My recent mail swap reminded me of how much I love sending pretty mail. While my creative mail project two years ago was loads of fun, without a monthly deadline I've really gotten out of the habit of sending mail. I know, I know!
I'm going to try to make an effort to be better about it without setting any specific goals - I want sending pretty mail to be something that I do when inspiration strikes and I have time to play around rather than feel that it's an obligation. So, in that spirit, here's some tropical mail I just packed up to send. Featuring ideas for a hand drawn card, cute washi tape sampler and wrapping, I think there's plenty of ideas here to play with even if you're not a snail mail fanatic!
I always like to start with one image, idea or colour combo and build my pretty mail from there. This time my starting point was Bananas so a banana-covered doodle card was in order.
A blank card and a few paint markers are all you need to make colourful doodle cards. It's fun - you should try!
Of course, (wo)man cannot live on bananas alone - though there is a corner of the internet where the raw vegans may try to convince you you can - so I expanded from the bananas to a tropical colour and fruit theme to build the rest of my pretty mail package.
A washi tape sampler dressed up like Carmen Miranda - or is that Carmen Miranda dressed in washi tape? Either way - I'm pretty smitten with her!
Layered doilies, solid colour twine and a mini collage of washi tape strips dress up a small parcel.
Washi tape stickers - my favourite - packaged simply with a pretty header card. Plus some other lightweight treats that slide easily into a colourful paper bag sealed with tape and a glittery sticker.
All bundled together with another piece of twine and an extra blue doily to tie in the original colour scheme.
Basic manila mailers deserve a little love too! A paint marker doodle and a sprinkling of washi tape dots make this mail pretty from all angles.
Ready for her close-up! Maybe I should've called this post "Send Carmen Miranda Mail" or "If you need me, I'll be shopping for fruity hats on Ebay".

Have you sent any pretty mail lately?
This is allll sooo very pretty! I keep saying that I want to be apart of a package exchange but haven't found one yet! thanks for sharing all this loveliness!
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