2019 #3 Mail Art: Spring Mail with ESN {by Josefine Fouarge}

2019 Topic 3: Mail Art

I love the simplicity of this, and we have a happy accident in the mix too! Josefine has also made a video for you, so check it out! And subscribe to her channel! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone,

Josefine here. I love to try new things, new techniques and even new art styles. I haven't tried mail art before, always admired others from afar though. So, this was a great opportunity to jump in and test it myself. And I have to say, it's so much fun!

I used Sara Naumann's new stamp set ESN34 (See stockists here) and mixed it with a stencil from Darcy (PS103). 

I tried to keep it simple, so I only used a few paints - Peach Nectar and Lemon Meringue for the birds and Taupe and Mud Splat for the tree trunk.

I created two envelopes. One was meant to be and the other happened by accident. I used it as a clean up area but at the end, it turned out really nice. You can see all the details in my video:

It's fascinating how the accidents sometimes become the preferred project. Don't get me wrong, I love both, but that grungy bird has something special.

When was the last time you tried something new? If you've never used an envelope as your canvas, I highly encourage you to do so. It's super interesting to work with the different size and paper. Plus, now your postman/ postwoman has something to look forward too when you send it out.

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

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2019 #3 Mail Art: Hidden Pockets with EDY {by Etsuko Noguchi}

2019 Topic 3: Mail Art

We all love how Etsuko is so creative in such an imaginative and interesting way! This mail art with its stunning contents would be such a wonderful treasure to receive! A wealth of stamps have been used, and numerous fun techniques too! Enjoy! ~Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Etsuko My favorite things with you today, and I'd like to share with you Mail Art Envelope with ATC pockets project using fabulous Darcy's stamps.

I think Mail Art Envelope is a good idea to store ATC. And it's fun to make and fashionable don't you think?

I started by the model of an envelope and these are them size. The dotted line is the folding line and the diagonal line is the margin to paste.

On the outside of the envelope design. I collaged a piece of book page on the A4 Smoothy white card, clear gessoing over the surface, and I dropped on Caribbean Sea, Limelight, Chocolate Pudding and Claret Frescos with water. 

After cutting the sheet of paper and making it into the envelope. I stamped the character stamps of EDY20 and EDY23 on washi paper, painted with watercolor paint, stuck to tear-off envelope. I stamped with HP1006 and roughly painted white gesso. To finish, I sprinkled Chocolate Pudding with water. The string tie closure I used backside paper and embossing by EDY09.

On the backside, I using the  Gelli Plate, the first layer was made with Green Olive (discontinued), Green Patina and Chocolate Pudding and Caribbean Sea Frescos. 

The second layer made by using Caribbean Sea through the Tim's stencil. 

Then I added EDY20 HP1006 by Archival Jet Black, and Lin Brown's ELB31 stamp with some off-white embossing powder.

Then I stuck the pockets.

I also made ATC cards and coins to the pockets using various Darcy's stamps, EDY20, EDY23, EDY05, EM02. EM04 and EM14.

My first thought in Mail Art is a handmade picture postcard, but it would be possible to create works with a wider way of thinking. I enjoyed a little convenient ATC case and made it, but I could not be satisfied a little because the inside design was bit heavy this time. 

I think you have more wonderful ideas, I'm looking forward to seeing them.

Thank you so much stopping by.

Etsuko xxx

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2019 #3 Mail Art: Authentic Mail with ESC {by Jennie Atkinson}

2019 Topic 3: Mail Art

We have an extremely elegant envelope tonight that involves a masterclass in masking! Jennie has created a beautiful vintage inspired piece of art with lots of super helpful tips on masking,this is a great way to create your own collage of images, and the scripts help it all hang together beautifully ~ Leandra.

Hi everyone, it's Jennie (Live The Dream) here sharing something quite new to me. I have always admired the Mail Art I have seen on Pinterest but never had a go myself. There are SO many individual PaperArtsy stamps that can be used for this topic and I had a job limiting myself to just a few to stamp alongside Raquel's wonderful Floral Stamps released recently.

I thought the best way of creating the Botanical style of Mail Art I wanted was to go down the route of single layer stamping. This is a technique I am turning to time and again for birthday cards to get a layered look but which can be posted at the normal postal rate! It takes time, but well worth the effort.

I couldn't just make the envelope ..... I had to make a card to go inside!

Initially I played around with some stamps to see how they would fit onto the envelope and to decide what I wanted in the foreground and what would sit behind.

I have used stamps from all of these wonderful sets:

ESC18

HP1005

Travel 4 (T4)

Words 4 (W4)

Letters 6 (L6)

Believe me I could have done a whole series of  envelopes from my PaperArtsy stamp collection!! 

I masked out an area for an address and then stamped my first two uppermost images with Potting Soil Archival Ink and then made a mask for them from A Post It Note. If you stamp your mask near the top of the pad you get a little sticky bit which helps to adhere it to your envelope.

A tip about envelopes: make sure you use one that doesn't bleed through the back (this was a linen type envelope left over from the days when I made wedding invitations) and it helps if you cut a piece of cardstock to fit inside the envelope while stamping.

As each layer was stamped there were more masks to make. The flower was too big for a Post It Note, but a thin piece of paper is all that is needed. If you make the mask from too thick paper or card it doesn't allow the next layer to be stamped close up to the image.

It is now getting even more complicated with the last of the stamping and wondering whether it will actually work!

And hey presto, it did!

I used the same stamps and technique on the back of the envelope and painted in the area of the flower with Fresco Finish Acrylic Paints: Magic Moss, Mulled Wine and Key Lime.

I wasn't very happy with the ragged edge on the Jubilee Rose stamp so tried a butterfly, but that didn't work either. So I had to resort to placing my wax seal over the space. Not quite where I intended it to go....

I did blend some brown ink around the edges to give a bit of definition.


Be warned ..... it is rather addictive!

This was a very enjoyable craft session! I think my two elderly Aunts will be delighted to get one of these envelopes through the post on their birthday - and the fact that there is a matching card inside will probably win me the brownie points for this year!  The single layer stamping using masks is so very effective and there are so many PaperArtsy stamp sets which include stamps, tickets, little postcards and handwriting that the possibilities are endless. And don't throw away the masks - you can use them over and over again.

As always, thank you for joining me!

Jennie x

Blog: Live The Dream