Heart-Shaped Valentines Swap - Postmark by Tuesday, January 22nd

Stickers over Gelli Plate printed background

February will swiftly follow on the heels of January, and with it- Valentines' Day.  For this exchange we will make four (4) Valentines in the shape of a "heart."  

The pieces you create may have art/design on both sides, but please also include your contact information so that your delighted recipient may acknowledge your art.

SIZE:  no larger than 3" x 5" each
THEME:  Valentines' Day
MATERIALS/MEDIA:  paint, pencils, crayons, stickers, Washi tape, rubber stamps, lace, ribbon, tissue paper, etc.
QUANTITY:  4

Wavy Stripes - Part 2

Four from Ellen:

Four from Rose:

Four from Sandie:

Four from Honi:

 

Decorated Envelopes Swap - Postmark by Monday, January 28th

Stencils, rubber stamps

It has been more than a year since we had a decorated envelope swap. 

This time we will be starting with already-made envelopes instead of constructing them from scratch.  


Here's a link to a very entertaining and enlightening article about making and sending deliverable mail art envelopes:

https://thepostmansknock.com/how-to-make-deliverable-mail-art/

Rubber stamp images embossed over acrylic paint  

SIZE:  Medium-to-large greeting card envelopes are very useful, also1/4-note envelopes.  

I recommend an upper limit of no larger than 8+1/2" x 5+1/2" so they don't have to be folded when I send them to your swap partners.  

Large sticker over Gelli Plate printed Deli Wrap Paper

Techniques and media for decorating your envelopes might include paints, markers, sketching, stencil work, rubber stamping, embossing, Washi tape, collage, stickers, etc. 

Any theme, any media that will go safely through the mail when your swap partners use them.

Rubber stamped images embossed

Decorate 1 - 4 envelopes.  If you write your name on the inside of the flap, or enclose a little note with your email address, your swap partner will be able to thank you.

Stickers over Gelli Plate/stencil work on Deli Wrap paper

Please include one 9" x 6" envelope (brown Kraft flapped envelopes work well) with your return address and your own send-to address on the envelope so I can mail your swapped art back to you.  A nonmachinable (70-cents as of January 27th) stamp or equivalent postage should cover it. 

GRUNGE/DISTRESSED ART - Part 4

Three from Deb H:

Three from Mary B:

Four from Sandie:

USA Postal Rate Increase 2019

Just an informational note to let everyone know:  the Postal Service plans to increase First Class rates on January 27th, 2019.  

• Forever stamps will soon be 55-cents each instead of 50-cents.  If you stock up on Forever stamps before the increase, you will be 5-cents ahead for each stamp you buy, until your Forever stamps run out and you have to buy more at the increased cost.  
• The First Class extra ounce stamps will cost 15-cents each instead of 21 cents, which means that every stamp with Uncle Sam hats on it will lose 6-cents value when the rates change.  (I'm using them up quickly to avoid the loss of value.)

The good news:  Post Card rates (35-cents) and International Mail rates (starting at $1.15 for the first ounce) will remain the same as they have been in 2018.

Nonmachinable rates will be 70-cents instead of 71-cents each.

Product Letters (1 oz.) Letters additional ounces Letters (metered 1 oz.) Outbound International Letters (1 oz.) Domestic Postcards

Current           50 cents 21 cents 47 cents $1.15 35 cents

Proposed 55 cents 15 cents 50 cents $1.15 35 cents

Calendar Bits #2 Collage Post Card Swap - Postmark by January 14th

WAIT!  Before you throw out your 2019 calendar pages, save some pieces from various calendars for this swap.

Here's a repeat of a fun re-purposing exchange we had last year.  The directions are similar, except for one catch.  Read on! 

Make 1 - 4 post cards on which you incorporate pieces of calendars.  

Be sure to show some numbers/days/ months/
words, but not the picture parts.

The calendar elements (torn, cut, punched-out, strips, folded) should be obvious, not hidden, a noticeable part of your whole design, but you may add other media as well.  Start with any background.  

HERE'S THE CATCH:

You must include 

*1 circle shape, and

*1 square shape, and

*1 triangle shape 

on each card you make.

Circles, squares, OOPS! No triangles!  (Last year's swap)

You may accent with ink, paint, rubber stamping, stenciling, writing...  Just be sure the pieces of calendar are recognizable, not completely painted over or obscured by other images.

GRUNGE/DISTRESSED ART - Part 3

Four from Cynthia:

Four from Ellen:

Wavy Stripes - Part 1

Four from Doris:

Four from Janet R:

Four from LaDonna: