Flourish Forum
Sharing and Caring Exchanges => Exchanges - General Info & Questions (Start here.) => Topic started by: evjo on August 26, 2015, 08:13:00 PM
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I've got a disorganized collection of lovely envelopes and letters from pen friends. Some are on the bulletin board, some in a box, some on the desk.
What do you do with the ones you have? (Besides answer them.)
Scrapbooks? Files? Boxes? Wallpaper?
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I put all of mine in a box...it's easy to transport and show people! (I love to show off all of my pen friends' work!!!)
I've considered scanning in and posting to a blog.
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Shoebox
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I was keeping recent letters in a binder and then storing them in a box or file once they were around a year old or so, but then I got behind and now my letters are mostly sitting in an in tray near my desk, waiting for me to do something with them.
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I use some of those beautiful hat bins/boxes you can buy at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Marshalls, Tuesday Mornings, etc. One is larger and has a handle (like a little suitcase). I can just pull it out and bring it to the Living Room if I want to just sit and enjoy! ;D
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I keep all my personal letters in a wooden box. When I receive a letter I put it in a temporary inbox-outbox kind of thing I made with some card board until I send an answer or whatever needed. Then if there are beautiful cards, postcards, photos, quotes or whatever I display them in my bedroom and put the envelope in the wooden box. When I renew my board with new art and quotes, I carefully put each piece in its correspondent envelope into the wooden box. When the box is full I go shopping for a new box. They are like treasure boxes for me, full of memories!
That's my display board: https://instagram.com/p/3r31A3LSP-/ now there are the ransom note and inspirational quote exchanges in display!
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I have mine pinned on a cork board and on display at our home office.
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At my last calligraphy guild meeting, I saw an idea I absolutely loved. You bind a little book, but the pages are just "stubs". To each stub you attach a card or envelope, so you can flip through the cards like a book.
I have the instructions and making some books is on my "to do" list... Which means it might be quite some time before it actually gets done. ::) But I will definitely post photos when it does!
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At my last calligraphy guild meeting, I saw an idea I absolutely loved. You bind a little book, but the pages are just "stubs". To each stub you attach a card or envelope, so you can flip through the cards like a book.
I have the instructions and making some books is on my "to do" list... Which means it might be quite some time before it actually gets done. ::) But I will definitely post photos when it does!
oooh I like that! Thank you!
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At my last calligraphy guild meeting, I saw an idea I absolutely loved. You bind a little book, but the pages are just "stubs". To each stub you attach a card or envelope, so you can flip through the cards like a book.
I have the instructions and making some books is on my "to do" list... Which means it might be quite some time before it actually gets done. ::) But I will definitely post photos when it does!
oooh I like that! Thank you!
this website (or blog) has a pretty good tutorial for a book that is even easier to use as a base for a book of envelopes.
http://g45papers.typepad.com/graphic45/2012/06/marvelously-magical-mini-albums-a-tutorial.html#comment-captcha
you have to scroll down past the first book to find the accordion book.
they have you fold your own accordion for the spine of the book which is fine if you like to fold paper
but
you can buy a Redi-Shade at Home Depot or Lowe's (for about $$5) and cut sections to use for the accordion fold.
Redi-Shades are temporary pleated shades to hang in windows until you get your permanent shades or curtains figured out.
There is enough paper in one Redi-Shade to make about 20 books.
Somewhere I have a tutorial - but it may take a while to find it.
The tutorial link I sent has a lot of extra embellishment.
It can be much simpler
and if you Google accordion books you will find other examples.
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this website (or blog) has a pretty good tutorial for a book that is even easier to use as a base for a book of envelopes.
http://g45papers.typepad.com/graphic45/2012/06/marvelously-magical-mini-albums-a-tutorial.html#comment-captcha
The second book is really similar... Except instead of attaching card stock or paper to the pleats, you would attach the edges of the cards and envelopes. Once you're done, it's not really an accordion album, correct? The "spine" on the end makes it flip like a regular book?
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Most of mine is piled up in a box labelled "you MUST reply to this RIGHT NOW, it has been TOO LONG!!"
and yet, it's still there ...
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this website (or blog) has a pretty good tutorial for a book that is even easier to use as a base for a book of envelopes.
http://g45papers.typepad.com/graphic45/2012/06/marvelously-magical-mini-albums-a-tutorial.html#comment-captcha
The second book is really similar... Except instead of attaching card stock or paper to the pleats, you would attach the edges of the cards and envelopes. Once you're done, it's not really an accordion album, correct? The "spine" on the end makes it flip like a regular book?
yes, the pages will turn. however the accordion is not limited in any way - so you can still stretch the whole binding out. if you want to limit the accordion and make it very book-like, you can run glue or double-face tape in between each pleat on the spine and then you will have a secure binding.
