10 Year Anniversary of iHanna’s DIY Postcard Swap
The Postal Service is one of those things that is essential to keep the world from not entirely stopping. So important, that it is kept open even when other things are closed down to hinder the spread of that pesky virus.
And Art, it is one of those things that is essential to my own survival. In combination, and in thinking about how much we all need both of these things, I have decided to open up the DIY Postcard Swap once again.
I hope you’ll join us in this DIY postcard Swap spring edition!
If you’re new to the swap, you should probably read the rules once before you join (and if you still have questions after that, I have a lovely FAQ to read through too), but I think most of my readers already know what this is about, right? Make 10 postcards, get 10 back in the mail. And this is, believe it or not, the 10th year I am hosting a swap of handmade postcards!
So please join now and let’s make this the biggest and happiest year yet!
Our 10th Swap Year
It was back in February 2010 that I posted about the very first swap, and that was the first event I ever hosted online as well. I was overwhelmed with the positive feedback I got, and even though it is very time-consuming it’s totally thrilling being the hostess of such a well-loved event. Thrilling!
Commenting on blogs has gone down as Instagram and other sharing platforms has “taken over”, but I keep blogging and the swap is still going strong. That first post announcing the swap has over 70 comments – imagine if that would happen today…
The DIY Postcard Swap (nicknamed iHanna’s Swap by some) has since it started never had fewer than 100 participants, at times double that. My brain can’t even process the amount of handmade postcards that has been created, sent and received as part of this swap by now. But to throw out another random number, I don’t think that it would be an exaggeration to say that we collectively have created over 20.000 postcards… :) Among them my rose postcards and mom’s roses from that first year, as well as a lot of batches of postcards that has been born since then, in Sweden and all over the world. In my collection I have so many beautiful do-it-yourself postcards from every continent of the world, and I love all of them.
Thank you so, so much for these 10 years everyone!
DIY Postcard Swap Anniversary Celebrations
For our 10th anniversary celebration I am planing to share my own postcard process in video-form, so this would be a great time to subscribe to my YouTube channel if you haven’t already as well as to blog posts so you don’t miss out anything! Just note that getting blog posts sent to you via e-mail is not the same as subscribing to the iHanna Newsletter. You should get both if you’re into what I do. And if you do get blog posts sent to you via e-mail, please click the header from time to time and leave a comment on the blog. This is how I know you are out there still, reading and being inspired by what I share…
I will also (try) to post some throw-backs, retrospective style, as well as post some other fun stuff on the blog. I had big plans for reaching out to everyone far in advance, but then the Corona virus and Covid-19 infested our world and my mind and nothing feels as it should right now. But as artists we should keep creating, right?
As artists we are put on this earth to create and make beautiful things. So I think that is what we should keep doing – maybe now it is more important than ever to keep at it? To send out epic art not pandemic fear… To keep ourselves sane, and also to connect, share and inspire the people around us that we can’t visit right now.
That is what the swap has always been about, so I hope you will consider joining us!
Let’s make DIY Postcards, mail art and send out some happy mail!
A Short Note on the Pandemic Situation we’re all in, as it might concern some of you wanting to join the swap: Of course follow the instructions and new laws of your country, it goes without saying I think. Stay safe and only join if you can get your postcards to a mailbox on your own or with the help of someone you trust. As far as I know the virus does not cling well to paper, so we should be safe doing this fun activity – but use your own judgement. :) Let me know how you’re faring below.
If you could please help spread the word about this swap and our celebrations here, I’d appreciate it a lot. Share any of the graphics in the post to your personal Facebook page and appropriate group(s), to your own Instagram feed and stories, Flickr, make a YouTube video, post it to your mail art forum or Newsletter – or write a blog post about how you’re joining us if you are a blogger. If you do, please let me know by tagging me or posting the link below – I want to come see it.
Everyone is invited to the celebration party as well as the swap!
Dates: Sign up before 10th of May. Finish your ten postcards before 15th of May and be ready to send them out that week. It’s going to be epic! I can’t wait to see what you create this year!
Do you feel ready to join the swap?
PS: Feel free to use my Stay at home postcard backside if you need it – it’s a new, free printable.
PS 2: If you’re thinking something like: This sounds like SO much fun, but I can’t… can I? then please read: Please don’t hesitate: You CAN Create a Postcard
Hi iHanna,
I join for the first time and I`m very exciting. Thanks and love Antje
Congratulations on the 10th year anniversary of your DIY Postcard Swap!! I have been in quite a few of your swaps now and wouldn’t miss it. Thank you for all the work you do to keep this event alive and well.
I am SO HAPPY that the swap is still on this spring! Thank you for this bright spot in a crazy time.
I’m in! My brain is storming ideas already!
Congrats on 10 years, Hanna! Wow, what an awesome accomplishment! Thank you for creating this swap, for hosting each year, and for encouraging us to give it a try no matter what our skill level! I’ve been participating for at least 7 years now (I was too nervous to join the first few years because I didn’t feel like a “true artist” – thank you for encouraging me to join anyway!) Now it’s an event that my mom, grandmother, mother-in-law, best friend, and I look forward to all year. We talk about ideas and sometimes are able to get together to help each other create! And we always make additional cards to swap with each other, even if we’re not on each other’s official 10 Address List. Thank you for all your hard work and for creating such a fun event that can be enjoyed by three generations, family, and friends alike!
