Over the past year, I received a lot of fun and intriguing scraps of paper. I sent some away as well. Swapping scraps (and other art mail) during the pandemic really helped to lift my spirits. Who wouldn't be cheered by receiving a batch of colorful papers in the mail. I wonder what my swappers made with them?
For this season's iHanna DIY Postcard Swap, I decided to use up some of these scraps in my postcards. The colors and themes of the collaged cards started with some of the scraps, and I built from there, adding more scraps, art papers (collage fodder I had made myself), and ephemera from my stash.
This collage project was one that I taught the girls in my art camps over the years that was extremely popular. I would have them create collages on a sheet of Tyvek envelope. Their collages always seemed to have an animal theme! It was okay if the collages looked a little random, crowded and patch-worky...without composition. I put them through my sewing machine several times using different colored thread to create a fun textured look. Then I cut the collages up into pieces that I'd sew onto postcard, notecard, and bookmark card backings. I matched them with envelopes, for an art camp "party favor" they could take home and use to send snail mail to their friends and distant family. Once cut up like this, the collages took on new life, and some really cool compositions and messages emerged.
Making a collage on a Tyvek envelope, knowing you're going to cut it up takes a little pressure off, and you can really enjoy the process of creating. It's fun and meditative. Since those art camp days, I've made several "sewn collage" cards, postcards, and note cards for my own use. All one-of-a-kind, they are perfect for an iHanna DIY Postcard Swap!
I've posted all the cards on my Flickr account if you would like to take a look at them all. This is just a sampling. I hope receiving these gives my swappers as much joy as making them did for me!
Thank you so much for visiting here and reading this!
XO,
Sarah
P.S. Hanna hosts the Postcard Swap twice a year, so get on her newsletter email list to receive the notification for this Fall's swap!