(7) Oct to Janet and Irene - resisting temptation

 

These were the first two I did in October. After trying nibs and ink on the gold envelopes, I gave up. The style was fun to do - but the ink wasn't black enough. I did some touch up - but that was tedious - and I used the idea off Janet's envelope - reminding us that *mediocre is just fine* - that's not the exact quote - but you get my drift. 

Of course, I broke my most emphatic rule - and did the lettering without having stamps in mind. At least the stamps are good. I give those doo-dads on Irene's a D. Janet's doo-dads get a C+ because I resisted the temptation to borrow the crescent moon off the stamp. That would have been a disaster. Stick with dots. Dots are our friends and they never let us down.

***

The train of thought went from October is hard > to being happy it's November > to lamenting the excess of the holidays > to enjoying the simple pleasures of the holidays (mail and cookies) which reminded me that I am so happy to have discovered an easier way to make Spritz cookies. They were a favorite cookie that we only made once a year. Then I gave up the cookie press and regretted that I did not have it. Then a friend of mine said that she still had hers. I was excited to borrow it - and then hers fell apart after she had made her dough. So she just made little lumps and smashed them with a fork. 

I decided to try rolling the dough into a log and making them slice-and-bake - and voila - that works. It's a very easy dough and I enjoy making them more often. I only eat one a day. Most people scoff at being able to eat just one  and insist that they could not do that. I read something about how willpower is a scam. If you want to cultivate willpower, it can't be done. 

Here's the theory. The part of your brain that makes good choices shuts down when you are stressed. When you are stressed, if you have ever had a cookie and then felt better, you imprinted that scenario on your brain and it will forever use cookies as a solution for stress.

How do you undo the imprinting? When you want the cookie, you have to stop and enlist your curiosity. You have to ask *Why do I want a cookie?* and after you are honest about wanting a cookie because the squirrels have destroyed all your hard work in the yard - you no longer want the cookie because if you eat the cookie, the squirrels win.

Note to Janet: if you are collecting any quotes to add to that list - I think If you eat the cookie the squirrels win should be on the list.

(6) Oct to Jessica and Jeannette - moderating sugar and carbs

 

This is the same font that I used on Mary's. I only did two names and it wasn't enough fun to keep me going. I was glad to find that alcohol markers with a bold black outline is a very nice combination. 

I've forgotten what I was thinking when I tried this black marker on gold. It's not black enough but it looks good with the little rabbit. I wish I had worked in the green leaves somehow. The white dots should have been larger. 

***

Before we get into serious cookie discussion, I want to acknowledge that sugar is not high on the list of healthy ingredients. It's been getting a lot of well-deserved bad press. I did not moderate my sugar situation until I was trying to grow a bunch of stem cells and platelets to shoot into my knees to avoid knee replacements. It was 10 years ago and I was 64. I was motivated to eat like a caveman and it was a good fit for me. I was happy to restore my knees rather than having to replace them.

It took five years for me to lose my carb and sugar cravings so I know how seductive/addictive sugar is and I do not want to be preachy about it. Over the past two years, I have adjusted to the *everything in moderation* mode and it seems to be working. I just don't want to be pushing sweets on people who are trying to cut back. I know how hard it is to wean one's self off sugar and carbs - so if you are trying to do that - I encourage you to ignore the jabbering about cookies - and then in Dec I will add something to this topic - because I just edited this yesterday - but am loading the Dec posts.

***

Also - I posted yesterday that my son who starts his day at the main post office was not on site during the incident yesterday. Another sad story. 

This link has an interview with a lovely man who has worked there for 64 years who is a better representation of our postal workers. Scroll down a bit - it's not at the top.

https://www.kcci.com/article/des-moines-shooting-united-states-postal-service-2nd-avenue-multiple-victims/74345693

News from Des Moines

 This item has hit the national news and I've been fielding questions.

