Birth of A Notion

Ukraine Horses

2012-02-12T06:46:00.000-06:00

Another lovely postcrossing one i got in the mail box. Comes from Ukraine and the card does not say what kind of horses they are but I love them anyways.

Colorado Cats

2012-02-11T21:51:00.001-06:00

I like this post crossing card that I got. I am a cat fan of course and big cats all licking their noses. To cute!

The cranes

2012-02-10T18:04:00.001-06:00

This postcrossing card came in from china and I love these birds so graceful and pretty.

Vintage Beauty

2012-02-09T21:02:00.000-06:00

I have taken a keen liking to doing these vintage collection swaps that have cropped up on swapbot and last month I posted the set that I sent out in the last swap. Now I am posting the stunning group that I got in return. Lovely ladies don't you think?

The Pirate Movie

2012-02-08T20:58:00.001-06:00

I did a cheesey ATC swap for 80's theme, and we were charged with making something fun and cheesey and this is what I got. This movie was fun and cheese and who doesn't like some dancing pirates?

The Yeti gotten

2012-02-07T20:56:00.000-06:00

I posted a little bit back the card I sent for the Yeti swap, well here is the one I got back in return. Fierce looking isn't he?

Edward

2012-02-06T20:53:00.001-06:00

A team Edward ATC swap the first of a series, they had a Jacob one as well on swap bot but I did not join that one (principal) I am looking forward to the next one, and this is the card that I got.

I love Danmark

2012-02-05T20:51:00.001-06:00

I am in love with Danmark (Denmark) and getting a pen pal or post card seems to be the holy grail well I got a post card recently YAY and I am going to soon be getting a pen pal as soon as I send a letter on over. Hope you like it like I do.

Unique Dancer/Musician PC

2012-02-04T20:49:00.001-06:00

This is a card I got recently someone who saw I liked unique post cards and thought I might like this one. They were right I love it. The muted vintage colors and just the unique look of the subject.

The Rainbow Serpent

2012-02-03T18:01:00.002-06:00

Another installment of the Mythical creature swap and we have the rainbow serpent. I had no idea what this animal was until I did the swap so this was kind of fun to learn and create the atc.

The Lilly among the thorns

2012-02-02T17:59:00.001-06:00

Second installment of the flower swap, I made a Lilly among the thorns times 2. I hope my partners enjoy them.

A is for abyssinian..

2012-02-01T17:42:00.003-06:00

I am hosting a cat breed swap similar to the dog one I have entered and this is the first installment A, I made a lovely abyssinian.

The Foal

2012-01-31T17:35:00.001-06:00

Another one created for a quick ATC swap on the bot. I love making these horse atc's they really make me smile. Sorry for the bad scan I am having some trouble with my scanning lately.

Musical Fairy

2012-01-30T17:30:00.001-06:00

This is the scan of the first draft, I later added some more glitter to spruce it up a little bit. I love this fairy :) for this fairy swap here on swapbot.

Alice and the horse

2012-01-29T17:19:00.000-06:00

I have a great calendar called Things horses teach us and I am really enjoyingre useing the peal offs from it for ATC's this one was created for a quik atc swap on swapbot :)

The Daisy

2012-01-28T17:19:00.002-06:00

The scan on this one is not the greatest sorry about that. This was created for a daisy flower swap on swap bot. I made two different daisy flower atcs, sadly the person who got the pink one was not happy. I thought it turned out well but she stated that daisies are not Pink but only white.

Vintage Ladies

2012-01-23T16:57:00.000-06:00

This is my second swap for Vintage Ladies and I had even more fun doing this one. I have really taken liking to vintage items. Thank you Swap Bot for making me fall in love yet again with another art.

Hand drawn Valentine

2012-01-20T20:58:00.006-06:00

I am not much for drawing but I thought this swap would be fun and I could use some an ATC blank that was nicely sent to me. Thank you again Swap Bot.

Suck my big hard...

2012-01-19T20:55:00.002-06:00

Yes I joined a swap called suck my big hard C...you can finish I know it is not very PC but I do not care I had fun with it. Thank you Swap bot for this Fun ATC. I think my play on the theme was fun.

Lady Jane Grey

2012-01-18T16:21:00.002-06:00

I am hosting the Historical women swap's on the bot in a group I am in, and here is my second go The 9 days Queen Lady Jane Grey.

The Huntsman aka Sheriff Graham

2012-01-17T16:19:00.004-06:00

Not maybe my best work, but I am still pretty happy with it. I love the show once upon a time and I am more than happy to be taking part in the character swaps on the bot.

