Dog ATC

I couldn't get a good photo as it is cloudy and rainy so I took this with my kindle.

Hand of Friendship May 2015

Didn't I say I wasn't going to sew anymore?  No, wait, that was one of my inner voices screaming at me during the last project.

I just had to make these two felt copies of my hands for the Hand of Friendship swap.  I traced my hand then stitched the two pieces together.  Then I turned it inside out.  It took me awhile to get those fingers straightened out.  I then stitched yellow hearts on the palms.  I turned down two fingers so it says "I love you" in sign language.  That is what hands are for. To spread love.  To spread hope.  To help and console and heal.  I hope my recipients like them despite their rustic humble beginnings.

May Prayer Flag

Here I go again...sewing!  This prayer flag is crooked as all get out and not exactly the best but for a first attempt I like it.  Call it "folksy" or "naive" or "rubbish", LOL.  It is made of Wallyworld muslin with a honeycomb background.  I then used black floss and stitched the bee freehand.  I did the wings in ivory.  I then used Sharpie to color the bee and write "Bless the Bees".  I have another one that needs the bee etc. yet that I made for myself.  I hope my swap partner likes it because if not I want it back, LOL.

Somethin' Funny on that Farm Swap #2

The theme this time is Mary's Lambs.  OMG I had all sorts of naughty ideas for them.  I settled on this.  The naughty lambs are hanging out at the gin joint waiting for Mary to get out of school.  The lesson?  STAY IN SCHOOL...even if you are a lamb.

I happened across this meme last week.  I am sorry but this is funny :)

First Pocket Letter-Newbies, Butterfly

 Back

Front

Pocket letters are work.  At least I found it to be so.  It takes some planning, organization, a variety of things to include or embellish to make fit the theme, time and thought.  I found it trying, exasperating, hilarious and fun.  I can see why people like them.  Yet I think I won't be doing too many more.  I just don't have the gumption for such creativity, never mind the place to get the supplies.  I took myself out of the other pocket letter swaps I signed up for except one.  I have time to think on that one yet and get my act together.

Draw or Paint a Postcard

Lucky elephant postcard.

A Postcard for the Postal Workers and Happy Hare

Handmade (collaged) postcard made for the Postal Worker swap.  I took it to work and told my co-worker to add something and send it on its way to Hungary.  I'll be interested to see if anyone else marks on it.

This is my PATHETIC attempt at stitching.  I don't know what makes me think I can do this.  I was going to toss it and start again but then I thought no, you send it to the poor girl who is my partner.  I look at it and it makes me laugh because it is so stupid!

I hope she laughs over it too.  She has my permission to toss it in the trash in the UK.

Amy Farrah Fowler ATC

I made this as a tuck in for a swap.  I love Amy on Big Bang Theory and to know in real life she is a real scientist makes it even better!  And who doesn't like tiaras????

Something Funny on that Farm ATC

I love this series and I hope I don't miss any of them!!  First one is "Fox in the Hen House" and this is my version of it.

Your Hometown ATC

ATC created with my hometown in mind.  On the back I added some statistics.

Offensive Postcard

I don't find this offensive but I can't tell you how I struggled with what to make that would be appropriate to go through the mail.  Especially since my "victim" gives extra points for acknowledging her mailman.  Being a mail-lady I just love doing postally themed things.  I like risqué, naughty, non-PC, offensive things that don't cross the line (i.e.: race).

I made this as a collage but then scanned it and added the text.  I'll file the original for future use.

EDIT:  I added a vintage bulk rate stamp to her hip and had our postmistress postmark it, LOL.

Ni más ni menos

I have a swap "victim" who put in her profile she likes Goya.  Not recalling I've ever heard of him I looked him up and this piece caught my eye.  Anyone who knows me knows I have an affinity for equines and love mules.  How could I not try and recreate it?

This is a postcard 4"x6".  What a frustrating yet fun thing to make.  I drew it out in pencil, used Sharpie to ink the lines. Then what to use for the background?  Time was running out.  I originally wanted to watercolor the background but I couldn't find my watercolors.  I did find my box of charcoal pencils I had never used.  So I sharpened one and it was absoultely terrible!!  There are hard pieces in them that do not leave color behind and spots on the paper wouldn't take it.  Frustrating!!  So it ended up looking like it is scribbled and blotched.

But now I like it.  Ha!  I am having a hard time giving it to our lovely postal system.  I hope it makes it in one piece.

Parking Lot Trash ATC

Camel Kings ATC

This is my version of the Parking Lot Trash ATC.  It consists of a Camel cigarette box, a King's cigarette package and a tub label from the post office.  I am one who likes to scope out trash on the ground for potential art usefulness but this past week has been especially clean so aside the usual gross things like cigarette butts, gum and nondescripts I was glad to find these.

Breaking the Rules ATC

Stickers on ATCs are strongly discouraged but this swap allowed them with some creative use of the rest of the card.  This is what I came up with.  The background is colored pencil and I made it on a piece of colored mat board.  The moon coming over the hills with a mysterious white horse galloping.  Magical!  LOL.

Speedy Unicorn ATC

I didn't know what to do for this one and only had a couple days to come up with something.  I love unicorns, I love white horses, I love fat ponies, I love rainbows...OMG you would think I was 5 rather than +48 of that, LOL.  Anyway, this is what I came up with and I think it is cute.  I'd have liked to have gotten it since it includes everything that makes my 5 yr. old heart squeal.  It is done in my favorite medium, Sharpie.