It’s true confession time! I am addicted to postal art. Not just the postcards I’m seeing as I get things ready for the Liberate Your Art postcard swap or the lovely envelopes that a few participants have decorated. I also love the stamps that come off the envelopes. Each year, I watch for interesting stamps on the swap envelopes and cut them off of the envelopes. It doesn’t matter, international or domestic, I love them all. After the swap, I carefully soak off the backing and dry them flat. And then I pack them away. For what? I have no idea. I just can’t let these beautiful little pieces of postal art go to waste. I’ve been doing this for three years now! At some point, I’m sure I will be inspired to use them.

As of Wednesday, 185 swap envelopes from artists all over the world have been received. I’ll do a mail pick up after work today, and then check one more time on Saturday for the last few envelopes. This week has been a flurry of activity for the swap! Checking in envelopes and getting things ready with my volunteers for Swap Day. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to open the envelopes and find an extra card or a little note to me in there. What a bonus! I don’t ask for it, but when it comes I’m always filled with joy and gratitude for that little connection.

Since I was away so much in March, I haven’t had time to do as many posts of the beautiful art that’s coming through on the envelopes. I’ll catch you up on a few today!

This handmade envelope is from Terry, one of the few guys in the swap. I love the gorgeous blue and the matching blue butterfly stamp. Even matching blue in on the cancellation! That can’t have been by accident.

Here’s a hand-watercolored envelope from watercolor artist Mimi. I love the way the various stamps are spread out over the envelope, creating an interesting and unusual composition.

This envelope has texture! Katie added paint and hand carved stamps, turning a boring manilla envelope into a work of art with color and texture.

And finally, the highlight of the year is always receiving Amanda’s envelope. (Sorry, Amanda didn’t provide a link!) She’s a calligrapher, and the work she does is amazing. I love the sentiment too – we ARE saving the post office, one postcard at a time. I’m sure we are helping as I spent >$400 on international postage this week. 🙂

Two days until Swap Day!! The postcards will be liberated back out into the world next week.