Decorated Envelopes - Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow had a place in my heart long before I read the original short story by Washington Irving. I was probably introduced to the story via an installment in the Trixie Belden mystery series (#26, The Mystery of the Headless Horseman (1979)), but it has been referred to so much, and adapted so often, that I really can't pinpoint my first exposure.

I do know that I didn't actually read the real thing until three or four years ago. I think I must have whizzed through it, because I would have told you that, while it was a well-told tale, it was not actually that spooky; however, a second read-through is proving me wrong. This time, I slowed down to let Mr. Irving set the scene, and found that if you remember that all of these things are happening in a creepy place that everyone believes is haunted, it's way better (and more fun).

My goddaughter and I share an old connection related to the book, which is the main reason I started compiling materials to create Sleepy Hollow mail. Writing this post has encouraged me to a) watch the film Sleepy Hollow, which I love, and b) re-read the story. While I do that, here are some recent images of Sleepy Hollow mail, with comments. I'll list all sources at the end.

Stamping on poly envelopes is tough, but not impossible. You need a "sticky," permanent ink (I used StazOn) and some patience, because you need to take it slowly and lift your stamp straight up, then wait for the ink to dry.

These are the three main stamps I have for the Sleepy Hollow theme. I'm on the lookout for more, but some of the usual Halloween favorites can be put into play (bats, jack-o-lanterns), plus anything that would be woodsy - trees, birds, etc.

Whenever possible, I like to send "haunted mail," and this sticker is a great addition (see sources).

My first Sleepy Hollow envelope, shown with a hoarded sticker. (One of my pen pals sent me two - I have used one. Since they don't seem to be available, I'm going to work on creating my own.)

I love the lighter gray envelopes for the themed mail because it's already gloomy (white is so stark). On this, I used a fine mist of red spray ink, and medium gray and black stamp pads.

To use the spray ink, get a deep cardboard box and hold the spray bottle as far away from the envelope as you can. Be prepared to try a few times (one pump should do it). This stuff can be pretty nasty if sprayed anywhere else - it was damn hard to get off my fingers - so take care!

While I was working on this post, I starting thinking about how I could make the envelopes even more epic, without spending any extra money. The photo here is the result (so far). I'm still working out the kinks, so follow me on Instagram to see further developments!

I scanned a couple of pages out of an old copy of the book (shown open, above), glued a laser print to an envelope, then hit the edges and random spots with a spray stain (behaves much better than the spray ink, above, but I'd still follow the same steps). I recently found a small Xyron sticker maker in my craft room, so I printed a few images (labeled for reuse) onto photo paper, cut them out using postage-edge scissors, and ran them through the sticker maker. Viola! Faux postage. Inks used were black and dark gray.

Honorable mention, to show off the other Sleepy Hollow Special Delivery sticker. I didn't take a clear picture of it (alone) before mailing. All I used here was the road sign and the sticker, plus the vintage stamps.

And, of course, what started it all. As I mentioned in the Poe envelope post, many of my themes are inspired by the vintage postage stamps I have collected. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow stamp is a favorite (read more about it here) and its natural companion is Mr. Irving's stamp.

Sources

• Free download of the short story from Project Gutenberg. I am a fan of reading original works (someday, I'll get through Frankenstein). This is a slice of Americana that has inspired much of what we know of Halloween, so it's good to know the origins! (Not surprising that Irving impacted my favorite holiday (Halloween), since he also kind of invented Christmas as we know it (repeat link).)
• Interested in getting your own Sleepy Hollow envelopes to send? Contact me via the email link in my profile. I'm working on some ideas and it would help to know if anyone was interested.
• Rubber Stamps
• Horseman: Butter Side Down stamps (unmounted, cling-mounted or wood). They also have an Etsy store, where they sell just the wood-mounted stamps.  
• Try Not to Lose Your Head & Road Sign: Impression Obsession - both are cling only. Linking each to the shop where I bought them. 
• Bats: from a set by Momenta (gift from a friend)
• Bird stamp: hand-carved gift from a pen pal.
• Headstone: unknown, although I think it's from Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers, which is out of business. Cemetery stamps are available from other sellers.
• Inks: StazOn black, Ranger Archival in Jet Black & Watering Can (dark gray), Tsukineko's Memento in London Fog (medium gray). Spray ink is from Ranger's Dylusions line in Postbox Red. Spray stain is from Ranger's Distress line in Hickory Smoke. 
• Misc:
• May be Haunted sticker: Evil Supply Co. They also made the Sleepy Hollow Special Delivery stickers, but do not offer them in their shop at this time. 
• Tape: This is Spinal Tape by Copernicus Toys (Amazon link). I already own this, so I use it, but it is pretty much crap. It doesn't stick to paper well & I have to add a layer of clear tape over it. 
• Paper envelopes are from PaperSource (#10 & A9), document box was a re-use, poly envelope was from a bulk purchase.

