You've Got Mail: PaperTrey Ink Mailbox Greetings
When I first saw Alli's Mailbox Greetings set, I had to smile; in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, it's rare for a Winter to go by in which a snowplow fails to hit the mailbox. Before we moved onto an even more rural stretch of road (dirt road, now), we lived off of a busy (by U.P. standards) road. I think we scored a new mailbox every Winter, and two of them some Winters! I wanted to get one of the Rubbermaid ones that was large enough for packages soon after we were married, but Rick vetoed the idea. "We'll buy the cheapest one. They'll knock it over and replace it with another cheap one, and we'll be fine with it." He's a wise man. . .
All of that to say that this row of catty-wampus (that's a good Southern term) mailboxes is perfect! I colored them with my Copic markers shown below and added envelopes stamped on Paper Trey colored cardstock in the three mailboxes that were wider open. For the background, I cut two extra "vee'd" flaps to simulate the look of an envelope, then added stitching to accentuate the flaps.
For my second Mailbox Greetings card, I masked off and stamped only two of the mailboxes and created a window, using my Spellbinders Plain and Scalloped Petite Circle dies. The patterned paper on front is from the Memory Box Beach Collection--fun and summery! Twill is PTI's Lemon Zest. The tag is one of my new tag sets, double ended tags, and the button is an Autumn Leaves Foo-Fa-La button. I now have three bags of these buttons in different color assortments, and they are my current second favorite embellishment, second only to ribbon, of course! The Copic markers were the same as above except for the greens, which I toned down a bit: YG91 and YG93, and the grays, which were cool grays (C's) rather than warm grays (W's). Thanks for the U.P mailboxes, Alli!
Check out the PaperTrey Ink Gallery for plenty of samples using this set!
Debbie, your mail box story brings a chuckle to me as we just replaced our mailbox a couple months ago. The last one was just to beat up to put back on the post...well, the post was broke off too. I did get a big mailbox this time so the Priority boxes would fit in it! Your cards are very fun! Love your envelope touches on the first and the circle window and striped paper on the second.
Posted by: Lisa Dolson | May 15, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Oh Debbie, I near fell over in my chair when I first saw your GORGEOUS cards. You have done this set justice...and your story is perfect. Thank you so much for your continued inspiration. I am glad you liked the set *smiles*
Posted by: Alli Miles | May 15, 2008 at 12:49 AM
Your cards are adorable! I love the little colored envelopes in the boxes!! Too fun!!
Posted by: Viv (VivLyn) | May 15, 2008 at 05:51 AM
Your cards are fabulous!!!! Love the simulated envelope and the colors of the striped DP. As always, your COPIC skills make your cards pop out of my computer!
Posted by: donna calamari | May 15, 2008 at 05:53 AM
Beautiful cards, I love this set!
Posted by: kim howard | May 15, 2008 at 08:25 AM
*jaw drops* wow! Amazing, simply amazing!! You are right-spring moss looks fantastic with the new Lavender Moon! :)
Posted by: Kimberly | May 15, 2008 at 08:35 AM
Wow, your simple sentence "and created a window using my spellbinders" probably would take me all day to figure it out and align it right LOL, it looks fantastic!!
Posted by: Etha | May 15, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Oh my goodness....these are adorable!! Love them Debbie!
~Lea
Posted by: Lea Lawson | May 15, 2008 at 10:09 AM
These are so cute, the plow gets ours every year too!
Posted by: Deb Wood | May 15, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Unbelievably cute! You ALWAYS do such an awesome job! Kim
Posted by: kim | May 15, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Too cute!!
Posted by: Candy aka cwilliams | May 15, 2008 at 10:17 AM
sooo cute! I just ordered mine and I can't wait for them to come!
Posted by: stampinmommyof4 | May 15, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Great cards, Debbie! Love the envelopes coming out of the mailboxes!
Posted by: Niki Estes | May 15, 2008 at 11:32 AM
I love those mailboxes! These cards are adorable! The tiny envelopes inside are so cute...and your window card is fab!
Posted by: Danielle | May 15, 2008 at 12:34 PM
You know what's funny for me? When my husband and I lived in the U.P. (in Hancock), we never had trouble with mailboxes. But now that we're under the bridge (in G.R.) we've had to replace ours every year! I just give a nod of excellence to UP snow-plow drivers;-)
Posted by: Summer Hodgman | May 15, 2008 at 12:53 PM
LOVE IT! My sis works at the post office in Pembine, WI... and mailboxes there get attention from the snowplows, too! :-) (NOT the snowplow DRIVERS!) Great job on ALL the cards/projects for this release. I love reading your blog!
Posted by: Heather Mitchell | May 15, 2008 at 01:11 PM
I absolutely LOVE the top card. The colors are fantastic together, and I love the lavender and green envelopes that seem to tie it all together.
Posted by: Mandy Cheshire | May 15, 2008 at 01:17 PM
So darling...these little cards just make me smile---so sweet and CUTE Debbie!
Melissa
Posted by: Melissa | May 15, 2008 at 04:24 PM
Wow...you NEVER make a THING I don't love!
Posted by: shel9999 | May 15, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Wow,... that many nice cards from you lately. The one with gras and flowers where cool, and this last one. Nice colours.
Posted by: Monica | May 15, 2008 at 08:18 PM
Yes, I love this too! I think one dat the mailboxes will show up at my house. I just ordered their white cardstock, can't wait to try it out! Love those stripes and the sewn card!!
Posted by: paula | May 16, 2008 at 07:14 PM
such darling images, and darling cards, too!
Posted by: trudee | May 16, 2008 at 08:24 PM
I need this stamp. My hubby is a....postman! ;)
Posted by: jules | May 17, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Who knew mailboxes were so cute! Fun cards!
Posted by: Jenny | May 18, 2008 at 05:51 PM
I LOVE how your card looks like an envelope. Thanks for all your gorgeous inspiration.
Posted by: Bethany Paull | May 20, 2008 at 05:21 PM