A friend passed on a fantastic collection of vintage postage stamps last year, and I’ve been slowly working my way through them. Some of the postage came loose in bags, while others remained attached to envelopes. I also received an album filled to the brim with postage from around the globe.
It’s time-consuming soaking the stamps in cool water and letting them dry to remove the paper and adhesive, so I’ve been soaking them in batches. Eventually, I made it through the entire collection. Now it’s all about the fun of making cards.
I have the equivalent of a shoe-box full of postage. It’s been fun hauling out the stamps when the mood strikes to make greeting cards and the occasional bookmark. I’ve sorted most of the stamps by color, though a few fell into themes like flowers, birds, airplanes, and even various Olympics.
Here are my atest cards:
Mike is a private pilot, a hobby he picked up during COVID. I enjoyed making him this card for his birthday.
My sister, Sharon, loves purple, so this card featured royal purple on the cover and a softer shade of purple on the interior. There had to be a cat, of course.
I made this ‘thinking of you’ card for a fellow gardener, using floral postage. These are some of my favorite stamps.
One of my favorite challenges this year is this teal card designed to emulate a bookshelf. I put a small frame around the owl to make it look like a picture on the wall near the “books.” The two shelves are cut from triangle-shaped postage.
For a bit of background, Kate, who blogs at Tall Tales of Chiconia, invites quilters from around the world to contribute a square or two for a fundraising quilt for the Trudy Crowley Foundation in Australia. Kate provides a clever theme and quilt title each year. She assembles the squares, adds a backing, and quilts the masterpiece. The teal quilt is donated and auctioned to benefit ovarian cancer.
I made this card for Kate using the same guidelines as this year’s “Tealing All Our Stories” theme. Please have a look. The quilt is gorgeous —treat yourself to a peek at the link above.
And finally, this autumn-themed card for my friend who gifted me all the stamps.
Gardening Nirvana 
The cards you made with the stamps are beautiful!
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Thank you so much!
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So beautifully creative, Alys. I’m sure your friends love and treasure these cards. 😍
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Thank you, Eliza. I appreciate your kind words.
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I love the many different ways you arranged the stamps! I think the autumn foliage one is especially creative, I would never think to do that!
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Thank you! I enjoy coming up with different ideas using the stamps. It’s a fun challenge.
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A shoe box of vintage stamps – how cool! What a wonderful card you made Mike for his birthday! I love all the cards you shared in the post – you are so freaking creative :-)
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Thank you, Tierney. I’m having a lot of fun with these stamps.
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I did not know that about Mike! Very interesting. TS had his license years ago thinking he would buy a plane and commute between his job in CA and here weekly. I’m sure glaucoma would prevent him from flying now.
I love all the cards and the one for Kate is PERFECT. She will treasure it, I’m sure. I’ve loved every one of her teal quilts for ovarian cancer. They just keep outdoing themselves. So do you.
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Thank you, MH, for your kind words.
Mike got his pilots license two or three years ago. It was his pandemic project, given the hours of studying and practicing with a computer simulator. Then the hours and hours of in-flight traiining, with the majority of it spent on take off and landing.
I didn’t know TS also flew. Mike has to be recertified every other year, and many illnesses preclude flying. So far, so good.
Kate was gracious upon receiving the card. She’s such a talent with a huge heart.
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Yes, Kate, like you has a huge heart. I try my best to keep up with her posts. I don’t know how she does so much. I’m heading there now. Be well my friend. Love and hugs.
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Hugs right back your way.
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I love your use of these stamps, Alys. Very creative!
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Thank you so much.
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You had some wonderful ideas for using the stamps – love the bookcase! Isn’t it sad that so few proper stamps are used these days. If you don’t actually buy stamps here at the post office desk you just get ink stamped onto your envelope.
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Oh, Alys! Each of your postage stamp cards is a true work of art… and heart!! Your patience in soaking the stamps and sorting them all is so inspiring, my friend. I’m certain that Mike cherishes his special card! I’m just fascinated to learn that he is a private pilot.
I have been saving all of the German postage stamps that were on letters from all of my dear German friends over so many years. One day, I hope to use them on handmade cards for them! Heartfelt thanks for your constant inspiration, dear Alys! 🩷Dawn
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Thank you for your kind words Dawn, I’m delighted to read that you plan to create with your German stamps. Each stamp is a work of tiny art. I really enjoy this process.
Mike loved his card, and enjoyed naming all the planes.
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What a lovely way to use old stamps! I had a stamp collection as a child and when I was in my teens and my dad was recovering from a massive heart attack he found it and became interested. By the time he died he was a notable collector specialising in Channel Island stamps of the Second World War. I had forgotten that bit of his story so thank you for the reminder.
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