Elephants In My Garden: Mixed Media Mail Art

Elephants in My Garden

It’s that time of year and I am planning my vegetable and herb garden. Due to all the rain, weeds have taken over and I am wishing I had a gardener to do the weeding for me. Thankfully, I have two little gardeners in training. I have learned to use chores to my advantage and tonight my one little spent the evening cleaning up my front flower beds which were over run with Creeping Charlie.

My boys have expressed an interest in having their own little patch to tend. As most children they think big. Like really big! They imagine stuffing their cheeks full of berries every time they tend their garden. That and they think it will require little to no effort to maintain. I am excited to see how their expectations play out.

I have decided they can start out with a few plants- probably a few strawberry plants and an herb. Strawberries spread easily and are probably the most easy of all the fruits to grow. I am hoping this will be a great lesson in responsibility for them and hopefully set them on the path to having green thumbs.

Did your children ever show interest in gardening? And for you master gardeners, what do you think would be a low maintenance, high-yield plant for children?

Creating the Mail Art

I have had this envelope lying around my table for a while and recently decided to put it to good use. I started out by painting the envelope using Fresco Finish Paints. Next, I stenciled the Elephant March Stencil. The elephant has been painted with Fresco Finish Paints and doodled with a black pen. Lastly, I stenciled and painted the Chinese Garden Plum Blossoms to add some greenery.

Thanks for stopping by,

Kate

Challenges Entered:

Wednesday Simon Says: Stencil it

Monday Simon Says: Stencil It

Love To Craft: (May) Anything Goes

 

The Patterns of Friendship: Mixed Media Mail Art

Patterns of Friendship

The different patterns on this envelope remind me of friendship. No two people are alike. We each have our own patterns and certain people/patterns compliment each other more than others.

This weekend, I made this piece of mail art as I was writing a note to my cousin. We recently started becoming pen pals even though we see each other every 2 weeks. I have been a part of her family, through marriage, for almost 12 years now but I never really got to know her. An hour or two at family gatherings once a year didn’t leave much time for in depth conversation. Besides, most of that time was spent reigning in our children, talking about mommy exhaustion and our ever expanding post-postpartum waist lines. Finding a friendship that was right under my nose all these years was so refreshing. And  since we are family, she can’t get rid of me anytime soon (evil laugh). Sometimes, these are the friendships that last a lifetime. In my case, I hope so.

Do you have any friendships that were discovered long after you met that person?

Creating The Mail Art

I started with a plain white business envelope and spread some Fresco Finish Green Patina paint. I added a few pieces of washi tape. Using the StencilGirl Decorative 6-Petal Flower Screen I stenciled with Black Soot Distress Ink all over the background. I spritzed a few areas with water to run the ink and then dried it. Using the Black Soot Distress ink again and the StencilGirl Art Deco Borders, I stenciled right in the middle of the envelope and then applied yellow embossing powder while the ink was still wet. Don’t you just love the bold yellow?!

To spruce it up a bit I added some other paint colors, sprays and white dots. And of course Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. I just love these two guys!

Happy Tea Day! I am playing along with Elizabeth today.

Kate

Challenges Entered:

A Bit More Time to Craft: Anything Goes

A Inky Mess: Anything Mixed Media

Frilly and Funkie: Trick or Treat (Treat- a letter hidden inside)

Altered Eclectics: Mixed Media

It’s A Party Everyday: Mixed Media Mail Art

Party Everyday

Party Everyday. Something we rarely do in our house. I love the idea of throwing parties but all the work involved is a turnoff.  When we lived in New York we had friends that threw a themed party every summer. We all dressed up and ate food that fit the theme. It was the event of the summer. I say ‘event of the summer’ because, well…we don’t get out much. We planned our costumes with anticipation and talked about it for months. Most of all, the kids had a blast! Our kids don’t remember much about our life in NY but they do remember those parties.

Once my hubby gets a job and we pay our house off, I love the idea of starting up this Summer Event tradition. As children get older it becomes more difficult to get them excited about family centered activities. I would even let my kids pick the theme if it means they want to be involved.

So, when I see the stamped siblings in my mail art, it reminds me of a family where the mom and dad just announced, “Let’s have some family bonding time.”

Related Mail Art Posts: ‘Party Like a Grandma’ Mail Art ; Harmony Mail Art

Artistic Outpost: Steampunk Mail Art ; I Am Roses inspired Mail Art

 

Creating Mail Art

Using an old envelope as a base, I covered the envelope with book paper. I used texture paste in the background with a Stencil Girl stencil. Tim Holtz chipboard pieces in the background have been covered in gesso and stamped. I used Tim Holtz and 7 Gypsies stamps as embellishments.

Products Used:

Challenges Entered:

Creative Artiste Challenge: #29 Anything Goes Mixed Media

Altered Eclectics: August Challenge

Frilly and Funkie: Read Any Good Books Lately?

Try it On Tuesday: Mail Art