Shabby Christmas in July Mail Art Swap by NSK & Friends

Hello, my friends,
Today I would like to share with you a bundle of projects that were created for "Shabby Christmas in July Mail Art" one on one swap hosted by closed FB group "NSK & Friends"
I decided to challenge myself and do watercolor... Never done it before...
I wouldn't call my project a 100% success, but I can tell you, that I will be doing more of water coloring...
1. We were supposed to create a Mail Art Envelope ( I made two - overachiever)
1st was done with watercolor cardstock and digital collaging techniques
Front

 Back

 2nd was done in true (if such a thing exists) Mail Art techniques: background painted with Lindy's Stamp Gang magical; decoupage (napkins and die cuts from Prima "Santa Baby" collection); stickers and washi tape decoration
Front

 Back

2. We had to make a postcard

3. Of course, we had to include a card: I made layered window senary shabby card  

4. Two shabby tags

5. Surprize... I made altered small rosette embellishments 

Hope you liked my creations...

You are very welcome to watch the video below and/or visit my blog for more posts on each of these projects.
Have a great day,
Hugs & Kisses, Natasha

Shabby Christmas in July Watercolor Mail Art Envelope

Hello, my friends,
 Today I will share another Mail Art Envelope that I created for a "Shabby Christmas in July Mail Art" swap that was hosted by "NSK&Friends" on the Facebook
This envelope was digitally designed (you can purchase it here) and printed on watercolor cardstock than colored with zig clean color watercolor markers, finishing touches stickles, washi tape & Santa Baby by Prima stickers

Can you make your own? Absolutely!
Follow me:
Step 1 Make a template of the envelope
 Using your envelope punch board make the desired size. For those who don't have an envelope maker punch board: take the premade envelope unseal it and flatten.
Tip: keep your template for the future projects, just don't forget to mark the size of it. You never know when you need it.
Step 2 Trace or scan your envelope
 Scan the shape of an envelope (for farther digital designing) and print or trace it right on watercolor(or other) cardstock.
Step 3 Create your design
 Start from the face/front of the envelope & work your way to the flips rotating envelope correspondingly. Dedicate spaces for postage stamp and address fields if you will be mailing it. If not, go for it and use the whole field. I used Adobe Photoshop to digitally design my envelope using Russian fairy tail images for children's coloring books.
 If you don't do digital scrapbooking or designing you can use regular stamps to create your scenery.
Tip: Use Momento or StaysOn inks for stamping or even embossing technique in order to prevent bleeding or smear of colors one into another.
Step 4 Color
 Not much to say here... Take watercolor paint, markers, pencils and go for it. If you are new to water-coloring, please do research for video tutorials on how to... You can use crayons, regular pencils - whatever you have. I was challenging myself to watercolor.
Tip: To give your colored images sparkle I used stickles.
Step 5 Decorate
 I used washi tape from my stash in corresponding my coloring colors and  created few small flags banners and added stickers from "Santa Baby" Prima collection with greetings (I always struggling with short phrases/greetings)
Step 6 Closer
 You can add closer: removable adhesive, velcro, button & string, wax seal or just cut out a slot (using exacto knife) if your design allows.
I think that's in on this project...
Hope you enjoyed it and give it a try,
Hugs, Natasha