Final Mail Art Project

Here is my final mail art project. It was really fun to receive the projects each month. You never knew exactly when they would arrive and it never failed to put a smile on my face when I opened the mailbox.

My last mail art project went to my dear friend Joyce. I wanted to make something special for her that she could hang or display in her craft room.

I started out with a chipboard shape from my stash, but you could easily use a page from one of Want2Scrap’s Chipboard albums…the Grand Album Series would work especially well for this project.  I covered the chipboard piece with the polka dot side of Quick Quotes Dream Big patterned paper then I cut a 3.5″ wide strip of the striped side of Sheer Joy and adhered it to the center.  Once the adhesive was set I trimmed the edges of the paper around the chipboard.  Next, I chose my quote from the Sentiments Quote Bundle Pack and adhered it at a slight angle on the left side, leaving just enough room to add my Want2Scrap Frilly Flourish Swirl on the right.  I added a mixture of green and pink Mulberry Paper Flowersto finish it off.  Here’s a close-up view of the embellishments…

The edge of all the papers were inked with new chalk inks by Quick Quotes…Orange Slice and Caribbean Blue.  After it was all assembled, I covered the entire piece with two coats of Mod Podge so that it would be easy to dust off and keep clean.

Joyce notified me that even though this was mailed by itself with NO envelope that it arrived safely to her in GA!

Katie 

May's Mail Art Project

So far we have all enjoyed the Mail Art Swap and ALL pieces have arrived in tact!!

The first thing I did was coat the entire outside of the file folder withDecoArt Gesso and allowed it to dry.  I added some blue paint then some DecoArt Pink Glamour Dust.  The pink glitter paint is very sheer so it adds a touch of color and a touch of glimmer!  This time, I added patterned papers instead of painting the entire folder.  So I chose my papers then tore them and using Mod Podge, I adhered them to the folder, then trimmed off the excess.  Next, I picked bits and pieces of embellishments and fussy cut them from the paper.  After adding the banner in the upper left corner I added a Beautiful Bling Strip WhitePearl/Black Rhinestones across the top.  Using my Spellbinders Carnation Creations dies and my Grand Calibur, I die cut hot pink tissue paper and adhered multiple layers to create the flowers.  Before adding the little banner strip on the journal piece, I tucked it through the smallest circle of the Nestabling Heart Circles Hot Pink Rhinestonecircle.   My friend, Kay, taught me a fun little trick….I used bubble wrap and white paint to create the polka dots!  So fun, right?!  I finished the front of the folder off with some rub-ons for the word blossoms and May.

Here’s a peek at the back…

For the back, I decided to use all patterned paper.  After I had them all adhered and trimmed, I finished it off with a large journal block, which I will use as my address label.  A few small tissue paper flowers and theFrilly Flourish Swirl-White Pearl were added to complete the project.  Both sides received a heavy dose of Mod Podge before it was ready to go.  I learned that if you Mod Podge before you add the mailing labels and postage, that the recipient can easily remove them without damaging the project.

Even if you didn't actually mail them, altered file folders would make a beautiful addition to your office or even your scrapbooks!

Katie

April Mail Art Swap Project

 Have you heard of the new mail art trend?  Some of my friends introduced me to it this year when I visited Indiana for a stamp show. Basically, you can mail almost anything.  So, you take something different…like other than a card or envelope…alter it and mail it.  Pretty simple.  A group of us have joined together for a fun mail art swap and here is what my April recipient will find in her mail box…

 

I started with a plain old manilla file folder, covered it with someDecoArt Gesso then painted it very abstractly.  I have to admit, my CAS brain has a hard time being this free, but it is also kinda fun.  ;)  While my Gesso and paint dried (don’t paint ’til your Gesso is completely dry!) I cut out my Easter eggs and the cute little bunny.  I used my new Graphic 45 Sweet Sentiments 8×8 paper pad for the eggs, the added some Baby Bling pearls in White to the pink egg.  After assembling the bunny and positioning my grass, I added theFrilly Flourish Swirl in White, then tucked a few of the eggs behind the one layer of grass.  After adding the rubons, I used my white Wink of Stella glitter brush pen with the Arrow Stencil and added some white arrows above the bunny.  Here’s a closer view of the eggs and swirl…

Since it was going through the mail, I covered all surfaces with two layers of Mod Podge to seal it off. 

Pretty cool, huh?!  Over the next few weeks I will share all the projects I created for our fun swap!

Katie