Vintage Love

My new favorite materials:

1. Vintage stamps (found at antique stores, sold in bulk for CHEAP)
2. Antique sheet music books for various instruments.
3. Starbucks cups
4. Starbucks cup sleeves
5. Vacation and bus stop pamphlets
6. Embroidery floss (hand sewn details)


Keep experimenting, my friends.

OH, and also...I have officially made/written my very first love letter.

*GASP*

I can't imagine long distance relationships back when letters and the Post Office was all you had...

Sounds painful.

Reusing Photo Negatives as Stationary

Don't ask me how...but this idea came to me in my sleep!

It's a good thing I didn't throw these negatives away. There's tons of them in my room, and they're not really worth using for photo duplication anymore. They're from photography classes I took in high school, and it's about time I found a use for them now that I'm a college graduate.

Got any lying around? Sew them together at the edges. I used just a larger craft needle and embroidery thread. Then I stuck my white package labels on the back to create a writing surface.

I sure wish I could think less while I slept, maybe then I wouldn't be so tired all the time.

Incorporating Memories

This one is going out to my old roomie at Camp Timberlane. We thoroughly enjoyed singing along to "Beaches of Cheyenne" by Garth Brooks, and taking many a naps throughout our busy days in Wisconsin. She's a highly entertaining gal, and thus deserves a bright and lively letter. On the back of the envelope, I have written out some of the beloved song's lyrics, emphasizing verses with my watercolor pencils. I didn't have any water on hand to activate the pencils, SO I licked those areas of the envelope.

I hope she's not afraid of cooties!

BTW, most Dollar Trees sell packages of envelopes. They're kinda flimsy things, and don't work super well if you're attempting your paint all over it or plan on using a water-based material with it, but WASTE NOT, WANT NOT. Get what you can find, and upcycle it!

Letterfold Challenge

Here is a letter I received from my good friend Ashlen. I had asked her to go to this website: http://www.ghh.com/elf/ and pick a particular letter fold that she liked. Based on the directions I've looked through, she chose the Butterfly fold, and used a lovely magazine page with feminine images.

She has challenged me to "find a page of sheet music, and using a Sharpie, create a connect-the-dots art piece using the notes. Coloring in the picture is welcomed. And if the music has lyrics, highlight chosen words to make a found poem that fits the picture just created. Using your envelope folding directions, fold it up and ship it off with the next challenge."

She also mentions that I can cut it down to size if needed for a particular letter fold.

Such an awesome challenge. I will certainly take pictures when I have completed it.

Good work, Ashlen. I love you so!