It did happen at the main station where my son starts his day - but he was not there when it happened.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/postal-employee-arrested-minutes-after-shooting-coworkers-at-des-moines-post-office-police-say/ar-AA2gOWj7

(5) Oct to Kate

 I've gone back and forth on this one so many times. Currently I'm not happy with any of it but that might be because of the way it photographed. There were moments when I made improvements and it got better. The original outline was dreadful. I was going to show it at each step - but I only have the very first layer. The K has been outlined to make the lines crisp. The R has not been outlined and you can see how lumpy it is. It took quite a bit of time to add layers to a point where I was liking it enough to send it - but my intuition told me to leave the -ate and -iley off - because I know more letters would be super distracting. I give myself a D- on planning on this one. The stamp helps - and I was glad to find an idea that needed a really fun stamp. As I recall, my other attempts to do something with this stamp were so-so at best.

There's enough written here - that I can leave the cookie topic on the proverbial back burner.

(4) Oct to Liz - November - month of thanks

 

Remember the envelope from Liz to me with the note from Liz saying that she had intended to go in a minimalist direction? This was my response. I'm not sure what Liz thought of it - but I rather like it. I keep forgetting to feature Mississippi on envelopes to her. It's such a fun name. 

***

OK, this envelope was loaded - waiting for a little more musing. I can finish my musing on October being so hard and the possibility of November being better. It seems like the month with Thanksgiving has a built in reminder to be thankful for the harvest. I suppose I would be thankful for the squirrels if I knew how to catch them and eat them. I wonder how many readers are vegetarians? I'm not. I think I'd feel quite at home with those Mongolians whose entire diets are reindeer. I bet they don't have to be bothered with farming or growing things. I'm still encouraged by the amount of ground covers I have been able to nurture into choking out the weeds.

The only down side to November is the tsunami of *holiday* stuff. I understand that it's a thing that's grown into what it is and it doesn't help at all to be Scrooge-y about it. I still have warmth towards the seasonal cards - although - the plight of the USPS is a bit of a cloud hanging over that.

I guess we'll have to talk about cookies.

(3) Oct to Mary and Kerry - monster mouth font

 

In my endless quest to find markers that look good on these shimmery gold envelopes, I tried alcohol markers and outlined them with Sharpies. As long as I get a solid black and some nice bright white for contrast, I'm satisfied. It would be good if I found a link to that font. I'll try. 

I regret that I did not use the font on Kerry's. I deeply regret that I did not go with a really bold black outline. I think this one was done after I had done some that I liked and was on the decline.

Finding the font was easy. I searched *monster mouth font* on Pinterest.

Here's a link Monster mouth font

Yesterday I said I was going to write more about how things are in November - having survived October - but, I discovered that I had already filled up this post - so maybe tomorrow we can reflect on November.

(2) Oct to Patty - survived October

 

The idea was fine - the result was a little disappointing. I hope it made it across town. 

As I write this, there are two weeks of posts already loaded. I've had a week off from writing. I've alluded to taking a break from surfing. The squirrels have been relentless in tearing up all my gardening efforts. There was another portion of a neighbor's tree leaning on my son's house that had to be dealt with and the list goes on and on.

And then - when I just needed to look at the calendar - I accidentally clicked on IG and saw an ominous post - from someone whose work I have enjoyed - and - once again - it's a person who is trying to make a living at *content* and pouring out their little heart on how hard life is.....

.....and I wanted to send a note saying --- it's all October's fault. October is a very difficult month. So, today, my drivel is going to be - Yay - October is over ---- so everything is going to be peachy.....

....yeah right......

.....more tomorrow.....

(1) Oct to Nicky - Sign up for November Exchange

Most of the time I use an incoming envelope on the first of the month for the sign up post. But I'm in the middle of scheduling the envelopes I sent in October. Nicky was having a birthday and I have not had much luck coming up with a design that goes with this stamp. I tried acrylic markers on vellum and I'm pretty happy with how those markers work on vellum. 