The cat swap

2012-01-16T15:59:00.008-06:00

Another fun ATC series I have joined is for cartoon cats and here is the first one I sent out with Sylvester.

That Cheesey 80's ATC

2012-01-15T15:58:00.001-06:00

I did a swap called that Cheesy 80's ATC swap and you were to select your favorite 80's movie and make an ATC.. I chose the Lost boys one of my favorites for sure and full of 80's cheese.

Civil War Mail

2012-01-14T19:30:00.000-06:00

I got this from the Postal Blog, and it really made me smile a bit. I wish all saw mail as such a blessing anymore, but many do not. I know I do I cherish all my mail.

During the Civil War, a letter was the sole contact with loved ones.

150 years ago one soldier stated to his cousin: "I never thought so much of letters as I have since I have been here. The monotony of camp life would be almost intolerable were it not for these friendly letters."

Another private expressed a similar sentiment more dramatically: "The soldier looks upon a letter from home as a perfect God send—sent as it were, by some kind ministering Angel Spirit, to cheer his dark and weary hours."

Mail call took precedence over anything, including food. It was the only tonic for the chronic homesickness that plagued most men of blue and gray. In March 1863, a soldier told his wife that he "was almost down with histericks to hear from home," and later in the war, when a Minnesota private at last received a letter from his family, he confessed: "I can never remember of having been so glad before. I sat down and cried with joy and thankfulness."

This was the first time in American history that so large a percentage of the common folk had been pulled away from home. So they wrote tens of thousands of letters.

“I feel that our contry needs my help & I am willing to do all that I can & eaven give my life for your libertys & our beloved childs”
—Private David Walters to his wife, Rachel, September 29, 1862

“This is the fourth letter I have written you and I have received four from you and I would be glad to receive one every day or two if I could for I am always glad to hear from you.”
—Rachel J. Walters to her husband, October 7, 1862

Vintage Re-Print from

2012-01-10T02:14:00.000-06:00

This one came hot off the presses from Postcrossing, I like the vintage look and the hats I seem to be devloping a love of hats.

Mythical Creatures ATC

2012-01-09T00:01:00.000-06:00

Round two for this swap first one was a yeti and now we have the Cthulhu and here we go with my attempt. What do you think? I love swap bot :)

Typewriter PC

2012-01-07T00:00:00.001-06:00

This is a lovely postcard I got from Postcrossing, a very thoughtful send from a lovely sender in finland. Note the fountain pen also in it :) Perhaps a Mont Blanc?

Spirit of the horse

2012-01-06T02:57:00.000-06:00

I love re-using things and this ATC was created by me to send out from a page of my new 2012 desk calendar. I used the picture and the saying Think it turned out pretty good, hope my swap bot quick swap partner likes it :)

Lovely from Thailand

2012-01-05T02:19:00.000-06:00

another nice one from postcrossing I like this card but than I long for the days where I was outside more too.

From Russia and China

2012-01-04T02:15:00.000-06:00

This was a fun one I got on postcrossing, a girl from China now living in Russia sent it.

The Deadly Sins

2012-01-02T17:25:00.000-06:00

Here is my final go for the 7 deadly sins swap, Vanity. I think it turned out pretty good. My scan is not great.

The new Airmail Stamp

2011-12-30T15:12:00.002-06:00

We can all proceed to cringe about the rate increase..and they have now unveiled the new postage stamp for international mailing. It is not bad but it is not great Russia, Finland, Sweden their stamps put ours to shame.

http://uspsstampsblogs.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/single4.jpg

Source

Vintage older man

2011-12-29T23:43:00.009-06:00

Another fun one from a swapbot swap I like older cards like this.

Tree art PC

2011-12-28T23:41:00.001-06:00

This is a pretty one from a swap bot art swap.

Eco PC

2011-12-27T23:39:00.002-06:00

This one is from Postcrossing it came from the US but the card itself is from Panama.

On the road Postcard

2011-12-26T23:37:00.002-06:00

this one was just sent to me from someone who saw me on a mail art blog and followed to get my address. Love it.

Happy Holidays

2011-12-25T23:18:00.003-06:00

No matter what Holiday you celebrate.

Sexy Demon

2011-12-24T23:26:00.001-06:00

Sexy Demon ATC another fine one from Swabot love this.

The Greatest thing..

2011-12-23T23:16:00.000-06:00

You can ever learn is just to love and be loved in return..

Orchid

2011-12-22T23:13:00.001-06:00

and here is what i got back from my Orchid ATC swaps I love these my partner out did herself.

