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Faux postage, inside & out!

Launch gallery slideshow

Swap Coordinator:TangleCrafts (contact)
Swap categories: Miscellaneous  Handmade  Postage Stamps 
Number of people in swap:3
Location:International
Type:Type 3: Package or craft
Last day to signup/drop:August 18, 2009
Date items must be sent by:September 1, 2009
Number of swap partners:3
Description:

For this swap, you will create 2 faux postage stamps (also known as artistamps) using whatever technique you like.

  • The first stamp will be stuck on the outside of an envelope addressed to your swap partner, alongside the real postage stamp (please ask your post office for a 'real' postage stamp for your envelope, rather than the printed labels). Part of the fun of mail art is seeing how your mail art survives and is affected by the journey, so don't be too precious about it.

  • The second faux stamp will be inside the envelope. It does not have to match the stamp on the outside of the envelope, but in case there is any damage to the outside of the envelope, your partner will also get to see one of your stamps in its 'true colours'! This stamp can be loose or mounted/presented in some way (an ATC or inchie, perhaps?).

Your faux postage stamps should include real or faux perforations (ie made to look like it is perforated, but no actual holes). If your stamp inside the envelope is loose, it would be nice if it had some kind of stick-able backing (printed on gummed or self-adhesive paper, for example), but this is not essential, so long as it looks like a stamp from the front. Size should be, well, postage stamp sized; as a rough guide somewhere between 2 x 2.5cm and 5 x 7cm.

Please also include a note inside the envelope, telling the story of your stamp/s. This should include at least the technique/s you have used and anything else you would like to say! Most of all, get creative, and have fun!

Check out this Wikipedia entry about artistamps for a bit more background & maybe some ideas.

Please hand-make your own stamps (rather than have it made by one of the postal services who offer personalised stamps, or any of the various online artistamp supply stores).

You will have 3 swap partners, so you will make 6 stamps in total, sending 2 to each partner.

Ratings of 5 or just below only, and at least 5 postal swaps. I will check through participants & remove people I think are a potential risk, so please PM me to explain any unjustified comments or ratings, and I will take that into account.

The sign up period is 1 week, and the sending period is 2 weeks.

Discussion

violin21 08/11/2009 #

Can the faux postage be used postage stamps? As I have made inchies and ATC's using used postage stamps from France, :)

TangleCrafts 08/11/2009 #

I'd love to say yes, but it would be a different swap if it was for used postage stamps :-(. The idea is that you actually invent/create your own pretend stamp - sorry. I've added a link above with some more info about faux postage/artistamps. I really hope you'll join, anyway... :-)

violin21 08/12/2009 #

OK I will have a go at making stamps using paint shop pro, I have a stamp puncher to put the image on, if this is ok I will join the swap as this is the first time I have made anything like this,:)

violin21 08/12/2009 #

I have made my first one and followed the instructions to this website http://gomakesomething.com/ht/digital/faux-postage/ I don't have any gummed paper to print them out on would quality photopaper be alright?

violin21 08/12/2009 #

I shall join the swap as the stamps that I have made using paint shop pro are really lovely, I was so enthusiastic I made seven and found some freebies to add too so that my partners are not disappointed. I printed them out on good quality paper rather than photo paper which is too heavy and they look really good. I enjoy making ATC's so I shall be presenting them on an ATC :)

TangleCrafts 08/12/2009 #

That sounds great, violin21 - thanks for playing! :-)

violin21 08/13/2009 #

I hope that more people will join TangleCrafts, I just hope that my partners are not disappointed, it took me ages to get it right lol:)

TangleCrafts 08/13/2009 #

I hope so too, but if not, there are still 3 of us take the postal world by storm! I'm sure your partners won't be disappointed & I'm really happy that this idea captured your imagination :-)

TangleCrafts 08/14/2009 #

Just want to quickly mention a new group I have just set up: Zines, Mail Art & other cool stuff - please check it out! :-)

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