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Faux Postage

By Stephanie Loomis
Crafty Cruisers
Intermediate Stamping Team Designer

Faux postage is a popular technique for card makers, scrapbookers and altered artists. There are innumerable variations to the theme and a tremendous variety in tools that can be used.  These include rubber stamp images that mimic cancellations, perforations and edging, decorative scissors, and stickers of all kinds. This tutorial is designed to give a general outline of the technique so that each artist can infuse his or her own personality into the faux postage. 

The primary elements of faux postage are a series of repeating images and a number of conjoined parallelograms (usually squares or rectangles.)  Anything beyond that is up to the artist’s whim and imagination.  Postage can mimic real postage or be fanciful or eclectic or beautiful.  It can include stamped or hand drawn cancellations from anywhere in the real or imagined world.  Borders can be stamped, drawn, or cut with decorative scissors. 

The best pattern to mimic is real postage sheets. Observe the repetitive elements and the placement of words and images. Consistency is the key to effective faux postage. Simplicity in design is also important. Avoid clutter and focus on clean lines. Once the basic elements are mastered, the artist is free to embellish. 

Supplies—Project One: 

•  Believe Stamp Set (TAC)
•  Six square template (Just for Fun Rubber Stamps)
•  Palette Ink Noir (Stewart Superior)
•  Covered Wagon Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
•  Sandy Beach Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
•  Celestial Sky Dye Ink Pad (TAC)
•  Ultra Thin Marker---green, blue
•  Sparkle Blue cardstock (Marco’s Paper) cut and folded to a 4 ¼”x 5 ½” note card
•  Parchment paper (office supply store) cut to 5 ¼” x 3 ¾”
•  Ruler (I prefer a quilter’s grid ruler for accuracy)
•  Stipple Brush # 4
•  Prismacolor Pencils:  PC936, PC927, PC1005, PC1028, PC1065, PC1018, PC1077 (blender)
•  Painter’s tape (not too sticky)
•  Scrap paper for masking 

Directions—Project One: 

1.                Tape template to parchment paper

2.                Stipple Covered Wagon and Sandy Beach inks over all six squares.

3.                Stamp Stars with Celestial Sky ink in the top middle square and lower first and third squares.

4.                Stamp fairy and “Believe” in alternate squares as shown using Black Palette ink. Mask off each square before stamping the fairy so there is no intrusion into other squares.

5.                Color fairies’ wings with blues and grays, color dresses with green and bronze. Blend color with blender pen.

6.                Hand write: “USA 37” with green ink.

7.                Remove template.

8.                Use the ruler as a guide to create the blue ink dots and dashes that separate the individual “postage” squares. Leave 1/8” between markings.

9.                Adhere to blue sparkle cardstock with double stick tape or glue stick.

10.           Sign your art.

Supplies—Project Two: 

•  Pressed Leaves Stamp Set (The Stamping Studio)
•  Burlap Shadows Stamp Set (The Stamping Studio)
•  Landscape Palette Ink (Stewart Superior)
•  Cognac Palette Ink Pad (Stewart Superior)
•  Pueblo Chalk Ink Pad (TAC)
•  Guadalupe Chalk Ink Pad (TAC)
•  Tumbleweed Chalk Ink Pad (TAC)
•  Sharpie Marker--brown
•  Ultra Fine marker--brown
•  Brown Watercolor A2 note card (California Paper Auction)
•  White cardstock: cut to 5 ¼” x 3 ¾”
•  Ruler (I prefer a quilter’s grid ruler for accuracy)
•  Nine square template (Just for Fun Rubber Stamps)
•  Painter’s tape (not too sticky)
•  Scrap paper for masking
•  Decorative Scissors (Fiskars, Stamp)
•  Fine point scissors
•  Clipiola
•  Dark purple fun wire—three 3-inch sections
•  Pop dot 

Directions—Project Two:       

1.                Tape template to white cardstock.

2.                Stamp small burlap shadow with Pueblo chalk ink in each square.

3.                Stamp small leaves with Guadalupe chalk ink in each square.

4.                Stamp small leaves with Landscape Palette ink in each square.

5.                Stamp large leaf with Tumbleweed chalk ink in each square.

6.                Stamp Nature as shown with Cognac Palette ink in each square.

7.                Highlight leaves with fine tip marker as shown.

8.                Handwrite: “USA 10” with fine tip marker as shown.

9.                Use the Fiskars “Stamp” decorative scissors to cut apart the individual stamps.

10.           Reposition on brown note card with a minute space between each image as shown and adhere.

11.           Stamp large leaf on white cardstock once each in Pueblo, Guadalupe, and Cognac inks. Cut out with fine tip scissors and highlight with Sharpie.

12.           Curl wire around a pen or pencil to create “tendrils”

13.           Secure three leaves and tendrils together with Clipiola. Use a little tape on the backside for added security.

14.           Secure leaf “bouquet” to card front with a pop dot.

15.           Sign your art!

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