The two blues are not right - but in this case - two wrongs make a right - or they make a *close enough.* I see more of this design in my future if I can remember to pull it out. I really need some kind of virtual file for all the ideas that I've already done that are worth doing again. Who wants to trade places with MrWilson, move to Iowa and organize my stacks? If there is someone up for the task, I say we hire a film crew and do a documentary where we drug MrWilson and he wakes up in a new place and has no idea where he is or how he got there. Obviously, I am just finishing my noon cup of coffee. We need to drop him off in a place where people do not speak English. Or perhaps they speak English - but they are way more fun than I am - so he's grateful to have a new home. MrWilson will be upset, but after we release the documentary and it is wildly popular he'll be so happy.

*** 

Today through November 4th is the window to sign-up. Lists are sent on the 5th.

If you participated in the October exchange - just shoot me an email that says: SIGN ME UP - you do not need to retype your address and info.

Send your sign-up to:    PTEnvelopes-at-aol-dot-com

Let me know if it is your [Birthday] month or if you are willing to be on [2 Lists].

If you were not on an October list - or if you only sign up occasionally - or are a new exchanger - please send your information in the following format:

Jane Doe

123 Oak Street

Ames, IA 50010

janedoe@aol.com

[Birthday]  [2 Lists]  -- if those items apply

If you are new to the exchange - there are helpful details at this link:

LINK to helpful details

(31) Oct to Lynne and Lucy - Paid-Payed

 

These are the two vellum envelopes I liked - with the halloween theme. I drew the witch by hand - copying the Ed Emberley exemplar. On Lucy's I traced something that had been sent to me that is also Ed's work. I love the results when I just trace - but after doing one, I'm not keen on doing any more. That owl stamp is so dang cute.

***

On Oct 1st, I made my coffee, then checked the blog and read the line: She payed attention to my warnings about collaged materials surviving the aggressive USPS machinery. 

The word *payed* looked goofy. I changed it to *paid* but then I wondered if payed was a word because it had not been spell-check-corrected. This happened at 6 am and I saw that over 600 people had already seen the blog and perhaps noted the mistake. It's not that I'm a stickler for spelling and grammar issues - but - I was curious - so I Googled payed vs paid and found some interesting info for anyone who is interested in this kind of minutia.

When to use payed or paid 

The verb pay has multiple meanings. Its most common meanings relate to giving something as part of a financial transaction or obligation. You can pay when buying something, but you can also pay attention, pay a compliment, pay respects, pay a visit, and the list goes on.

In almost all cases, the past tense and past participle of pay is paid. When used in this way, pay is considered an irregular verb because it doesn’t use the ending -ed like regular verbs do.

However, the word payed is used as the past tense and past participle of pay in two very specific nautical senses.

The first means “to cover parts of a ship with pitch, tar, or similar coating.” The second means “to move a ship toward the direction of the blowing wind.”

In addition to these rarely used nautical senses, the form payed is also sometimes used to form the past tense of the phrasal verb pay out, which means “to gradually let out a rope.”

It should be noted paid out is also often used in this case (and considered acceptable by most grammar sources).

(30) Oct to Sharen - painted backdrops

 

Here is another one in the never ending quest to find something that works on my vellum envelopes. I have at least 100 left. There are a couple others coming up that I really like but they only worked for October. I wonder if I can spin them into a Dec theme - to enclose in my Nov envelopes. I think I have a good idea. 

***

The add-on today is a YouTube video about painted backdrops. Back in the 70s, when I did graphic design, I had a few trips to Minneapolis to work with a commercial photographer in a very impressive studio with amazing backdrop fabrics. The backdrops come in all sizes - so even Olan Mills has them - so it's something we've all seen even though it probably didn't leave any impression on most of us ..... except those of us who have a *thing* for paint. I always looked at them and wondered who painted them. Now I know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=6HqXNhT_kJw

They can be mostly one color with some texture or variation - or entire scenes.

I'm wondering if all of this is done with photoshop these days.

It's been a while since I watched the video - so I do not recall if there is any comment about that. 

