Dance Card Swap Gallery

Here are some of the results from our recent Dance Card swap...

by Beckie Holso

by Cathy Calamas

by Nancy Slaby

by Connie Holso

by Darlene Rolls

by Nancy Slaby

Everyone did a really great job!

Calling all Digital Artists

We have opened up our blog challenges to include digital art submissions.
So many of you are doing such wonderful digital art that we thought
 our open challenges would be a great way to showcase what
 you are creating out there.

A wonderful example is our current PaperTrader Treasure from
our "Red, White, and Blue Bird" Challenge. Abby L ( PT member as well)
from the blog Life, The Vivere submitted her beautiful creation. Click on
her image in the sidebar to be taken to her blog.

Background ATC Swap Gallery

Here are some of the truly terrific backgrounds that resulted from our recent swap. Everyone had some varied techniques with truly stunning results!

by Beckie Holso

by Beckie Holso

by Karen Boatright

by Cathy Calamas

by Nancy Slaby

Member Spotlight Time!

This month we are spotlighting Beckie Holso, one of our Paper Traders moderators.

How did you find Paper Traders? 
I was encouraged to join by my mom, Connie Holso.  About a year later, we both volunteered to help out as moderators after the original group owners decided to step down.

How long have you been a member?
I joined in January 2008.

Where do you live? 
I currently reside in San Diego, California, USA.  I moved back to San Diego after a 3-year stint in Colorado; with that little exception, I have lived in California for over 20 years.

How have your surroundings affected your art? 
Honestly, I think most of my inspiration comes from other Paper Traders members and my Somerset Studio magazine!  But I do especially love to visit Balboa Park and take in the fabulous architecture and stroll through the many museums.  I also truly love the Getty in Los Angeles although I've only been able to visit a few times.  I look forward to going back again someday soon!

Please share a little about your own art experience. 
Years ago, my sister started selling DOTS (now known as Close To My Heart) and I got on the bandwagon, starting out by making greeting cards for friends and family.  Over time, I followed my mom's transition into paperarts and eventually mixed media.  Lately, I've been having some fun experimenting with steampunk assemblage art.  I wish I had more time to devote to my hobby but I work full time so I have to steal an hour here or there and am usually glued to my art table on the weekends.

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres?  
As I mentioned, lately I've been having fun with steampunk.  Recently I tried some variations of Jill Geraghty-Groves "decaying background" technique as described in the March/April 2011 issue of Somerset Studio.  Another favorite is our own Barb Thomas's peeled paper technique (http://2cre8art.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html) - which make fabulous backgrounds.

What inspires you?  
All of you!  I am definitely inspired by the members of our group who are always sharing new ideas and techniques.  Seeing the fabulous things that each of you make inspires me to try new things and continue to stretch myself as an artist.  Have I also mentioned how much I love my Somerset Studio magazine?

Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this? 
Of course, I love many of the classics - Rembrandt, Monet, Renoir, Seurat, Da Vinci... the list goes on and on.  But I am also very impressed by many of the mixed media artists - Misty Mawn, DJ Pettit, Kelly Rae Roberts, Suzi Blu.  I love the way they share their methods and encourage all of us to challenge ourselves and embrace our own artistic talents.

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room?   What tips or tricks have you found to help carve out a niche for your supplies and art? 
I am so thrilled to have a whole room devoted to my office/studio.  I have Iris carts stacked behind me to store my stamps and papers, with a board on top to create a counter where I have all my tools within easy reach and small beads and charms in hardware cabinets.  Above that, I have shelves filled with clear shoeboxes (from the Container Store) holding all my supplies, each box sorted by type.  I also have a bookcase for my books and magazines, as well as old books that I tear pages out of for ephemera - and a shelf reserved for displaying art from various swaps and trades.  I keep my ribbons & fibers in photo storage boxes (color-coded, of course =)  and there's a small filing cabinet for larger sticker sheets and other ephemera.  I have recently started using small 4x6 photo boxes to sort my smallest images by category.  One of my most handy things is a clear shoe hanger that I keep on my studio door to sort the miscellaneous stuff that accumulates on my table - I've found it's an easy way to sort items in order to return them to where they belong.

