(I am a master of the obvious.)

The assignment here was to send out a couple of "blank" journals - not exactly blank because the pages inside are all altered and ready for these two people to add their own brand of fabulous.

The trick was that they had to go in the mail "naked" - no envelope!  The idea is that the postage and postmarks and assorted marks from being handled would add to the character of the book.  Knowing that the addressed area is a keeper, I used a bunch of my old vintage stamps to mail them.

I don't know if you can tell from the pics, but the books are actually pretty puffy... I added LOTS of fold-outs, tip-ins, secret hiding places, and doodles to these pages.  And the tags on the second book look pretty 3-D because I went around them with a light grey marker to give the illusion that they aren't stuck right down.  It's like MAGIC.  (ooooOOOoooh!)

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go invite my sister over, and then put up a poster with her picture on it that says "BANNED FOR LIFE" on the front door.  I love messing with her.  Have some fun today... I know I'm gonna!

Love Shelley!