Catty ATC

2011-12-21T23:12:00.000-06:00

Another swapbot ATC swap I posted what I sent for it and here is what I got back for it :)

Snowflakes

2011-12-17T00:11:00.000-06:00

I busted out the mod podge on these one's I am hosting a snow flake swap on swapbot, a private one and a open to everyone swap and here is the results that are heading out on their way to their new owners.

Christmas Presents

2011-12-16T03:41:00.001-06:00

so I joined another christmas atc swap I am feeling a bit of the yuletide spirit and all. We had to make an ATC for two partners and I decided to make mine match I did presents. What do you think?

Get well Soon PC

2011-12-14T20:09:00.000-06:00

I am not sure if I posted this one or not, I could not see where I did so maybe I did not but it was in my scanned items, so here it is a very nice PC that someone sent me in a swap.

Dont't sweat the small stuff ATC

2011-12-13T23:43:00.001-06:00

I was asked to start hosting my new to atc's swaps again so in the third part of the series i took some of my don't sweat the small stuff pullings from my one a day calendar and created this ATC for the swap.

Orchid's

2011-12-12T20:13:00.004-06:00

I host an ATC swap on Swapbot called the 1 theme 1 week 1 ATC, and for this one it was Orchid's I ended up making two because I was not sure about the all glitter one. I think as a pair they turned out well.

Here kitty kitty kitty...

2011-12-11T18:51:00.000-06:00

More ATC love and here are some more that I made. I joined the A Catty ATC swap on good old Swap Bot. The Challenge was to make 3 cat themed ATC's so I thought I would make a collection of different Persians since I am a lovely Persian lover. So what do you think?

Different and lovely card from Ukraine

2011-12-10T01:43:00.001-06:00

This is another Postcrossing this one is from Ukraine and I think it is different and love it fits in perfectly with what I like.

Resend ATC to Estonia

2011-12-09T00:49:00.000-06:00

We all know the post office can be a pain and they lost another one DOH but I think I like this ATC better than the first one I made. Another swap bot one for a quick atc swap. I am very happy with this one. I hope my partner likes it!

Glittertasic Christmas

2011-12-08T20:48:00.001-06:00

This ATC is one I made for Quick Swap #48 and it had a Christmas theme. So I went a little bit crazy with glitter and WALA! What do you think?

Envy

2011-12-07T07:33:00.001-06:00

I have been taking part in a swap on swap-bot that has been doing the seven deadly sins in ATC, sadly because i got behind on my scans I have not had a chance to scan all of the ones I have made. But I managed to do this one, number 6 Envy. I hope my partner likes it.

Fall Collection 4

2011-12-06T23:53:00.005-06:00

Fall Collection 3

2011-12-05T23:51:00.001-06:00

Fall Collection Number 2

2011-12-04T23:49:00.001-06:00

Fall Collection Number 1

2011-12-03T23:47:00.003-06:00

I have gotten some really nice fall theme postcards since autumn hit and I thought I would share a selection of my favorites in the next set of posts.

Dark ATC

2011-12-02T23:31:00.006-06:00

This is a darker ATC but i love it and the little touches of glitter.

Purple Play

2011-12-01T23:24:00.005-06:00

Simple sleek and lovely. It has purple and a theatre ticket works for me love it.

Love ATC

2011-11-30T23:21:00.006-06:00

Another great ATC, it seems to be the line up of ATC's I have been scanning a lot of them. This is a pretty one. Don't you think?

Halloween ATC

2011-11-29T23:16:00.007-06:00

I got in the spirit for halloween and joined several ATC's with the theme, and hosted one. Here is one of the lovely ATC's I got for the season.

Things that make you think ATC

2011-11-28T23:11:00.013-06:00

I forget what I got this one for, but I really do love this ATC it might be from the 7 deadly sins swaps. No matter this one is off in my stack of favorites in the library.

Perfume Bottle ATC

2011-11-27T23:07:00.000-06:00

This was a fun ATC for me, I like the use of the guitar pick to make the perfume bottle.

Stunning Painting ATC

2011-11-26T23:04:00.008-06:00

I have always wanted to paint, or learn to paint. This is a beautiful ATC look at the detail and painting in this, and all on a small little card the size of a baseball card.

Blue Art Star ATC

2011-11-25T23:02:00.001-06:00

I got this ATC from a Profile Star ATC swap and this one is a very pretty one. I really am in love with this ATC I wish I had scanned it earlier.

Beautiful Calico

2011-11-24T21:25:00.000-06:00

This is a great one from Postcrossing, I feel really blessed to be getting such nice cards from post crossing. This calico kitty from China is really pretty.

Home State ATC

2011-11-23T20:57:00.001-06:00

This ATC made me cry a little, but in a good way. I joined a state ATC swap and the theme for this one was Minnesota home sweet missing it home.

To cute the elf with the gold

2011-11-22T20:55:00.001-06:00

I am hosting weekly theme'd ATC's and last week was Glitter, and this is the very cute ATC I got.

Pretty Gem ATC

2011-11-21T20:52:00.001-06:00

Another great ATC that i got from swap bot.

Sexy ATC

2011-11-20T20:48:00.000-06:00

I have been so happy to find a few naughtier swap's on swap bot anyone who knows me knows I have a little bit of a naughty side. So this is a great hand drawn ATC I got for the Sexy Lingerie ATC swap.

Direct Swap kitty and stamps

2011-11-19T20:29:00.000-06:00

I think Russia is as in love with kitties as I am. I did a dircect swap with someone on postcrossing, and this is the cute kitty I got, as well as some awesome stamps!

Glitter!

2011-11-18T20:19:00.000-06:00

So I have been busy making ATC's and very behind on being a good blogger and posting some of my creations and things I have gotten. SO here are three recent ATC creations that I made for three swaps on Swapbot.

Think Spring even in Fall

2011-11-03T01:42:00.001-05:00

So I was in another Mail art swap on Swap Bot, and sadly the first envie I made did not reach my partner. Never fear Amby was happy to make another and honestly I think this one turned out better. when i saw this page I just knew the perfect little touches for it and thought it would make nice little peice of spring even in the fall. Here it is.

In the Moonlight ATC

2011-10-22T03:30:00.000-05:00

I joined a swap on swap bot for Atc's (yeah be surprised or pretend to) about moonlight than I became stumped, and than i found my glitter glue. this one did not turn out just as I wanted it but over all I am happy with it. went a little nutty with the glitter glue but hey theres the Moon!

2011-10-15T02:04:00.000-05:00

Everyone knows that I am a fan of Russia and I got this great Russian card from postcrossing, okay its a kitty so it could be from anywhere but It is from russia and I love the kitty.

Pagan ATC

2011-10-12T01:27:00.000-05:00

Another one I did for swap bot this one took a little thinking on what to add to the image I found. This was for the Pagan ATC #2 Swap.

Love this old site

2011-10-11T03:43:00.000-05:00

Postcrossing does another good one for me. I love history and teotihuacan has been a site I have always liked to study. So I got this great card in the mail!

Abstract ATC

2011-10-10T03:40:00.000-05:00

Another fun swap I am in quick ATC swap #42 whew and this one I dont know wht inspired it I just put things together i thought was nice abstract and fun.

Big City ATC

2011-10-09T03:31:00.001-05:00

I created this ATC for one of my swaps that I am hosting on swap bot the New to ATC's swap #2 I like how it turned out.

Queen Elizabeth ATC's

2011-10-08T01:57:00.002-05:00

I joined an ATC swap for Queen Elizabeth on Swap Bot. I love history and I love both Queen's so I thought it would be fun. I had to make 3 for this swap and while I used the same picture I made them all a bit different. This was a fun one.

Lust ATC

2011-10-07T18:31:00.000-05:00

Pardon the scan in the bag this one was a bit delicate but I like it a great deal. Got this one from a swap bot swap.

Anne Frank PC

2011-10-06T20:53:00.004-05:00

I just watched a special on Anne Frank the other day. So a bit touching I got this Postcard from France post crossing.

Mew Mew ATC

2011-10-05T18:32:00.002-05:00

Mew mew mew..I got this in a swap bot swap ATC swap and I think its very cute :)

New Zeland

2011-10-04T18:08:00.001-05:00

This card came to me with an ATC from swapbot and I plan to scan that as well but I wanted to share this first.

Nice postcard from a Private Swap

2011-10-03T18:04:00.000-05:00

I don't do as much private swapping on postcrossing as I used to. However this is one I did do and I got this lovely card in return.

Lovely sitting room

2011-10-02T17:27:00.000-05:00

This card came to me from postcrossing all the way from Belgium it is a lovely sitting room and being the historical geek that I am I can't help but imagine the people sitting here in all their fine dresses.

A Senator's reply

2011-09-29T15:04:00.001-05:00

As many postal people probably know the USPS is not in good shape. There is a lot of political stuff involved which in general I stay out of. However, when Missive Maven sent a call out for people to contact senators I did. Here is the reply form letter I got from one of them. If you want more details on the USPS issues. Missive Maven has some good links. Amusing how this form letter didn't even address the more useful suggestions offered than cutting to 5 days, hiking rates, lessening service guarantees and closing smaller spots.

