Pocket Letter Update

My very first ever pocket letter is on it's way to Finland.  I am so hoping it makes it there without any problem.  Just wanted to show the packaging that went with it when it left.

Just as a reminder this is the completed pocket letter with a USA theme going to a pocket letter pal in Finland.

And here it is all wrapped up and ready to go in a padded envelope to wing it's way across the ocean to Finland.

Thanks for stopping by.
~pam

Father's Day

My dad is going to be 84 years old in July.  He has pretty much everything he could want and if he doesn't then he just buys it.  However, his wants are pretty much nothing.  Anytime you ask what you can get him the answer is always the same......"Don't buy me anything.  I don't need anything and you should just save your money."

He is my muse and inspiration because he is an artist.  Here are just a few of his paintings.

So I wanted something special for him.  I saw this post on the GelliArts website for using a print to make a paperweight.  That got me thinking.  I ordered the paperweight using the link on the website and it arrived in about a week.  

I remembered a YouTube video I had seen (go here) showing how to use a GelliArts printing plate to make packing tape transfers.  I loved the idea and got to work creating some of my own.  Here is an example of my three strips of printed packing tape.  The photo doesn't do it justice because you can't appreciate how much shimmer and shine it has.  And the colors are much more intense than what you can see in the photo.

Here is a close up of part of the strip but still not showing up well.

I loved this technique and I will definitely be doing it again.  I used the pieces of packing tape transfer and cut them down to fit the circular opening on the bottom of the paperweight.  Then I cut out the letters for D>A>D from a purple heavyweight cardstock.  Here is the finished product.  I think he will like it since it is homemade and I didn't really spend but about $11.00 on the paperweight.

Thanks for stopping by.

~pam

Pocket Letters

I just discovered the Pocket Letter.  Have you heard about these cute letters?  Basically you get one of those plastic pocket pages like the boys put baseball cards in to save them.  Then you go to town filling the pockets with lots of wonderful goodies.  The idea is that you can fold the pocket page up and it will fit in a standard number 10 envelope and then it is ready to mail off to a pal.

For a better description as well as some pretty pictures of finished pocket letters go over to Janette Lane's website.  She is the creator of these little beauties.  She has also started an online community called Pocket Letter Pals where folks can sign up for swaps.

So I signed up and immediately got involved in one of the swaps called Country Swap Part 3 where you make a themed Pocket Letter featuring your Country (ex: USA) and then you are paired with someone from another country to swap with.  I am swapping with Lumona from Finland.

So here is a photo of my first ever Pocket Letter.  It was a lot of fun to put together and filling the little pockets was a bit nerve-wracking because I wasn't sure what to add.  I looked at some of the other Pocket Pals letters and kind of stole there ideas.

My plan is to decorate the No. 10 envelope and then slide it into a padded envelope for the trip to Finland.  I hope Lumona likes it.  

Thanks for stopping by.

~pam