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| Bevlea made these amazing fabric envelopes to put our postcards in! |
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| Amanda E |
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| Ann C |
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| Beckie H |
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| Bevlea R |
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| Nancy S |
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| Pam C |
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| Pam P |
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| Shelly R |
Monday, March 31, 2014
Gallery: Mixed Media Postcards
Monday, March 24, 2014
Gallery - The "Selfie" Swap
Check out our members posing in
their own ATC's - Selfie style.
By Nancy S.
by Ellen L.
by Ann C.
By Eileen K.
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by Cathy C.
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by Pam P.
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by Jo M.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Member Spotlight: Ellen Lai
I’m Ellen Lai, a Chinese, born and living in Singapore.
I found Paper Traders by chance while clicking links when hopping between blogs, and joined Paper Traders about a year ago. This is about one of the most active groups I’m in, with a number of swaps going and a good number of participants. I also enjoy the variety of different types of swaps we have here. I counted 10 swaps I have joined so far.
I have been crafting since young. I remembered sewing lots of hand puppets and making crepe paper roses with my grandmother in my primary school days (7 to 12 years old) for school charities. A little bit of cross-stitch, crochet and knitting too. And there was my favourite set of origami books my father bought for me then. Fond memories of childhood! I always joined the schools’ Art Club. I remembered doing all those face masks for my secondary school’s play “Animal Farm”. We had so much fun thinking up the concepts and spent hours and hours making all the animal masks, starting from paper mache over blow-up balloons! I also took paid classes and join free workshops since I started working some 20 years ago. Here in Singapore, art and crafts are not as popular, we do not have those craft fairs or guilds. However, people are now more exposed and there are more happenings than before.
I’m not so much an artist and my drawing sucks, especially drawing portraits! I’m more a crafter and likes to try all sort of crafts, but tatting is the one that I have been doing constantly since I learnt to tat 14 years ago. Now my forte, I design tatting patterns and teach whenever there are opportunities or when people approach me. With a full-time day job in the construction industry and 3 schooling children (a boy and 2 girls between 12 and 17) , my hands are usually full and in fact up to my neck, I can only do small projects. For the past 8 years, I have been participating in swaps in tatted laces (though seldom now), and more in ATCs, inchies, postcards, Moos, paper dolls, button fairies, little books and whatever interesting that comes, and I can still squeeze out time. My proudest collection is the set of fabric ATCs on the alphabet theme which I hand-sewed over a year and a half, featuring a tatted critter for each of the alphabet.
I’m not drawn to any particular artist or crafter, or perhaps, I just don’t have the time to study anyone, though I really love and are inspired by nature, especially flowers and butterflies. Well, I’m working on a little tatting book on hearts now and looking to finish it before mid-year to self-publish it, and slowly fine-tuning more tatting patterns to go in hopefully a 2nd and 3rd books. That’s my dream!
Some original tatting patterns designed and tatted by Ellen: Merlion, Vanda Miss Joaquam, hibiscus, goldfish.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Gallery - Let's Hear it for the Boys"
A sampling from our
"Let's hear it for the Boys" ATC swap.
by Nancy S.
by Cathy C.
by Lillian M.
by Debra C.
By Eileen K.
By Nydia D.
By Mel D.
By Jo M.
by Shelly R.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Friday, March 7, 2014
Gallery: Color Swatch Books
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| covers - Pam C |
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| White - Nancy S |
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| Black - Beckie H |
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| Red - Pam C |
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| Orange - Shelly R |
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| Yellow - Cathy C |
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| Green - Debra C |
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| Light Blue - Bevlea R |
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| Indigo - Amanda E |
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| Purple - Ann C |
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| Lavender - Letha R |
Thursday, March 6, 2014
New Swap: Out of Africa
This swap is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join our fun. Please click on the purple yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join Paper Traders.
With the Olympics recently over, it seems like a good time to travel around the world of art! There will be four swaps focusing on different continental regions - starting with Africa. There are so many possibilities when we consider the vast African continent. Here are a few ideas that come to my mind - but you can research a little and find many more things to consider!!
Please send $1.00 for postage (International players may send ephemera) AND a LARGE return address label. Mail by April 25th to Debra Claxton.
Out of Africa
World Culture Celebration
(A series of four swaps throughout the year)
4-for-4 ATCs
All Skill Levels
Mail out by Friday, April 25th
With the Olympics recently over, it seems like a good time to travel around the world of art! There will be four swaps focusing on different continental regions - starting with Africa. There are so many possibilities when we consider the vast African continent. Here are a few ideas that come to my mind - but you can research a little and find many more things to consider!!
The amazing animal kingdom
Savannahs & safaris
Plants & trees
Religious icons (Khamsas, Ashanti figures, Tribal masks)
Sand dunes, mirages
Ancient Egypt
Coastal beauty
Casablanca
Marrakesh markets
Morocco
Cape Horn
Tribal customs
Crafts (batik, mudcloth, ceramics)
Please send $1.00 for postage (International players may send ephemera) AND a LARGE return address label. Mail by April 25th to Debra Claxton.
