Remember Griffin and Sabine?

I think I discovered Nick Bantock in college or shortly after, which was many moons ago.

I LOVED Griffin and Sabine, with all the beautiful envelopes and artifacts tucked into the books, the mail art, and the strange and mysterious story of their correspondence. After I read the books, I bought the Nick Bantock rubber stamps, and used to actually create mail art that was MUCH better than what I was doing in the way of cardmaking back then!

But then, as my cardmaking got better, my envelopes got more and more boring, and now they're just plain white envelopes with terrible handwriting on them. That has to stop. I'm hereby issuing myself (and you if you like) to STOP sending completely boring envelopes.

In my defense, I do handmake a lot of envelopes out of retired DSP, but that's not really the same as the mail art of days of old. My friend Gary - and the best penpal in my life, really - used to do amazing mail art. Stamps and collage and drawing.

I remember Rubber Stamp Madness' mail art features and the ones in the Stampington magazines. I am going to get back to that level of awesomeness if it kills me. I STINK at hand lettering, which you will see soon. Like in just a few seconds. :)

But I came up with a technique to at LEAST create pretty labels for my envelopes that are 100% handmade, and I hope you like it. First - enjoy what I did with half of the label paper that I used on a matching card - it's the background for the beautiful climbing orchid.

When I do this technique, I can cut each sheet in half - half of the sheet makes TWO pretty envelope labels, because I die cut an oval out of the center of half the sheet and can use both the oval and the frame for envelopes as you can see here.

Here's a closeup of what the frame label looks like.


Here's card #2 where I used half the label paper for a different background.

Here's what the label looks like that matches that card.

Now how did I do that, you ask?

Well let me show you! I'm a contributing artist over at Gel Press today, and so I made a video of this fun technique using just ink, a Gel Press, your MISTI and some label paper. You will get addicted, I promise. In 10 minutes you will throw down your mouse and run for your desk. Promise.

So send some PRETTY mail today, won't you? These two are already in the mail and I plan to make lots more over the weekend.

I'll be back soon with something completely different.

Loveyameanitbye.

10 Bucks Cash and a TROPHY!

Since tonight is the State of the Union Address, I thought we should have a little political commentary from the only group of people in the world who actually understand how things work.

Seven year olds.

That's right. If you want things distilled down to their most important concepts, ask a 7 year old what the scoop is.

In Austin, we have been blessed for many decades by the Pryor family's wit and wisdom. Since I didn't have a TV when I was little (more on that here) I listened to the radio constantly, and felt like sweet old Paul Harvey was a familiar friend that chatted with me every day.

When I moved to Austin, I never shook my radio habit, and Paul Harvey was replaced by Cactus Pryor. Cactus is the kettle corn of radio - his humor is both salty and sweet - and he's an archetypal Texan and Austinite.

My fave daily radio show - the Todd & Don show - features his insanely hilarious son Don, who inherited all that talent and then some, as you can see for yourself here.

Now what I didn't know is that Don almost outgrew what I can only describe as a SHOCKINGLY Texas accent. Take a listen to this 7 year old Texas twang, as he describes just how incredibly cool it is to be the President of the United States. Put down beverages and make sure no one is asleep before hitting play.

(If you don't see a tiny MP3 player below, click here for the audio.)



So if that speech tonight does not mention the fact that if we don't do everything just right, America won't be liyyyyykkke it iyuzzzz, I suggest you turn that TV off and listen to the radio, where people have common sense and crazy accents. :)

Here are some more cute kids for you. Imagine them with an adorable little drawl, where words like "cash" have ten syllables.
I made the card heart shaped by folding some Graphic 45 DSP in half and then cutting it with my scalloped heart Nestabilities die.

The Greeting Card Kids I colored as sort of sepia except for the red apple and my teeny glimmer paper heart.

Enjoy your day - I hope you get ten bucks cash and a trophy!

Humor Me...

Because it's not technically stamping.

But I couldn't focus, so I decided to just draw.

This is my rendition of Rancho de Taos in New Mexico. Do I have any readers from NM? I love New Mexico and is where I'd live if I had a million dollars. I love the deep blue sky and the soft look of all the buildings. I have this really cool crazy photo of Rancho de Taos that looks like a painting - it has the church all lit up with these glowing pastel colors and you can still see the deep New Mexico blue above that, even though the photo was exposed for hours overnight. It was one of the first pieces of art I bought in Santa Fe when we started going there and it's what I would grab running out of the house from spiders or a fire.

Anyway, I just drew these shapes with Copics and blended a few colors - flesh, eggshell, pinkish white, pale yellow.

I masked them and brayered on Adirondack Aqua and Pacific Point Blue. I made stars with my white gel pen. Then I stamped Peace, Love, Joy from All Holidays.

Now if my house filled up with spideys, I wouldn't grab these little punkins on the way out, but they're cute!

They are made with oval punches, and you've probably seen them...

But if not, just punch six ovals, big or small and fold them in half, wrong side out.

Put adhesive on just one half oval at a time, and stick them together, half oval lined up with half oval. Take a strip of cardstock for the stem, and wedge it halfway between two of the ovals as you're sandwiching them and position the other half between the last two you adhere..

So super cute and easy. I think they would make such cute little accompaniments to name tents at a dinner.

I see there's some controversy about Maddie & Splotchy & the possibility of Halloween costumes. I guess there will be a few weeks to resolve your differences until you find out my decision!!