Tape Postcards - Due July 28th

For this swap, create a postcard that features some kind of tape.

(thanks to Linda for this suggestion.)

 

It could be duct tape, or washi tape, or masking tape, or electrical tape, or any other kind of tape you can think of.

There's certainly no shortage of amazing colorful patterned tape out there.  I bet most of you own some.  (or own A LOT, like a certain MMSA hostess I know.)

Tape can be an accent on your card, or it could be the focal point, or you can incorporate it into a mixed media piece.

You can even make a postcard out of tape the way Trula did for our "non-paper postcard" swap last year.

 

(and did you know there's an iPhone app called "maskingtape" that lets you put virtual patterned tape on any of your photos?  Jake made me get it.)

But I digress...

It's time to put your tape to new and creative postal uses.

Are you up for the challenge?

Swap details:

• You may submit as many as  four cards  (you will get back the same number you send)

• if you're sending me more than one, please make sure you insert waxed paper or parchment in between the cards so they don't get stuck together in the envelope

• write “MMSA tape” on the back of your card to remind your recipient why they are receiving this wonderful work of art in the mail

• I highly suggest you write your return address on the back of the postcard (in case of postal delivery problems) and your email address so the recipient can thank you. 

• A note for your partner is a nice touch. 

• include a mailing label with your name and address for each card you create
  (I will attach them to the cards I mail back to you)

• Please attach the proper postage to your postcard (see below for postal guidelines).  If you don’t have any stamps and it’s difficult for you to get some, go ahead and send me money instead.  You can stick cash in the envelope, or send it to me via paypal (iamrushmore@gmail.com)

• international swappers are welcome - the postage cost is $1.15 per card (paypal account is iamrushmore@gmail.com)

Postage and Card Size
You are welcome to make any size postcard you want, but please pay attention to the following postal guidelines

• In order to use the postcard rate ($.34) your card cannot be bigger than 4.25 x 6 inches, and it must be thin and flexible.  A 4x6 card that is thick, lumpy or doesn't bend, needs more postage

• If your card is a rectangle bigger than a postcard, but still flat and flexible, a regular "forever" ($.49 ) stamp is what you need. 

• If your card is an unusual shape (square, round) or is flexible but has some lumpy embellishments it will probably cost you the "non machinable" rate of $.70

• If your card doesn't bend at all, the post office considers it a package and you should go get it weighed to figure out the proper postage.

You can find all the postal specifications (and a handy postage calculator) here:  http://postcalc.usps.gov/

Mail your cards no later than July 28th. (I don’t need to receive them by the 28th, they need to be postmarked by the 28th.)

Karen Isaacson
PO Box 532
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
United States

Favorite City Postcards – Due July 21

Phillip has suggested (among other things) the following themes:  New York, London, Paris, & Tokyo.  I couldn’t decide on a single city, so I decided to open it up to ANY city.  Pick your favorite and create some urban art.

You can be literal or abstract.  It can be a real city or a fictional city.

Approach this any way you want.  I love seeing how you interpret the themes. 

Thanks for the suggestion, Phillip!

 

Swap details:

• You may submit as many as  four cards  (you will get back the same number you send)

• if you're sending me more than one, please make sure you insert waxed paper or parchment in between the cards so they don't get stuck together in the envelope

• write “MMSA favorite city” on the back of your card to remind your recipient why they are receiving this wonderful work of art in the mail

• I highly suggest you write your return address on the back of the postcard (in case of postal delivery problems) and your email address so the recipient can thank you.   

• Write a note on the back describing which city you chose and why you chose it.  

• include a mailing label with your name and address for each card you create
  (I will attach them to the cards I mail back to you)

• Please attach the proper postage to your postcard (see below for postal guidelines).  If you don’t have any stamps and it’s difficult for you to get some, go ahead and send me money instead.  You can stick cash in the envelope, or send it to me via paypal (iamrushmore@gmail.com)

• international swappers are welcome - the postage cost is $1.15 per card (paypal account is iamrushmore@gmail.com)

Postage and Card Size
You are welcome to make any size postcard you want, but please pay attention to the following postal guidelines

• In order to use the postcard rate ($.34) your card cannot be bigger than 4.25 x 6 inches, and it must be thin and flexible.  A 4x6 card that is thick, lumpy or doesn't bend, needs more postage  

• If your card is a rectangle bigger than a postcard, but still flat and flexible, a regular "forever" ($.49 ) stamp is what you need. 

• If your card is an unusual shape (square, round) or is flexible but has some lumpy embellishments it will probably cost you the "non machinable" rate of $.70

• If your card doesn't bend at all, the post office considers it a package and you should go get it weighed to figure out the proper postage.