If it's another *art* that is near death, I'd rather not think about it.

(29) Oct to Susan - buttons

 

Obviously Susan's was done after Teresa's (that ran yesterday). I didn't need to do more like Teresa's to remind myself that I do better when I loosen up. Perhaps this is too loose. There were not enough of these stamps to do 7-10 and arrive at something I loved. The only unloveable part of Susan's is the s in mashman.... but, it's only half bad. As much as I loved the stamps, it was tricky to find blues that worked.

***

My new system of filling the blog with a daily envelope as well as an add-on if there isn't much to say about the envelope seems to be working. It looks like I can get Oct filled by the 11th and then I'll have 2 weeks to get my Nov-Dec mailing done.

Here's a fun off-topic add-on with a link to IG and 10 more photos of very cool button ideas.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DdTQcPpDz6E/?img_index=1

That might be a linen shirt. Swoonworthy.

(28). Oct to Teressa - soapboxes

 

Since Teresa is new, I took the opportunity to flip through some of my old stuff and find something that would be new to teresa. I used a G-Tec pen knowing that it was usually very friendly to becoming a *wash* if I went over it with water. Sadly, I did not test the paper and the paper allowed bleeding. I could nit-pick at the lettering, but will refrain. 

Here is the old work that inspired me to try ribbon writing again. The verdict is still out on whether or not I can still do a decent ribbon. As always - I think it's more about doing just one - or doing ten in a row. 

I've tossed out this tip <about the value of doing multiples> and those of you who really need it will nod - and then ignore it. You KNOW multiples yield results. <sigh> Preachy Jean will get off her soap box. Or should I dive off my pulpit. What kind of people are on soap boxes? Crackpots? <pause> Influencers seem to be the new soapbox people.

I'll stick with Troy - and just be a cult leader. Somewhere in the past I posted a very funny letter from him where he referred to this *envelope thing* as a cult. 

(27) Oct to Cindy - Wisdom? (riled up about papermache)

It's a little wonky. I contemplated going around each of the letters to square them off. Then I decided that the mission is to get rid of all the orphans and I should let it go with all its glorious wonkiness. It's hard. Very hard. But, I am vigilant about doing these hard things. I know some of you are rolling your eyes. As always.... it could be worse. My hoard is manageable. It's that *virtual* hoard on the computer and the external hard drive that seems insurmountable.

Thoughtful Cindy figured I enjoy seeing the USPS's addition to this envelope - and she was correct. Very nice. Thank you for sending.

***

Why was I so riled up about papermache a couple days ago? The underlining of mis-spelled words can be helpful - but sometimes it's just a cranky schoolmarm making us feel bad about being bad spellers. 

It is also the way technology is everywhere - messing with us. But without technology - I wouldn't have all my pen pals and virtual blog-commenter-pals - so I'll just whinge about how it is now Oct 11 and it feels like the month is half over and I should be getting ready to do my big Nov-Dec mailing.

To be honest - I just had a flash of something that might have been *wisdom.* I remembered that the only time I get really good ideas is when I feel some pressure. So, perhaps that really good idea is ready to burst forth.

(26) Oct to JeanR - drivel about drivel

This is the last circle stamp to JeanR. It's very scribble-y and not in the best way. It could be worse. I do like the way it says Sweet Jean - because Jean is a truly sweet person. I don't think anyone would ever call me sweet, but I'm fine with that. I like variety. I know some people who are as ??? as me - and whatever we are is not sour or acid or salty or any of those other food labels. Maybe umami is the word that best describes us. I'll let Janet and Patty respond and tell us if they think I have an umami personality. 

This is short because the days are speeding along at an alarming rate. I found 15 posts that I had written but forgot to schedule - so we might be reading some very old strange stuff. Or there might be some new strange stuff. Either way - there will be stuff. 

I'll start putting *drivel* in the title to offset any disappointment for those of you who arrive each day looking for a dose of something more than drivel.

