Faux postage, inside & out!

For this swap, you will create 2 faux postage stamps (also known as artistamps) using whatever technique you like.

• The first stamp will be stuck on the outside of an envelope addressed to your swap partner, alongside the real postage stamp (please ask your post office for a 'real' postage stamp for your envelope, rather than the printed labels). Part of the fun of mail art is seeing how your mail art survives and is affected by the journey, so don't be too precious about it.

• The second faux stamp will be inside the envelope. It does not have to match the stamp on the outside of the envelope, but in case there is any damage to the outside of the envelope, your partner will also get to see one of your stamps in its 'true colours'! This stamp can be loose or mounted/presented in some way (an ATC or inchie, perhaps?).

Your faux postage stamps should include real or faux perforations (ie made to look like it is perforated, but no actual holes). If your stamp inside the envelope is loose, it would be nice if it had some kind of stick-able backing (printed on gummed or self-adhesive paper, for example), but this is not essential, so long as it looks like a stamp from the front. Size should be, well, postage stamp sized; as a rough guide somewhere between 2 x 2.5cm and 5 x 7cm.

Please also include a note inside the envelope, telling the story of your stamp/s. This should include at least the technique/s you have used and anything else you would like to say! Most of all, get creative, and have fun!

Check out this Wikipedia entry about artistamps for a bit more background & maybe some ideas.

Please hand-make your own stamps (rather than have it made by one of the postal services who offer personalised stamps, or any of the various online artistamp supply stores).

You will have 3 swap partners, so you will make 6 stamps in total, sending 2 to each partner.

Ratings of 5 or just below only, and at least 5 postal swaps. I will check through participants & remove people I think are a potential risk, so please PM me to explain any unjustified comments or ratings, and I will take that into account.

The sign up period is 1 week, and the sending period is 2 weeks.