Vintage Postage Stamps Series: Halloween + a Giveaway!

February is the perfect time to write about Halloween-y postage stamps. At least it is for someone who loves all things creepy and eerie. I recently started reaching out to my pen pals to see who might want to get Halloween-themed envelopes (or letters) year 'round and immediately started in on decorating envelopes. My one (small) fear is that I'm going to run out of ideas and have to send plain envelopes come October. (I'll share some of those images in a follow-up post; this one is going to be long enough.)

As per usual with my vintage postage series, there's a giveaway (my best yet)! I hope you stay long enough to at least scan the post, but definitely check out the end for contest details.

As mentioned earlier, vintage Edgar Allan Poe stamps were the philately equivalent of a gateway drug and led me to start gathering/collecting postage stamps. I don't believe I've exhausted the theme, but I'm pretty ecstatic with what I've managed to gather. I have started spreading them out a bit, so I'll mix a couple of my spooky postage stamps with some modern ones, so I can make my "supplies" last longer. If you're interested in growing your own collection, check out my tips at the end of the first vintage postage post.

There are actually two Poe stamps: a 3¢ from 1949 and a 42¢ from 2009. The latter is pressure-sensitive (sticker-style), so it may not truly count as "vintage," but in my book, anything I can't buy at the PO right now qualifies. I like to use these together, with a modern, lower denomination stamp to round out the current rate.

If I was excited about the Poe stamps, I was over the moon when I discovered the brightly-colored 10¢ The Legend of Sleepy Hollow stamp (1974). I have a love/hate relationship with the original story by Washington Irving, but I love the imagery! It also has a sentimental significance, not to mention all of the works it has inspired. In addition to the stamp featuring Ichabod on the run from a headless horseman, there is a 1¢ stamp from 1940 featuring the author. This stamp has a little-known dual purpose: Mr. Irving sort of invented Christmas as we know it (in the US anyway), so you could use them on holiday cards in December.

The 32¢ pocket in my stamp notebook is the fattest because it has both Alfred Hitchcock (1998) & Classic Movie Monsters (1997), among others.

In addition to being a fan of such classics as The Birds, Psycho, The Lady Vanishes, etc., I introduced my goddaughter to Hitchcock movies when she was nine (Rear Window was her favorite for a long time). I put one of these stamps on almost every letter I send her (along with a Sleepy Hollow one), so I tend to hoard them. Note the sweet laser-cut profile in the upper left corner of the stamp.

The Movie Monster stamps are just so...well, they're the perfect Halloween stamp. I have done a Frankenstein's monster-themed envelope and am contemplating what I might do for the other three monsters in the set. I have a candelabra rubber stamp that might do for the Phantom; the Mummy & Dracula would probably be easier.

The Night Friends sheet (37¢, 2002) features four different American bats. These are just fun.

Honorable Mentions

• Harry Potter series
• Circus stamps (current Circus Posters (forever) or vintage (29¢,1993)): at least the damn clowns (I am actually not afraid of clowns*, but I recognize their potential as scary creatures and have totally used at least one clown stamp as part of a postage collage.) 
• Carnivorous Plants (34¢, 2004).
• Coming sometime in 2016, the USPS is releasing a Jack-o-lantern stamp, so there will be one more to add to the collection. 
• You can always make your own! 

Outside the US? Canada still wins for its Haunted Canada series. I'm not sure what else is available - some countries have more fun than others with their stamps, but you might have to get creative when it comes to stretching the theme. 

Giveaway Time

One lucky commenter will win the 18 stamps pictured in the "giveaway" image, left. Anyone is eligible - even if you've won before - and I'll ship anywhere. There is at least one of each stamp mentioned in the main part of the story (plus one from the honorable mentions category (Carnivorous Plants)). Bonus: one of my custom (ghost) postage stamps that you cannot get anywhere else. All of the stamps are unused and unhinged (cannot guarantee mint condition), and can therefore be applied and included as part of any US postal rate.

