Have you ever visited iHanna’s blog at https://www.ihanna.nu ? She’s a Swedish artist who writes about her creative projects, offering inspiration and encouragement to her readers. She hosts two DIY postcard swaps each year. People sign up, pay a small fee, and iHanna arranges everything. So many people participate in the swap that iHanna has to be an organizational genius, and she’s got it down to a science so things run smoothly. Participants create 10 handmade postcards and send them to the people assigned by iHanna.
I used acrylic paint and stencils to make abstract backgrounds, then used acrylic paint markers to draw and hand-letter some positive sentiments. They’re messy and imperfect, and I doubted myself several times. After the 3rd card, I realized I had to let go of my worries, and I went for it uninhibited – and it was so much fun!
My recipient list had 9 Americans and 1 Canadian. I was so surprised when I began receiving cards from Germany, England, and other Americans who I hadn’t sent cards to! I didn’t realize it wasn’t a direct one-to-one swap, but a huge, random swap of all the participants! And I became even more impressed with iHanna’s organizational skills!
If making the postcards was fun, then receiving them was even more so!
It’s wonderful to see all these different styles of art! I love all of them! I got 9 postcards, but I’m guessing that the 10th one is stuck in Canada somewhere – as is my postcard to Canada. Hugs to my Canadian friends.
In 2025, iHanna is hosting a project called Create 365 Somethings. I usually shy away from daily art challenges, but this one sounds very different. It’s not the usual “create something and post it on social media every day” challenge. It’s a “create what you want when you want, and post when you want” challenge. Do “The Something” daily or weekly. Work in batches. Change subject matter. Just make something 365 times during the year.
I always want to spend more time drawing in my sketchbook, so that’s going to be my “Something”. 365 drawings in my sketchbook! It’s nice to have the support and encouragement of a group of people doing the same thing. Everyone is invited to join in!
Hanna’s website is full of such colorful projects! She’s so artistic, just like you! I saw you mentioned to Nicole that she has a YouTube channel too, and her videos are so relaxing to watch. My friend Rebecca is an artist as well, and she loves watching YouTube videos to wind down in the evening.
Merry Christmas, Michelle!
Merry Christmas to you, Kari! I love art videos for winding down at night. They’re relaxing and inspiring. Sometimes I fall asleep dreaming about art supplies!
Wow what a cool idea. That sounds so much fun (not for iHannah…logistical nightmare 🤣) I’ve had similar feelings of doubt when creating but it’s great when we can let all our fears go & have fun with it. Love your positive postcards. Hope the Canadian one turns up. Have a lovely Christmas and New Year.
Hi Rae! I’m so glad there are people like iHanna in the world who are willing and capable of doing these kind of things! It is so much fun! I hope you have a lovely Christmas and New Year too!
Aww, thank you so much for this Michelle!
You are so sweet and your postcards look great. I’m happy to hear that you overcome the fear of arting to share, and enjoyed the process and the experience! That’s what the swap is about, joyfull sharing.
So happy to hear that you will be experimenting with the #365somethings2025 idea! Yay!
Thank you for hosting these lovely art experiences, iHanna! I’m looking forward to drawing in my sketchbook – I already started today!
Wow what a cool idea! I was introduced to iHanna via NaBloPoMo and thought her blog was very cool. But you know what, I forgot to add it to my reader, so I’m going to do that now!
I love your postcards! Mail will be slow going to and coming from Canada. There’s such a backlog, I cannot imagine when it will be cleared. I’m optimistically hoping your Christmas card comes to you sometime in Q1!
Thank you, Nicole! iHanna also has a YouTube channel and her videos are so relaxing to watch. I can’t imagine the backlog of mail either. I will be delighted whenever your Christmas card arrives – a bit of holiday magic is always welcome! I hope my card to you will arrive someday as well. In the meantime, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Nicole!