Postmarks

Welcome to Group Post day with the Papertrey Ink Design Team. Today the design team will be creating wonderful projects using the new Postmarks stamp set + I'll be showing the new Label Basics stamp set and dies as well. The Postmarks stamp set is actually a collaboration of ideas from Betsy and myself. We had both submitted concepts to Nichole for postage type stamp sets so Nichole combined our ideas into one set. At the same time I submitted concepts for a vintage label set reminiscent of the old Dennison labels, like I've shown below. I thought the postage theme and these classic labels would go hand in hand together.
So my first project showcases lots of stamps from the Postmarks set as well as labels from the Label Basics stamp set....in air mail theme with red and blue. I will be using a regular A2 Kraft envelope to create some mail art.
The idea behind mail art is that the packaging is embellished any way you like and slap some postage on it. It's amazing as to what you can mail through the postal service. I found a cool blog that has lots and lots of good inspiration but I have lost the link (will post it once I find it again). I think this type of project would be great for art students.

So here I have arranged stamp and dies on my envelope to get a feel for my art mail envelope layout. At this point, I snapped a photo to have as a visual reference.
I gathered up all my dies and placed them on my die cutting machine. I used White Adhesive Sheets for my labels so that they would stick nicely to my envelopes.
Next, I stamped red and blue labels, via airmail style.
Once I had all my labels stamped, I peeled off the back and stuck them to my Kraft envelope. In the upper right hand corner, I left a blank spot for a real postage stamp. I also left two labels blank so that I can address my envelope. For the rest of the front and back of the envelope, I added stamped images to fill in the blank spots. This is a great little exercise to just test out all the stamps.
Along with my art mail envelope I created a very simple notecard using the new Postmarks patterned paper designed by Heather Nichols. I simply cut an 5.5 x 8 rectangle and folded in half. A few leftover labels embellish the front.
I can't wait to send this off in the mail to an artsy friend. As long as you can slap a stamp on it, the sky's the limit. You might check with your local post office but I saw things like baseballs, 3-D items and all sorts of painted and sewn envelopes. It's all about stretching your creativity and having fun!
My next project uses the new Postmarks and Label Basics sets in a more traditional way. I've gathered up a few sheets of the Postmarks patterned paper, Kraft cardstock, cork, vintage book paper and a card sketch I did while waiting for my supply box to arrive this month. Again, I laid out the stamps and dies to get an idea of how my card would come together.
First, I die cut the Signature Series Butterfly die using patterned paper, cork and old book print. All of these layers will make for a ruffled up, dimensional butterfly.
I stitched down the center of all the layers, leaving the threads long to create butterfly antennas. Using the postmark stamp, circle stamp and small butterfly from Postmarks, I stamped the butterfly. What better way to send airmail than with a pretty, fluttery butterfly, right? You could also use bird stamps or the fun Up, Up and Away stamp if you want to keep with the air mail theme.
Next I use the well sought after postage stamp die that you've all been hoping for. I die cut the paper, stamped the outline edge, stamped the inside stamp (which has amazing detail) and then stamped the tiny little butterfly. All separate stamps so that you can design your own postage stamp any way you'd like. Very easy to add in different stamps from other sets.
Recently I acquired an entire box of old postmarked stamps from an auction. I thought it would be fun to add one to my finished card. So cool how my new stamps blends in nicely with my old stamp.
To create a vintage look to my card I used Dark Chocolate and Smokey Shadow colors that look so nice with the blue in the the Postmarks patterned paper. I first stamped the air mail sentiment onto a die cut cardstock label using Dark Chocolate ink. I then colored in the letters with a W3 Copic marker. I also stamped a strip of cardstock with Pine's new Ribbon Tails stamp using Smokey Shadow ink. Why not use a strip of actual ribbon, you ask? I love that I can add a strip of ribbon looking paper across my card fronts and not worry about the ribbon fraying.....plus I love that I can stamp a sentiment on the ribbon strip with the ink bleeding. Love.

And here's my finished card. Lot of nice details + I think this style of card would be great for manly card. Maybe switch out the butterfly or just leave it off the card altogether.

So many dimensional accents on this one, a fun card to create.
For my next project I'm going to brighten things up a bit with some colorful, spring flowers + a postcard. The stamps from Postmarks are perfect for designing your own postcards. I found that the Library Card Tag die is the perfect size for postcards.
First, I die cut the Library Card Tag shape using Rustic Cream cardstock. Don't worry about the hole, it will be totally covered up. Using Dark Chocolate ink I stamped the basic postcard elements. I also added in the 25 cent stamp from Button Boutique to create the divider line often seen on vintage postcards. I inked the edges with the Chamomile Tea Dye ink.
Next I die cut more of the White Adhesive sheets with the angled labels and stamped the coordinating label images using Aqua Mist ink.
To create an old stamp resembling the one on a vintage postcard find, I simply die cut the stamp shape, stamped on green the images with green ink and then touched the top with the Chamomile ink. Looks so real, doesn't it?
Next I wanted to create a pretty front for my postcard. I stamped the tulip image from Friendship Jar Spring Fillers with Dark Chocolate ink. Using the Copic colors shown below I colored my image in a somewhat watercolor looking fashion. Lots of white space + layering in colors.
To add some beautiful shimmer to my colored tulips, I painted over the Copic coloring with LuminArte Twinkling H2O's. These are pretty paints that add shimmer...I used a brush + some water to apply the yellow/orange paint.
I also added a few areas of purple paint. Purple is a complementary color to yellow and it really makes that yellow pop off the page.
I added a few patterned papers to my postcard front using my sewing machine. If you zoom in on the photo below you can really see the shimmery look of the Twinkling H20 paints.
And here are the back and front of my postcard. I used two separate layers just in case my paints and Copic markers bled through to the other side.
A beautiful, spring greeting or perhaps a nice Easter postcard for someone special.
On the back of the postcard, I can fill in the labels with a handwritten note. I'll probably slip this into a envelope if I decide to mail. I could have left off the postage die and added a real stamp if I wanted to mail this as an actual postcard. Can't wait to try more of these.
For my last project today I created two mini postcards that I intend to tuck into the girls' Easter baskets. I cut my mini postcard shapes from the Button Boutique button card die. Using colorful inks I stamped on lots of images from the Postmarks stamp set. A perfect way to use the Postmarks set if you're not into the vintage look. I love the Orange Zest and Aqua Mist airmail strip along the bottom. Part of the background was stamped with Pine's new Background Basics: Twinkle stamp set in green ink.
The eggs were made by using the Egg die cut shape, Green Boutique patterned paper, buttons + twine, a flower stamp from Melissa's new Tiny Tags, and a die cut from Flower Fusion #2. The notched ribbons were created by using Pine's new Ribbon Tails stamp set + the Double Ended Banner dies. So cute and colorful for spring or Easter projects. Use them as is or add to a card or gift sack. The *handle with care* and *fragile* sentiments are perfect to use with an egg theme or maybe even a baby theme.
Whew, that's it for today's projects. I hope you enjoy! Be sure to visit Nichole's + the other Design Team members' blogs for their fun projects using Postmarks.

• Nichole Heady
• Heather Nichols
• Dawn McVey
• Lisa Johnson
• Betsy Veldman
• Melissa Phillips
• Maile Belles
• Jessica Witty
• Erin Lincoln
• Danielle Flanders