I am finally sitting down to post some of the many photos I took while making postcards for the DIY Postcard Swap! Just looking at my messy desk above, filed with half finished postcards a few weeks back, makes me want to jump in and do another swap right away. I think I am loving this swap more and more for each year we do this! How about you?
I love sewing paper patchwork! I love making those patchworks into postcards! I’ve done similar postcards before, but this time I was really digging through the stash and some new magazines to find bright, pop art inspired illustrations and patterns. I wanted the look of modern, fun and sparkly (without actually adding glitter).
I’ve used images that I personally love and treasure. I’ve used pinks, greens and lots of yellows. And some neons, this year has been a lot about neons!
This is how I made my postcards this year: I sewed all my paper scraps onto a thin printer paper cut to postcard size. Then I backed them with a thicker piece of cardstock and a version of the Free Printable Postcard Backside, a downloadable pdf-file that I made available for you guys too (swap version and “everyday version” now available!). I sewed around the edge of these three layers.
Love sewing around the edge of a postcard!
And like I mentioned before once I start sewing paper I find it hard to stop, so I made quite a few extras, but they’re all gone now… Except one, that I made just for me. The “extra one” I make each year, to remember what I did for this particular swap. Here it is:
I will post more postcard fronts another day. Until then I want to send a huge thank you out to all participants and supporters! Thank you for making awesome postcards and making this such a fun thing to arrange and to take part in!
Also a super-duper big thank you to those of you who have sent me postcards! I love-love-love every one of them, and will now promptly look through the pile and write a long overdue thank you email to all of you personally. I also encourage everyone to check out the Ppostcard Link List post and/or the flickr group (sooo many yummy images posted there), and visit some of the participants there – and leave a comment! It’s much appreciated by me and everyone participating.
I hope you are doing something that you enjoy this weekend, and that you find some time to work on a creative project, mail art or not. Be well and Happy December and First of Advent tomorrow!
PS: To get first news on the next postcard swap opportunity – and other iHanna News – sign up for my Newsletter!
Sy i papper har jag aldrig provat. Kul! Och vilka snygga vykort! :)
Tack, sy i papper är jättekul! Rekommenderas varmt!
I still love everything that you do! These cards are no exception…..they are just awesome!
I’m always stunned by how beautiful stitched postcards are (but apparently not enough to take on my fear of a sewing machine)!
So happy, I just love your postcards iHanna!
The one on top of the first picture, the main one is the one I got from you. I was thrilled. Thanks for providing the platform for such fun. Looking forward to doing it again.
Cheers from Australia :)
I love your postcards, so bright and happy. Thank you for the swap. I so enjoyed making and receiving the postcards.
The cards you made are gorgeous! I’ve signed up for your newsletter and hope I can participate in your next event. My mum uses http://www.postcrossing.com/ to send and receive postcards to and from strangers all over the world. I am thinking of signing up myself too. I also like to just wander about town and deliver my ‘homemade’ postcards to strangers myself :)
Keep on the good work and blog hug Nina Joy
Thanks for sharing your process. I may try “sewing” a few Christmas cards using this technique.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! See that little ostrich peeping out there? I received that one! Thank you again Hanna, I wanted so badly to receive one from you! I’m happy happy!
Thank you also for hosting this wonderful swap. Can’t wait until next year. :)
I haven’t tried sewing on paper before. This is such a nifty idea and your sewing is so neat!
I love these, the colours make me so happy!
Ooh these are so beautiful! I have a question though (since I still haven’t sewed in my journals or handmade postcards)- what was the purpose of sewing the cutouts onto a thin piece of paper before sewing all three layers onto cardstock? Was there a reason you didn’t sew the cutouts directly on to the cardstock?
Great idea and thanks for providing the backside!
Your postcards are great as always, Hanna, but I have to say how much I love the backside!! So fun and pretty in its own right!
I adore the bright colour and fun of these Hanna! Beautiful, beautiful cards!!
I love all the stitching on your postcards, Hanna!