To enter, simply comment here and tell me which of the above is your favorite OR suggest a themed stamp not included in the post. That is it!! I'll pick a winner on March 5th or 6th. Shares are not required, but will be rewarded if I'm aware that a winner shared the link. Important: make sure I have a way to reach you if you win!!

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*Clown dolls are a whole 'nother story.

Product Review: Mister Ghost's Highly Enviable Monthly Parcel of Simple Yet Amazing Wonderments

This is an unsolicited - I dunno if "review" is really the right word, but it will do - review of Evil Supply Co.'s Mister Ghost's Highly Enviable Monthly Parcel of Simple Yet Amazing Wonderments, a parcel available on a monthly basis, or by subscription (for a discount). I ordered the January box, Positivity & Necromancy, which arrived yesterday. When you order from Evil Supply Co. (ESC), you have the option of having your package haunted or cursed (or not).

I'm a firm believer in this notion that the best way to find new products/companies is via recommendations from friends. Better yet if they can share something with you that you can actually touch or use. It's why I like to hand over one of my Pilot Envelope Addressing pens to pen geeks I meet to make them try it. (I've also been known to give them as gifts.) That's how I found ESC and eventually came to order my first Mister Ghost parcel.

It started with a new pen pal (@amysnotdeadyet on IG) including some great goodies in her letter, which arrived last Halloween. Naturally, I loved Amy's own work (all the art in the middle (check out her shop))! I was also intrigued by the stickers (on the left) & Ghost-a-gram card on the right, which turned out to be from ESC - who wouldn't love to get a package with a "may be haunted" sticker on it? (See sticker page for current offerings.)

From that point on, I've been aware of ESC. Friends have shared links with me, knowing my love for all things spooky. (Halloween is my favorite holiday!) Instagrammers I follow posts about them frequently, and after clicking over to see the feed several times, I eventually started following @evilsupplyco, who posts a lot of fun sketches and pictures of local cemeteries. Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I took the plunge and ordered my first box.

I don't do product/box subscriptions. The explanation is too lengthy to go into here (I know, because I tried), but it boils down to me being both cautious and picky. Even if I know I can count on the package arriving, I just know I'll only like about half the stuff that would come in it. It's just who I am. What I like about ESC's Mister Ghost's Parcel is anyone can order the current box (if available - I'm sure quantities are limited) without subscribing (for a few dollars more). Or, if you subscribe, they charge monthly*.  The themes are so "me," that I can't imagine not loving most, if not all, of the contents every month. Based on this experience, I will be subscribing, for at least a few months.

If you are reading this in January 2016, it's not too late to get your own #10 parcel, Positivity & Necromancy. The site says they are available until January 31.

My box arrived yesterday. I guess I'm lucky that the carrier crammed the package into the mail box so tightly that I had to use two hands and a bit of twisting to get it out; sometimes, he just tosses things onto the ground or into the ditch. Unfortunately, there was another package there, too (that he had delivered at the same time), so my Mister Ghost Parcel was stuck halfway out, in the rain. Luckily, it wasn't out there long enough for the rain to get into the box and damage anything. I eagerly carried it into the house and sliced through the tape. Right on top were cards declaring that "Per request at purchase, this parcel has been CURSED" and "HAUNTED." Good sign!

Starting with this parcel (#10), each collection comes in a screen-printed, zippered pouch (I think they used to be plastic envelopes). I'm assuming the print goes along with the theme each month. Mine needs a little time with a needle and thread at one end of the zipper, but it's a nominal issue. The pouches are document sized, which is pretty cool!

The contents are "blind-boxed," so they can't tell you exactly which designs are going to be included, but each parcel contains 2 small, blank booklets, an art print, 2 greeting cards (2 designs (in my case, that meant I got 2 each of 2 cards) with envelopes) & four stickers.

Also starting with parcel #10, each collection includes an embroidered patch. I recently shared my love of patches, so this was, honestly, what clinched the deal and make me place the first order. And the one I received is so fun!

The journals are adorable, and well done, but if I get two with every subscription, I will have to share some with friends (I don't think anyone will complain). I got two pairs of flat note cards, also themed, with brightly-colored (in this case) envelopes. The art print I received (under the patch) advertises "Potion of Mermaid's Breath."

From what I can tell, most of the time, the stickers are like the ones shown above, roughly the same size. They're very high quality vinyl, with vibrant colors, and are promised to be waterproof and dishwasher-safe. The ones included in this parcel (bottle labels) are the same quality, but there were 2 small and 2 large ones. I have long been wanting to gather enough bottles to make an alchemist or mad scientist lab for a future Halloween party, so these were welcome!

