Paper owls

owl by simplisticirony

These sweet paper owls perching on a tree are deliciously old-school! You have to love the craftsmanship on this paper art design that brings a fairytale mood to a simple postcard.
I found it on Simplistic Irony, a store where many more happy creatures dwell (well, some of them are people or zombies, but that makes it even more interesting, doesn't it?).

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Lemon tea

Anyone for Tea? Greeting Card by FirstNightDesign

Many have tried to express themselves using a grungy neo-vintage look, but very few have succeeded in standing out from the crowd. First Night Design manages to do just that with well-thought designs like these two presented here. The first one is used for a fine greeting card with tea-related elements . Their combination (especially the use of the samovar on the right) gives a unique collage.

Postcard Lemons Postcard by FirstNightDesign

The second one I like even more. It's a great postcard with an excellent composition that balances the handwriting with the remarkable lemon photographs in the center. A postcard I would be really happy to receive!

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A strange roller coaster

Le Grand Sept Trois Quarts by AurelienPolice
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Every time I take a look at Aurélien Police's shop I'm left speechless and awestruck. This great French artist has a way of mixing scifi, fantasy, cuberpunk, gothic and symbolism that transcends the norms. There is always a story to be told through his art, a small detail that takes all this eye-candy and gives it a profound dimension. Look at the center of this gloomy poster: see the wagons falling?

Postcard - The Rope by AurelienPolice
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This ominous postcard has it's secrets, too. The decrepit interchange is a strong image but what sets it apart is the rope hanging above the highway. It hints of human despair, madness and solitude. It oozes humanity! That's what sets Aurélien apart and makes me come back to his work again and again. I'm sure you will feel the same way once you look deeper.
If his shop is not enough (and, I guarantee, it is not!) there is always his website, full of amazing artwork.

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Oh, the hipness of it all...!

So Hip, postcard by kasei_lee
Make a post card at Zazzle

Now, where does one start to describe this unbelievable design? For once I'm at a loss for words, so I'll just quote the words of it's creator:

A part-man part-dog hipster. His green singlet like shirt features a double rainbow and the words "What does it mean?". Over the top of his turned up stovepipe blue jeans, he has a pink tutu like skirt. Under one arm is the mounted head of a white unicorn. He also has on a pair of yellow diving flippers and a pair of thick rimmed glasses.

Can you picture someone writing these words straight-faced? It seems that Lee Leplaw Deichmann, the artist behind the great Lee Lee and the Bee store, has tons of weird humor. It's not just the awe-inspiring surreality of this postcard. There are plenty of other unique designs to prove my point:

Shrunken Head Dilemma, shopping bag by kasei_lee
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Imagine shopping around with this bag (aptly named Shrunken Head Dilemma). I do. Things like that change lives, folks! Lee's imagination and talent is one of a kind.

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Strange kind of beauty

walk by noumeda
View more ""Artsprojekt Postcards

This is a strangely fascinating postcard, featuring ink work from Noumeda. The birds and the running woman give a dreamy, haunting quality to the landscape. Noumeda Carbone's work is mostly monochromatic with small touches of color that explode in surreal ways. Do have a look at her illustrations (shown in her great website as well as her store). She is one of the best, with a strong feminine aura that is both enchanting and unexpected.
As for me, I'll keep staring at those eyes, trying to hear the story they tell:

P#12 by noumeda
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Something to cool you down

Pluto Postcard by stevethomas
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August is so hot and scalding, it's time for something cool and soothing, don't you think? How about vacationing on the snowy mountains of Pluto? Steve Thomas is willing to take us there with this ice-cold illustration (a great way to brag about your summer endeavors to your friends that stayed behind!). Based on old poster aesthetics -like most of this great artist's work- it makes for an amazing postcard.

Fantasy travel poster - elves by stevethomas
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For those of you who prefer a more classic destination, Surreality Travel Bureau proposes legendary Rivendell, and this great poster by Steve brings it right to your home! Surreal ideas, excellent execution and a fine sense of humor guarantee an unforgettable time when visiting Steve Thomas's store.

