Powered By Blogger

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Summer is Golden...






There is something about the light in the summertime. It is golden. So that's my theme for a mixed-media postcard swap I'm taking part in at Lenna's Creative Swaps. Participants will each make three postcards representing a summer day. I think "beach" when I think of summer, and I love the vintage images in "The Boardwalk Collection" of Graphic 45 papers. That pensive pair in the card above... what are they thinking about? And the beach beauty below... she's certainly on everyone's radar in her flirty bathing costume. It took awhile to let the ideas percolate, but our postcards are not due until mid-September, so I have time.





To make these 4" x 6" postcards, I chose a fabric with a summery feel from my collection and backed it with fusible batting. Next I stenciled the diver and the starfish using a freezer paper pattern ironed onto the fabric and filled in with gold Lumiere paint. The outlines of each stenciled image are contrasted with black stitching, one by machine, and one by hand using embroidery floss. Ink stamping was added to each, and more embroidery stitches accent some of the elements. The vintage images were added using a double-stick adhesive.

The backs of the cards are printed on cardstock. And there's a layer of Peltex, a stiff interfacing, between front and back. Finally, I stitched the edges to secure the layers, using couched yarn on the design side.

All in all, a fun project. But I still need to think up one more design for the swap. hmmm.... what to make?

8 comments:

donna!ee said...

these are wonderful...hope i get one, i'm a huge fan of quilted postcards since i live here in paducah KY...quilt city USA!! thank you much for sharing :)

Nancy said...

Nancy,
These are great; just so pretty and fun. I love the vintage images you used.
These would be so fun to get in the mail.....
Great job....

Anonymous said...

Love your work!

Unknown said...

Nancy! You really know what you are doing. I wish I could come over and play and watch you so I could learn more. Love the theme you chose - your postcards are gorgeous! Thanks for dropping by my blog ... so appreciate it. Donna

Robbie said...

The vintage images are great!!! These are just adorable!! And your workmanship is very nice on finishing!! A nice project for sure!

Dianne said...

what a fun blog with a wide variety of topics and posts! love your quilts, ROD book, photos & postcards!

creativelenna said...

Nancy, your postcards are really wonderful. I love what you did and how you described making them. I adore that they are fabric! Thank you, I will let you know when they are here : ) lenna

Kat said...

These are gorgeous!!!