Quarantine Card Making: Use what you have!

Hi friends! I don’t know about you but I have really had to push myself to be creative lately. I’ve been feeling down, adrift and out of sorts. It’s hard to get motivated to do anything other than the bare minimum when you feel this way but I’ve found that if I make myself venture down the the frigid basement craft cave and make myself start something I usually end up enjoying the time and working longer than I planned. All you have to do is just start, even when you don’t feel like it.

I know this must sound incredibly entitled and silly that I have to push myself to do something I enjoy. I must sound incredibly spoiled to anyone who is essential and still working outside of the home. In fact, I think that’s part of it. I actually feel a bit guilty that I get to work from home. My work feels very frivolous during this time. I’m struggling. First world problems, I know. If you are feeling like this you are not alone. Art and craft is not like food, shelter and healthcare, it’s not life sustaining but it can be soul sustaining and if you can share a smile with a friend you can’t visit in person I think it’s worthwhile. I sent one of these cards to a friend who is a nurse. We all have a part to play during these weird times. So, even though you might not feel terribly inspired right now pull out some old supplies and make something that will make someone else’s day a bit brighter. That seems pretty worthwhile to me. Watch the video to see how I made these.

Supplies (Affiliate links may be used)

• I used layered stamps from The Ton

• I used my old letterpress platform to line up my stamps in a similar fashion that you would use a MISTI. I think it worked just as well as a stamping platform and I already had it!

• I use a variety of inks from Gina K and Memento. *The smaller pads give greater variety without taking up a bunch of space For the background, I used water-reactive ink such as Distress ink.

• To seal the postcards with the inky background I used wax, the kind you would wax furniture with.*any wax will work toprotect postcards. This is not needed if you are going to mail them in an envelope.

• Ink brushes

• I also used a Stampin up roller stamps and a tattered angles background stamp.

The purpose of this card is to show you that you can make do and re purpose supplies to use them in more versatile ways. Which version did you like better, with the colorful background or without? I ended up turning these into regular greeting cards by mounting them on folded cardstock. I never quite know where a card making journey will take me. LOL! Happy crafting!