September might seem too early to start thinking about Christmas cards, but for those of us who enjoy crafting our own, it could actually be considered a bit late. Personally, I usually have mine completed by summer, but it didn't happen this year. I have a longstanding tradition of sending out all my holiday cards and gift packages on the day after Thanksgiving, a practice I've faithfully followed for almost forty years without fail. While many are busy hunting for Black Friday bargains, I am already ahead of the game with my stamped cards and pre-paid packages at the post office with NO line. This also contributes to a holiday season without stress for me. Additionally, I have set the precedence of always being the first Christmas card my friends receive. 😁
This year's theme combines elements of 70s hippy culture with a touch of whimsical packaging, like an aluminum fish. Here's how it all went down...
The first thing I did was draw the outline of a fish on cardboard.
Here you can see that I outlined several fish with the template on a piece of aluminum.
Here's a fish that has been cut out. I had to be very careful because the edges were pretty sharp.
Then using a stylus, I etched in some texture.
Amazing how a little bit of paint really enhanced that simple fish, huh?
This displays the fish partially painted.
This catch is truly shimmering and abundant!
And here are some of my 'Merry Fishmas' cards all made up. Do you recognize the colorful wheel from another blog I published? If not, click the button below.
Instead of using newspaper to create these wheels, I opted for a similar technique using used paper bags and not crinkling them up. Every night, I share a bag of popcorn with our dog, Jester, and I always keep the brown paper bags for various purposes like this. It's a shame they didn't retain the scent. Imagine how funny it would be to have fish cards that smell like popcorn! 😍
This is how I attach the paper insert to the card, using my signature method. I adore the tinsel-like strands; they bring such a festive touch! Also, the cards and envelopes are made of watercolor paper, which gives them a thick and textured feel. Nische... 😉
If you believed I was done, you'd be mistaken. I don't simply end with the card; I also enhance the envelope. Many may question the effort, but my response would be "I don't do things half-assed!" LOL! I prefer my creations to be impeccably refined.
Here is the complete set. I applied a rubber stamp, chalk, and paint to the envelopes. All that remains is to stamp and address them, a task I will complete during the week of Thanksgiving. Perhaps I will do it while watching 'The Wizard of Oz'... 🤩
I’ve I’ll be back next Wednesday to show you what I’ve been working on. Hope you’ll stop by again for a visit.
Make sure to follow and like An Upcycled Artist on Facebook and Instagram. If you are a local follower, you will receive notifications about the availability of my new creations for purchase on these two platforms. Simply click the icons at the bottom of my pages to visit them easily.
Reminder: If you liked this article, consider subscribing at the bottom of any of my pages. Subscribers will receive a Wednesday email alerting them to my latest posts. After subscribing, kindly ensure that this site and email address are added to your contacts to prevent the weekly email from being marked as spam or ending up in your trash folder.
Comentarios