Saturday, March 17, 2012

They are in the mail.....

so it took me long enough - despite my best efforts to create my postcards for iHanna's swap quickly - life got in the way this past week and it took me a lot longer to mail the cards off to Sweden, Australia, South Africa, and the USA.

I had a ton of fun making these!!  Big thanks to Hanna for organizing this swap - now the fun of waiting to see what's in the mail!

Here's how I made them....using Jodi Ohl's faux encaustic techniques....

I started with Arches 300lb cold pressed watercolour paper covered with 2 coats of Gesso. 

I did a bit of collage with vintage book pages, atlas pages, music sheets etc. and then applied some glazing medium and some acrylic paint.  Adding spatters and drips with acrylic paint - then some stencil work. More glazing medium with different colours of paint.





At this point I cut the watercolour paper into the individual cards.  I applied a gel transfer photo and hand painted a flower on each card.  I used rubber stamps and Staz On ink to apply the title and used a permanent marker to embellish the painted flower.  I also added  a scrap of gauze and then applied a couple of layers of pouring medium tinted with Titan Buff paint. 










as many times as I try - and as many different ways I have tried saving this file - it does not want to orient properly.  I am tired of trying so I am just going to post it the way it wants to post - sideways.  sigh. you have NO idea how much this bugs me....





I drew some Mandalas on the envelopes - because I wanted to spread my love of them. 



I chose a special stamp from Canada Post - an art stamp by Joe Fafard an incredible sculptor!! I love his quote from the stamp pack -



"When one makes sculptures of horses, one remembers all of that great relationship that humans had with them, with the horse. Even today one raises horses only for dressage, the races, for the pleasure of horseback riding. It has become an animal of romance, an animal of pleasure which has lost it's utility in the West..."

-Joe Fafard

I hope the recipients enjoy the floral cards....I am looking forward to seeing what's in my mailbox in the coming weeks!!!

have a great weekend!

16 comments:

  1. How wonderful Emily!! They look wonderful, the recipients are going to be in for a real treat when the happy mail brings their post card!! Thanks for the shout out and glad you enjoyed playing with the technique! Jodi

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    1. Jodi thank you so much for checking my work out!! I thought I had replied to this but it looks like I hadn't - so sorry I am late. Your work is gorgeous and I am really enjoying working with your techiniques!!

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  2. Emily...these are beautiful cards...maybe I'll get one of them. I love flowers! Thanks for sharing your technique for making them.
    Mary

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  3. I just read your comment on Daisy Yellow and thought I'd come over and have a look, seeing as how I've just started a blog as well.

    I've had a good look around and I really love your work, have added you to my bookmarks. Now I'm off to look at one of my all-time favourite flowers in the garden, lion's tail, to see what I can manage - I haven't been a person who draws flowers however yours inspire me.

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  4. Those are gorgeous! I bet your post-card receivers will be quite pleased.

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  5. I thought I'd commented on this post, but maybe I haven't.... Anyway, love the extremely yummy backgrounds and all your flower power cards. And let's not talk about those envelopes, artwork in themselves. Thank you so much for sharing/joining and spreading this beauty into the world Emily!

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  6. I love your floral postcards! These are so beautiful, anybody having these pop up in their post box will be super lucky!!

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  7. Wow and double WOW!!!! so much thought and care and beautiful results - and so many inspiring ideas - you rock!!!

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  8. Fabulous cards!!! Love all the texture and color!

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  9. thank you all so much for the terrific comments....it really encourages me to keep posting!!! I really did have a lot of fun making these cards and I am checking my mail everyday to see if any cards have come in....none yet

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  10. I am hoping one of your cards will be coming my way. The picture grouping looks like a gorgeous flower garden. Hugs from Alaska.

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  11. Just received your postcard. A true work of art! I got the "shine" daisy. I'm so lucky you got my name. Thank you so much. I will treasure it. Blessings from California.

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    1. I am so glad to hear this Debbie!! thanks so much for letting me know!

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  12. Your postcards are stunning! Love them! Thanks for your description of the process.

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  13. thanks again for all the fantastic encouraging comments - you people are the best!!

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  14. Your flowers are gorgeous!! All so different and I love that background!

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