Mail Art: Time Capsule

Mail art inspired me so much. I loved opening my mail to find interesting things and thoughtful notes from other artists. That was when I was most productive.

I came across a book about mail art. Good Mail Day is a great source. Also, International Union of Mail Artists website. I recommend checking them out if you are curious about mail art.


A couple of weeks ago I opened my box of mail art. I haven't touched it since before I moved. I had a stack of post cards that were never sent and a stack that needed response. It went quickly once I got started.




I cleared some space on my desk and set out different stamps and inks. I hope to stay on top it this time. I also got some addresses from Post Crossing. I picked up some great cards to send out last time I was in Banff.




Lets take a step back and look at the chaos of my crafting. Clothes to alter on ironing board, shirts to stencil on the table, mail art album plopped on top of that to be updated, and shirts to be fitted in a big pile. I got a lot on the go, I have also been sketching some jewelry displays that I hope to build soon.

Yep, big to do list and lots of ideas. Isn't that how it always is?

What projects are on your to do list?



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Mini Art Journal: Part 1

I seem to be out a lot lately, when I am bored I play games on my phone or look for inspiration online. When I am home I don't always have time to get out supplies and create. Usually, I set out supplies and go to bed.
Time for a new journal. One that will fit in my purse. I went to Michaels and bought a journal (originally $3) for $1.50 it has a fabric/ canvas type cover. Perfect for holding paint and other mediums.



I started by coating the cover generously with gesso. First with brush strokes in one direction, let dry then another coat in the other direction.




I am not sure what I am doing with the cover yet, so I will get to that when I get an idea.




Inside, I used matte medium to glue pages together. I put waxed paper in-between sets of glued pages.




To make space for papers and other extras I ripped out pages using a ruler. I made sure to leave a couple of millimeters so the pages don't fall out the other side.

Once it was dry, I went to the second page and coated it with gesso.




To cut down drying time I used a heat gun. I used matte medium to glue papers and other background images in.




I used acrylic paint and a dry brush technique to add subdued coloring to the page. I then coated it with gesso, using a dry brush technique.
If pages seem loose once painted, I use tissue tape in the seam so it doesn't fall out.




Now it's ready for more paint, text, stamps and images. Having a few prepped pages will make it easier to journal on the go.




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More Mail Art 365!

#93

#94

#95

For these postcards I used copies of my recent journal pages as backgrounds. My printer was running out of ink and I like the discolouration. I used the same techniques as the journal pages.

Click here to get caught up on my contributions for the Mail Art 365 project.

Creating Post!

This is #65 of 365. Making mail art is so freeing! I used to journal and create little things and think, now what? I have a bunch of stuff around, piling up with nowhere to go. Now I make it and send it away! I always enjoy what I receive, so I know it will go to a happy home maybe even be reused or added to a collection. I put mine up on the wall and when its filled I remove them and put them in a scrapbook. I use photo corners to attach them. Sometimes a dot of glue for envelopes, they tend to fall out.

Check out more mail art at Mail Art 365 blog.