Dear Mrs. Jefferson:

Thank you for sharing with me your thoughts about the United States Postal Service (USPS). I appreciate having the benefit of your views.

The USPS has been under increasing fiscal strain as a result of declining mail volume and shrinking revenue in recent years. In fact, the USPS had an operating loss of $5.3 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2007, $2.8 billion in FY 2008, and $3.8 billion in FY 2009. This $3.8 billion loss in FY 2009 came despite a $4 billion reprieve authorized by Congress from USPS scheduled payments to the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund. The FY 2010 operational loss was around $8.5 billion.

I continue to follow this issue closely. I believe that the Postal Service and Congress must continue to consider a broad selection of cost-cutting measures. Modifications to the USPS' pension funding obligations have been suggested as one potential means of relief. A number of other policy options have also been discussed, including service reductions, facility closures, and various labor cost reductions.

As proposals to reform the USPS come before the Senate for consideration, I will have your thoughts closely in mind. Thank you, again, for contacting me.

Sincerely,

Richard G. Lugar
United States Senator

Ukraine View

2011-09-28T18:21:00.008-05:00

I am a sucker for a nice view esp one that looks and feels historic. This one came to me from Ukraine via postcrossing.

Andy Whitfield ATC

2011-09-27T01:18:00.000-05:00

I made this ATC for a swap that was canceled but I still like the ATC and I will send it on at some point. Andy Whitfield was in Spartacus and sadly lost his battle with cancer on 9/11.

New York ATC

2011-09-26T20:19:00.000-05:00

Another swap bot ATC swap this one is the Quick ATC #39 and this lovely ATC is going to Norway. Not sure what inspired this one I found a great vintage flag in a magazine and it just went from there.

2011-09-25T16:03:00.008-05:00

This ATC was made for the Incredible Women ATC Series. This is #2 Literary Heroine.

I love cats

2011-09-24T01:21:00.006-05:00

Have I mentioned how much I love cats? This lovely kitty came to me from a lovely girl from Finland via Postcrossing.

Postcards have jokes

2011-09-23T02:35:00.000-05:00

Some more cards from the various places I am a member of these ones all fall in the funny spot, I have to say the one about blobs and bigger blobs why is it only babies? They scare me too.

Critter Montage #2

2011-09-22T02:32:00.001-05:00

More happy critters I have to say the cute one from Australia is my favorite although I like them all.

Critter Montage #1

2011-09-21T02:26:00.000-05:00

This is an array of cute critters I have gotten the last few months from Walltype, Sendsomething and Swapbot. I love critters and getting critters in the mail always makes me smile. Something that is pretty much a dead ringer to make me smile are fluffy lovely critters.

Cancer PC

2011-09-20T02:21:00.000-05:00

This one was from a Random PC swap on swapbot. I thought not only was the PC lovely but the fact that it had such a touching message. Normally I am not the biggest fan of pink in the world, but I make exceptions.

A Rose for Norway

2011-09-19T02:20:00.001-05:00

I did the Rose for Norway swap on swapbot and I know I posted my ATC for it (my first ever) well this is the one that I got from the swap. I like it a lot and it is happily going into my slowly growing collection.

Vampire!

2011-09-16T02:24:00.000-05:00

If you know me you know I like Vampire's so that is no secret, so it should be no secret that I joined the Vampire Girls ATC swap. This is one of my ALL time favorite vampire girl pieces of work she is amazing. So I had to make her an ATC of course. What do you think?

Horses from the Netherlands

2011-09-15T20:00:00.000-05:00

Another card from the postcrossing you know what a sucker I am for Horses.

Green Vase

2011-09-14T03:38:00.000-05:00

I don't remember posting this one but maybe I did. I found it while I was storing postcards away. It was soothing to me a nice little bit of art. This one is from Swapbot too.

Big Kitty Little Kitty

2011-09-13T03:11:00.000-05:00

Some cute postcards got from swap bot swaps, one is from one I hosted 1 <3 PC's USA #2 and One from Quick Postcard Question #2. I love cats and getting these two on the same day made me smile Big kitty little kitty and little kitty looks like a doll faced persian.

Ah a new pal and lovely mail art

2011-09-12T03:00:00.001-05:00

Jumped into some lovely pen pal swaps on swap bot and this lovely bit of artwork came from The Really Simple Pen Pal swap #2

I think me and my new pal will get along famously we both like mail art we both love fountain pens, kismet?