Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Swap Happy

Time again for another iHanna DIY Postcard Swap.  
I've just resigned myself to the fact that
if it's all the art I do twice a year,
it's the art I will blog about.

I could vow to blog more, make more art, etc., but right now, I'm going to
give myself credit for making art and sharing it...making it and just
sending it away, to others who are making art
and sending it away.

It all started with a binge of making foam stamps, in faith, 
knowing one day I would use them to make art.



(I was inspired by Traci Bautista's printmaking lesson on Strathmore's website
where they have free workshops.  Sign up for a student account!)

So I made a bunch of prints on watercolor paper that I had colored-up with 
goache...a long time ago...just playing with the goache...going nowhere...until...



...these goache-painted papers got printed up with my hand-made foam stamps!


Playing with these foam stamps is a messy business...pure joy!



Then, I decided the postcards I cut from these papers needed more art.
And the doodling began.  The papers were bright and inspired a swirly doodle...



But I was a bit impatient, I learned,
because the different paint surfaces (not thoroughly dry)
had a disturbing effect on my various black ink pens.
One by one, the Sharpies (brand new!) stopped working
on the different paint finishes.

I switched from pen to pen to finish all the postcards.
Fortunately, I had just hit a sale at Staples on Sharpies sets!
It was meant to be!



The last component, inspired by what I had made,
I started thinking about the word "psychedelic"
and decided to look up the definition.

I created my own "dictionary" entry and printed it out, knowing
I would do an adhesive transfer to get it onto each card.



Packing tape would not do...but I had these self-adhesive laminating sheets.
Perfect!
It's important to have your copies laser/heat printed...no inkjet prints will do!






I cut the adhesive transfers a little bigger than the cards
and wrapped the edges around, then glued on a postcard back.





Everything safe and secure for the journey to my swappers!


I hope you enjoy your cards, my friends!
Thank you for visiting!
XO
Sarah