'LOVE'S GREETING - ELLEN CLAPSADDLE" POCKET LETTER

Created for a "Vintage Valentine" Pocket Letter swap at Pocket Letter Pals.  

Ellen Clapsaddle was one of the most well known and prolific illustrator's at the turn of the 19th century and into the 1920's.   The images are all from her works.  I used a flocked paper on the outside of the pockets and added the felt hears, pearls, gold mirror card birds and Platinum Stickled garland on top of that.  

Thanks for looking!

"LOVE IS A 4 LEGGED WORD" - VALENTINE THEMED POCKET LETTER

You know I love and adore all Graphic 45,  had to, I just had to do a Pocket Letter using papers from their "It's Raining Cats and Dogs".

I used one of the "feature" pages for the front and as this is going to a cat loving pal I focused on cats. The envelope contains a letter and extra die cut (see the back).

The plaid kitty is a die from Cottage Cutz, the vintage button poem and envelope and the two vintage kitty valentines are all digital files from The Chocolate Rabbit Graphics.

"THE LITTLEST MERMAID" - FAVOURITE CHARACTER THEMED POCKET LETTER SWAP

The very first favourite movie I remember is "The Littlest Mermaid" which I believe was shown in several parts on "The Walt Disney Show".   I was and still am a sucker for "cry baby" movies ie heart wrenching scenarios but usually with a good outcome.

Everything from now until Valentine's Day gets the "heart" treatment LOL  These retro images came from The Vintage Remix on Etsy.   I created a bit of an "under the seascape" with a piece of chipboard netting with gems, pearls, lockets & keys and a few shells adhered.  A lot of glitter on each of the mermaids bring it to life..in real life :)

I have filled the back with sea themed or coloured goodies; including a miniature set of the mermaid images, and a Valentine wrapped teabag.

POCKET LETTER PRETTIES FROM "THE CHOCOLATE RABBIT GRAPHICS"

These are so sweet, they deserve a post all of their own!  As Betsy creates more pieces perfect for Pocket Letters (how fast can you say that!) I will show them off!

A sweet poem and envelope.

"LOVELY" MIXED MEDIA POCKET LETTER WITH FABRIC SWAP

The pockets are two different fabrics which I bonded back to back, giving the same background on the other side.  The heart banner, word and bicycle are die cut from a velvet brown paper.  The binder side allowance is covered with fabric tape.  I created a ribbon banner by layering different widths and types of trim, anchored with buttons and baker's twine.  I've carried the button theme to the bicycle wheels and the basket is "filled" with sparkly bling flowers.

 Close up of the ribbon and button banner;

Buttons again on the back with a button poem and envelope from The Chocolate Rabbit, a pair of sweet crocheted lacy corners, ribbon holders with enough bits to duplicate the banner I made for the front and a few die cuts from the same fabric.  I will include a pattern and instructions for a fabric Valentine, a couple of pieces made from "hot" fibers and a fabric flower.

"SPARKLE 'N SHINE" VALENTINE POCKET LETTER

As the name implies, it is all about the sparkle and shine!

Close up of the focal piece;

The back;

"LOVE IS A THREE RING CIRCUS" VALENTINE POCKET LETTER

I have had this set of dimensional stickers for quite awhile, perfect for a fun and funky Pocket Letter. I used a subway style poster printed wallet size for the background.

The back;

"SNOWMAN FUN" POCKET LETTER

Silvery glittery blue with white snowflakes paper create the background. I do adore a garland no matter where it is, this one created from chipboard winter themed alphas.  Pockets are filled with bits to match the theme.  A glass snowfolk pendant hung with a bit of ribbon is a charmer.

Antiqued vintage postcards are the base here on the back.  A tea bag wrapped in a sweet prim style wrapper and the envelope for my letter with a pieced snowman.  A simple Pocket Letter but the details make the difference.

"THE CHOCOLATE RABBIT" - IMAGES FOR POCKET LETTERS AND MORE

The popularity of Pocket Letters just keeps growing, I am certainly "crazed" with this latest way to mix art and friendship.

