Priority Boxes art project

Franck de Las Mercedes started the project to promote peace in 2006. He sends out abstract painted boxes with a "FRAGILE: Contains Peace" label to anyone who asks. He wants to get people thinking about how they can influence change, and make art available to all people.

One of his boxes

I thought it was a cool idea! I just emailed him for a box. His website is here.

Envelope tutorial

I know that many of you already know how to make your own envelopes (I love getting them in the mail!), but maybe someone will find this useful! I never used to use a template to make my envelopes, because then I could make them to fit whatever I was sending, but I tried it yesterday, and it is simpler!

Find an envelope that you like the size of, and open it all the way flat.

Position the envelope on your paper, and trace around it.

Cut out.

Fold your template envelope back up, and using it as a guide, fold in the sides of your envelope.

Remove the template envelope, and using your thumbnail, a bone folder, scissor handle, or other hard smooth object, crease folds.

Dot glue along the edges of the side flaps, and spread out (I used my finger). USE THE GLUE SPARINGLY!!! You only need a tiny bit, otherwise the paper will wrinkle.

Ta-daa! You now have your very own, one-of-a-kind, handmade, re-purposed envelope!

Giveaway winner!

I promise I did the giveaways fairly! I did take out the few people who are not following my blog, because that was one of the requirements. But I still had a good response! 14 eligible people!

Okay, I know you probably don't care about that. Let me announce the winner!

Carla of 365 Letters is the winner! Congratulations! I will package it up, and get it in the mail in the next couple of days. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Envelopes from Japan!

Aya at Travel by postcards and letters had posted that she had a bunch of extra envelopes, and would send some to anyone who wanted them. I can always use some envelopes, so she sent me some, along with a postcard and some cute stickers!

All the envelopes she sent

A close-up of a few

The rest of the contents of the package

My first giveaway!!!

I received a postcard recently from Mrs. Duffy of Letter Matters in Kingsburg, California. I love how she has postcards printed with her blog's logo!

The other day I made some pencil cases from a tube from a bike tire, and since I don't need 3, I'm giving away one! And some envelopes I made!

The pencil case doesn't actually fit pencils, because it is only 6" (about 15.5 cm) long. It holds about three pens. Then envelopes are 6" by 3 1/2" (15.2 by 9 cm) and made from a map.

To enter, you must be following Old-Fashioned Correspondence. Leave a comment with a number (make sure no one before you has the same number!!!) by Saturday, June 9. Also make sure I have a way to contact you, either through your blog, or leave an email address! I will write all the numbers down on paper, put them in a hat (or a bag, or other similar object), and draw one at random. Good luck!