by

Card-making With My Postcrossing Stash

One of my current stress-busters is creating cards from postage stamps. I’ve written about the fun of sending and receiving postcards worldwide via the Postcrossing project. I joined in 2016, and in those eight years, I’ve sent and received over 300 postcards. I have stamps from 41 countries.

What is Postcrossing?

  • The goal of this project is to allow anyone to send and receive postcards from all over the world!
  • The idea is simple: for each postcard you send, you will receive one back from a random postcrosser from somewhere in the world.

Over the years, I’ve thought about alternate ways to use my beautiful stash. With few exceptions, postage stamps are works of art.

A few weeks ago, I took the plunge and removed the postage from my Postcrossing cards by soaking them in warm water. I watched my dad do the same in his basement den in the early sixties. I’m amazed that those memories are so vivid.

It took a few days to complete, and not all stamps were salvageable due to the newer adhesive; however, I ended up with over 600 postage stamps. What a haul!

Sorting is relaxing, too. I initially sorted by color and theme, depending on the volume. There were more blue stamps than any other color, with orange and purple being the most scarce. I had a handful of cartoon stamps, four or five cat stamps, and many flowers.

Once I started making cards, I ended up with stamps everywhere: stuck to my sweater, on the floor, under the cat, and so on. I ended each crafting session by gathering my stash back together for the next time.

It’s interesting that creative pull once you’ve come up with an idea. I looked forward to those hours of crafting time.

Here is a sneak peek of a few of the cards I made.

I’ll share more tomorrow.

31 thoughts on “Card-making With My Postcrossing Stash”

  1. Oh my goodness this is so wonderful! I used to seriously be into correspondence and use to have pen pals around the world. I remember a wonderful postcard and stamp from India that unfortunately got lost in one of my moves. I too have saved some stamps from international correspondence. I love this card idea!!! Your samples you shared are awesome!
    I am looking into returning to make handmade cards again, the problem is no one seems to appreciate them like they used to and less people are into corresponding!

    Like

    Reply

    • Oh, Laurie. You are a day-maker. Thank you. I found a glossary to share with tomorrow’s post that gives an overview of common tools and techniques. My top three are dies (which make die cuts with a die-cutting gadget), embossing folders that leave an impression (also used with the die-cutting gadget), and ink with paper. xo

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  4. I’m so happy that you discovered Postcrossing and have kept corresponding for so many years, Alys! 💕Early in my retirement, I truly enjoyed Postcrossing, too! Making positive, friendly connections throughout the world has never been more important. I just love the unique way you are reusing the international postage stamps to create new art!! It must have been such fun to sort your collection of stamps. For many years, I have been saving the beautiful postage stamps on mail from my friends in Germany. Perhaps it’s time to use those colorful stamps in an artful way! Your creativity truly inspires me, dear Alys! 🩷

    Like

    Reply

    • Dawn, I love that you’ve also taken part in Postcrossing. I pop in and out, depending on my schedule. It was a wonderful hobby while I was recovering from foot surgery back in 2020.

      I have no doubt you’ll find creative ways to use your postage stamps. In addition to my cards, I’ve used a few to make bookmarks for the children’s LFL. There are so many possibilities. Thank you, Dawn.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  8. These look fabulous Alys. We do some beautiful stamps in the U.K. but I think most people buy books of generic stamps with the monarch’s head on them except maybe at Christmas when (some of us) send cards and like to continue the festive theme on the envelope.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I love Christmas stamps, too. I featured a few U.K. stamps on the blue card, but I’ve just looked up what Postcrossing calls the wall of cards, and I’ve only received four cards from the U.K. over the past eight years. Germany and Russia are among the biggest users of the site so everyone will receive more from those countries.

      Like

      Reply

  11. Pingback: Flowers and Cats, Wild and Domestic: Creating Cards with Postage – Gardening Nirvana

  12. I read this the other day when you posted it but waited to comment in my reader. They go through better in my reader than on each site. I’ve learned something new again. I had no idea you could soak stamps. I’d never heard of PostCrossing either. You never cease to amaze with your creative talents. I love the cuddle photo. Cats do need to be in the middle of everything. Nothing goes to waste around you. Including the love. Now I’m on to the next post. See you there. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. Pingback: Paper Quilts and Purple Hearts: Creating Cards With Postage – Gardening Nirvana

Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, below.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.