***

I was clearing out some folders and found this image ---- it's a much better design to go with that stamp. I wish I had found it and used it for JeanR. It's from Juliana - sent in Sept of 2025.

It's a good design lesson for how to switch up your fonts to make things fit. 

(25) October - Sept from Nicky (papermache)

Apologies for this post - the writing part needs some editing, but I don't have time.

The exchange emails pile up and once in a while I go through and delete them. I recently saw the very first one from Nicky where she introduced herself as a printmaker. Her prints have been a welcome addition to the blog posts. I think this is the first time she has taken on lettering although my memory is a teflon colander so there may be some delightful, font-tastic envelopes from Nicky. Either way, I enjoy her work very much and there is only one suggestion on this envelope. The center crossbar on the E is a little wimpy. That might be the way it was on the exemplar - but we are free to tweak whatever we find. 

*** 5:30 am - I just did a search and Nicky has done all kinds of lettering. So ignore what I said in the previous paragraph. ***

Do we know of things that are 100% lovely and we should not mess with them. Absolutely. Will I find an example and post it - maybe. Or I could refer you to Sheila Waters, Peter Thornton, John Stevens - and other rock stars in the world of lettering - those were just off the top of my head. 

*** 

When I woke up and read the October 10th blog post, I groaned to myself about what I had written. I quickly added a note that I would return to the topic. I just read the Oct 10 post and it is 5 am. There are usually 300-400 hits by 5 am - which means I might have that many readers. Lately - there have been 5,000-7,000 hits. My comments are mostly for Scarlet since my exchangers are mostly US people.

The comment on Oct 10th suggested that there were papers that were *finer* than other papers - but it would break my heart to tell brown kraft paper that it is not an equal to 100% cotton rag paper. Every paper is precious. Paper is my *thing* along with the tools and the fluids. And paper does not need to have anything added. Just folding paper is a world unto itself. <pause to make some kind of meaningful gesture to the paper deities> 

And if anyone is thinking that perhaps toilet paper is a lesser paper....nope....there is a lovely lady in Minnesota who has contributed to the papermache community with her fantastic recipes that include TP. 

Now I must pause to rant about Google's unwillingness to include papermache as an actual *thing* that has been around for a long time -- I'm so riled up I'm just going to insert the links and you can do your own research. Apparently there is no way to Englishize papier-mâche. GRRRRRRR!!!!!

LINK to the papermache lady who uses papermache as her spelling and she is the first person to pop up when doing a search for papermache - which seems like it should work. GRRRRR!!!!

Here's the official spelling - it's old - it came from China - the first makers of paper - so it's logical they they were also the first ones to tear it up and make something out of the paper with mistakes.

Papier-mâché - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papier-mâché

Bonus post - 10 years ago

 

Here is a quick bonus post, written yesterday, as I recovered from a morning of demolition noise and trepidation because demolishing things that have been done to a hundred year old house is trepidatious. I was exhausted from yard work so I allowed myself some surfing and clicked on Pinterest. It was fun to see that one of the first things to pop up was from the blog. A 2016 post. The top one is from Kate and the bottom one is from Rachael. We're probably done with our halloween envelopes. I should surf around the blog and look for ideas for Nov and Dec.

Today's regular post is right below.

(24) Sept from Mia - the denim conversation

 

With my new system for posting the envelopes in the order they arrive, I was also able to see which ones were late. Since Mia is in Canada, I checked with her to see when she had mailed hers and asked for a photo. I hope this envelope shows up - and I wonder if that font is in my collection of fonts on Pinterest. There is guy in Canada who has an extensive collection of fonts online. Luc DeVore? Maybe I can find his name and website. I'm pretty sure I have linked to it previously. 

***

A while ago I added this link to a post from 2020 and of course I have forgotten why. When I see something that looks like a good topic, I will park it in a blog post and then wait to add an envelope.

https://pushingtheenvelopes.blogspot.com/2020/07/denim-from-leslie.html

OK - I just looked at it and it's just me jabbering about fabric. I suppose you can look at it but, only if you are new to the blog and have never looked at old stuff. While I am liking my new system for posting the envelopes, I am concerned that it is too regimented and does not allow for any of the spontaneity and fun that I prefer. I'll try to focus more on the design tips. 

