New Mail Art- August

I recently joined a great online community called swap-bot.  Members participate in group swaps, each with a specific theme.  As a newbie, I started out in easy swaps like sending post cards and short notes with creative writing challenges.  This week I'm branching out and trying some art based challenges.  The first was to decorate a kraft envelope with anything I wanted.  I had the option to draw, paint, collage, or even use a mix of techniques.  I've really needed a reason lately to dive back into practicing my drawing and collaging skills.

For the first assignment I used a white pen to Zentangle/Zendoodle all over the entire envelope.  For those of you that don't know, Zentangling is simply doodling in a repeating pattern to fill a space.  Sometimes you can find elaborate works of zentangles, but more often than not, zentangles are used to illuminate a letter or fill a shape.  At first this technique really intimidated me, but I discovered that Pinterest is full of patterns, tutorials, and step by step drawing guides for each pattern.

Celtic Owl by Taliesin71

by pinkflamingo61 on etsy

After a bit of practice, here's what I ended up with.  This is before the paper was folded into an envelope.

For my second art challenge on swap-bot, I chose another simple swap.  This one, being very similar to the first, used kraft envelopes as the medium.  This time there was a theme though: Fall; and a stipulation that you could not use Halloween items.

Again, I decided to draw.  With some practice first (and lots of erasing!) I went with a simple maple leaf and a pumpkin, two of my favorite things about fall!

Back in the Saddle Again

Hello! Hi! How are ya?!  I know it has been a LOOONG time since I posted here.  I'm starting to revamp my etsy shop, website, and the blog here.  So you will be seeing more of me!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!  I wish you all a happy holidays and a wonderful new year!

Lazy Wednesday and a Scrap Pack Giveaway!

This is the second Wednesday in a row that I have skipped Possible Pinteresting Wednesday.  I'm so sorry guys!  It has been a rough two weeks for me.  I don't have any tutorials for you today but what I do have are some goodies!

I have been meaning to do this for a long time and today I finally decided I should do it.  I'm passing on my collection of vintage papers to you.  That's right....I have started to clean out my craft supplies (I have waaaay too many) and I came across some awesome and beautiful paper deep in the belly of my craft closet.

So for you, my awesome readers, I offer this gift!  From now until December 20th, I'm running a contest for a free scrap pack giveaway to one of you.  That's 50+ vintage papers!

How do you enter this contest you may be asking?  Well simple!  There are several ways to enter, and each one of these will get you an entry into the contest (thats 6 entries per person!)

1. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post about something you would like to see right here on the LPD blog.  Also leave an email address so that we can contact you if you win!

2. Like us on Facebook AND leave a comment there as well about something you'd like to see me do or try out here on the blog.

3. Subscribe to our blog by email.

4. Spread the word about this post on twitter (follow us and include the tag #lonelyfreebies in your tweet)

5. Blog about this post on your blog (2 entries).

6.  Share this post with your friends on Facebook.

On December 20th, I'll pick a winner and get your pack to you before Christmas!

Can't wait that long?  Well head on over to the Lonely Paper shop on Etsy and grab one ..or two...or three for yourself!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just want to let everyone know that I will be away this week spending time with friends and family.  I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.  I'm grateful for each and every one of you that stop by for a read.

There will not be a Possibly Pinteresting Wednesday post this week but we will pick up right where we left off Wednesday the 30th.  I'm also very excited about all the Christmas goodies I have lined up for yall.  Have a great holiday weekend and see you next week!

Possibly Pinteresting Wednesdays: Con-graduation Lauren! Invitations

We've all seen the awesome wedding invitations with the modern typography and bright colors. Most of us don't get the opportunity to designs wedding invitations everyday, and when we do, we have to pick just one style. And with all the amazing designs available today plus the constant new ideas popping up all over Pinterest and the web, its hard to pick just one.  However with my sister's graduation coming up, I realized this style could be applied to anything.

It was a bit of a challenge to design this invitation with limited time.  So we decided that the invitation would also be the envelope.  Less paper, less time, more awesomeness!

Here are a just a few great pins that I drew inspiration on for this project.  Enjoy!

Oh So Beautiful Paper

Via Pinterest (Does anyone know the original source for these invitations?)

Pinterest (unknown source)

100 Layer Cake

More from Oh So Beautiful Paper

Possibly Pinteresting Wednesday: Message in a Bottle

While scoping out stuff on Pinterest a LONG time ago I found this awesome mail idea and tracked it back to Happy Mail on Giverslog.  I just have no words really....ok well I do actually.  BRILLIANT!  Yall know I love anything to do with snail mail and this takes recycling to a whole new level.

Its a modern day message in a bottle!  But you can send anything, not just messages as you see on Giverslog.  She mails everything from school supplies to a flip flop and even easter eggs.  Yep, seriously, she just slaps stamps on the outside and drops it in the mailbox.  

This will be the first time I send anything "unusual" through the mail.  The cranky ladies at the post office hate me when I use pink ink on my packages, so I don't think I'm even gonna risk going into the post office with this one.  I'm just gonna drop mine off in the post box by my work and hope for the best!

The first one is for my camp friend Rachel, who I use to write to all the time! She's been on me to write here again so I hope she likes this!  I used an empty water bottle, some pompoms, and a long strip of paper with twine.  

The second one is for my friend Jill.  I started by wrapping the container with printed tape this time to hide what's inside.  I wrapped up her surprise in some yellow tissue paper and closed the lid tight.  This container was an empty gelato container that I had saved to help organize my craft closet (that was before I received the 100 baby food bottles i mentioned a few posts ago).

