March's Postcard of the Month

Leapin' Lapins.

Bunnies, Eggs - New life. Resurrection.  Ah, Mud Season!!  Spring!

I hadn't started out with bunnies in mind at all!

I generally do not consciously compose with symbolic meanings in mind,

but the subconscious awareness of these symbols nonetheless directed their emergence.

As usual - mud and (purple) crocuses are my primary associations with March.  

Though - as I've mentioned in earlier posts, purple is not my favorite color - since I do have some very beautiful purple papers - several of which were gifts from people I love* - I feel obliged - and challenged - to try to incorporate purples at least once a year.

So I first pulled out the papers that appealed:

I wanted to somehow imply roots and things pushing up

through the deep, dark, earth,

birthing into new life.

And though I didn't really want to do another crocus card**,

I decided to start there anyway:

Way too muddy!

Lighter earth/root treatment:

That didn't really cut it though, either.

But then! >>> BUNNIES!

I have my wonderful bunny paper punch***

and I'd never yet used it for the PoMs!****

So...*****

Which then progressed from this:

to this:

Got my 'roots' in there after all!

I liked how this one fell in to place for a few reasons:

Even though most of my compositions follow a basic 'cross' grid, the trees and root verticals, and the horizontal that the 'earth' formed in this one seemed especially appropriate since Easter is happening this month.  

Plus >>> BUNNIES. :-) 

I did think about using some of my stash of Easter candy (amongst other candy) foil wrappers to make the 'eggs', but I didn't like the multi-colors, preferred a more muted gold.

The Fixin's

(most of them)

Production Steps, The Movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TN2q_cHaV0

The Steps

40 production steps (again) this month

Panel of 21 of March's Postcards of the Month

Fin.

*Like this gorgeous purple paper - which incorporates delicately-veined leaves - that our dear nieces Polly & Shelly sent me a couple of years ago:

**As I have done the past 2 years.

March, 2014

 March, 2015

***Riddle: What makes this qualify as my self-portrait?  First correct answer wins a collaged postcard!

****Some of the Easter cards that I've made over the years using the bunny punch:

*****I never did glue any of these first drafts.  I like the added dimension of the elements not being glued flat.  I might try to use glue sticks (I use the water-based acrylic glue 'ModPodge') for some future collages - get a little more dimension.  And actually, I really am pondering what switching to a more environmentally-friendly glue will do to my whole process.  I'm going to try switching to 'Eco Glue', see if that will work.