You can find all the postal specifications (and a handy postage calculator) here:  http://postcalc.usps.gov/

Mail your cards no later than July 21st. (I don’t need to receive them by the 21st, they need to be postmarked by the 21st.)

Karen Isaacson
PO Box 532
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
United States

Pink and Green Postcards - due July 14th

Get out your preppy handbook, we're trading pink and green postcards!

 

When I think of pink and green I remember my 7^th grade outfit of a pink Izod shirt, worn with my kelly green chinos.  Keep in mind it was 1980 and this was considered somewhat fashionable.

But still... in 7th grade I looked a lot more like this dude than an actual teenage girl.

 

I beg of you to get that image out of my head with some fabulous pink and green art work!

(this is SO not my typical color scheme.  I had to search through hundreds of pictures in my archives to come up with something even remotely suitable.  I think I'm permanently scarred by my 1980 fashion choices.  Perhaps you will all inspire me to break out of my orange/blue rut!)

You know the drill - keep your palette focused on the pink and green color families.  

 

As always, you can create your postcard in any size, shape, style or medium. 

Many thanks to Joyce for suggesting this color combo.

Swap details:

• You may submit as many as  four cards  (you will get back the same number you send)

• if you're sending me more than one, please make sure you insert waxed paper or parchment in between the cards so they don't get stuck together in the envelope

• write “MMSA pink and green” on the back of your card to remind your recipient why they are receiving this wonderful work of art in the mail

• I highly suggest you write your return address on the back of the postcard (in case of postal delivery problems) and your email address so the recipient can thank you.   

• A note for your partner is a nice touch. 

• include a mailing label with your name and address for each card you create
  (I will attach them to the cards I mail back to you)

• Please attach the proper postage to your postcard (see below for postal guidelines).  If you don’t have any stamps and it’s difficult for you to get some, go ahead and send me money instead.  You can stick cash in the envelope, or send it to me via paypal (iamrushmore@gmail.com)

• international swappers are welcome - the postage cost is $1.15 per card (paypal account is iamrushmore@gmail.com)

Postage and Card Size
You are welcome to make any size postcard you want, but please pay attention to the following postal guidelines

• In order to use the postcard rate ($.34) your card cannot be bigger than 4.25 x 6 inches, and it must be thin and flexible.  A 4x6 card that is thick, lumpy or doesn't bend, needs more postage  

• If your card is a rectangle bigger than a postcard, but still flat and flexible, a regular "forever" ($.49 ) stamp is what you need. 

• If your card is an unusual shape (square, round) or is flexible but has some lumpy embellishments it will probably cost you the "non machinable" rate of $.70

• If your card doesn't bend at all, the post office considers it a package and you should go get it weighed to figure out the proper postage.

You can find all the postal specifications (and a handy postage calculator) here:  http://postcalc.usps.gov/

Mail your cards no later than July 14th. (I don’t need to receive them by the 14th, they need to be postmarked by the 14th.)

Karen Isaacson
PO Box 532
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
United States

Handmade envelope swap - due July 7th

Back by popular demand- we're swapping handmade envelopes again!

(envelopes by Gina Visione)

You can construct them from old calendars, maps, sturdy magazine pages, scrapbook paper, your own painted papers....

You can embellish them with tape, stamps, stickers, collage, labels, paint, etc.

  Make them interesting!

Don't know how to make an envelope?

Don't worry.

Pamela wrote us a wonderful and easy tutorial last year.

Click here to read it.

(You don’t have to use that technique, but it's a great starting place if you've never made envelopes before)

 Want some inspiration?  Enter the word “envelope” in the search box in the sidebar of the blog.  It will bring you to a list of all the past posts featuring envelopes.

Swap details:

• Make five envelopes (no more, no less)

• The minimum size you can make it is 3.5 x 5 inches (anything smaller is too small to mail) but otherwise the size and dimensions are up to you. 

•  Stick a little note or business card inside each envelope with your name and contact info so that the recipients know who made each envelope.

• Put them in a big envelope and mail them to me. 

• I will reuse that envelope and mail you back five different handmade envies from five different people.  (So don’t put postage on the individual envies you create, include postage for the cost of the big envelope.)

• Before you seal your big envelope, go to the post office and find out how much it’s going to cost to mail it.  Include that many stamps or that much cash in the envelope, or send me that amount of money via paypal (iamrushmore@gmail.com)

• Include an address label with your name and address that I will adhere to your package when I mail it back to you.

•  Postmark them by July 7th.  (I don't need to receive them by the 7th, they just need to be postmarked by the 7th.)

Karen Isaacson

PO Box 532

Shrewsbury, MA 01545

United States