Sponging Paper Bookmarks

Jeff and I took a cardmaking class this past Saturday.  One of cards we made involved sponging a zen-like forest lake scene on a strip of white paper that was then adhered to the card.  I'm participating in a handmade bookmark swap through Swap-Bot.com this month.  It occurred to me tonight that the strips would make beautiful laminated bookmarks, so I made three tonight to test out my idea.  They're not laminated yet and I'm still perfecting my sponging technique but so far, I'm pretty pleased with the results of tonight's efforts.  Thoughts?

Real Men Do Make Cards!

Whomever has said that real men don't design or craft handmade greeting cards have never seen Jeff's work.  Take a look for yourself and see what this guy created the other night.  He loves to work with structure, cutting, and diecuts.

A beautifully designed card made with Japanese paper.

Vibrant tropical colors, again made with Japanese papers.

A stamped pattern set atop a piece of translucent vellum

which sits over a piece of art Jennifer created on her gelli plate. 

A very ethereal looking card.

Same concept, this one using a 

wildflower motif.  It looks like the flowers are sitting 

in a sunset or sunrise, doesn't it?

All cards are available on Paper Owl Artists Etsy shop.  Custom orders always welcome!

New Cards from 1923 Nature Magazine

Today was craft day - a greeting card making day.  While thinking about designs and looking through some paper ephemera, I remembered I had some vintage magazines stacked in the craft closet.  I found an old 1923 Nature Magazine I'd purchased at an antique store a few years ago.  The pages were pretty brittle but still very useable to cut out some of the photos to use for cards.

September 1923 issue of Nature Magazine

Jeff and I had attended a cardmaking class Saturday, the theme of which was masculine cards.  Still in a masculine cardmaking mindset, as soon as I saw the deer photos, I knew I had to make cards from them.  What do you think?  Wouldn't they be fabulous to send to a man in your life for Father's Day, a birthday or just to say hello?

Each card measures 5" x 6-1'2", and uses brown, black and dark grey cardstock  The inside of the card has a manilla cardstock writing area.  The cardstock is edged in black ink and sits atop an agled piece of black cardstock.  Very rustic looking!  Only 1 set available for sale at Paper Owl Artists' Etsy Shop.

April is National Letter and Card Writing Month

April is the USPS declared National Letter and Card Writing month.  Celebrate the month by writing your favorite person (or people) on a Paper Owl Artists handmade greeting card.  What nicer way to show you care!