Outgoing Mail - Floral Arts & Disney

Hello, dearies. Summer is getting hotter and hotter everyday which lead me to some sea and floral theme in my mailart. Also I suddenly have a great lot of time which is fantastic. I like the feeling of no need to rush, to run somewhere which allows me to relax and do what I like.
I got a few new products from various companies to try out. And the one I'd like to mention is a fantastic mini Distress Inkpad by Tim Holtz. I recommened it to ANYONE because it's so beautiful, and such a wonderful vintage color (walnut stain). I tried it with some brush and it's wow.
This is the one that I tried out with some other inkpads. It looks so unusual and works well even with the usual office paper. It needs drying and flatting later but the result is fantastic. This letter, by the way, goes to my new penpal from Russia. I hope she enjoys it!

Another letter is a late answer to my belgian penpal Lotte. I'd love to apologize for this pause - I've been taken away by some real life. It is the envelope I tried to make with some floral scrapbooking paper and I must say it worked so well and gave me a nice idea to create themed paper for the letter itself.

I also certainly couldn't avoid the topic of Disney. Oh my God, I love Disney! It's never enough of it. And I'm a real mermaid addict. They are so graceful, so beautiful, perhaps a bit silly, but just brilliant. And of course I like the little mermaid Ariel. The letter goes to no idea who yet, but it comes with a themed paper piece as well.

I hope you enjoy your summer as much as I do. Tell me what is your this summer mail quirk?

Toffy xxx

Journal Entry - Phantom of the Opera

Visiting the bookshop a few months ago, I've spotted a book "The Phantom of the Opera". I knew there's a movie called like this and we even have it at home. But I've never watched it before. The decision has been taken at once and the little book appeared in my bag.
In this post I'd love to make a few comparing of the book itself, written by Gaston Leroux, and the USA movie from 2004.


To start with, I should say that those who like detective stories with a shade of drama, should read the book. Those who prefer romantic stories and fantastic music - movie. But myself I'd recommend to do both.
When I've started reading the book, I was quite interested by then. I absolutely loved the way of expressing ideas, thoughts and how the story was told. I felt myself a visitor in the destroyed Opera, where a kind storyteller entertained me with the most famous mystery. I swear I could hear all the sounds there while reading, starting with steps and finishing with amazing voices of opera singers.
In some pages I realised that I must watch a movie. I'm a very impatient person, so I couldn't resist leaving a book for a while (which later was left for a few months).
I should say that this movie was one of the greatest music movies I've ever watched. BUT the movie story will surprise you with a great lot of differences from a book, in some good or bad ways.
As advantages, I can name music, written by talented Andrew Lloyd Webber. I already have the printed note sheets, 'm playing them from time to time and it gives me goosebumps. The movie music will get into your blood and won't let you calm down for some time, as it did to me. It was a great enjoyment to listen to the singers and to the playing orchestra.
As for the actors, I have a few "yes" and "no". I am absolutely happy of the way they represented Raul. I didn't like him in the book so much, for his character there was ... weak, I could say.
As I have mentioned before, the book sounds like a detective story. The movie is a drama. A beautiful opera singer Christine and 2 men, from which she has to choose - lovely story. Such a beautiful Phantom, I adored his appearance and voice. But he wasn't presented even half that ugly as in the book. Which is, perhaps, good. I am glad, though, they gave us chance to pity Eric (Phantom), since in the book in the end all you feel towards this man is disgust and hatred. Well, probably not so harsh, but close to this.
Certainly, this movie does has some flaws, where I include the acting of some actors.
In common, I do recommend everyone to get familiar with these wonderful art creations and share your opinion too.

Toffy xx

Outgoing Mail - Owl&Fox

Hello, mail addicts! How is your summer going on? I hope you enjoy it and make your dreams and plans come true.
So far I'm pretty busy in real life, I have an exam session for university entering, but it's exciting to realise that soon I'll be free. The results come on Saturday when I will know if I'm accepted or not. Wish me luck!

Now on to some mail. I'm slow with writing and sending now, but I keep receiving some letters. I'll share the incoming mail as soon as possible.
If you remember from my last blogpost, I've made a funny owl envelope, which goes to my new wonderful friend Yoshi (check out her blog!). She's sent me some adorables, I'll definitely show them in the next post, where I'll tell about my latest incomings. I thought I'll treat my new penpal with a few stickers.

The other letter goes to my penpal Ruta, which appeared to suddenly become my constant penpal. It's so cool! I drew her a little TARDIS, ohyes, I'm a Doctor Who fan. Maybe she likes it too? I'll learn out very soon. 

Also I absolutely love Fab's envelope design. I don't have a color printer, only a b/w one, but I have markers and washi tape, ha!

So, you see, I'm going super slow on my letters, but soon it will speed up. Want to be my penpal? Just drop me a message or a comment! :)

Toffy xx

Day by day - Outgoing Mail

Hello everyone. I hope your days are going well and summer is treating you with nice mail and good weather?

I have been super busy these past weeks due to my college graduation. YES, I have finished college! I am so excited about it. Though not for long - I have university to enter. 4 more long years and then I'll be free to proceed on building my life. For now all that is left for me is preparing for upcoming exams, enjoying summer days, drinking coffee (usual coffee + condensed milk, of course), reading and, of course, snail mailing!

Sneak Peek - Storage and Decoration

Hello everyone :) Life in Minsk is going pretty good - I had a very exciting day yesterday, which included an exam (passed for 8 and happy for this) and my first experience in being an enterpreter at business meeting. I loved this because I've never been talking to a foreigner in real life and it was a really great and useful experience. He said he loved my English and many other nice things. I hope I impressed some people there because I really want this job, haha!