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Mythos revisited

The Innsmouth Look by CthulhuCthulhu
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I'm talking about Cthulhu Mythos of course, the brilliant legacy of Howard Phillips Lovecraft, and the strange designs it inspires.
Let's start with this totally surreal, pseudo-photograph by CthulhuCthulhu, a store dedicated to cthulhian creepiness. Have you ever wondered why there was nothing in the family album about the obscure Innsmouth branch? This unique postcard gives you the answer! This amphibian-looking fellow may well be Captain Obed Marsh himself -and slightly reminiscent of Captain Beefheart's Trout mask replica album cover.

MYTHOS - Yithian by scythemantis
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The style of Scythemantis is quite different. His work is cartoonish and playful, paying an imaginative homage to the Great Race of Yith. Do these yithian tentacles hold the Pnakotic Manuscripts? Scythemantis's work is well-versed and rich in details so I guess the answer is yes.

Finally, I should remind you to check this older post about Bradley W.Schenck's magnificent work at Ars Celtica. Some of the best Mythos-inspired artwork lurks there, sleeping but not dead!

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Broken and afraid

I Am Broken Without You Graffiti by robgreenleaf
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Love lost, heartbreak expressed right on the skin of the city. Someone poured his heart out, adding another personal story on the urban landscape, and Rob Greenleaf was there to capture the feeling with this splendid photo.

I'm Afraid of America by robgreenleaf
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Rob's photography and fine sense of composition are used to make statements and tell stories. It's not just about postcards, cards and other useful products, it's about focusing on life and sharing the things you see. Overall, a great artist and a great store!
If you're already drooling for more, you should go visit Rob's blog, too.

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Chess revisited: The playful cat

Chess Cat postcard by lodgehouse
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This vintage painting combines cats and chess -two of mankind's favorites in a single artful postcard. I wonder if the depicted feline concentrates on it's next move...Anyway, it's only one of the eight "Naughty Cats" available at Lodgehouse, although I believe it's the more intriguing of the series.There is a sense of hidden menace in here -or maybe I am biased by the cat's predatory nature.
Some may find this cute, I find it both cute and disquieting. You can't beat that, now, can you?

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Catch a cloud

CYCLING postcard by matasaburo
post card printing using zazzle.com

"On a sunny day we could go cycling together. Maybe catch ourselves a cloud or two... What do you say?"

There is a certain relaxing feeling, a feeling of open spaces and of having all the time in the world. This is the feeling I get from this postcard from Matasaburo, the store of Japanese artist Matasabu. A serene, soothing design that is both strange and calm.

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Spring in red

Summerdream by FelicitasArt
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Spring is here, lurking silently below the snow, infiltrating the cold winds, promising resurrection and already dreaming of summer. Enter this fine photograph of a poppy: a warm, red explosion in a serene field. It makes a great polaroid-like postcard, and you can find it in FA Photography. FA stands for both Felicitas Art and Friederike Alexander, a lady from Germany, who has a great eye for capturing beauty, especially in nature close-ups.
This is an image suitable for true daydreamers! Friederike's website has more of her astonishing work.

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Rare breed

ADOPT A RESCUED DOG! by papelustro
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What a postcard! This design amazes me. It manages to be surreal, humorous, tender and gorgeous at the same time. Seems based in the finest tradition of graphic design (some '40s and '50s styles come to mind) and I do wish you have friends who will appreciate receiving such a work of art.
The artist is Belinha Fernandes from Portugal, her store is named Papelustro and everyone crazy enough to follow this blog will be more than happy to go there and take a look!
Here's another favorite:

POSTCARD INTERNATIONAL DAY... by papelustro
Make a Full color postcard on zazzle

She is great with collage but doesn't stop there: her overall designing abilities are diverse and always interesting -as I found by visiting Belinha's cool blog.

