washi tape | kimberly ah

Oct 30 2012

celebrations, crafty adventures, snail mail

Smart Women Vote

When I was a college freshman, I voted for the first time by absentee ballot. I remember being so excited when the ballot arrived, punching my choices with the little stylus, and dropping the completed ballot in the blue mailbox near my dorm. It was really exciting, but I was so disappointed that I didn’t get to vote in the real voting booth and I didn’t get one of those I VOTED stickers. Upon hearing my disappointment, my grandfather (who always wrote me the most charming letters) sent me his voting sticker. I’d forgotten all about this kind gesture until a few years ago when I was sifting through all of my college mail and I found it folded in a letter written in my grandfather’s beautiful script. Just thinking about it makes me all weepy.

Since then, I’ve voted at the polls in every election–and I’ve always proudly sported my I VOTED sticker. And, for the past few Presidential Elections, I’ve sported these Smart Women Vote buttons. This year, I did a mass mailing and sent a bunch out to my friends and pen pals. It’s a “safe” political outreach, because it’s non-partisan…I’m a firm believer in agree-to-disagree…I know I’m not going to change anyone’s mind about their political leanings, just like they are certainly not going to change my mind. (I am very stubborn.) But I do think it’s important to vote–so, no matter which side you are on, or whether you live in a red state, a blue state or a swing state…as they say in Chicago–vote early and vote often!*

*Kidding…just vote once.

Tagged celebrations, crafts, election, mail art, rubber stamp, snail mail, washi tape

Oct 15 2012

7 Comments

crafty adventures, Halloween

A Halloween Mail Art Afternoon

Yesterday, after the tornado sirens stopped wailing and alarming apparently only me, I joined Donovan & friends for a Halloween Mail Art afternoon. I wish I had taken a picture of her table filled with large spooky sheets of paper, washi tape, pens, envelopes, rubber stamps and little bits that we picked through for our pieces of postal goodness. I wrote one letter, then decided to focus on envelope-making (& talking) for the rest of our time.

See the little ticket on the orange envelope? Yep, that is E.T…don’t you just want to hug him (while wondering who would make an E.T. rubber stamp?) There is just something so soothing about taping and gluing a bunch of stuff on an envelope. Now, if only I could catch up on my letter writing and fill those envelopes this week!

Donovan made each of us a treat bag filled with vintage and new Halloween ephemera to use on our mail art. I am in love with those vintage apothecary labels!

It was the perfect spooky day to partake in spiced hot cider and create some creepy mail. Thanks for hosting, Donovan!

(The last two pictures were taken as the sirens were going off, alerting us to the tornado that never came. I figured, if the old people in my building were going out for an afternoon walk, I was safe enough cloud watching from the balcony…)

Tagged crafts, Halloween, mail art, snail mail, washi tape

Sep 14 2012

2 Comments

little red toolbox

my little red toolbox | coccoina glue

This week’s favorite crafting item from the little red toolbox comes from the land of my ancestors. (It is made in Italy for those of you who haven’t read this post.) My Coccoina glue stick is my favorite glue stick, not because of its superior effectiveness compared to other (cheaper) glue sticks I’ve used, but because of its amazing smell. Those of you who make stuff know that good smells and crafting often do not go hand in hand…but the Coccoina glue stick smells deliciously of marzipan. That is the only reason I bought it in the first place, but upon further research, I’ve learned that Coccoina is very eco-friendly–it is made with almond oil and potato starch and is so pure, you could eat it. (I’m kidding…but it does smell good enough to eat!) Coccoina has been making paste since 1927 and they still use their original recipe. I use mine mainly for mail art…it is perfect for paper-to-paper gluing. But it also works with cloth and photographs, making it perfect for collage and scrapbooking.

I know I can buy a box of Elmer’s glue sticks for next to nothing during back-to-school sales, but for me, the $6 I paid for my giant 40-gram Coccoina is well worth the aromatherapy crafting.

*The blue books in my mail art above were drawn by Donovan. They were a part of the stationery she created for the last LWA letter social.

*This and all posts about my little red toolbox are not sponsored posts. I just thought it would be fun to share my favorite tools for paper crafting. For more about my little red toolbox, go here.

Tagged crafts, little red toolbox, mail art, washi tape

Sep 08 2012

8 Comments

crafty adventures, snail mail, washi weekend

Washi Weekend: Letter Ledger

For the past few months, I’ve been using this Letter Ledger to keep track of my incoming and outgoing mail. I learned about it from the blog Paper Pastries and I was inspired by Margaret’s idea to use washi tape to personalize her Ledger. I used some of my latest favorite washi tapes (some are actual Japanese tapes, some are more “scrapbooking” tapes). I don’t think I will ever tire of pool blue, but if I do, I can change the tapes out–simple as that!

I love my Letter Ledger! It appeals to the “documenter” side of me (I love making lists of things and writing things down) and it helps me to remember who I owe a letter to, what I want to write about and what questions I want to ask.