Friday 2 November 2018

Paper stash mail art swap for A Vintage Journey (part 1)

Hello friends and welcome! It's been a very long time since I posted here last, the reason being that I have only just returned from a month long visit to my family in Australia. But now I am back and plan to post more often and also be more active again on social media. So thank you for your patience!

Today a new challenge is starting at A Vintage Journey, and our host is the lovely Sandy. Her chosen theme is Paper Stash, and this is what she had to say about it:
I am sure we all have them, those endless bits of beautiful scrapbook papers we have hoarded over the years. Create a project of any kind using them in creative ways in our preferred vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk styles.

Well, I certainly am a paper hoarder, and for my project this month I decided to cut into my favourite
"Time is an Illusion" stash by Stamperia. 

I am currently involved in a mail art group swap with 4 different American ladies and we decided to trade 3 Artist Trading Coins plus a decorated envelope to mail them in. We agreed on a particular size of envelope (A6) so that the envelopes can be made into a little book.

So I have to make 4 envelopes, one each for the other participants. I decided to make them all from the same paper collection, here you can see them before I altered them:
Today I will just share the details of the first one, but before I do, just a little more of how I made them:
I am lucky enough to own a WRMK envelope punchboard, which makes the process very quick and simple, but if you are interested, - there are numerous videos on YouTube that show you how you can make envelopes yourself. When making envelopes, I always round the corner of the top flap, just because I think it looks neater. I also score and fold down the corner of the bottom flap, just at the point where it will meet the two side flaps. The  finished envelope then looks like this:
Alright, now to some of the detail of how I altered my envelopes:
Here is the front of the first one. I decided to use some elements I received from a pen pal to collage the front. I added some strips of music paper, a  paper leave, a beautiful vintage botanical image that I coloured with water soluble pencils and a stamped image of a little hedgehog. I wanted it to have an Autumnal feel 
The hedgehog is from a free stamp set that came with a magazine. I fussy cut and again coloured with water colour pencils.
I inked and stencilled around the edges using one of my Tim Holtz layering stencils. I have loads of these stencils, but always seem to go for this one, - it is my all time favourite....

I also added some old postage stamps, also received from previous art swaps.

Here is the back of the finished envelope. Some strips of washi tape, some inking around the edges,
and a die cut adhered towards the top. I also added some gold foiling, just using a glue stick and some gold foil here and there.
The heart was punched out from another scrap of the paper, I then glued only the bottom half onto the envelope, so that the top flap of the envelope can be slotted underneath and so close the envelope shut.

Now you may wonder how the envelope will be sent in the mail, and more importantly, how it will not be spoiled by weather or other damage?? Well one of my penfriends had the brilliant idea to simply put her fabulous envelopes inside one of these cellophane card sleeves that people use to sell their cards. You adhere both the address and the postage stamps to the outside of the cellophane sleeve, put your decorated envelope inside and voila, postie can still enjoy a bit of colourful artwork and your envie will stay clean and undamaged on the way to its recipient.

Well, that was it for today. I will be back with more details on the other envelopes and some of the coins that will go inside. Meanwhile, do check out what my talented teamies have made for the challenge, by clicking here, and why not dig out your own paper stash, make something fabulous and share it with us on the Vintage Journey blog.

Thank you for your visit like always and happy creating!
xxxxx








 


25 comments:

S@ndy Diller said...

Love your coins and envelopes. I can see how it would be difficult to cut into those lovelies. So happy to have you join the challenge. Hugs, Sandy

Valerie-Jael said...

l envelopes and coins. Have a great weekend, Valerie

brenda said...

Welcome back Astrid, I hope you had a lovely trip to visit your family. We are also just back from Spain after vising one of our sons and wife.

As always you have provided a feast for the eyes and I always lovel seeing Autumnal cretions and the warm colours of the season. And what a super idea for preserving things throuhg the post.

B x

froebelsternchen said...

What a fabulous project - you are always so inventive and masterful in your techniques! This is no exception! The coins and the envelope... gorgeous!
Have a great November dear Astrid!
Hugs, Susi

Patty O'Malley said...

What a fun swap! I never heard of artist trading coins before. Love your set.

SewPaperPaint said...

I truly love your coins Astrid and this MM envelope is such an inspiration! So many awesome layers, blended in perfect harmony. A true delight! Hugs, Autumn

jenclair said...

Gorgeous envelopes--the papers and embellishments are delightful!

Dorthe said...

Dear Astrid welcome back.
Your envelope is simply stunning, a masterpiece of autumnal tones and b eauty.
I love it, and all the details , also your coins are wonderful, and with so many details on such little place .
Hugs, Dorthe

Julia Aston said...

what a fun swap this sounds like Astrid! Your envelope is a work of art in itself! So many great techniques used on it as well as lovely images! And I love your Artist Trading Coins - with their vintage images and great sentiments! xx

Meggymay said...

