Scavenger Chic

Enlarging a Postcard, 75th Anniversary of VJ Day

• By Joan
• August 27, 2020
• 13 Comments

Enlarging a Postcard

Years ago, when I was still reading thru magazines, tearing out decor ideas that caught my eye, I found this enlarged envelope used as wall art.  I tore it out and kept it in a file used for future decor possibilities.  I know that sounds rather old school, but this was way before Pinterest.  I have no idea which magazine was my original source, but I did find a copy of the picture on Pinterest (of course).

I had a few envelopes that I could have enlarged at the time but none that really stuck out to me so the picture just stayed in the file.

It wasn’t until about 10 years ago, after my Dad died, when I was going thru a box of old letters, that I found the perfect postcard to enlarge.

It’s dated August 14, 1945,  75 years ago last week.  If that date sounds familiar it’s because the date is known as VJ day, or Victory over Japan day.  My dad wrote this postcard to his mom while he was away at scout camp.  And yes, he called his mom Jo, not mom. 

You probably can’t read his handwriting, but it says “We got the news of V.J. Day at 6:06 right during supper.  Everyone went out and lit carbide bombs.”  I have no idea what a carbide bomb is…perhaps a firecracker? I hope it’s not a real bomb!

The idea was to enlarge the postcard and frame it on canvas.  Using wood scraps I made a frame 29×46″.

With drop cloth canvas I cut a piece to fit around the wood frame with overlap for stapling.

Iron the canvas to remove any wrinkles.  With a staple gun, staple the canvas onto the backside of the frame starting in the middle, alternate sides and work your way into the corners, stretching the canvas as you go.

Once the canvas is stretched, paint the canvas with artists gesso or any other flat white paint you may have leftover.

I made this project a year or so before I started a blog so I don’t have as many pictures of this project in progress as I usually have so I’m going to refer you back to the Seed Catalog canvas I did in March of last year.

The postcard follows the same steps as the seed catalog, enlarging the postcard, printing on tissue paper and trimming off the white edges.

One row at a time, paint on a light coat of modpodge and carefully lay on your tissue paper pieces butting up the edges with previous pieces.  If one of the pieces gets hopelessly crumpled, (don’t worry, it happens)  just print out that page again and start over.

Press out any air bubbles but be gentle, tissue paper tears easily.

I have used spray adhesive to attach the tissue paper to the canvas on other projects and that works fairly well but definitely use the Modpodge to seal the finished tissue paper.

The frame is black scrap book paper cut into equal strips.  Prefold the paper for a nice crisp edge then Modpodge onto the edges of the postcard.  Use a layer of Modpodge underneath the folded scrap book paper as well as on top.

This has always been one of my favorite projects and it reminds me of my Dad every time I see it.

Since you’re reading thru all those old letters, I have a few more ideas for you.

Nightstand Heirloom

Mom’s Old Letters Pillow DIY  or this Heirloom Pillow

Pallet Wood Postcard Display

Silverware Box Makeover

Until next time, stay inspired, stay safe.

Related posts:

Moms Old Letters Pillow DIY Pallet Wood and Skulls for Halloween Cow , Pig, Sheep, Rooster DIY Backgammon Board with a Recycled Door