Back before my oldest started college I created a set of cards with motivational messages with the intention to send her at least one a month while she was away. At the time I had planned on blogging about them… but that was over four years ago and I can’t find the original pictures now. What I do have are some pictures of the completed/sent motivational cards and a brief how-to:

How-to:

1. I started by gluing scrapbook papers to the backs of discarded playing cards. I just spread glue all over large 12 x 12 pages and adhered the cards to them side-by-side. When the glue dried, I cut out each individual card.
2. Next, I painted, collaged and stenciled each one. In hindsight, I could have done this before cutting them all out.
3. I knew I wanted to them to hang on a key ring, so I punched holes in the corner of each with my spring-loaded hole punch. It wasn’t easy punching through all the layers of paper, paint and glue – I even tried using a drill on a few of them.
4. Lastly, I gathered quotes and phrases to print and glue on, or write out. Embellishing with rub-ons and markers and gel pens was the final step. The first package was sent with a colorful binder ring (those things are great to store rubber bands, hair elastics, etc..).

I didn’t end up sending them as often as planned, but did include a best friend, and then my youngest when she started college. When I’d visit I’d see them posted on bulletin boards, or clipped at their bedside, so I know they were appreciated!

From creating, to shipping each envelope, this was a fun project I would definitely do again.

Curious about the hearts in the photos? – Those were made back in 2011, and I have a brief how-to at tamdoll.blogspot.com.

Motivational cards? Postal mail art? What will you create to send to someone special?

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Ideas: Wear them, alter them, cut them up and use the fabric. What would you do?

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I took matters into my own hands and painted, collaged, and layered them until I got something new.

I’m much happier now, and my kitchen is a lot more colorful. Maybe they’ll stay this way, maybe they won’t. My kids have already mentioned that the peaches look like butts, so I may have to re-work those.

Why not take something purchased and make it your own? I wasn’t really concerned that these would be ruined, they weren’t precious to me, and I knew if I failed at this remix, I’d find something new or put up a shelf for plants. I was so sick of them that the fear of failing didn’t stop me.

Would you call this a do-over, recycling, or upcycling?

Many of the steps in this mixed-media work were things I learned in online classes with Tamara Laporte. So, not only did I make the wall art “my own”, but I took things I learned and extrapolated to create something new.

Next project finished this week – a pair of slippers, reworked from a frogged pair of socks. Much improved and more useful. Here, too I didn’t exactly follow the rules.

I tweaked the front of the foot to make it longer, stretchier, and skipped the last row of ruffles since my yarn was thicker than required. Original pattern by DROPS.

What will you make your own?

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