Fabulous envelopes and coins Astrid. It is a super idea to place them in a clear cover for posting.
Yvonne xx

Let's Art Journal said...

Amazing makes! I bet the ladies you are swapping with will love these 😀. I enjoyed seeing how you created them and the papers are beautiful! What a great way to send the envelopes too so they stay safe whilst travelling across the world 😁. Welcome back and wishing you a wonderful weekend! J 😊 x

Brenda Brown said...

What a fabulous way to create such a beautifully designed and decorated envelope Astrid, it’s beautiful and will surely travel safely in a clear sleeve - great idea. Loving those coins too. Have a wonderful weekend xxx

Annie said...

Hi Astrid x Totally love your fabulous envelope and ATC's x Wonderful details on each piece and they will be treasured for sure xx I must finish my album and AYC's as I had such fun making it and like you I am in love with these papers xx

Have a lovely weekend
Annie xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Welcome back Astrid! Lovely to see you creating again and what a fabulous array of coins and envelopes! There are so many wonderful little tips being shared here .... thank you! Like you I am in love with the Stamperia papers, they really are stunning and so wonderful to work with. Have a lovely weekend. Jennie x

Jackie PN said...

Welcome home Astrid! I so hope your time away was wonderful!
I was giggling while I was reading about the papers you chose to use from your stash as I recently took out the same papers to finally use on a project! Aren't they just gorgeous!! Nothing else like them out there- I like that about them!
Your coins are super and your envie is gorgeous! Can't wait for our exchange!
Happy November my friend!
Jackie xo

A Pink said...

Welcome Home! Astrid . :)

Such a wonderful project for using up your paper stash. Your envelopes are all fabulous, as are your trading coins. Such a great idea to send them in some handcrafted mail art. The recipients will be delighted I'm sure to receive a double dose of your talented creativity.
Thanks fro sharing all your hints and tips
hugs x

Nikki Acton said...

Amazing use of these wonderful papers Astrid. I need to reach out and touch them (bet the postie will be thinking that too!) The inking and embellishing of the envelopes is gorgeous and I love the coins. Happy weekend and welcome home. Nikki xxx

Redanne said...

The coins are beautiful and those envelopes, Astrid, are simply gorgeous, I love how you decorated them, especially the lovely little hedgie. That mailing idea is brilliant, I must remember that one! You have definitely created a beautiful autumnal feel. Hugs, Anne xx

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Good to see you back Astrid and it's always wonderful to see your creations in the land of blog. Your mail art is so beautiful, I can feel the heart beat racing as you snipped into your saved and treasured papers but what a display you have created using them. Your swap partners will be over the moon with them. The idea of the envelope is fabulous and one we should all take not of with this wet weather as I am always worrying that the ink I use to right those addresses will smudge and wash away.
Beautiful art coins packaged perfectly.
Sunday Hugs Tracey xx
P.S Hope you had a wonderful time with the family x

Margaret Mifsud said...

Welcome back Astrid! Hope you had a great time!! Your coins are gorgeous and I love how you altered the envelope. Beautiful autumn colours and I adore the little hedgehog .. so adorable! Mailing these beauties in a cellophane sleeve is such a brilliant idea. Have to remember that one, and can't wait for the next instalment!! big hugs xx

Kate Yetter said...

Astrid, you have certainly done these papers justice. They are so lovely on their own but with all your additions they are stunning.The envelope and the coins make a lovely pair of mail that I am sure your swap partners will LOVE!
Kate

Words and Pictures said...

These are glorious, Astrid - what fabulous papers to start with, and beautifully altered in your hands. I do love the envelopes... there's just something about a design paper envelope which is so attractive. Your mailart swappers are going to be very happy! Off to catch part 2 now xx

sarascloset said...

The papers you have chosen to work with are so stunning, and they have been on my wish list for a very long time. Like so many, I have shelves of papers and have had to stop myself from actually acquiring these. I love your art mail envelopes, so rich with detail, and the closure is so clever. Great idea to place them in the cello sleeves for mailing. Your coins are so pretty and detailed; can't wait to get some time to read that post, too! My apologies for my tardiness and absence; it's been tough to get myself on any sort of schedule. Hopefully, I will get to see all I've missed on your wonderful blog! Sending hugs!

Paper Wishes said...

incredibly beautiful envelope. Just luscious autumn colours what amazing post to receive. x

Deb said...

Gorgeous papers used to perfection Astrid! Adore how you have embellished this beautiful envelope and what a brilliant idea to put it into the clear cello packaging for mailing, will have to remember that wonderful piece of advice! Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful creations, your swap partners are going to be thrilled to bits! Deb xo

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