Postcard From Paris!

The May theme for Inkurable Stampers is to create some Mail Art - envelopes, postcards etc. using at least one stamp. I haven't done any mail art before so this is a first for me. Actually, I'll qualify that, it's the first time I've done any STAMPED mail art! When I was still at school my best friend's family moved interstate. This was way back in the dark ages before anybody had ever heard of the internet, email or mobile phones and text messages, and we did actually write and send letters the old fashioned way. Anyways we would send letters to each other and would put a few little messages and doodles on the backs of the envelopes, but this transgressed quickly into filling up the whole back of the envelope and then we started on the fronts too........until you could barely see where the name and address were written! We were having fun doing this.....but then my friend's postie threatened not to deliver my letters if we didn't stop putting all that stuff on the envelopes......the big spoilsport!

I decided to make a postcard with a French theme for my challenge entry and used heaps of stamps! I didn't realize I had so many postal themed stamps until I started looking through my catalogue of stamped images.......some of them have never even been used before and I've had them for ages!

The techniques I've used are masking......and lots of it, and sponging with Tim Holtz Distress Inks. I used Tea Dye, Shabby Shutters and Broken China inks on the front of the postcard and Antique Linen on the back of the postcard. I also used a white Signo gel pen to highlight the Postcard word.

The photo below shows the front of my postcard, I've used heaps of stamps here and I'll try and list all the stamp credits underneath the photo.



Stampin' Up - French Script background stamp, Merci, Bonjour and Mon Amie are from the 'Carte Postale' set.
Inkadinkado - Postcard word.
Stampington - The Stroll (naked lady wearing a hat).
Stamp-It - Paris in the Spring (large stamp on the left with girl and large Eiffel Tower).
Hampton Arts - Paris Moments (I only used a small portion of this stamp - the Paris postmark).
Buzz & Bloom - 'Belle' word (from Those Girls in Their Hats set)
Cherry Pie Art Stamps - Post Francaise postoid stamp.
Card Stamp & Scrap - corner flower (from Journal Blocks set)
Ink and The Dog - background words (behind the naked lady).
Unidentified stamps - 'Journey' and 'Travel' words, and the small Eiffel Tower.
I think the wavy lines postmark is by Stamp Magick.

Stamp credits for the back of the postcard:
Stampin' Up - 'Carte Postale' word (from the Carte Postale set)
Studio Astarte - Rubber Stamp Mail Centre postoid and bird with letter.
Not sure, but I think the 'Greetings from Far Far Away' and the Postcard stamp (which includes the lines, 'place postage here' and 'original stamp art by:') are also by Stamp Magick.

This challenge ends at the end of this month so there is still plenty of time to enter. The challenges are open to Australian and International participants and Sarah alway has great prizes on offer for the best Australian entry, best International entry and best Australian Newbie entry - that is for first time entrants to Inkurable Stampers challenges. Check out the details HERE at Inkurable Stampers to find out how to enter.

Hope you like my Mail Art, I had fun doing something a little different this time. Have a great day!