Gift #924: Vintage Postcards

Whew!  Well December is really in full steam isn’t it?  Between making gifts, cards, baking, social events, and working, it’s been a busy month!  I haven’t had much time to take any pictures, so rather than show you more fall pics (which I’d be glad to do, mind you) I thought I’d share some of the crafty adventures I’ve been up to.  I don’t recall if I’ve even mentioned it on the blog, but at the beginning of the year I was asked by my favorite stamp company, Red Lead Paperworks, to be a guest artist for them!!!  It was a dream come true and a real honor – I’m still floored that they asked me!  And I’ve been asked to continue for next year too, which is even more exciting because it means they didn’t decide that asking me was a mistake.

They sent me a huge package of Christmas themed stamps, wood pieces, inks, accessories, ribbons, trims… it was so fun opening it and browsing through everything.  I spent the next two weeks feverishly working on pieces to send back for them in time to use for their Christmas newsletters and features and such.   Among the lovelies that they sent were two wooden postcards that they wanted me to make into altered art.  Since they’ve been published I can now share them with you too!

This first one I made was very vintage and woodsy – just my style. I enjoyed the bird sets so much!  I used several of the stamps on this postcard – in fact everything on this postcard is stamped.   They sent glorious vintage metallic, tinsel wire and I used that to make the hanger and then tied a red ribbon and holly sprig to the side.

Here’s a view of the back, which I decorated a bit with some collage images they sent.

For the second postcard, I went with a more retro/mod feel and used bright red, lime green, and turquoise.  They sent magnificent woodcut reindeer and I knew immediately that I wanted to use one; I just had to figure out the other elements and style.  It all came together really well.

I painted the reindeer and slipped a mini wreath around his neck.  I cut Christmas tree shapes from patterned papers and glued them to the base, stamped  wordds and layered those on top, and then went over the top edge of the postcard and all the trees with a snowpen.  This lovely gadget is like a thick white-out fluid as you apply it and then when heated it puffs up and looks like snow.  For finishing touches, I used thick gold wire for the hanger, a red ribbon bow, and tied in a charm I made.  It says “oh what fun” and that pretty much sums up what I felt as I made it.

Hope you enjoyed the peak at some of my Christmas art!  I’ll be back again soon.

Blessings to you,

Sarah