Ideas for Crafting Fiber Postcards for the Holidays

With holidays approaching, it is an ideal time to craft and exchange fiber postcards also referred to as fabric postcards. A 4x4 fiber postcard features fabric with an artistic design on the front and an addressed postcard on the back. One can credit the popularity of fiber postcards to fundraiser organizations such as Fiber Art for a Cause that raises funds through fiber postcard auctions for the American Cancer Society. This auction takes place at the International Quilt Festival in Chicago, Illinois. Fiber postcards have also been publicized through card making contests with various themes such as "Back to School". Especially common is crafting fiber postcards for the holidays and special occasions. Most noteworthy is a Valentine's Day Remailing Program in Loveland, Colorado where hundreds of thousands of national and international Valentine's Day postcards are sent to post offices in Loveland, Colorado to be stamped with a special design and a love poem before mailing. Details about deadlines and addressing the postcards are available on the Loveland, Colorado postal service website. Anyone who enjoys fiber crafts has a range of options for creating them as detailed below.

Quilting

Quilters are the greatest enthusiasts of crafting fiber postcards. In the same manner as quilting, a thin layer of batting is placed between two squares of fabric for sturdiness and sealed using a sewing machine. The 4x4 postcard resembles a miniature quilt.

Embroidery or Cross Stitch

Fiber postcards may be embroidered with a machine or cross stitched by hand - a craft that I have enjoyed for many years. Using embroidery floss, a diagram, a material such as aida fabric, and a needle or machine, one can craft a fiber postcard with a message or design that fits the occasion. Embroidering the cards edges is also ideal for binding two squares of fabric to create firmness.

Felting

Those skilled in felting can make fuzzy textured fiber postcards using felt cutout designs or a completely felted fabric background. A newbie can quickly pick up on felting through online videos found on craft blogs or You Tube.

Iron-On Design

Using iron-on designs is one of the easiest methods to create fiber postcards. All it takes are iron-on transfer sheets (for t-shirts) that are available in craft stores, a cotton/canvas fabric, and an inkjet printer. Digital images such as photographs are transferred unto fabric as detailed in the "Customized Iron-On Prints" tutorial found on Hewlett Packard's (HP) website.

With these fiber postcard-making ideas in mind, there is definitely something for creative individuals of various fiber craft specialties. Fabrics can further be decorated with paint and addressed using a permanent Sharpie marker. As fiber postcards differ from paper postcards in thickness, a helpful tip is check with a postal clerk for the exact cost before attaching adhesive stamps, especially if it is one's first time completing this project. One is then on her or his way to trading the cards with other fiber postcard makers or giving them as gifts to loved ones, friends, or those in need.

Sources

Eagan, Maureen. "Fiber Art in the Mailbox."Fiberarts Magazine, Interweave Press.

Ray, Allison. "Fabric Postcards."Sew Fun Patterns.

"US Postal Service News: Loveland, Colorado Ready to Postmark World's Valentines." United States Postal Service.