Please share a little about your family and pets... 
I don't currently have any pets although I love all kinds of animals and had many different kinds of pets growing up.  I am single, no kids... but also no family nearby.  My parents and siblings live about 1200 miles away, in Wyoming.  I only get to see them about once a year.  I talk to my mom on the phone several times a week and email daily.  One of the things I like about Paper Traders is the opportunity it gives us to share in this experience together, despite the miles apart.

If you'd like, please share a little about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began. 
Growing up, we moved around a lot but I usually tell people that I'm from Colorado since that is where I lived the longest as a kid and where I graduated from High School.  A year after that, I moved out to central California and eventually down to San Diego.  I am the oldest of four kids - I have two sisters and one brother, 3 beautiful nieces and 3 handsome nephews ranging in age from nearly two to 18 years old.  My mom has always been a very creative and talented woman - a skill that was born of necessity and progressed into more creative avenues.  Most of what I have learned to do, I have gotten from my mother.

Do you have any other hobbies or interests?  
I love to read - especially fiction as it is a way to relax and escape from the stress of work and everyday life.  I enjoy the puzzles and the occasional video game.  I especially like movies and have a television set up in my studio so that I can watch them while I work on my art projects.

Beckie Holso 
artbeckons@yahoo.com 
artbeckons.blogspot.com

"Open Doors" swap announced

Open to Paper Traders members only

http://www.flickr.com/photos/heticobai/3025002382/

Doors are wonderful to look at, fun to decorate, and full of symbolism. And don't we just want to peek in some doors to see what's behind them? With that in mind, let's make our doors able to open so we can take a peek of something mysterious, surprising, funny, etc.  This will be a 4-for-4 swap.  Cards will be 4"x6" must feature a door that can open, any technique. They can all be the same or different. Postmarked by August 31st. Please include $1.00 for postage or ephemera in lieu of postage.  Hosted by Cathy Calamas

Direct to Paper Technique

Direct To Paper Technique

By Connie Holso

This is a simple and easy way to turn plain cardstock into beautiful custom backgrounds. I usually do several sheets in different colors at one sitting.  You will get totally different looks just by what colors and stamps you choose.

 Supplies:

• Medium to dark-toned cardstock
• Pigment inks (Colorbox or Cats Eyes) in light, medium, and dark – 4-6 colors is good
• Assorted small to medium sized stamps
• Optional: dye inks for over stamping
• Scrap paper for covering work area

Process:

You will want to lay down some scrap paper to protect your table. I always get out more inks and stamps than I need as I usually decide as I go along unless I am doing it for a specific project.

For this technique you need pigment ink for covering the paper with ink because it stays wet letting you move it around and blend it.  Dye ink does not work as it is absorbed too fast. Also it is transparent and just stains the paper. Because pigment ink is opaque it will let you completely change the paper color. You can not achieve the glow that the pigments give with dye inks. 

I mostly just use whatever inks I have in the colors I want for over-stamping, except for stamping with light colors, for those you will need to use your pigments.  Otherwise both dye and pigment inks work fine. 

When choosing your inks you want to use the white or very light colors first as they are what make your paper “glow”.  They also make the other colors brighter and help make the stamped images pop. 

Smearing white ink over entire paper.

Begin by smearing your lightest color (white here) lightly over the surface of the cardstock. This works best if your ink pad is a bit on the dry side.  If it is new and quite wet, use a sponge instead of the pad.  This first light coat of ink just makes a base so it is easier to move the other colors around and blend the edges together.  It also helps give more luminosity to the page.  

NOTE: Use caution if you use your pads to add the ink to the paper as too firm of pressure can damage the foam ink pad. 

I use white for my first color. 

Next using either the pad itself or a sponge add more white in splotches making some go off the page. This is so it will not have an “edge” and will look evenly colored when cut into pieces.  It will look messy but that is how it should be.  

I used Dusty Plum for my second color.

Now add your second lightest color, again in splotches, with some going off the page, blending the edges just a tiny bit. You want it to be quite blotchy as each layer will blend it more. 

I added Peony next.

Continue adding colors from light to dark until you are satisfied.  You want good contrast but if you do get a spot too dark you can add more light ink (or ink in a lighter tint of your paper color over the dark spot to soften it.

Turquoise added last.

When you are satisfied with the background, you will stamp over it.  You can use either pigment or dye inks for stamping, or even some of each.  I just use whatever I have in the colors I want for the project.  