You want to make sure you use enough postage.  More is always better!  Also make sure the lid to any container is on super tight.  You can always tape down the lid if you need to for extra security but make sure to NEVER tape over any postage.  

I wanted to show yall one more than I'm making for my friend Soleil but the bottle isn't dry like I thought!  EEK!   So...I will post photos of that one later this week and update this post.  So come back and have another look soon!

I hope you enjoy and start sending your own creative mail!

Possibly Pinteresting Wednesdays: Breakfast "muffins" and a Shiny French Manicure

I know I'm late today yall.  I normally have these guys up and ready a few days in advance so they can post at noon.  But today..well this week has been utterly insane!

However I do have some fun and tasty treats for yall and I attempted to do a glitter French manicure.

Of course I originally found this on Pinterest but I traced it back to Kalyn's Kitchen.  Her egg breakfast muffins look amazing....seeee....

Mine did not turn out this nice.  I blame my muffin pan!  And not that was not intended as a dirty joke! It sure did sound naughty though, didn't it?!  Anyway....

The recipe is really simple and easy to modify.  I used less eggs in mine.

• Kalyn says to use 12.  I only used 9 because that's all I had left over in my fridge.
• Brown a pound of breakfast sausage.  
• Add some shredded cheese.  I also added frozen broccoli since I didn't have any green onions or spinach, which probably would have tasted WAAAAY better by the way.  
• Mix, mix, mix.  
• Make sure you cover your muffin pan with some PAM or use cupcake liners.  This is where I went wrong!  Ideally one day when I decide to start making more grown up purchases (more cookware, less nail polish) I'll buy a silicone muffin pan so I can just pop those suckers right out of there!
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.  My oven is possessed so I only baked for about 9 minutes

And VOILA!  Here is how mine turned out:

They look really ugly but they taste amazing!  I've frozen them and eat 2 for breakfast every morning when I'm on my way to work, or take some along in a baggie if I'm running late.

Since it was Halloween on Monday I tried a little something special with my nails.  I apologize because I don't have photos of the process, but I plan to do another one soon so you can see each step.

Here is the finished product!  I used real cosmetic glitter and not glitter nail polish.  It was a huge mess but super sparkly!

I used 'Love My Blackberry' from Ulta and SallyGirl Sparkle Effects loose glitter in purple.  The glitter turned out more iridescent than purple.  Plus I don't have the steadiest hand so there is polish everywhere!

Do you have any suggestions of things you would like to see me try out?  Let me know in the comments!

Goodbye to October and a Special 'Thank You' to You

October truly is my favorite month of the year.  And even though I live in Texas, where it doesn't get cold and stay cold until the very last days of October, I try to cram in as much "fall-ness" into every moment I possibly can.  It seems like October passes by faster and faster each year, this year being no exception.  Honestly, this makes me a tad sad now that I really think about it.

Via Kenboo  Cutest kid ever!

However, there is some good news!  I will be going out of town this weekend to celebrate Halloween with the most amazing group of International students.  We will be partying down in New Orleans!  I've always wanted to spend Halloween here, in one of the most haunted cities in America.  I'm so excited to see all the history and mystery that surrounds this southern gem.

I plan to keep you all abreast of my comings and goings over the weekend, complete with silly videos and  tons of photos.  With that said, this is my ...dare I say it?....official post of October.  (sad face)

I want to thank all my readers that have stopped by this month!  The LPD blog have seen tremendous growth over the month of October and I attribute that all to yall coming out to witness/participate/frown upon my madness!

On to my next piece of business:  Does anyone know of any good linky parties going on during the month of November?  If so, please leave a comment below!  

LPD will be having a linky party as well!  Since Christmas now officially begins on November first (According to Macy's...and Starbucks....and...well you get the idea....is it just me or does this get earlier and earlier every year?!), we will be kicking off the month of November with a Christmas preparation linky party.  How do you prepare for Christmas?  Do you have something unique or interesting you can share with others?  What Christmas traditions do you have?  I will be providing more details to this at the beginning of next week, so come back and join in the fun!

Thank you again everyone and goodbye October.  I miss you already!

Possibly Pinteresting Wednesdays: Worm Ice and Mummy Cookie Pops

This Wednesday I've attempted 2 projects that I've seen on Pinterest. One easy and one that was a bit challenging. Let's be honest, making ice is pretty hard for anyone to screw up! The first project is one of Martha's and you can find it here.  This one only has 3 steps!

1. fill ice tray with water
2. place gummie worms in water
3. place in freezer and freeze!

Project 2 was a bit more complex and I think I was a bit out of my league on this one folks!   You can find the original here.  I'm not very good in the kitchen and this proves it!  But I had a lot of fun!

1. Perform Oreo surgery.

2.  Use melted chocolate to secure your sucker sticks inside.

3. Cover your cookies in white chocolate.

4. Draw on eyes and bandages using icing.

5. Fin.

I LOVE chocolate and Oreos and I can't believe I'm about to say this but, this little guys were way too sweet for me.  It was like eating pure sugar.  I'm sure kids will love them and they look awesome but you're a hoss if you can eat more than 2 of these bad boys.  I applaud you!

Check out a video of the whole experience below.  I cannot guarantee an outstanding or even articulate tutorial..but you may laugh...and laughing burns off the calories you just consumed from eating all those cookie pops!

Next week I will be attempting single serving breakfast muffin/sandwiches in a muffin pan. Technically they aren't 'sandwiches' because there is no bread involved...but you get the idea.  See you next week!