Feb PTEX from JeanR, Janet, and Smash

Jean did a pretty collaged card and tucked it inside an envelope that features Viola's name.

Janet's official exchange envelope has already been posted - she did an extra envelope for Viola. It's a nice stealworthy idea if you have a fun scrolly penmanship style.

From Janet - another fun design using her limited number of art supplies while she escapes the polar vortex.

From Smash - it looks like a deconstructed tea bag.adhered to the envelope.

PTEX to Viola - from Irene and Maggie

Viola is my my BigHelpfulBrother's mother-in-law. Or my sister-in-law's mother. She had her 99th birthday on Feb 22nd. I put her name on the lists for the envelope exchange and was very pleased with the results.

To the right is from new exchanger, Irene. Below is from Maggie.

Two nice examples of how to scatter a design element.

The teddy bear was tucked in Irene's envelope.

Feb from RachaelT

The decision has been made to run the valentine themes envelopes in May, rather than Jan of 2020 because I can put a label on all of them [valentines] and then anyone can search valentines ideas at any time.

This was Rachael's first attempt at the DuBosch Jubilesque style that I have appropriated. She nailed it. If you have not tried it - maybe this will inspire you to try it.

Her card is adorable. It would be easy to morph this into other holidays by having other items floating out of the tiny envelope. Shamrocks, birthday candles, skulls, socks.

Uber-stealworthy.

Feb Exchangers Heather and Thomas

I'm pretty sure the top one if from Heather. There was no return address and the postmark did not match anyone on the list by city. North Carolina suggests Heather.

Thomas sent the bottom one. Nice bold contemporary versals and the color looks like watercolor pencil.

Feb Exchangers - CarolC and Cheryl

Carol, on top had a nice little print tucked in her envelope which is made out of a brown paper bag that had red printed stripes. Cheryl had some nice pointed pen lettering along with a note on the cutest note paper.

I will never outgrow my love of cute. My temperament is not cute at all. I'm truly snarky. But I love the cute stuff. I wonder what's with that. I must be very well balanced.

Hope none of the people who know me in person fell off their chairs laughing at that last remark.

Sorry about the non-cropping. Maybe I would not be so snarky if I had a better relationship with technology. Maybe I would not be so snarky if my scanner didn't make me reboot every time I needed to scan.

Grrrrrrrrrrr.

And do not even get me started about the ordeal of transferring photos to the computer.

One more thing....the stamp on Cheryl's is from Singapore and reading the very fine print tells us that it is commemorating a vanish trade - the ice ball seller. Google Singapore ice balls and you can read all about them and also see many images....if you need to surf a bit more today :-) It is always fun to see the stamps from other countries.

Feb Exch from Maggie and Jannie

Abundance of cuteness from Maggie (top) and Jannie.

Tomorrow I will continue with my rave about cute stuff. Today we will just grin from ear to ear.

Valentines bring out a lot of cute. Halloween and Valentine's Day are two holidays which are loosely based on some Christian stuff (St. Valentine and All Saint's something) but mostly they are an excuse to eat candy. And sell stuff that is as far removed from necessity as possible.

So why are they so popular? Because we simply need a break from routine? For me - every day is like a holiday because at any given moment, I can take a holiday break and do something entirely un-necessary. Make an envelope. Or just write stuff on paper.

Feb Exchangers Kate and CathyO + Lynne and JeanR

The top two are together for general design elements and also these two are both talented calligraphers who get out their nibs and ink. I think about doing that more than I actually do it....

Cathy's has a faint shadow swoosh which is the insert showing through. She had some dreamy sparkle ink. And there is more sparkle on the heart that might not show up.

The next two are also real live calligraphers. Lynne on top and JeanR on the bottom. Two more good ideas for valentines.

Feb exchangers Grace and Lynne

Once again, I couldn't get the photo cropped...
Grace did a very cool job recycling some striped paper. I'm pretty sure it is an envelope that has been turned inside out.

Lynne found the right kind of markers to use on silver paper.

From Chuck and Faye - Feb Exch

Once again, all the envelopes from the February exchange fell into perfect pairs. The first two are from Chuck (top) and Faye (bottom). I pondered scheduling this series closer to next February since a lot of them are valentine themed, but now that I have the Pinterest boards, I will just pin them on the valentine board and figure that people will look there first.

Plus, I will try to label all of them on the blog. I have not had any labeled valentine - which surprises me....but, it's never too late to layer on one more organizational tool.