In conclusion, I feel that it was worth it for me to pay the non-subscription price to see the package for myself, and I'm prepared to subscribe to keep the goodness coming at a discount! A little Halloween every month...just what I need.

*Maybe that's normal now, but when I first became aware of this kind of thing, it was in the form of yarn clubs, where you had to pay the full amount up front.

All Hallow's Read 2015

When I decided to start expanding my circle of pen pals, one of the sites I found was the International Geek Girls Pen Pal Club (IGGPPC). One of the many features of the site is a swap forum, where users can organize swaps on all kinds of topics. While I've had abysmal luck in the past with swaps, I've tried a few since I joined and have had great experiences so far. One of the first swaps I joined was All Hallow's Read.

It started with this guy, Neil Gaiman:

The "rules" of All Hallow's Read are that you get a spooky/scary/etc. book that you like and give it to someone. Pretty basic. The IGGPPC swap organizer just took it a step further by letting people partner up with someone who wanted to exchange spooky books. I took a chance and ordered the book I planned to send, even before I had a partner assigned to me:

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. 

After chatting with my partner, it seemed like she'd be okay with the above, so I wrapped it up and added some goodies (like the bookmark peeking out, above) and sent it off:

In addition to the book (wrapped): striped tape, mix CD, some goofy plastic skeletons & a small candle I made. Plus, naturally, a letter. I also included my pen pal intro card/quiz.

On Friday, I visited the Post Office and found a very decorated package waiting for me!

Hallowe'en Party, by Agatha Christie

This is a book that I've read, but I'm certainly not sorry to see it again! It's great because I grew up on mysteries and started reading Agatha Christie when I was quite young, but someone managed to miss this one until I was an adult. It's not spooky/creepy, but it is chilling (the book starts at a Halloween party, where a child is murdered), which totally works for the theme!

Halloween 2015 Snail Mail

I'll elaborate more on pen pals in upcoming posts - how I find them, how I attempt to stay organized, etc., but I will say that I am lucky to have found so many people who love Halloween. I'm having so much fun that I'm hoping to continue the theme with a few people! Here are some things that went out in the last few weeks.

My first attempt at decoupaging an envelope. 

I saw @dovbee on Instagram posting decoupaged envelopes, realized I'd gotten a similar package of napkins as a gift, and knew I had to try! I will continue to work on my technique, since most of what I do (like "painting" the envelope with ink) feels half-assed, but I sill love the result!

Envelope: #10, curry, by PaperSource; Pen: Sharpie Water-based marker in white, vintage stamps from my collection. The napkin was a gift but the label says Paperproducts Design U.S. Inc.

When I learned that one of my new pen pals love The Bride of Frankenstein/Elsa, I knew I had to do something special. I found a high-res image of the iconic scream, printed it on 11x17" paper, and made this envelope. Then I had to use a Frankenstein's Monster stamp!


Template from JetPens, vintage stamps from my collection; pen: Uni-ball Signo broad, also from JetPens.

I've not found fun/affordable catalog envelopes, and recently landed on a way to fancy them up! I found this fun Halloween-color zigzag sticker paper at a dollar store and cut it to fit (I think I taped around the edges for security) & used a 4" circle label for the address*. With my letter, I included my Pen Pal intro & quiz card (I'll post about that sometime soon), my 2015 Halloween mix & a pen pal merit badge patch from the Scout Project.

Can you guess this was a Halloween-themed swap package?  I was pretty excited to only have to use one non-themed postage stamp to send.

Vintage Stamps used on this envelope: American Bats 37¢, Edgar Allen Poe 42¢ & 3¢, 3 Universal Monsters & Alfred Hitchcock 32¢, Legend of Sleepy Hollow 10¢ & Washington Irving 1¢ (author of Sleepy Hollow). Current stamps: Harry Potter** 49¢ (Forever), & 4¢ chair.

Just a little fun writing thank you notes with some Halloween washi tape (in one of the gifts I was thanking someone for). The motif for the party was skeleton keys (for a haunted house), so all of the related correspondence came from my hoarded collection of key stationery.

The pen is my favorite for addressing, just above the white pen linked above. It is literally an "envelope address-writing pen," comes in 3 sizes and I just love it!

*You'll notice one thing very quickly: I display as little as possible of my pen pal's addresses & names. I can't keep straight who would be okay with showing that info., so I err on the side of caution, since I know I do not want my info. out there like that!

**No longer selling at the Post Office, but still available for regular price at the online USPS store.