In my postcard trading group (Arts in the Mail) we are going to do a series for months of the year - this month being what it is, the theme for this month is May. I decided to start off with one of my favourite spring blossoms - Hawthorn blossom, also called May blossom. The issue was how I was going to represent it as it's a blossom made up of a cluster of small flowers - I knew I wanted to use a cluster of small flowers but wasn't sure I wanted to use fabric because of the fraying. I thought about paper, but was worried it might not hold up in the post. Suddenly, it occurred to me that I could use tyvek - it cuts as well as paper and doesn't fray like fabric might - and also, I could blast it a little with the heat gun to add a little texture to the edges of the petals. I did a prototype card and thought it came out very well - I held the blossoms down with a dab of glue stick while free-motion quilting the centres - I did about 5 to start with and then added a few more on top. I finished the card off with a metal label made from a tomato puree tube (the colour is gorgeous, isn't it!). Lately I've not been making a copy of my cards to keep for myself (I used to when I first started making pcs) but I decided I liked these enough to want to keep a copy - I have flowers and other spring like things in my postcard holder in the spring as the display.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
May blossom
In my postcard trading group (Arts in the Mail) we are going to do a series for months of the year - this month being what it is, the theme for this month is May. I decided to start off with one of my favourite spring blossoms - Hawthorn blossom, also called May blossom. The issue was how I was going to represent it as it's a blossom made up of a cluster of small flowers - I knew I wanted to use a cluster of small flowers but wasn't sure I wanted to use fabric because of the fraying. I thought about paper, but was worried it might not hold up in the post. Suddenly, it occurred to me that I could use tyvek - it cuts as well as paper and doesn't fray like fabric might - and also, I could blast it a little with the heat gun to add a little texture to the edges of the petals. I did a prototype card and thought it came out very well - I held the blossoms down with a dab of glue stick while free-motion quilting the centres - I did about 5 to start with and then added a few more on top. I finished the card off with a metal label made from a tomato puree tube (the colour is gorgeous, isn't it!). Lately I've not been making a copy of my cards to keep for myself (I used to when I first started making pcs) but I decided I liked these enough to want to keep a copy - I have flowers and other spring like things in my postcard holder in the spring as the display.
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5 comments:
What a beautiful job you did on the postcards. Very resourceful too.
I love these, and the label is very clever and effective! We actually have hawthorn in our garden - not surprising I suppose given our suburb is Hawthorndene!
You amaze me the things you find to use - wherever did you get the tomato puree tube idea from?
The postcards are beautiful! So simple, but just right. You've got a hit there. I'm glad you kept one for yourself.
Mom
I love these. great idea!
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