You've got mail (art), David!

The talented David K. Small has been going through a difficult time these past couple weeks and needed some cheering up. Not only is David a fellow artist but he's also become a good blogging friend. What better way to lift one's spirits than with Mail Art!

Here's what I mailed to him!

Cut paper on archival backing board - Roughly 5" x 8" (NFS)

A little known fact is that I tend to collect interesting-shaped leaves in the fall and store them for future reference.

One of my oak leaves was used as a template and transferred on a comic book backing board which was then cut to size, leaving me with a blank leaf shape to embellish!

I didn't want the front to be plain yet so busy that you couldn't read the address. I had some woven origami paper but the pattern was too intense so I simply turned it over and used the reverse side which was much more subtle (am I clever or what!).

Once the origami paper was glued to the backing board, I carefully clipped off the excess revealing the leaf shape again.

The backside! (Do you see Wondy?)

I used several styles of paper for the back. Prismatic, scrapbook, origami. A variety of patterns from whimsical to elegant all cut into little strips which were carefully glued down, lined up, then trimmed. I even added a strip of Wonder Woman for some strength and compassion!

A series of encouraging words were written on the slivers of paper: "Joy. Create. Inspire. Pain. Hope. Survivor. Powerful. Determination. Live. Open."

And to finish it off, the entire edge was painted with silver glitter!

This is the first piece of Mail Art I've created that wasn't done on a traditional envelope. I thought FOR SURE that the stem would've been ripped off or at least bent during its travel through the postal system. David told me the leaf arrived COMPLETELY intact! Hooray!!

Just a little something to brighten another blogger's day. Enjoy David!!