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Handmade 3D

Subway / Lonely Travelers Postcard by anneklar
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I love this unique combination of sculpture and painting. Notice the details! The postures and the colors are excellent. A great poster by Anne Klar's Art Store, where Anne Klar exhibits some serious skill and artistic sensibilities in the creation of these unique designs.

Santa Fe Dreaming - Mousepad by anneklar
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Clay is the No1 material here, giving rich textures and creating a very unusual 3D sensation. Find more about this kind of work in Anne's great website.

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Striped lunacy

lunatiks! postcards by sandygrafik
Create a Full color postcard with zazzle.com

Some artists overdo it with patterns and textures. They seem to get carried away and lose their sense of composition, the one thing that makes a design tic. Sandy from Sandygrafik, doesn't! She knows what she's doing and why, and that's how she makes astonishing work such as this crazy, stripey character. Funny and wild, this postcard is sure unusual.
Do you want to see some of her other lunatiks? Thought so...:

lunatiks! by sandygrafik
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She is great at making unique creatures from fairy tales, too, but I felt more at home with this particular product line. [Some times I wonder why... Naah!] You could also visit her interesting blog and see more of her work.

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Sunday driver

Sunday Driver Postcard by Pip_Gerard
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It's kind of funny and nostalgic at the same time... An old car, an old couple, a slowish drive on a busy highway (or is it motorway in Australia?), a life that won't change it's pace. Aptly named Sunday Driver, this postcard can be found at Pip Pip Hooray, Pip Gerard's shop. Pip is a talented lady from Melbourne with a store full of various tasteful goodies -and a really keen eye for stylish business cards, if you ask me!

Rainbow Color Stripes Template Business Card by Pip_Gerard
design business cards at zazzle.com

See? I told you she's good!

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Fantasy in black

Dragon lizard mini bookmarks by thedancingemu
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A fine tiny dragon makes a delightful mini bookmark for today's post.Young artist Teal Newcomb prefers fantasy and anime themes, uses a rich and vivid palette of colors and hues and creates interesting worlds and charming creatures.

Blue dragon postcard by thedancingemu
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Dragons, chimeras and other ethereal beings inhabit her imagination and are vividly and delicately put to paper and other products available in her gallery, Metal Kirin Illustration. Or, you might want to have a look at her website or her Etsy store.

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Weightlifting

TOP Weightlifting Old School by teepossible
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Vintage items never cease to amaze me! Long before the age of the modern fitness cult, people performed feats of strength -surely, an uplifting experience! Watch this old school muscle lift people, and share the weirdness of it all with this curious postcard. You can find it at Teepossible, along with other interesting old times stuff.

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Apprehensive tongue

Tongue Card by timfoleyillo
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This card is not for the faint of heart, strictly-kitty-loving people! Made by the hands of a true master of illustration, Tim Folley, it reminds me of King Crimson's "In the Court of the Crimson King" sleeve art. Tim's gallery is full of fine designs and unique ideas -always splendidly executed. It's difficult to chose just a couple of favorites but, since Christmas is not too far away, here's a deadly Santa pictured in an old-fashioned, pulpy way:

Spicy Xmas by timfoleyillo
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I find this kind of work truly addictive. If you are like me, you would sure like to find more about this artist. Well... lucky you! Tim Folley has a great site you can visit, with more illustration goodness.

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Cut it out

Cows in restaurant by lukaluka
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You've seen collage before, but the work of LukaLuka takes cutting paper to a new level. Cut-out of drawings, photographed so as to create an imaginative paper-world of depth and superb ideas. The Cows in the Restaurant is a fantastic piece (just look at the background beyond the window!), but the next one is even more dramatic:

Mirror mirron on the wall Mug by lukaluka
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The lighting and the mood on this one is simply incredible! LukaLuka's gallery is full of surprises, as she explores the possibilities of traditional 2D design and the more theatrical 3D-like work. Funny, she describes herself as a boring person. Judging by her art, I tend to disagree.
There's more interesting stuff to be found on LukaLuka's Etsy shop, too.

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