Artistamps - Faux Postage for Mailart.

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Artistamps

Artistamps are simply miniature artworks - often the size of postage stamps.

Many artists use them on larger projects, or trade them in sheets or attached singly to the outside of envelopes, alongside the postage.

artiststamps used on mailart

I created the faux postage shown here by digitally editing some of my artwork and photos.

I printed them with a color laser printer, and cut them with a stamp shaped punch.

To make the stamps peel and stick, I used a Xyron sticker machine to add adhesive to the backs.

artistamps faux postage

I have seen several edging techniques used on artistamps and faux postage.

Many artists use a printed decorative border and cut them with a straight cut. A printed dot border may also be used to frame stamps and they may be cut with a perforating blade.

You can find special decorative edged scissors to cut faux postage, or simply use a stamp shaped punch.

artiststamps zine
click photo to view larger

I made this mini zine about artistamps for a swap at Swap-Bot. I attached a small glassine envelope to the inside back cover of the zine filled with a small collection of my artistamps.


Tools for Making Artisamps and Faux Postage


How-to Sites and Templates

Mirkwood Designs Faux Postage Template
Complete instructions are posted, as well as a recipe for the "lickable glue" to use on the backs of your stamps.

The Muse Faux Postage Tutorial
Tutorial for using MS Works to create faux postage.

Splitcoast Stampers Faux Postage Templates
Downloadable templates available in doc files or pdf files.


Galleries:

art-e-stamps
Lovely gallery of artistamps, as well as links to tutorials, and other artistamp sites.

Artistamp Museum
Gallery is accepting submissions through 2011.


Links to Groups and Swap Sites:

International Union of Mail-Artists - Artistamp Group
A Group for all that love and make artistamps. Pick up some tips and find people for trading.

Swap-Bot
This site is a trding site for all types of things. You will find some mailart groups that do trade artistamps from time to time.