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Most of mine is piled up in a box labelled "you MUST reply to this RIGHT NOW, it has been TOO LONG!!"
and yet, it's still there ...
Haha... I have a similar box...
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Awesome link Jean! So *that's* what people do with all those scrapbook supplies. Huh... mine just sit in a bin! LOL!
I am going to try to make one of these ... what a neat idea! And I never would have thought of the redi-shades! Very cool!
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Most of mine is piled up in a box labelled "you MUST reply to this RIGHT NOW, it has been TOO LONG!!"
and yet, it's still there ...
LOL! I had a nice wicker basket on my studio shelf which was serving the same purpose until it collapsed from the weight. :o :-\
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this website (or blog) has a pretty good tutorial for a book that is even easier to use as a base for a book of envelopes.
http://g45papers.typepad.com/graphic45/2012/06/marvelously-magical-mini-albums-a-tutorial.html#comment-captcha
I've got a ton of postcards that I've been keeping and this would be a great way of making a book out of them, too. Thanks, Jean!
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There is another thread going under a different topic that mentions putting mail onto scrapbook pages. Twenty+ years ago when I was getting started, every envelope was precious and I mounted them on complementary colored letterhead paper, put them in plastic sleeves and had everything organized in three ring binders. Over the years, the notebooks took up too much space and some of the older mail was redundant, so, I ended up pulling all the notebooks apart and giving a lot of the envelopes away to students who were just starting their collections. I am much more selective about what I keep these days and while I have a few collections that I bind into books because they relate to each other, I prefer just having the envelopes in bundles, organized by theme. From time to time, I sift through and discard a few as I am filing the new mail. I have a 4-drawer chest full of mail and I will not let the collection grow any larger than those 4 drawers. It would have been hard to just toss the old mail that I didn't want to keep. But, it was fun to pass it along to people who were thrilled to have examples for inspiration. So, if you are just getting started, and you think trading mail art might be a life-long passion, you might consider a filing system that will allow for some editing as the collection grows.
Another thing I do with mail that I am editing out of the collection is to send it to beginners who are participating in exchanges. It gives me something to put in the envelope since I seldom have time to write a note. I assume they are happy to get extra mail, even if it is not addressed to them.
I have helped a few families with the disposal of collections of art supplies when an artist dies. I intend to leave all of my things neatly organized with names attached so that my family can just make a few phone calls and designated people will come and pick up the *treasures.* I have to decide who gets the WhopperPlate pen. That is going to be a challenge.
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Another thing I do with mail that I am editing out of the collection is to send it to beginners who are participating in exchanges. It gives me something to put in the envelope since I seldom have time to write a note. I assume they are happy to get extra mail, even if it is not addressed to them.
You have great ideas, Jean! I especially like this one since I am very much a beginner and just got my very first mail from an exchange. I made everyone in my house act excited about it with me :D You are probably right on that they are just happy to get mail!
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I store my mail in boxes in a small cabinet where I keep all the correspondence, cards and crafts I've received through the years. I like to go through them when I have my sappy moments.
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Here is what I have been doing for about 10 years - since I started doing envie exchanges with Cyberscribes:
At the end of the year, I purchase a 36 x 24 black frame. Then I gather all the envies I have received and make a collage of them. For a year, it hangs in my office at work - where people are JUST astounded that such an art still exists AND thrives. At the end of year, that one comes home to be hung - and a new one arrives at my office. There is not one room in my home that doesn't contain a year of envies...and I adore seeing them - as some of those calligraphers are no longer with us on this earth - and my heart smiles...and grieves at the same time. I love it they they aren't tucked away in a box or drawer - and can be enjoyed for years and years.
Just a thought...
Rebecca
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Here is what I have been doing for about 10 years - since I started doing envie exchanges with Cyberscribes:
At the end of the year, I purchase a 36 x 24 black frame. Then I gather all the envies I have received and make a collage of them. For a year, it hangs in my office at work - where people are JUST astounded that such an art still exists AND thrives. At the end of year, that one comes home to be hung - and a new one arrives at my office. There is not one room in my home that doesn't contain a year of envies...and I adore seeing them - as some of those calligraphers are no longer with us on this earth - and my heart smiles...and grieves at the same time. I love it they they aren't tucked away in a box or drawer - and can be enjoyed for years and years.
Just a thought...
Rebecca
Terrific idea.
Might you post a picture here of some of these framed collages?
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i found a rather larger box and decorated the outside with some of the envies, then put the others into the box. Not only does it hold the precious contents but is a showpiece in my room. So way cool!