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One of the more stressful parts of being self-employed is dealing with tax time. But once those bad-boys are filed (or at least, the first batch of them), you sometimes get to move on to one of the most delightful parts of being self-employed: The Taking of the Afternoon Off.
…So this is how I spent yesterday afternoon, making my postcards for the DIY Postcard Swap. Last year, I made quilted cards, which involved a fair amount of work. This year, I wanted something simpler and more spontaneous-feeling, so I dragged out my beloved ephemera collection and proceeded to make a huge, entertaining mess.
I love my two drawers full of precious bits of assorted paper! There are interesting notecards and playing cards and Loteria cards, and old catalog pages and product labels and canceled stamps. There are scraps of scrapbook paper. There are vintage wrapping papers and paint chips and pages from old books. I’ve had to make a law that I’m only allowed to keep two drawers of this stuff. Without that law, I assure you, we’d be buried in interesting paper.
I didn’t overthink this at all – I just sifted through and grabbed whichever bits that appealed to me in the moment. All ten were done within two hours. And you know what? I love how these postcards turned out! I should try not overthinking things more often. :-)
Not a bad reward for getting the dang taxes done. Maybe when I get the other half filed, I’ll do this again, just for fun. Want a postcard?
Ah, gorgeous!!
And…I kinda want to roll around in your ephemera collection.
HAHAHAHA! Hey, that’s a great idea! :-)
I love these, they are insiring me to add some more detail to the electronic collages I have been doing of my new baby granddaughter.. born 48 hours ago – (the midwife was late so I got to catch the baby!) Of course I am takiing lots of photos, I think I need to do more of this type of collage look!
Yaaaaaaay, Congratulations, Meryl Ann! How exciting to be a part of such an amazing event. Let the spoiling commence now! :-)
I LOVE these and the way you went about them. Reminds me of an online gluebook class I took last year from Mary Green. I just learned to let go, which took a little doing because I’m not that experience working with paper (as you know, I’m a bead girl!).
You always inspire me!!!
…And you inspire me! What exactly is a gluebook?
I googled. Art journals that are all just collage, ie. paper and glue. I’ve never heard the term, but it’s how I treat some of my art journal pages. :)
What fun! I *love* the one on the left in the first photo with the little boys in suits. The boys remind me of pictures of my dad and my uncles dressed like that. There is just something so endearing about a little boy with combed hair, a smart jacket and shorts! It screams spring time and Easter Sunday to me.
And ^ cracking up at Mercedes comment…and your reply.
They turned out beautifully! Your pile of ephemera looks so much fun. Getting lost in scraps of pretty paper and a glue stick is one of my favorite escapes and one I haven’t gotten to indulge in for some time.
@Meryl, how exciting to catch your own grandbaby! Just having a grandchild is wonderful, but to get to participate on such a level is amazing:)
They came out wonderful! I love to “zone out” and just play like that. A very well deserved treat! Are you trading these? I would love to trade with you!
Lotus
Thanks for the offer! These were actually for a specific swap, and they’ve all been mailed out now. But if I sit down to make more, I’ll email you for a trade.
Well, if you roll around in the stuff, you’ll have to use yourself for a postcard! But, please, if you do the rolling around thing, get a picture for us! We could use you all over the place!
Rules to work by- Do Not pay attention to what you are doing. Do Not try too hard. Do Not try at all. Just DO!
If I pay attention to what I’m doing, the end result does not make me a happy camper.
Heh! :-) Good advice, Kat! I’ve been immersed in several projects that are very detailed and attention-needing, so it really was nice to just kind of zone out and paste things.
Your cards are so fun Diane! Maybe next year I will follow your lead-my postcards for Hanna’s swap took me hours and hours to create. But I enjoyed every minute ;)
:-) I enjoyed making my quilted ones last year, too. I think there will be Elaborate Years and Simple Years. Did you post pics of yours to the Flickr group? I’m headed over there to find out!
How you felt about making this is how I feel when I do my art journal pages. And I probably should put a space cap on my paper collection, too….
Fun! It’s so fun to just not overthink. That’s where having kids to create with comes in very handy, I’m always trying to model a not-overthinking no-mistakes kind of vibe for them. I owe you a thank you, by the way. I clicked the link in your tweet about the postcard swap, ending up joining in, had lots of fun making them, and am finding all sorts of amazing creative people too. So thank you!
Yay! I’m so glad you joined in, Amy! I’ve always had a great experience, too.