Mia's choice to center everything is very nice. She let the font be the star. The weight of the lines and the colors in her work complement the stamp. There's nothing to tweak on this envelope. 

***

Ohhhhhhh - I see something that might have freaked the scanner out. She spelled out FORTY-FOURTH. I think the scanner only reads numbers. This is just a guess. And here's the kicker - the way four/fourteen/fourty/forty/fourth/forth has some inconsistency has always sent me into my GRRRRs - but I'm too busy to do another tedious rant about spelling.....because there is a big one coming tomorrow.

(23) Sept from Grace - Wintering

 Grace did a relaxed version of her formal calligraphy. She appears to have an endless supply of vintage stamps. I'm getting so close to the final clearing out of my stamps. There are some old favorites that will be hard to part with - but I think I can do it.

***

Here I am, writing on Sept 30th. On the cusp of welcoming people to the exchange and making up the lists. I just finished listening to the book Wintering by Katherine May. I listened to it a couple years ago and I am always looking for audio books that will put me back to sleep when I am plagued with waking up every 1.5 to 2 hours (due to TBI).

I remembered that Wintering was a book about enduring the *wintery* parts of life so I thought maybe it would work for my dread of October. Voila. It had all kinds of things that I did not remember that were commiserating and nudging. It didn't try to be uplifting - just nudging along with a reminder to spend some time in nature and be uplifted by the way things work for the non-human creatures.

And then - when I did a search to see if I had already recommended the book - I found a fantastic post that made me so happy. We'll talk about it tomorrow - because right now - we have to pause - and celebrate the crossing over to 6,000,000 views of the blog. That's just wild. 

***

Later - when I looked at that supposedly *fantastic* post - that felt like a huge overstatement - so don't be expecting much tomorrow.

Oct to Christina -- USPS game

Here's my first October envelope. I used up some of my favorite stamps. This one was pretty quick. While I love the stamp, I wasn't getting any brilliant ideas. At least it coordinates with the rest of today's post which is USPS themed. Tomorrow's envelope is one I like even though it has four mistakes.

***

This might be my all-time favorite save the date. They are friends of my postal worker son. I blurred their faces and the info - and will probably delete it in a week or so. I just wanted to share it with my daily readers. 

 

***

Here's a fun game available at the USPS website - or other places. LINK to see details

There are all kinds of fun gifts from the USPS at their website - at the [Shop] tab.

Sept from Kate - Write like Pippi

 Here's Kate's September envelope. It makes me want to buy another sheet of those stamps. There is some pretty sparkle detail on the lettering. There are two more Sept envelopes to post - because they seem to be lost in the mail. 

***

It seems like I am just interested in a change of pace rather than a sabbatical from surfing. I haven't been paying attention to Pinterest so it's been providing some fodder for the blog. When I clicked on Pinterest, it was fun to see that one of my envelopes popped up in the very first spot. I took a screen shot. That's one of my envelopes to the post office in New Hampshire where Paula works. Note to self: send an envelope to Paula.

I scrolled down and clicked on something that led me to a Pippi who lives in Utah, has four kids and seems to think she has time to build an online career. Good luck with that. I don't mean that in a bad way - I suppose there are people who can raise four kids and build a career at the same time. To me, it seems like a bit much - maybe Pippi will see a huge bump in traffic and trace it back to me. Hi, Pippi. Feel free to let me know that my link was helpful.

I have to be honest with you, Pippi, I just use images to generate ideas for doing fun envelopes. Your ideas are very fun and I will be featuring my variations of your work. I won't be selling anything. Maybe some of my readers will buy stuff or sign up for your class. It's all very beginner friendly.

LINK to Pippi's website - not the home page - it's one of the options in her [Shop] section