This sample shows some images in pigment (midnight) and some in dye (blueberry) and you really cannot tell the difference.  

Usually I stamp my largest images first, spacing them randomly over the paper.  You may want to stamp them in different directions so there is not an up or down to the sheet.  Fill in around the large images with smaller stamps in different colors until the sheet is full, being sure to stamp off the page to avoid an “edge”.

That’s it.  Wasn’t that easy?  And it is so beautiful!   

I cut this one into 10 ATCs and only had this tiny bit of waste.  Have fun! ~CKH

Challenge #4 - Vintage Swimsuits

Our 4th Challenge is here

Accepting Digital submissions

The theme for our second PaperTraders Art blog challenge is "Vintage Swimsuits" .
You don't have to be a member of Paper_Traders Yahoo Art group to participate
but if you would like to join us and be privy to even more great paper crafting swaps &
challenges plus better than ever artistic support, that would be super!

When the challenge closes, we will pick a winning piece that best showcases the theme
of the challenge and/or supply requirement.

 Challenge Rules

1. Make a paper craft, mixed media or digital piece of art ( any size). The theme is
  "Vintage Swimsuits" and your creation must include a vintage swimsuit
   image and/or bathing beauty.

2. Post your art to your blog, Flickr, Picasa (online albums). Mention
   our name PaperTraders Art Blog with a link back to this post.
   You are more than welcome to grab our button and post it on
    your blog as well.
   The last day to post for this challenge is August 14th, 2011.

3. After posting your "Vintage Swimsuits" art on your site, come back to this post and
   use the Simply-linked widgit below to leave us a link to your post/image.
   You must include a direct link to your image or post,
    not a general link to your album or blog.

   Or you may create a link within the comment box below:
   All you will need to do is copy and paste the url address of your post found
   at the top of your browser window.
 
4. The winner(s) will be awarded our "Trader Treasure" blog badge which
     they can choose to feature on their blog.
    Their art will also be posted on the PaperTraders Art Blog for 2 weeks.

Free images !

From our Members!

 by Cathy C.

by Heather R.

by Amy W.

by Beckie H.

Jump in, the water is fine!

Anatomy Swap Gallery

Hey!!

We just wanted to share some our 

Anatomy Swap ATC's from our members.

 What a great swap idea! 

We had some really inventive ways to showcase anatomical drawings.

 by Lynda R.

By Abby L.

by Cathy C.

by Kim S.

by Marion B.

If you would like to participate in this swap, 

join our Paper_Traders group by clicking the

purple link to the left.

We'd love to have you!

"Christmas in July" Challenge

This Challenge is now closed.


Challenge #3 is here!

We'd love to see your digital creations as well.

The theme for our second PaperTraders Art blog challenge is "Christmas in July" . You don't have to be a member of Paper_Traders Yahoo Art group to participate but if you would like to join us and be privy to even more great paper crafting swaps & 

challenges plus better than ever artistic support, that would be super!

When the challenge closes, we will pick a winning piece that best showcases the theme of the challenge and/or supply requirement.

 Challenge Rules

1. Make a paper craft,mixed media, or digital piece of art ( any size). The theme is "Christmas in July" and your creation must include a Christmas/Holiday image.

2. Post your art to your blog, Flickr, Picasa (online albums). Mention our name PaperTraders Art Blog with a link back to this post.  You are more than welcome to grab our button and post it on your blog as well. The last day to post for this challenge is July 30, 2011.

3. After posting your "Christmas in July"art on your site, come back to this post and leave us a comment. You must include a direct link to your image or post, not a general link to your album or blog.

All you will need to do is copy and paste the url address of your post found at the top of your browser window.

   If you would like to leave a "live" link (html) to your post entry comment, please do so in this format in the comment box:

                  <a href="Your Url">my entry.</a> 

      (place your entry image address in the "Your Url" spot) 


Or use the simply-linked widgit below. It's very easy.

4. The winner(s) will be awarded our "Trader Treasure" blog badge which they can choose to feature on their blog. Their art will also be posted on the PaperTraders Art Blog for 2 weeks.

Free images to get you in the spirit

even though it is 100 degrees outside!

Art from our Team members

by Beckie Holso

by Karen Boatright

by Amy Weaver

by Cathy Calamas

by Heather Robinson