Today I was inspired to play with matching envelopes and cards and thought I'd try something simple with my Magicals from Lindy's Stamp Gang.  I have to admit that I don't send as many cards or decorated envelopes as I used to - so when I do send something I like to try and make it look a little special and let the recipient know I'm thinking of them - my version of sending a big hug through the mail.

You Will Need

Lindy's Stamp Gang Products

• Magicals: Green With Envy Green or My Mojito Green, Autumn Maple Crimson, Poinsettia Red & Midnight Rendezvous Raven

Other Products

• Stamps: Donna Downey Poppies from Unity Stamp Company and Childhood Garden from Inkadinkado
• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad & Onyx Black Ink Pad
• Delicata Gold Ink Pad
• Liquitex Acrylic Ink - Carbon Black
• Pan Pastel: Bright Yellow Green, Hansa Yellow Extra Dark & Diarylide Yellow Tint
• Envelope

To create the matching card and envelope:

Ink stamp with Versamark clear ink and using the Magicals as a dry powder, apply power with small paint brush - I started with Autumn Maple Crimson.

Add either Poinciana Flame or Rudolph's Nose red to the rest of the poppy.

Add a touch of Midnight Rendezvous Raven to the centre of the flower.

 Spritz with water and stamp onto the envelope - without adding any more powder, continue to spritz and stamp until colour becomes too pale.

This creates beautiful watercolour effect images in a variety of shades.

Allow to dry and then using poppy outline stamp, ink with gold ink and stamp over poppy.

 Mask off poppies and stamp a bold black outline for each flower,
I used a stamp positioner to make sure of placement.

 Mask poppies to keep them looking clean, and on card stamp text on one side (mask this also), on envelope leave open space for address.

Mix up a little of each colour ( Green With Envy Green or My Mojito Green, Autumn Maple Crimson, Poinsettia Red & Midnight Rendezvous Raven ) with water in a palette
and use a small brush to flick drops onto project. 

On envelope use some of your leftover green Magicals to paint on a simple stem and leaves.

 Allow to dry and the envelope is finished!   

To make the card slightly different, I added Pan Pastel around the poppies and dropped on a little black ink.

This project is now ready to post off to someone and I hope you will share any mail art you create over on Keep It Simply Sparkly on Facebook.