Opening and Mailing

Hello -- still so hot here in Arizona.  I am soooo over it.  We've had heat advisory warnings, which is basically a way to tell you to drink water and stay inside if at all possible!  It will be worth it when we wear shorts and flip-flops on New Year's Day, while much of the U.S. is under snow.  If I can just be patient enough for the weather to cool.  

Here is some of my incoming mail:



Gorgeous summer collaged envelope from Ann-Catrin Finland.  Love those mailboxes!  

Finnish stamps are great:  The Aurora Borealis and Heart Fairy.

I'm exchanging a handmade card with Erika, who lives less than a couple of hours from me, in Tucson (one of my favorite cities, I might add), and I received hers first.  Isn't this handstiched, felt fishy incredible?  I had to cut it open to read the message inside -- white ink on black paper!  Very cool.

Awesomeness from a Postcrosser in Finland!  Wedding theme and retro -- two themes on my wishlist.

I ordered a sticker set from K is for Calligraphy, and when I pulled the envelope out of the mailbox, I did a little dance!  How gorgeous is her writing?

I spend more more than I should on etsy, enjoying the handmade goods from talented folks, and I also like finding cool vintage pieces.  I got this huge vintage sewing book from 1964, printed in Russian.  Did I mention that I don't sew and I'm not exactly a fashionista, and of course I do not speak Russian (nyet).  But I really dig this book!  The illustrations are great.

And mailed out:

Emilie, AKA Winnie's Girl, who was the winner of my blog giveaway, sent me a cute postcard of thanks.  I went with a ROSE theme when mailing her the package:

 

On Swap-Bot, I participated in the "Chunk O Cardboard" swap and here are the three chunks I sent out as a postcard:  Fatboy icecream sandwiches (love the name!), Icee frozen treats and cheese fondue.

Here are other Chunks O Cardboard I sent out to postcrossers.  Skull vodka bottle and Orale beer.  We can't get this beer here in Arizona as it's only sold in Colorado.  "Orale" is slang in Spanish and means something "Right on!" or "Alright" or "OK, man."  This is the ultimate in recycling when you mail out your trash.

Here are some postcards I made:

Sports theme -- used a Playboy playing card (5 of spades) -- but nothing risque' here.

Ca$h theme!

 Asian theme went to North Carolina to visit Elle.

The Dutch postcrosser is an art teacher and she requested a self-portrait sketch and I included my engagement ring.  I am SO not an artist!

Musical themed envelope art.  I sometimes worry that people who have English as a second language won't understand American humor, but I used this comic strip anyway.  

Last but not least, true BLUE mailed to Japan.  The paper in the center is origami.  Starting clockwise at 3:00, the deer is from the butter package (trash pick!).  The sparrow is a design from an "old school" tattoo calendar.  The bride is from a vintage wedding dress pattern.  I think maybe July 01, 2012 would be a good wedding date since it's our five-year anniversary.