Life Mantras Word Prompt #9 - Forgive

We are on to our 9th Life Mantra

Word Prompt for our Art Journal Challenge.

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 "Forgive"

and the requirement is to

include a flower(s) in your design.

Here are some inspirational quotes as
well as our DT contributions:

"Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.”

~William Arthur Ward

"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.”

~Paul Boese

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the flower leaves on the heel of the one that crushed it”

~Unknown

By Beckie H.

by Cathy C.

Announcing Manila Envelope Art Journal Swap

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

MANILA ENVELOPE ART JOURNAL SWAP

1 for 1 Journal Partner Swap

Skill: 3-Blossoming

Mail out by October 1st. Mail directly to your partner.

Hosted by: Cathy Calamas

You will be creating a 10 page art journal out of a manila envelope, that you will be swapping with a randomly drawn partner. You will be embellishing the covers with paint, stencils, sprays, stamps, hand drawn art, etc. 

Once partners are announced, you will contact that person, by email, to get their likes and dislikes and design your art journal for them accordingly. Will not be theme specific but more in line with color & style preferences. Cathy will randomly pick partners and post a list on the group site as well as email participants. You must have your address in the member database to participate. A tutorial will be posted on the PT blog with the basic construction how-tos here: http://papertraders-art.blogspot.com/2013/08/make-manila-envelope-art-journal.html

Mail directly to your partner. Partner list will be announced on Sept. 3rd . Open to Int’l members. Please let Cathy know if you prefer not to mail internationally.**

**Important Int’l Mailing requirements: Cathy took a finished journal to the Post Office, packed in another manila envelope to weigh it and estimate the costs to mail overseas. It will run you $6.00 -$7.00 to mail out of the US. If you use bulky embellishments, it will cost you considerably more to mail because you will not get the paper rate. Please take this into account before you sign up and when you design your journal.

Gallery: Altered Coffee Sleeves

Cathy bound everyone's sleeves into cute little books!!

Beckie H

Cathy C

Pam C

Pattie M

Roselyn P

Gallery: Wings & Things ATCs

Beckie H

Bevlea R

Ellen L

Joy M

Nydia D

Pam P

Pattie M

Shelly R

Melissa W

Member Spotlight Time - Mel Dunkley

At Paper Traders, we love learning more about

our fabulous members and so

this month our Spotlight is shining on

Mel Dunkley. 

I found Paper Traders by searching in the Yahoo groups for a new group with different challenges. I have been on other groups for a few years, but it is nice to branch out, get different ideas and be inspired by different artists.

I live in Oakham, a small town in a rural area of the middle of England (near Leicester/Nottingham), with my husband, two children (8 and 14) and my little pug dog, Katie. I work in mental health in Leicester and it is lovely to drive back to such beautiful countryside at the end of a busy day.

I grew up in Yorkshire, in the north of England and always enjoyed creating things from an early age. I remember learning to knit, sew and crochet, made my own clothes and dabbled in jewellery making. I was always useless at art at school and quickly realised that I cannot draw at all. It was only in adult life that I realised I could create artwork without having to!

With a full time job, two kids and a house to look after, I don't have spare time to do anything much other than art, although I love socialising with friends. Recently, my son stopped using the conservatory as a play room, so it has evolved into my craft space. I love having an area that can be messy all the time!

I love Van Gogh, Picasso and Kandinsky, but am equally inspired by modern day artists like Teesha Moore, Tracy Bautista and many of the artists' work that I come across on groups like this. And, of course, my craft room would be half empty if it wasn't for Sir Tim Holtz.

If you would like to join Paper Traders and be a fabulous member
 like Mel, click on the purple yahoo
button in the right sidebar for more information.

2013 My Stuff / Your Stuff Swap Announced

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

Yes, it's back!!!!!!

2013 My Stuff / Your Stuff Swap
2-for-2 ATC / Supply swap
Any theme
Skill: any level
Sign-up deadline is September 20, 2013
Partners announced: September 23, 2013
Mail out envie of supplies by: October 4, 2013
Return ATCs due by: October 22, 2013
Hosted by: Cathy Calamas

It's time for our third annual My Stuff / Your Stuff Swap!!

A repost from our first swap:
"One of the benefits of hosting swaps is all the wonderful ephemera that the participants send along with their art. I always get inspired because it makes me think outside of my supply world and the things I usually am drawn to. Some of my favorite pieces have been made almost entirely from someone else's supplies."

We feel the same way and since this has always been a favorite within Paper Traders, let's do it again.

1. Sign up in the database on the main Yahoo site by September 20th. Cathy will randomly assign everyone a partner and post it on the blog as well as the main Yahoo site on September 23rd.
2. By October 4th, mail your partner a #9 or #10 size envelope of supplies and ephemera. Don't buy anything special, just raid your stash!! (Nothing too bulky.)
3. Make your two ATCs using your partner's supplies. Yes, you can incorporate a little of your own supplies in, but really try to use the new supplies to keep the spirit of the swap.
4. Mail out your two ATCs to your partner by October 22nd.
5. Post your ATC in the project album on the Yahoo Swaps site. And please don't forget to mention whose supplies you used in the description.
6. International members welcome. Please let Cathy know if you prefer not to mail internationally.

Postage Stamp People ATC Swap Announced

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

Postage Stamp People ATC Swap
6-for-6 ATCs
Skill: All Levels Welcome
Sign-up by: September 30, 2013
Postmarked by: October 15, 2013
Hosted by: Pattie McClimans

This swap will be a 6-for-6 Postage Stamp People ATC swap. Using a photo, magazine picture, rubber stamp image or drawing of a body, you will then add a face postage stamp to create your ATCs. They can all be the same or different as you choose. Some examples can be found on Marion's blog.

Sign up in the database on the main Yahoo site by September 30th and please post pictures of your ATCs in the corresponding album on the Yahoo Swaps site. Please send your ATCs to Pattie McClimans by October 15th with $2.00 for postage and a return shipping label; her address is in the member database. International participants may send ephemera in lieu of postage.