Journals & Collaborative Projects

Below you will find a sampling our members' work from previous collaborative projects.  Click on images to view them larger. We hope this will inspire you to come and play with us! If you are interested in joining our group, please visit us at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paper_Traders/

Tutorials & Techniques

Below are some of our favorite tricks for adding depth and dimension to your art.  We hope you have fun giving these a try!

Current Group Swaps & Projects

Below is a list of current swaps and projects available to group members. If you are interested in joining our group and participating in these projects, please visit us at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paper_Traders/.  

For existing group members, you can sign up to participate  in these projects here: Swaps & Current Projects.  

We look forward to swapping with you.  Happy Arting!

Member Gallery for Group Swaps
 
Below you will find a sampling our members' work from previous group swaps and projects.  Click on images to view them larger. We hope this will inspire you to come and play with us! If you are interested in joining our group, please visit us at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paper_Traders/.
 
Come play with us... Join today!

Paper Traders is a friendly online community of artists from around the world. We nurture and value creativity, embrace new ideas, products, and techniques yet also value tried and true methods of artistic expression. Our projects consist primarily of paper arts, mixed media collage, artist trading cards, altered art, assemblages, collaborative journals, mail art, and more.

We are interested in creative individuals of varied skill levels who wish to challenge themselves artistically and help build a supportive community. We are at our best when we can share our creative efforts as well as techniques, resources, feedback, and insights. We encourage conversation about art, the art process, and what it means to be an artist.

Paper Traders is hosted on Yahoo Groups at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paper_Traders/.
We hope you will consider joining us on an artistic journey!

In order to prevent spammers and to insure that all applicants are actual persons interested in creating art, a questionnaire will be sent to all potential members. When applying, please submit digital examples of your work or direct us to a website where we can view your art. The intent of the questionnaire is not to judge the merits of your art but to safeguard the integrity of our community.

Free Images for Download

Below you will find images that are owned by our group members and offered for your personal use as well as images found in the public domain. Images may be freely used in your personal artwork but may not be used for commercial purposes of any kind without written permission of the owner. No images may be used to create collage sheets or image collections for resale.

To download, follow the link provided. In some cases, you may be able to just click on the image to enlarge it, then right-click and select "save image as". Content changes frequently and many images are available for a limited time.  Please check back often for newly posted images to use in your art journey.

Open Art Challenges !

We're changing things up here at Paper Traders. Instead of the monthly challenges of the past, we'll now be hosting special challenges that might feature a specific technique or product and will be rewarded with actual prizes sponsored by our group members.

Our new challenge for 2013 is a year long word prompt journaling project/challenge. Each specific challenge will be open for one month and all art bloggers can participate, whether you are a Paper Traders member or not. Each artist will comment with a link to their blog post that features the artwork for that particular challenge. For each challenge, a winner will be selected whose art best exemplifies the challenge. The winning artist will be featured here and get a "Trader Treasure" blog button to display on their own blog. They also will receive one chance for each entry for the end of the year prize drawing. Watch this page for more details and challenge announcements.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Our Next "Life Mantras" Art Journal Challenge


We are on to our fifth Life Mantra
Word Prompt for our Art Journal Challenge.
We hope you are enjoying this as much as we are.

If you just stumbled upon us,
stay and play with us.
You can join at any time.
For info. on the complete challenge guide lines go here.


This month's prompt is "Give More"
and the requirement is to
use graphitti style lettering in your design.

Inspiration:
Pure love is a willingness to give without a thought of receiving anything in return.
~Peace Pilgrim

It is every man's obligation to put back into the world


 at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.
~Albert Einstein

by Cathy C.

by Beckie H.

If you would like to play along, come back and link your blog post,
featuring your journal page, in the linky tool below.
Please link to your specific blog post.




Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Our Inchie Mini Accordian Book Swap

We just finished our our 
Mini Inchie Accordian Book Swap

This swap was based on the technique
of creating a stamped master board
from which the inchies were cut.

by Cathy C.

by Mel D.

by Beckie H.

by Amanda E.

by Pattie M.

by Joy M.

If you would like to join us in some of
our great swaps, please click on the purple
yahoo button in the sidebar for more information.
We'd love to have you join us.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Happy Mother's Day

A little gift to you courtesy of
Cathy C. of Paper Traders.

From: The Slow Coach by E.V. Lucas,
Illustrated by M.V. Wheelhouse
copyright 1910


From: Rhymes for Kindly Children - 1916
by Fairmont Snyder
Illust. by John B. Gruelle



Saturday, May 11, 2013

Gypsy Deco Books swap announced


This swap is for Paper Traders Members only but we would love for you to become a member and join us. Just click the purple Yahoo button in the sidebar to get started.

Gypsy Deco Books
6 pages for 1 deco book; Covers will be provided - please make six (6) pages, each 3.5" square, decorated on one side only in a gypsy theme.
Skill: All levels welcome
Postmarked by: June 11, 2013
Hosted by: Beckie Holso

For this project, we will each be making six (6) square pages measuring 3.5" on each side.  Please do not decorate the back of your pages because they will be glued down into the books that I will assemble.  I am planning to construct books similar to those seen here:
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2007/11/vsbn-coster-min.html
http://www.fabscrapsusa.com/default.aspx?PageID=382&ProjectID=1
You will receive one completed book in exchange for your 6 pages.

Paper Traders members please sign up in the database on the Yahoo site.  Don't forget to upload photos of your finished pages to the project album.  Please mail your pages to me postmarked by June 11th and include a return address label and $2 to help cover the cost of shipping. International participants may send ephemera in lieu of postage.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Our Music ATC Swap

Just sharing a bit of one of recent swaps
Music ATC's.

by Jo M.

Pauline M.

by Nydia D.

by Melissa W.

by Pam P.

by Cathy C.

by Amanda E.

by Beckie H.

If you would like to join our group and
take part in some of our great swaps,
click on the purple yahoo button in the sidebar
for more information.

We'd love to have you!!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

May Freebie


This month's Freebie is a fun and fresh collection courtesy of Connie Holso, one of our moderators.  She is sharing this great collage sheet for your personal use in your art.  Please click on the link BELOW the image to download the full size file.  Have fun!


Use link BELOW to download...
Download HERE

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Moo Cards 50's Glam Star swap announced


This swap is for Paper Traders Members only but we would love for you to become a member and join us. Click the purple yahoo button in the sidebar for more information and how-tos.

Moo Cards 50's Glam Star Swap
5 for 5 moo card size swap
Theme: 50's movie stars ie: Marilyn Monroe, Kathryn Hepburn, Grace Kelly, etc. Male stars included: Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Rock Hudson, etc.
Skill level: 2-3 Budding and Blossoming
Due: Postmarked by May 31st
Hosted by: Cathy Calamas

During the blog hop, I came across this wonderful Moo Card Challenge site that was in the sidebar of Gigi Lorenc's blog. (Thanks, Gigi.) http://moo-mania.blogspot.co.at/.  We did a moo card swap last year and it was a lot of fun. So, let's do it again. What is a moo card? It is approximately half of a business card (lengthwise) : 2.8 x 7 centimeters or 1.1 x 2.8 inches.  Please include $1 for postage.  International members please send ephemera in lieu of postage. Please include return shipping label with your cards.

~Cathy