In my quest for different and more creative ways to build my Pocket Letters, I connected with Betsy of "The Chocolate Rabbit  Graphics" on Etsy.  (She also has a Facebook page, where you will find a free giftie along with her latest creations.)  I have a small collection of her digital files, I adore her vintage, retro vibe.  Have a look at what she does with labels..oh my!

Betsy is working on files that are sized for Pocket Letters, here is an example;

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/264657956/valentine-button-cards-vintage-retro?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=Pocket%2BLettersClick here for the direct link .  Do check out what is happening at "The Chocolate Rabbit Graphics".

"IN THE TREE TOPS" VINTAGE STYLE CHRISTMAS POCKET LETTER

It was the JoAnne of  Vintage Dragonfly posting a Holiday Pocket Letter swap that got me going on Pocket Letters.  This is what I created for my swap partner Karla.

Karla liked vintage (of course), traditional colours and plaids for the holidays.  The plaid papers are Graphic 45, the snowscene was cut from a paper I have had in my stash for ages.  A bit of vintage ric rac, one of my vintage corsage pins and some other bits and pieces.  I didn't take a photo of the back, not sure why LOL

"ROMANTIQUE" VALENTINE POCKET LETTER

The inspiration and base for this one is Graphic 45's "Mon Amour" paper line.   Does it look like you are seeing this through a window?  That was fun.

I cut the central figure out and "popped" her onto the outside of the pocket.  For more texture I used; Liquid Pearls down the (your) left border, Wink of Luna on all of the leaves with Stickles on top of that and then outlined most of the rest of that piece, a couple of crocheted flowers, a banner from my stash, some pearly swirls on the right (your) corners and a sweet lacy dragonfly at  her  sash.

A close up;

The back;  the perfect theme to dig into my flower/leaf stash for pocket fillers.  Several of these are vintage millinery pieces.  The tea bag wrapper is from Chocolate Rabbit Graphics on Etsy.

Note:  Chocolate Rabbit Graphics has been a favourite of mine for quite some time.  Her prices are competitive, superior quality and she is quick to respond to a request.  Check her out, I suspect you will soon see her developing goodies specifically for Pocket Letters.

"GNOME HOME" VALENTINE POCKET LETTER

This Pocket Letter I crafted for Lucy, our 7 year old granddaughter.  I'm looking forward to getting a letter back from her.

I found this image on Etsy some time ago and knew it was the perfect bit of whimsy for a Pocket Letter of a style quite different for me.  Lucy found and picked the puffy heart ribbon from my stash as something she wanted on her Pocket Letter.

It was easy to pick pretty little bits to fill the back pockets and delight a young girl.

"MY HEART' VALENTINE POCKET LETTER

I'm almost always ready to move on to the next holiday, hello Valentine's Day!  I've set up a number of swaps for Valentine themed Pocket Letters, this will be a busy January for me.  I admit to going through my Valentine stash before Christmas LOL

This tag (Paper Whimsy) that I made several years ago was the inspiration for the feel of this Pocket Letter.

Vintage style images from Etsy, Graphic 45 papers, baby blue Dresden scrap, ribbon flowers and lots of glitter.  (Stickles).  It IS the details that make all the difference.

Happy Valentine's gold foil (baking specialty shop), pink Dresden, cupid diecut from red mirror card, sweet vintage style thread winders, tiny sweet library cards among the goodies.

" VINTAGE CHRISTMAS" POCKET LETTER

I created this Vintage Christmas themed Pocket Letter for the "Did Someone Say Vintage" swap at the Pocket Letter Pals site.  My inspiration was thinking of what the holidays "looked like" when I was a child (late 50s/early 60s).


The front;  to start I used two different patterned papers to create this outdoor scene.  The paper for each pocket is trimmed to 2.5 x 3.5 inches (like an ATC) and a 9 pocket acrylic binder page is used for the PL.  I used a piece of vintage red w/gold thread ric rac along the bottom.  Didn't everything have ric rac on it in the '50s?

