Happy Mail

I wanted to join Sheila at Orange Esmeralda, our wonderful host this month at Art Journal Journey with her theme Let's Celebrate one final time this month.

Today we are celebrating happy mail.

I even tried to make it look like a genuine Christmas-time home. 

I realize it's hard to read, but it is:

The mail carrier brought
happy mail

For the background, I began by laying down two colors of water soluble crayons, gifted me by my friend Cindy in Canada last year.  I got a bit carried away and loved how the two colors could be pushed around and manipulated.  For the focal image, I found this postal clerk in a book.  I tried to color his jacket and hat, but was afraid to color his face and hands.  I also colored his bag, but it smeared.  All were watercolor crayons.  I cut a space behind the letters in the carrier's bag and added the big gift, which was originally a button.  Then I added the wreath, which was also once a button.    I simply couldn't believe how different papers took the watercolor crayons differently.

Of course, this all leads to real happy mail.   Feast  your eyes on what my friends sent or gave me.

Some of you may have read I got sick the Thursday before Christmas, so I stayed home and spent the day with my two furry friends.  I didn't want anyone else getting sick.

Apparently, that didn't deter Scott, because he stopped by with this beautiful gift.

After I opened it and we spent a good deal of time together, I decided it was time to open my gifts and the rest of my Christmas cards.

So what did Scott give me?  A combination punch and stamp set.  I'm sure I'll find a use for this.  The one package that wouldn't fit in my tree holder was from my friend Chris.

Many cards came at the last minute.

As you can see, none have been opened.  I wanted to wait for Christmas day to do that.

I didn't show the ones from friends who you wouldn't know, even if I told you their names.   You can see I have received cards/gifts from Cindy, Linda, Patty, and Halle.

Cindy sent me some ATCs she had left over from various swaps.  She suggested I use them in my art projects.  My mind is already buzzing about the one with the Phrenology head (more on that soon).

Patty explained this was needle felted and she only made a few this year.  She said each was different and I felt truly honored to receive one.

This is frame worthy!

Linda sent me this adorable tip-in.  You can't tell, but those stars are copper heat embossed.  One has glitter on it.  It looks like she must have die cut the likable Santa.  I suspect this was made with a Scan and Cut die cutter.

The back is equally beautiful.  Linda is never afraid to use her name stamp, either.

I suspect Halle was worried I would show the Christmas gift and letter she sent me, but it's actually a mosaic of photos of her family.  Since she never shows her face or her husband's and children's faces on her blog, I would NEVER violate that trust.  You just have to take my word that it's a wonderful gift that I will cherish.  It is also frame worthy.

So what's in the large container?  When I opened it, this is what I saw.  How darling, I thought.  A bag I can carry art supplies in.

And then the gifts started tumbling out of Chris's sneaky way of "wrapping" the items.

Napkins and tags,

owls and more owls.   And this red rubber Paper Artsy Lynne Perrella stamp set.  Red rubber is the BEST (in my opinion, at least).  Chris said she knew I liked Phrenology stamps, so would like this set.  She was right on the money, too!  It won't take me long to find ways to use this 7 piece stamp set.

Then there was collage fodder

and the beautiful card Chris included, which was sealed in a kraft colored envelope, along with a note, too.

One more look at the darling bag she used as a wrapping and it was time to put everything away with gifts to be fondled and used on another day.  Right then it was time to head back to bed.

Thank you beyond belief for sharing my Christmas gifts with me.  And thanks to Chris, Cindy, Patty, Linda, and Halle for your wonderful gifts, too.  They mean the world to me.  I hope each of you realizes how much these gifts meant to me.

Of course, I hope to see you at Art Journal Journey, too.