postcard swap!

I sent out my postcards for the DIY Postcard Swap yesterday! Check out the swap's flickr group to see lots of awesome postcards made by participants!

I spent weeks brainstorming how to make my cards, and I finally settled on a little bit of embroidery on paper. I love to add to the challenge of a swap by using stuff that's been languishing in my craft supply collection, so I didn't purchase any of the stuff I used to make these. I had even pre-made the hexagons (2.5" I think) once upon a time for a paper-piecing project. I left the paper pattern piece inside the hexies and using my sharpest thick needle, I sewed them onto patterned cardstock with embroidery floss. Then I embellished the paper with running stitches, french knots, and a few other simple stitches. It is way easier to sew on paper if you punch the holes with your needle and then sew through them. Even so, I have quite the callous on my thumb! Is that what thimbles are for? I've never learned how to use them properly.

I had decided to glue my printed postcard backs onto the embroidered fronts, but when I couldn't find the particular glue I wanted to use, I went with my old stand by, sewing them together by machine. I can't wait to see if these hold up well in the mail. I'm pretty sure these dinosaur envelopes I made a couple of years ago arrived okay.

Here are my postcards!