Future Themes:
A European Affair
Asian Adventure
Dive in "Down Under"
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
New Swap: Fairy Tale Deco Pages
This swap is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join our fun. Please click on the purple yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join Paper Traders.
Page size will be 5-1/2" tall x 6" wide. Please allow for a 1/2" uncut or decorated left hand binding edge on the 5-1/2" side. You will create one page for each participant in your chosen theme (I will cap it at 12 pages per group). Sign and date your pages. I will create a cover,and page for each book, divide them up and send them back to you to bind yourself.
Include the fairy tale of your choice when you sign up- first come, first serve. Please choose an alternate tale if someone has already selected yours. Everyone will need to pick a separate story so we will have a fun mix of fairytale artwork. Early birds will be happy they signed on.
Send WITH RETURN ADDRESS LABEL AND POSTAGE to Pam Colosimo. Postage exchange will be the same as it costs you to mail. Remember flatter is less expensive. Enclose in Canadian or US Dollars. International can enclose ephemera.
Here are some ideas to start you, but feel free to choose your own if you don't see anything that inspires you. It will be first come first serve.
Check that someone hasn't chosen your tale before you select. For more Inspiration, Google 'your fairy tale', 'fairytale art', 'fairy tale mixed media'.
Your pages can all be the same, or different, you choose. Let that childhood imagination take hold and play. Add your own special spin to the story. Use a discarded book for images, coloring books, magazines, draw your own. You could include a bit about the tale on the back or front of your page. Anything in good taste will be acceptable. They can be Grimms, Disney, or Fractured fairy tales are a fun swing on the classics as well. If you don't want to put the title on the front, please put it on the back with your signature. This is an ambitious project, open to all levels.
fairy tale
noun
1.
a story, usually for children, about elves, hobgoblins, dragons, fairies, or other magical creatures.
Also called fairy story.
Origin:
1740–50
1740–50
Fairy Tale Deco Pages
Sign ups until March 31st, 2014 or when full.
Mail out by April 30th, 2014
Include the fairy tale of your choice when you sign up- first come, first serve. Please choose an alternate tale if someone has already selected yours. Everyone will need to pick a separate story so we will have a fun mix of fairytale artwork. Early birds will be happy they signed on.
Send WITH RETURN ADDRESS LABEL AND POSTAGE to Pam Colosimo. Postage exchange will be the same as it costs you to mail. Remember flatter is less expensive. Enclose in Canadian or US Dollars. International can enclose ephemera.
Here are some ideas to start you, but feel free to choose your own if you don't see anything that inspires you. It will be first come first serve.
GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS
SLEEPING BEAUTY
HANSEL AND GRETEL
THUMBELINA
FAIRY STORY
PINOCCHIO
JACK AND THE BEAN STALK
RAPUNZEL
CINDERELLA
EMPERORS NEW CLOTHES
ARABIAN NIGHTS
DISNEY MOVIE TALES
Check that someone hasn't chosen your tale before you select. For more Inspiration, Google 'your fairy tale', 'fairytale art', 'fairy tale mixed media'.
Your pages can all be the same, or different, you choose. Let that childhood imagination take hold and play. Add your own special spin to the story. Use a discarded book for images, coloring books, magazines, draw your own. You could include a bit about the tale on the back or front of your page. Anything in good taste will be acceptable. They can be Grimms, Disney, or Fractured fairy tales are a fun swing on the classics as well. If you don't want to put the title on the front, please put it on the back with your signature. This is an ambitious project, open to all levels.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
New Swap: Mother Nature Tag Flag Books
This swap is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join our fun. Please click on the purple yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join Paper Traders.
For this project, we will be making "tag flag" books with the theme "Mother Nature." Each participant will make their own book using the tutorial found on the Pennywise Arts blog here.
Do not mail your books! We will be swapping the tags only. Make 8 tags (2-1/8" x 4-1/4") according to the theme and send them to me by the deadline. I will randomize them and send back 8 different tags for you to mount in your book.
Please send $2 for return postage. International participants may send ephemera in lieu of postage. International participants should send their tags one week earlier to allow for the extra mail time.
Mother Nature Tag Flag Books
8-for-8 Tags to place in your own book
Skill: 2 - Budding
Due: Postmarked by May 6th
(International participants, please mail by April 29th)
For this project, we will be making "tag flag" books with the theme "Mother Nature." Each participant will make their own book using the tutorial found on the Pennywise Arts blog here.
Do not mail your books! We will be swapping the tags only. Make 8 tags (2-1/8" x 4-1/4") according to the theme and send them to me by the deadline. I will randomize them and send back 8 different tags for you to mount in your book.
Please send $2 for return postage. International participants may send ephemera in lieu of postage. International participants should send their tags one week earlier to allow for the extra mail time.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Freebie - ATC envelope template & more
It's time for another freebie courtesy of your Paper Traders Moderators. A great big THANK YOU to Connie Holso for preparing this lovely offering for your personal use. The download is a zip file that also includes cutting files for the ATC envelope. Please use the link BELOW the photo to download the the full zip file. Enjoy!
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| Download HERE: |