Hey GEL friend

OK, so I couldn't resist the pun about a pun :)

My new obsession is making mail art (  It is not considered an art movement per se, but it can be said to be a genre. ) and I have discovered that the 5x7 Gel Press® plate is perfect for my envelopes so I can make matching mono-printed envies! Stoked!

Challenge: Nautical/By The Sea

one of my favorite stamp sets

Surf and Turf

colored in with my favorite

PITT pens

I'm up over on the Gel Press blog today with a step out tutorial showing how I made my envelope

and if you missed the video to the making of the matching card, you can find it HERE.

10 REASONS TO send mail

1. To write to a kid to teach them how fun it is to receive a letter. Ask for them to write back so that they can have fun sending one too.
2. To send a friend a recipe
3.  To decorate the envelope ( my personal favorite! )
4. To practice your penmanship, play with letterforms, and have fun expressing yourself on the page!
5. To congratulate someone on an achievement big or small
6.  To send a letter from your pet to a friend’s pet.
7.  To send a letter in multiple parts - like a serial podcast or tv show where they have to wait for the next episode
8. To send a cheer up message– a note to a friend who has had a tough go of it lately.
9.  To write a letter with checkbox questions that can be filled out and returned.
10.  To save the US Postal Service

Mermaid envelope art

My mermaid this month for the facebook group called 12 Months of Mermaids is envelope art, something I am sure you know I am fond of if you read my blog on a regular basis. 

 I had to block out the addresses but I wanted you to get the gist of how cool it looks to incorporate spaces in your art to write in. Well, at least I think so!

I played around with my Paper Crafter crayons, they say you can sharpen them but I haven't figured out how to do that since they twist open...yep, they keep twisting when you sharpen them too..lol And of course I used my PITT pens.

Since this card is inspired by my friend Jamie, I had to include a crab in it, they seem to love her and always let her catch them when she is at the beach.

From the last vacation that Jamie I took together down at Panama Beach Fl.

The power of a postage stamp is strong: such a simple object has the ability 

to connect others no matter how much land/ocean divides them...Sending 

mail, even something as simple as a letter, 

can truly brightens someone's day.

Why Smile?

Sundays with Sandee video for making the envelope art

is HERE

Smiling can make you happy (even when you're not).

Smiling can make others happy.

Smiling makes you more attractive.

Smiling can help you de-stress.

Smiling can help you land a job.

Smiling can lead to laughter.

Smiling just feels good.

Isn't it time you turn that frown upside down?

Sparkpeople.com