Enthusiasm swirls as crafters use shaving cream to create postcards
Feb 3, 2024
Peg Carter works on her design. Photos by Sandy Quadros Bowles
Kathleen Walsh spreads the shaving cream.
Diane Clement uses sticks to create swirl designs.
One of the finished designs created at the program.
An example of paper marbling that once adorned books.
MIDDLEBORO — With the help of shaving cream, of all things, participants created their own uniquely designed postcards at the Middleboro Public Library, adding color to a grey winter day and learning a little history in the process.
About 20 people learned the art of paper marbling at a program Saturday, Feb. 3 at Middleboro Public Library. The program was hosted by Old Colony History Museum as part of its “Let’s Make History’’ series.
Paper marbling is an historic art once used in the process of making books. The craft, which takes its name from the designs’ resemblance to marble shapes in rocks, was once commonly utilized to create patterns that decorated the end papers — the insides of the front and back covers.
Bronson Michaud, Curator of Collections at the museum, taught participants a modern spin on the classic art, leading to a colorful finished product within minutes.
To make their postcards, they started by spraying a layer of shaving cream to cover the bottom of a baking dish. They then added drops of food coloring which they swirled around to create a marbled effect.
Card stock was then placed into the paint-spattered shaving cream and lifted off.
Once the shaving cream was scraped off and the card stock had dried, a final marbled designed card was revealed.
“They did fantastic,’’ Michaud said.
The library tries to offer a range of activities, Reference and Adult Services Librarian Libby Fox said, and this one also combined historical information. The library staff enjoys working with the museum, she said, because “they have a lot of wonderful programs.’’
“I like to try new crafts,’’ Laurie Ashley said as she worked on her creation. “The library offers great free interesting crafts and things to do.’’
Jennifer Jewell decided to give it a try when her friend sent a link about the program. “It was on a whim,’’ she said.
Laura Gerrior and her daughter Emily Gerrior made the program into a mother-daughter project, which they said they try to do frequently. “I think it’s great,’’ Laura said.
Such high praise is what Michaud aims for with their programs, which they offer at the museum and at outside locations such as the library. “I hope they learned some history, and I hope they had some fun.’’
