CPG: Painterly Handmade PC - USA

You will need a gelatin printing plate and acrylic paints to complete this swap :-)

• Make one handmade postcard for one partner using the "painterly" approach of painting a design directly onto a gelatin plate and then pulling the print. Here is an excellent video tutorial from the Gelli Arts website demonstrating the process of pulling one print over several applications. You can place a picture under the plate and trace a design with a loaded brush (wrapping paper or fabric under the plate may even be a good option) or you can freehand a design onto the plate as the inspiration video suggests.

• Securely attach the print to a cardboard backing. Cereal boxes or something similar work well for this. Keep in mind, your piece of art will need to be sturdy enough to survive a potentially harrowing journey through the mail system.

• On the back of your handmade postcard, write your partner's mailing address, as you would with any postcard, and include your personal and swap information.

• Adhere the correct postage and send it on its way.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Make your postcard as big as you'd like and whatever shape appeals to you. Just remember, you will have to pay extra postage if you get too carried away.

You can use whatever acrylic paint you have on hand. Open paints give you more time to work before the paint dries. If the paint you're used to using dries quickly, you may have to work in smaller areas and pull the print more often.

If you'd like to write something or draw a picture on the back, that's great! If you just want to get that baby done and in the mail without taking time to do anything except address the postcard and write the swap information, that's fine, as well. Please make sure the print itself, though, is your best work.

You can seal the print with a clear sealant if you'd like and/or adhere a piece of paper to the back to make a base for writing, but do not add any other manufactured embellishments.

If you are on Instagram, post a pic with the hashtag #cpgswap.

Happy printing!