ATC Happy Mail Package – with Guest Designer Rose Sheridan

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Hi everyone, my name is Rose (@rosieraindrops on instagram) and I was delighted when Lisa asked me to be a guest designer for April’s Secret Garden box.

I’ve been finding it hard lately being stuck in each day.  I work from home usually, and use the time while my little girl is at school to work and if I have spare minutes, to create.  Because she’s off school now though, life has suddenly got a lot harder, and my husband is out working (he’s a nurse) so we’re worried about him.  To overcome these feelings of worry, anxiety and of being overwhelmed, I’ve tried to use art and creating as a safe space to escape from my every day.  I signed up for an ATC swap before lockdown and it was the perfect opportunity to create something small in stolen minutes.  The theme was Happiness, and lately my happiness has come from my garden and my daily walks, so this box was perfect.

I created my ATCs by creating layers on some of the patterned cards with the packaging.  One card was a simple collage and the other I created a mask from the leaf die-cut and daubed paint around it.  I added some words and splashed on some ink.

When I send ATCs, I like to send a little package to the person, so if feels like a treat.  So I also created a little wallet for them to go in.  To do this, I folded over one of the pieces of patterned card, and collaged on some of the packaging for pattern and texture and an image of some leaves from a vintage book.  Within this, I added three folded pieces of book page that had been washi taped at the sides, to create a multi-pocketed wallet.  In these, I added stickers, tea and of course, the ATCs.

To keep this together and to fit it in the envelope, I created a thin sleeve to go around the wallet and sealed it with a bright pink wax seal and pressed in the heart stamp from the box’s stamp set.

Finally, I wanted to send a message to the recipient, so I made a postcard for her.  I used the green paint to paint some leaf sets on the watercolour paper that was also included.  I started with a light mix of the paint and some water and added leaves in layers with thicker paint each time to create a layered look.  Lastly, I added a message in the middle.

I’ve loved creating this little package, and I hope the recipient loves receiving it just as much.