From My Journal to Your Mailbox: How May's Mailer Was Made
Every month, I create an original snail mail that includes a personal letter, postcard-sized artwork, journal prompt, mantra, and a little surprise. The little surprise used to be a bookmark. Some months it still is, however, as Mr. Kingsley said, "How many bookmarks does one person need?"
It usually takes me 20-30 hours to create a mailer from start to finish. I start working on it the third week of the month. When it's finished, I take it to the printer and have them print a proof so I can see how the colors print. I've learned to always ask for a proof because my iPad and computer are optimized for a wider range of colors than a digital printer.
I think about what art I'd like to create around the same time I journal my first letter. The idea for the mailer always starts in my journal. Every morning I journal three handwritten pages. One morning each month, I sit down and ask the Universe what I should write to send out to the people who subscribe. Sometimes I'm able to write the letter in one sitting. Sometimes I have to write it more than once.
For May's mailer, it took me three attempts before my letter was close to finished. I'm not sure why it didn't come to me in one sitting. Ironically, I wrote about struggle and I was definitely struggling with writing and illustrating everything. Looking back, I think I was given a little bit of struggle to work through so that I could share that experience with my readers.
Once I realized I was struggling, I reminded myself that everyone struggles — even the wildlife in our gardens. I noticed a robin struggling to pull a worm out of the ground one morning. Then I thought about the color Robin's Egg Blue (AKA Tiffany Blue).
That color planted the creative seed for the beginnings of the color palette I put together for the artwork. I went to the Tiffany and Co. website and found some color inspiration in the form of very fancy travel cups that look normal but are made of bone china and cost $540 USD (OMG!).
At the same time, I knew I wanted the artwork to include tulips. This choice created more struggle because tulips don't come in Tiffany Blue. I knew I wanted to use the elements of tulips and Tiffany Blue but I had to figure out how to merge the two. I decided that if Tiffany Blue fell in love with another color, it would be some type of pink. I just had to decide what type of pink that would be and then make my tulip blooms that shade.
I found it! I used a blue-green for the tulip stems and then the Tiffany Blue for the tulip vase. Honestly, I felt (and still feel) a little insecure about the tulip art I made. It's more a story on form, shape, and color than anything else. I wanted those things to stand out and as a result, the vase might seem way too simple to some. I didn't use shading or texture. I did that on purpose but then I worried that people would think it was incomplete. Hopefully people will understand. That's the thing with art though, once it's out of the artist's hands, it belongs to the beholder and then it's officially none of my business what people think. I'm still working on trusting that there's an audience for my work.
After rereading my letter for May, I knew the journal prompt and mantra were going to be struggle-related. I remembered a mentor of mine telling me that The Struggle is Essential. That was the perfect mantra.
In ancient philosophies and religions, mantras are used as an instrument of thought. During meditation, they help to focus the mind, quiet mental chatter, and anchor you to the present. When I think of a possible mantra, I have to decide if it meets those requirements. I also need to figure out what it means on a deeper level. Ideally, a mantra unlocks a truth for you. It's something you can return to throughout your day to keep you grounded.
For these reasons, I put the mantra in its own special envelope and have it printed on card stock that's substantial enough to keep in your wallet or in a recipe holder as a reminder. I want the mantra cards to be collectible so at the end of the year, you have a dozen to choose from.
Surprisingly, the journal prompt is usually easy to develop. After reading May's letter, I knew the focus should help the reader identify a struggle they'd already overcome — so they could apply what they learned to the next one. That's what journaling does: it gives you the time and space to think. To learn from things while you write about them. Maybe to avoid the same struggle next time, or at least to recognize the skills you already have for facing it.
Speaking of struggle. There's a popular analogy for the butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. If you help it, it will likely die because the struggle of emerging helps to strengthen its wings. When you help it, it's robbed of the opportunity to become stronger. I love butterflies and the analogy is a great one. If you notice the artwork, however, I used moths instead of butterflies.
Moths emerge from a cocoon and they're nocturnal. They also don't get enough credit, in my opinion. The easy choice would have been to illustrate some butterflies but I wanted moths to get some love and attention. They are extremely important to our ecosystem. They're nighttime pollinators and they pollinate many of the plants bees miss during the day.
The theme of struggle also informed this month's surprise bookmark. I spent a large chunk of my career in education and in my last job as a teacher's aide for neurodivergent students, when a student was struggling, we'd often remind them, "I can do hard things!"
I pulled the colors from the palette I created for the artwork and used them throughout all the pieces of the mailer.
If you notice, the letter is printed in the dark blue color. I usually print the letter in grayscale, however, I wanted to add an illustration of robin's eggs to tie in to the color story of the mailer.
I know a mailer is finished when my heart tells me. All the pieces make friends with each other. In other words, they belong together in color, shape, message — sometimes all three.
I never know where the mailer will take me during the creative process. I only know that it starts in my journal.
What surprised me most about May's mailer was that I was able to keep the tulip art in — even though I was feeling very unsure about it. The former version of me would have scrapped it, tormented herself, and then created something else. For some reason, I stuck it out with this one and I think the other elements of the mailer help it make sense.
The most important thing for me when I create a mailer is that I want to create something that delights the person who receives it. I want them to be curious and excited when they see the envelope in their mailbox. I hope they look forward to opening it and experiencing the joy of discovering what's inside. I hope they experience beauty, connection, and reflection and that my little letter helps them feel remembered.
If you'd like one of these for yourself or someone you love:
The AlphaBet Journal Snail Mail Inspiration Club →
xo Trace