Jo's Postcard Request

This is not needlework related, but Jo from  Serendipitous Stitching    asked, so here it goes!
When I make postcards, I usually start with something that will be recycled. My dd was leading the art camp at our local library and had me gesso a million cereal boxes

Gesso is a primer that allows the paint to stick to the surface better. I have heard it described as underwear for paint.
The kids used pieces of them as their pallets and she had hoped THEY would make postcards from them. They used a bit of paint and had lots of little pallets left

 Normally I stencil the background and then cut the paper up, but these were already cut, so I will just stencil on them:

Some of my favorite stencils

 I then choose ephemera from my stash to use as a focal point. Stamps and magazines are my favorites:

 These are some that are almost ready to send.

I work in layers and a little at a time. These are close to be done, but need doodles, words or something. And I feel they could be sent as is. After all, one of these in your mail box is much more fun than a bill!
 Kitten Stitcher   on Youtube suggested (several videos back) that we send cards out. After watching that video, I have been trying to mail a card out a week.   With all the craziness in the world, a little card in the mail seems like a good idea.                 

Mail Art Start

I think this will be fun to cut up or fold up and stick in the mail.  Perfect for a long letter to my mom. It is a big envelope that my ds received with college junk mail.

Mail Art

This is a postcard that I plan to mail to my oldest who is at college.  It was his idea.  

Mail Art Play Day

I needed to get some cards made so my dd and I played this afternoon.  The white card on the top is just gessoed.  The next two have a few layers, but are not done yet.  The two on the left are finished and ready for a message and to be mailed.  It was fun and great to bounce ideas off my artsy daughter.

Mail Art and Snow

I am tired of winter.  I am so ready for spring.  How about you?

What I Did Today...Not Needlework

I love getting mail.  Real mail.  Not junk mail, bills or college info(my son has been getting tons of it).  Because I like getting mail, I figure other people do too so when a friend suggested that we get together to do art, I knew what I was making.  Mail.  Lots and lots of mail.  I got twelve pieces done and one mistake.  My goal is to get all these mailed out before we get together again in April. 

This is Gay Ann Roger's Love and Friends Heart.  I could not resist starting a new piece despite all my WIPs.  I did start on GARs Elizabeth, but she only has one eye.  Not much to photo so maybe next week I can have something to show on it and Spring Splendor.

Mail Art

Mail Art. What is that? It is art that you mail. Duh. But truly, what constitutes mail art? I think it is defined as any piece of art that you place a stamp on and mail away from you. So if you do beautiful calligraphy and place that on your envelope, that is mail art. I know some cross stitchers are making envelopes out of fabric, stitching on it and mailing it. That is much too time consuming for me. (If you want to see an example, go to Dragon My Needle- http://dragonmyneedle.blogspot.com ) I want to introduce my local EGA to mail art, so I made these Valentine postcards: I had to make 18 so I used my sewing machine. I made paper cloth and used it for the hearts. The background is fabric scraps that I ironed onto interfacing and then sewed down. I can see tons of possibilities with these. I wish I had pulled some lace and used it. I am not much of a seamstress, so using the sewing machine was a challenge. Luckily my son was available for advice! Now to get them addressed and into the mail.