An Abundance of Art in the Mail

                                                 

Les Alyscamps, Van Gogh by Debra

I am getting behind posting photos of the postcards I have received.  There is something almost magical about opening your mailbox, expecting nothing but junk mail and bills, and viewing a little work of art.  Totally brightens my day!


I have two more Van Gogh's, two steampunk, one music, and two split complementary landscapes!  Bring on the Ooohs! and the Aaahs!  because they are all amazing.  I feel so lucky to be able to exchange with such talented people.  These first cards are all from Postmark'd Art.

Les Alyscamps, Van Gogh by Debra

Willows at Sunset, Van Gogh by Sarah Ann

Steampunk Dragonfly by Dian

 I had to show you how this card arrived from New Zealand.  Very clever way to protect those little metallic pieces on the card.

Steampunk with protective cover

Steampunk beginning to remove cover

Steampunk by Evie

clear cover says "Protective cover Just unpick!"

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Leah

 The next two cards are from the Val Hearder Landscape group.  Gorgeous works!

Split Complementary by Susan

                               
                                     

Split Complementary by Lisa

Have a Creative Day
Janet

More looping and new postcards

                                                 

cell phone pouch

Still working through the lessons for the beta class I am taking with Donna Kallner.  I'm really enjoying learning how to do these techniques.  To my inexperienced eye it resembles crochet, the biggest difference is I have never been able to learn how to crochet.  This lesson I learned how to make different shapes, such as rectangles and circles. I also learned other methods for adding the yarn or fabric or waxed thread.  So much fun!  I've added Donna's book to my wish list so I can continue to learn after the class.

Here is the first thing I did in this lesson, a little rectangle.
                         
Here is the last thing I did with this lesson, at least for now.  I know I want to make something using fabric strips too.  I made this little pouch.  Not perfect by any means but I really like it.  I just have to add a button.  Donna made hers a little larger and added a strap as well but this fits my cell phone, so other than a button I'm calling it done.

cell phone pouch

I wanted to show you two more postcards I received as well.  The first is from Vivian in California.  This was for the Steampunk exchange and I think she captured it perfectly.  I love the colors she used too.

Steampunk

            
The second is from Jan in Nebraska.  Hers is for the Van Gogh exchange.  Sheaves of Wheat.  Just gorgeous depth to this card.

Sheaves of Wheat

Thanks Jan and Vivian!


Have a Creative Day
Janet

Postcards and Cricut

I've been working on my next set of postcards and learning how to use my Cricut machine. I purchased a DVD from Above Rubies Studios called Cricut A to Z. Megan Gravener, the author, covers an amazing amount of information in the video which helped me learn how to use the Cricut much faster than I would have managed on my own. If you are a newbie like me I would highly recommend purchasing this DVD. There may be others like it out there but this is the only one I found and it does cover everything from A to Z.
I started with my 4 x 6 rectangles of brown fabric. I began my postcards by discharging a lattice type of design on my fabric. I used a bleach pen to create the design.
I thought it looked a little oriental when I finished so I used the Cricut Pagoda shapes cartridge to cut some oriental designs. I tried cutting them out of fabric but only managed to shred some pieces of cloth. I'll have to experiment more with that. I did cut some out of some other heavier white fiber. I was thinking I would paint them before applying them to the cloth background but I kind of like the starkness of the white against the lattice.
I managed to cut quite a few different things out of cardstock with the Cricut and even a piece of metal. I'm excited about learning to use this machine because I do have a scrapbook I wanted to put together for my son before he has his graduation party. So, I'd better get busy, he only has one term left.

Have a Creative Day
Janet