I just mailed, to say…
A painting of Mount Hereford in Quebec (Photo by Christine Beevis Trickett/NCC staff)
Let friends and family know you’re thinking of them with a handmade nature postcard
If you’ve tried to pick up yeast or flour lately, you may have been surprised to find a lack of both on grocery store shelves. With everyone staying closer to home, many of us have taken up baking or other hobbies to pass the time.
So, if you’re looking for something creative to do but don’t want to try baking with a strange (to you) flour alternative, why not try your hand at an easy DIY craft, like handmade nature-themed postcards?
Three watercolour postcards of Canadian landscapes that I'm working on. (Photo by Christine Beevis Trickett/NCC staff)
It’s a great way to brighten friends and family’s days by letting them know you’re thinking of them. Imagine their surprise when they open their mailbox to find…mail! (Not to mention mail made with your own two crafty hands!) Plus, you’ll be reminding them of the joys of nature that we can all look forward to once it’s safe to go back outside.
What you’ll need:
- For my postcards, I opted to use the watercolours and watercolour paper I have on hand. I find cold-pressed watercolour paper to be of excellent quality and sufficient thickness for mailing, but cardstock or other card paper can work just as well, depending on the medium you’re using.
- Your colouring, painting or other crafting tools of choice (stickers, plastic-free sparkles, old wrapping paper…the sky’s the limit).
- Ruler and X-Acto knife, to cut your paper into postcard size. I cut a sheet of 9x12 inch paper into four.
- Inspiration from nature. Check out the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s social media channels, or Google your favourite natural area and click on “Images” in the search results.
- Or, take your paints and crayons to your balcony or garden, and sketch/draw/create what you see.
(Tip: I find painting on smaller paper also helps me work faster, as there’s less area to cover. It’s the perfect #Take5withNature activity, which means I can make even more postcards to send to friends!)
Back of the postcard (Photo by Christine Beevis Trickett/NCC staff)
Once the front of your card is done to your satisfaction and has dried, flip it over and use a black pen to mark out the address lines, stamp area and return address line. I added a bit of paint around the edges of mine to give it even more of a crafty feel.
Have you sent a handmade card to a friend? Share your creation with us by using the hashtag #Take5withNature and let us know what your friends thought of your surprise!
About the Author
Christine Beevis Trickett is the director of editorial services for the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