But now closer to the subject. I thought I'd share with you some pictures of how I store my supplies and use my postcards.

I've always hated empty walls, it makes such a dull impression and sometimes even scares me. I'm used to having posters or anything else on the wall. For a year now my room is decorated with postcards. This is just a part of them, that's hanging over my bed. I put on the walls only non-official cards. The biggest one is from the UK sent by my dear friend Alan. I have more cards from him, but they are posted on another wall. The one with owl is from Debe, Germany and the one with teddies from a french friend Jan. The first one is from another british friend Bill. The last (2nd) one has been sent to me by one of my old penpals, with whom I'm unfortunately not communicating now.

Other postcards and envelopes I keep in boxes, albums and storage baskets. The first album is for the Postcrossing cards (it's already full, wow!) as well as the one with a red drawn ribbon. In this box I keep Postcrossing cards, that are oversized, shaped or go with envelopes. The basket keeps my recent mail, but I am going to buy some files to store the mail by sender. The green one also keeps envelopes.

As for the supplies, then these are my favourites. Some of the stickers I use most, also my favourite washi tapes (it's not all I have, but just the favourites), and, of course, my favourite pens. I prefer the black one to write with and a white one to decorate. And of course, where would I go without an owl rubber ^^  and a nice pencil. Also I'm using the mat for crafting and writing letters, helps me to save my damaged-without-it-table :D

I have a lovely shelf (not pictured here) where I keep my cardmaking supplies, such as paper, stickers, brads and the stamps, of course. This is a box with my inkpads and stickers. I don't have a lot, my collection is only growing!

As well as for cardmaking supplies, I have a seperate shelf for my mail supplies. This is where I keep my empty postcards, stickers, envelopes and other little additions.

Well, this is it so far! How do you keep your supplies? Tell me in comments!

Toffy xxx

TUTORIAL: Tea Vintage Paper

Hello everyone! I hope you are enjoying your snail mailing days, sun and winds, ice cream and vacations, which are coming soon or already did.
A few days ago I've opened for myself a new great site for those, who share the love of snailmailing. It's such a warm and nice community, I'm glad I've joined - thank you, Fab, for creating this cozy place for us all.
There during some discussion the theme of paper crafting occured and I promised to share my experience of tea colored paper. There are lots of such tutorials on the WEB, but here is mine!

This method is perfect for those, who are in the same deep love for vintage as I am.
For creating this paper I will use and you will need:

• Writing paper printables (I am using this, my favourite paper + envelope set)
• A deep bowl for crumpled paper OR a deep flat tray for smooth paper
• Strong tea essence (tea leaves preferred instead of bags)
• A tray or any other flat surface

STEP 1. First of all, prepare your paper sheets. It should be a black-and-white printable or just a usual office paper list. I chose this paper set by Mintprintables, which I used some times before. Make sure it's a needed size, because after the tea procedure, you won't be able to cut it well.

STEP 2. Fill the bowl or tray with your tea. It should be a strong black one to give a good color to your paper list. 

STEP 3-4. Here can be a few different variants. If you want to make an effect of a really old paper list, crumple the list and put it in the bowl. In case you want your paper sheet stay smooth and flat, put it very carefully into the deep tray and with your fingers carefully let it dive a bit. If needed, put something over it. NOTE that the crumpled list will not have color on all the sides - some spots will stay uncolored with tea unless you carefully unfold the paper and putting closed angles into the water. Also try to turn over the list for smooth variant.

STEP 5. Keep the paper sheet in tea as long as you want, but not less than 2 hours. Personally, I like leaving the sheet for a night, but even 3-4 hours are quite enough to get a soft color. When you are sure it's enough, carefully pick out your sheet. Be VERY careful, since it's wet and can be ripped easily (this is what happened during the tutorial creating lol). Put the paper onto the flat tray and let it dry. I don't advice to use the fan - it is better to leave it to dry naturally. It doesn't take very long, around 30-60 mins till it's completely dry.

And voila. You have a vintage looking paper sheet. It might seem a bit time taking, but it's crafty and it's fun! Paper really changed it's state and is different on touch. I make it to write with ink on it.

I hope you enjoy this little experience tutorial and will use it (in case of re-blogging please mention the original tutorial creator).

Here is a 1 year old example of the letter I made with this tea idea.

Toffy ❤❤❤

Spring into Spring - Outgoing Mail

Hello :)

I've been super busy these weeks with making some envelopes, writing letters and preparing the postcards. Now I'm armed with mail!

First of all, I've entered a Round Robin which has been successfully finished - I received 3 amazing cards there. Also I've won a few lotteries on the Postcrossing forum, now I'm waiting to receive the cards. They will be posted in the next post.

Also I've started penpalling again. It is so exciting, I am glad to have new friends around the world to share love of snail mailing and all this mail stuff.

I have met a lovely girl who's in love with Disney cartoons as much as I am - I decided to send her cute Olaf, because he likes warm hugs!

Also I've used all the nice stationary I received long ago in my Postcrosser's beginning. Actually I have no idea where to get paper now, since I am not sure I can find any in shops here. And oh no, I don't have a color printer. 

I've also spent some time on toning and decorating lightly the envelopes. Finally my inkpads got used - they give too much ink for usual stamping but they are perfect for edge toning!

I have also entered a funny swap on Swap-bot, where we had to answer 100 questions and send them someone. I spent a few days on that, haha, and so much paper. But it was a great experience, can't wait to get a letter from my partner! Must be fun.

I hope your snail mail times are going well, same as you do. Wishing you nice week!

Toffy