How-to project: Holiday postcards

Rachel Hazell

May 26

The Travelling Bookbinder: How-to project: Holiday Postcards

As The Travelling Bookbinder prepares to take a break, (to concentrate on BookLove and something *new*) it seems the perfect time for a how-to project creating holiday postcards - a set of stationery that will last through the summer.

You'll need:

One large sheet of thick paper or thin card. I'm using 300gsm (140lb) Bockingford Watercolour paper, 56 x 76 cm (22 x 30 inches) short grain
Scrap paper to practice
Ink or paint in your two favourite (contrasting) colours
Big brush
Small brush
Pot of water
Cutting knife or ruler and scalpel or scissors
Space to make a mess

Step-by-step:

The Travelling Bookbinder: How-to project: Holiday Postcards: Practice marks

Using just one of your colours, and the big brush, try out loose, happy shapes on the spare paper. Joyful bright bands, swirls, loops, zig zags, dots...anything goes.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How-to project: Holiday Postcards: Loose and free shapes

When you've decided on the particular swishy marks that you like, take a deep breath, roll your shoulders around to keep them loose, maybe put some music on, and spread the joy onto the large sheet. Just one side.

Leave to dry while you're making a list of who will receive one of these limited edition postcards.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How-to project: Holiday Postcards: Cut in half

The Travelling Bookbinder: How-to project: Holiday Postcards: Cut in quarters

The Travelling Bookbinder: How-to project: Holiday Postcards: Cut in eighths

If you have a cutting knife, then fold the paper and slit it and fold again, until you have sixteen rectangles. If you're using a scalpel or scissors then lightly mark cutting lines in pencil. Snuffy is willing the ink to dry faster.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How-to project: Holiday Postcards: Divided into sixteen

Admire the happenstance of new compositions.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How-to project: Holiday Postcards: Add motif in contrasting colour - a heart and stars

Now, decide on a motif to add in your contrasting colour - a word, a love heart, a star, a smile, a kiss, a boat, a name... Add this to each of your sixteen cards. I chose a heart and simple stars.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How-to project: Holiday Postcards: Finished set

Reassemble one last time in a grid, and maybe take a souvenir photograph.

Then turn over, and get writing. I like to add love to my missives with a coloured-in heart.

Don't forget the stamp!

You could make a little portfolio or folder to keep the set safe.

Please share your Holiday Postcard series on the socials - @thetravellingbookbinder on Instagram, @thetravellingbookbinder on facebook and @paperhazell on Twitter. Or e-mail Rachel directly.

Wishing you happy corresponding, wherever you are!