A strip of candy cane washi tape down the left side of the page, to cover the label area.  Faux fir branch (pipe cleaner) is the base of the swag, with red grosgrain ribbon wrapped from one end to the other, candy striped baker's twine attaches the teeny Shiny Brights (real ones!) and there are teeny vintage red plastic clothes pins on each end too.  I have hung a small stocking (filled with a few more goodies) and a metal lithographed vintage tree ornament from the top left.

The back;  the graphics screamed 1950s to me!

Gathering bits and pieces to consider for filling the back pockets; vintage images cut into scalloped rounds, vintage style thread winder, teeny bottle brush tree, actual vintage candy cane stickers.

"IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE" - POCKET LETTER

For a theme swap on the official "Pocket Letter Pals" website.

I created this thinking of what I remembered the holidays "looking like" when I was a child (50s/60s) and the theme I most remembered.

The theme;

The front;

The back;

"WONDERLAND SCENE" - A POCKET LETTER TO SWAP AT POCKET LETTER PALS

I need to NOT sign up for another holiday themed Pocket Letter LOL  This one and another (I can't show yet) are going into the mail today, then I think I have only two more to get out this month.  But you know how it is when you are deep into something new.

This one is inspired by and created with several Bo Bunny paperlines from a year ago or so.  I was looking for blues and these were perfect.  I have always been keen on garlands (and other hangie things) and find most (all) of my PLs are decorated with a garland of one sort or another.  This one is quite a bit "quieter" than I would normally do but the scene just cried out "leave me alone"!

I played with the blues of the paper on the back, used the journal spots and tags as the base of the pockets.  All were glittered up and filled with blue, silver and a few red bits.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - POCKET LETTER

We have started a Pocket Letter Swap group here in Victoria BC.  This morning was our first swap, everyone quickly agreed we should do more!  What creativity!  I have created a "Pocket Letters Victoria BC Swap Group" pinboard and posted photos of everyone's PLs, feel free to check it out under my Pinterest account.  I think we will focus on holiday themes so next will be Valentine's Day.

Here is what I put together for Gloria;

All based on Graphic 45's "A Christmas Carol" papers, playing up the blue, green and pink palette. The front

and the back.

"NINE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS" POCKET LETTER (SWAP AT POCKET LETTER PALS)

Each of the nine pockets are to be filled ie 1 something in the first pocket, 2 somethings in the second etc.  I had Graphic 45s "Twelve Days of Christmas" paper and stamps, so that was easy!  And so was taking a shabby chic style.  I'm pleased with how it came out and I'm doing another with Graphic 45s "A Christmas Carole".

The front;

The back;

The box;

Holiday Pocket Letters (2)

That post was getting a bit long so here goes the second batch.

"Retro" - I seem to have a "model" underway.  A banner across the top, front pockets filled with embellishments.

The back - the pockets are filled with vintage style images, which are not affixed and can be used and an envelope for the "letter".

A custom made box to contain the letter and mail it.

"Starlight Mints"  - the front pockets filled with embellishments, a tag and a banner across the top.

The back pockets are filled with vintage image gift tags and an envelope is attached to contain the "letter".

I really do love creating the custom box to contain my "Pocket Letters", a special touch.

Holiday Pocket Letters

Are you doing "Pocket Letters" yet?  I just recently discovered them and of course I'm in full production :)  "Pocket Letters" are a mix of pen pal and artsy/crafty fun.  Check out Janette Lane's tutorials and her  "Pocket Letter Pals"  site.

Here are a few that I have done for swaps.

"Santa" - the front, all of the pockets are full of embellishments for my swap partner to use, the banner is attached to the outside,

and the back pockets which I have filled with vintage image gifts tags and and attached envelope I made for the "letter".

I like to make a custom box for the folded "Pocket Letter".

"Krafty Christmas" - the front, again filled with an assortment of embellishments, a banner attached across the top (pop dots)

and the back pockets.  Here I used a single sheet of paper that I have simply cut and and left in order to recreate the "scene".  Again an envelope is attached to hold the "letter".

A custom box to contain the letter.  Do a Youtube search to find several variations on creating the box.