I can’t believe it’s been 10 years already! I’m definitely participating! It’ll be a great way to get back to collage which I haven’t done in a few months!
Congratulations on this special anniversary!
Sophie
Thanks for hosting this swap once again Hanna! I was crossing my fingers that you would because we really need normalcy right now. I have some ideas percolating in my brain and look forward to seeing what I make from those ideas!
Congratulations, Hanna! And thank you for hosting once again! As you know, I look forward to this swap so much, and I’m so glad you’re hosting it now, when it’s needed more than ever! I hope you and your family are well and that we all get through this trying time soon!
Happy 10th!! I’m joining for the first time and am excited!
I meant to join the swap last fall and didn’t have the time. This is my first time and having fun creating postcards!
Happy 10th year anniversary Ihanna. This is my third year starting in the fall of 2018. It brings me such joy to be able to send my creative vision to other creative artists. It brings me even more joy to receive the postcards. I’m like a kid on christmas day, running to the mailbox to see what I have received. You are all talented and blessed. Thank you!
First time participating! Just what I need to get me back into my art studio!! Thank you!!!
I’m thrilled to participate for your 10th Anniversary. Over the years, I’ve thought about joining, but for one reason or another I didn’t. This year with the COVID 19 pandemic and also talk about the dire times for the United States Postal Service, it seems the perfect time to mail art postcards I’ve followed you since my 1st time doing Tammy’s ICAD in 2012. (I 1st read about your swaps on Daisy Yellow’s blog.)
Yes! I’ve done this twice before but it’s been awhile – thanks for offering this activity yet again!
Really excited to join again this year! My 5th year running! Has been lovely to see my progression in art from the first swap through ‘til now! Was a bit sceptical whether to join this year, worried if I’ll get it done. But if I’m looking after my 6 year old I shall just get him to make postcards with me!
So happy to sign up for yet another iHanna DIY postcard swap! I enjoy making and receiving these little bursts of joy. Thank you, Hannah, for taking this on again. Happy 10 Years!! xo
Just joined for my third swap! Looking forward to create and to get new cards from others!
Already have my cards done.
Hi!
Joining for the first time ❤
I have joined this postcard many times now and LOVE it so much. I love the range of cards, the range of styles but more important than that is the fun, no pressure way you can create your postcards. There is no pressure to be a professional or super talented artist – you are just you, sharing your joyful fun creations with the world.
I am in again.
I am excited to finally have time to commit to this swap!
This is my first time participating in your swap and I was thrilled to find it. Congrats on 10 years! I used to make mail art back in 2003. Juliana Cole got me hooked on it after taking one of her workshops. I’ve done a bit thru the years but not anything recently until I saw the #100day project and decided I was going to do that while on “stay at home” time. HA! I got to #7 and realized my cards are too involved to make 1 a day. Then in my quest to find more like minded folk, and if anyone actually still made them, I found you! My mail art is created on thick cardboard/mattboard/corregated. I love to paint and collage. My new thing is to cut shapes from vintage books then paint what they are supposed to be. I don’t like to use others images, I have to paint or draw it myself. I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone creates. And I LOVE your PINK abstract cards. Pink is my favorite color too. And hearts…. xo
I’m so excited to participate in the postcard swap this year!! Thank you for hosting :)
So excited to be joining for the first time! I’ve been lurking since the beginning and really wanted to celebrate the 10th birthday of this swap by participating
Hannah, thank you so much for running the postcard swap again. Congratulations on the tenth year – what a brilliant achievement. I have been along for the journey for several years and love the encouragement it brings! Happy postcarding everyone 💕
This is my third time doing the swap. I invited a friend and my daughter to join this time. We are all so excited to get our addresses and your lovely postcards. Happy Mail will be in its way soon!
Just signed up for the first time! In these days of staying home, getting mail is a lovely bright spot each day. I’m excited to get some beautiful art mail and to brighten up someone else’s day as well!
I’ve just signed up! I did your swap a couple of years ago and had so much fun. Thank you for hosting again, and congratulations on 10 years!
I am very late joining, but I couldn’t miss your 10th Anniversary! Congratulations! It’s been a while since I made postcards so I had to make sure I had enough ideas to make ten. Yaay, they’re done & I’m so looking forward to sending them out. Thanks for hosting Hanna!
This year I used watercolor paper as the base. I painted it and then used my handpainted papers to assemble flowers. I can’t wait to see all the beautiful cards start to arrive!
Congrats to 10 years. Hanna! I´m participating again this year, I´m not sure if I have been in this swap for 2 or 3 times before. But I just love it and am so happy you are doing it again. Especially now in these challenging times, I think it´s extra special, and needed, now to focus on happy positive creativity, to send our postcards out in the world, And to have some beauties waiting in the mail soon!
I sent my postcards yesterday and it feels great. For the first time I sent my cards before the last date for sending! :)
I hope all our cards will get to their destinations. Maybe it´s higher risk for mail to be lost now, but it sure is worth the risk, that´s how I feel anyway. It´s sad when things get lost, but now I try to see it as a victory if it gets to the intended recipient. Lets hope for the best.
I really love this swap, creating and sending out happy mail in the world, and knowing that the recipients will appreciate a handmade card. And I love that it´s available for everyone nomatter if you feel like a cretive beginner or if it´s nothing new about it.
Thanks for hosting this Hanna!