Yes, I love getting real mail!
Love seeing your mess and proud of you for keeping it to only two drawers.
Love the spontaneousness!
I love this post. It makes me want to make a postcard to send out to everybody I know. This sounds dangerous.
Looks like fun! The cards are really one of a kind!
I love taking the afternoon off! It feels like such a guilty pleasure, but it really is necessary once in a while to maintain your sanity.
I’ve also put something of a “two drawer” restriction on my stuff. When a drawer is full, it’s time to figure out what needs to stay, and what can go. I also move things out of my room into a “holding area” if it’s not inspiring me. The local crafting store has a rummage sale where I can sell these things once a year. It’s easier to gather those things together if they’re already out of the room. There are also lots of great places that accept donations, too.
What a great idea! I wish one of our local indie stores would take up the “Rummage Sale” cause. We used to organize a craft supply swap through Church of Craft here, but interestingly, so many more people dropped stuff off than took anything. It sure made for great donations to some local charities, though.
Limiting yourself to two drawers? I wonder if I could show that much restraint. I should probably try ;)
Your postcards are awesome.
Thank you! Let’s just say that they are Very Full Drawers. And I’m regularly trying to jam juuuuust one more slip of paper in there. :-)
I love all your cards and paper crafts. I hope you will come link up to The CSI Project this week. We are a craft challenge blog and this week’s challenge is Embossing and paper crafts. Come link up beginning Wednesday and come see tutorials Monday- Wednesday. We have a weekly giveaway and you just might win the challenge.
http://www.thecsiproject.com
Every week is a new craft challenge. Hope you will come on over!!!
I have visited your blog, Elizabeth’s blog, and Fanie’s blog, and you are all talking about this wonderful mail art! I was so inspired by your podcast about letter writing, that I went and got a mail art book from the library, and have been thinking about how to work this into my creative time… clearly, the universe just told me to get started!! I, too, thought it would be a great time to work without over-thinking things too much. I am bummed I missed out on the swap, but I am sure I can find some crafty people to send mail too! :-)
You might want to join the Letter Writer’s Alliance in the meantime. I just joined, and am excited to start writing!
I love these! More pictures, please! :)
Sister Diane, I love your cards! I am a big fan of Hanna’s postcard swaps and was very excited to get your name this year. The only problem is that it’s pretty statistically unlikely that you ALSO got my name. DARN IT!
(Hey that was punny).
Happy creations!
tj
Oh, I can’t wait to see your card! And… nope, I didn’t get your name. :-( Maybe next year?
Hello! I received your beautifully done card today in the mail! I have received altogher 8 so far. Only two more to go and then there will be no more suprises until next year. I enjoy the iHanna Swap. I do have a blog site through Goggle and my name is PinkArt300M. I am new so just in the beginning stages. Once again, thank you!
Yaaay! I’m so glad to know one has arrived at its destination. Thanks, Francisca! I’ll check out your blog!
received your postcard yesterday was surprised to receive one from so close to home. this has been such a fun swap, my second year. enjoyed checking out your blog, i’ll check back from time to time. thanks again.
Thanks for letting me know, Cyndee! I had two swap partners in The Couv this year – amazing! :-)
Your lovely postcard came in the mail yesterday…Thank you so much! I see the one you sent me in the photo above right below the red scissors. I have gotten four of my ten cards so far. Thanks again!
Thanks so much for letting me know, Mary! I’m so glad it arrived safely.
Another card arrived safely. I’m Ingrid from Sweden and I love tHe simplicity of your card. Joyful and happy!!!
Thank you. I will visit your blog from now on. You are welcome to see my blog:
ingridpetriniskviltarochstygn.blogspot.com
And you will find that me too, makes flowers. I will find out about yours. A connection?
All the best. :)
Thank you for letting me know, Ingrid! I’m excited to check out your blog. I always love meeting fellow flower-makers!
I have moved on to other type of flowers (paper/fabric) and I will publish soon. Yours are awesome and so
elegant. Very impressed!
Wow! These are so fun! I love pictures of things in progress!!
hello Diane – I’m happy to report that your card has arrived safely in England :) mine is the one in the middle of the top row in your group photo, with the happy little raindrop, very cute!
Wow, these really got to their destinations quickly – the UK in three mail days! Thanks for letting me know, Sarah!
[...] The second card came from Oregon and was sent by Diane. [...]
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