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.

Friday, October 31, 2014

Gallery: Owls

Ann C.

Barb A.

Beckie H.

Cathy C.

Debra C.

Eileen K.

Ellen L.

Jo M.

Marion B.

Nikki S.

Sandy A.

Shelly R.

Monday, October 27, 2014

New Swap - Christmas ATC & Secret Santa Swap

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.


Christmas ATC  & Secret Santa Swap
Sign up by November 24th
Cards due in hand by December 1st
Hosted by Nikki S.

Ho-Ho-Ho It's a Christmas ATC Swap! Make 4 ATC cards in A Christmas theme of your choice... plus one extra ATC Secret Santa card.  Your Secret Santa card can be anything you like it will be a fun surprise.  You just need to wrap that card in wrapping paper.  Everyone will receive 4 cards plus a Secret Santa card.

Please include $2.00 for return shipping and a return address label.

Hope everyone can play and this puts you all in the Holiday spirit.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Gallery: Tag-on-Tag

Barb A.

Beckie H.

Cathy C.

Debra C.

Ellen L.

Pam P.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

World Culture Celebration #4 - Dive In Down Under

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.


4th World Culture Celebration
Dive In Down Under
4/4 ATC Cards
Skill: All Levels
Cards due in hand by December 2nd
Hosted by Debra C.

More travel around the world of art!  This is the last of four swaps focusing on different continental regions. This time let’s travel Down Under to Australia. The possibilities are endless! New Zealand themes are welcome, too! Try something new - have fun! Below is a list of unique creatures native to Australia and a list of natural landmarks...

Here is a link to art images I have saved:
http://www.pinterest.com/debclaxton/australian-art-inspiration/

Animals:
Kangaroo
Koala
Bilby
Platypus
Kiwi Bird
Red Panda
Emu
Kookaburra

Natural Wonders:
Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Shark Bay, The Pinnacles, Twelve Apostles, MacKenzie Falls,Fraser Island

Folk Art Styles:
Rock art - petroglyphs, The X-Ray style images, Dot - Dreaming Paintings, Bark Paintings, Ochre Paintings and Fibre Arts 

Details (4/4 Cards):

  1. Please keep embellishments as flat as possible, (small brads, ribbon, eyelets, and thin charms are OK), but the flatter the better for mailing. 
  2. U.S. participants please send $1.00 for postage & an address label. If your cards are heavily embellished, or done on matt board, please send $2.00.
  3. International players - NO Ephemera. Please send an address label and an International Forever Stamp if you have one. You may also contribute via Pay-Pal. If you cannot - I will cover your return postage. 
  4. Cards Due by Tuesday, Dec 2nd - This is a “due in my hands” date.


Tuesday, October 7, 2014

New Swap - Pam's Trick or Treat

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.


Pam’s Trick or Treat
7 cards for 6 in return + a treat!
Each card should be 3" wide x 4" tall
Sign-ups close October 21st or as soon as full.
Swap is limited to 7 participants so sign up early!
Mail out by October 26th
Hosted by Pam C.

This project results in a mystery ‘TREAT’ outcome.  The theme is ‘Witches’ – your artwork on each card must have at least one Witch’s HAT included anywhere {does not have to be a head}. Cards will be oriented 3” wide x 4” tall.  They can be stamped, magazine cut, 'copyright free' internet generated images or entirely hand-done.  You can include witch-themed quotes, words or poetry... your choice. Artwork is to be kept flat - no chunky embellishments.  Please sign your cards on the back.

Participants will create a maximum of 7 cards (contingent on number of participants, to be capped at 7 total).  You will mail 7 cards to me and get 6 back plus my additional treat.

Sign ups start immediately and end when we reach a total of 7 participants or on October 21st, whichever comes first - so sign up early!

NOW FOR THE TRICK...!
As soon as you sign up, you must email to me a digital headshot photo of yourself (or reasonable facsimile for the shy participants).  I will be altering them in a fun & tasteful manner.  Send email with the title “The Paper Trading Witches”.  Please include your full name and mailing address with the photo.

Mail out to me by October 26th.  Turn around will be as soon as I have all cards in hand, probably mid-November.  Mail completed cards with $5.00 US or Canadian postage.  International participants can do unique or vintage ephemera in lieu of postage. (Sorry about the cost of this swap. Postal rates are outrageous}

P.S. What you get back will be ‘This Witch’s Trick or Treat’
I hope you throw on your witches hat, boots, and dust off your broom and join me on this Ride!

Inspiration...

Google Photo Link

Google Witch Hats Link


Monday, October 6, 2014

Gallery: Masterboards & Tags

Barb A.

Barb A.

Cathy C.

Cathy C.

Debra C.

Debra C.

Ellen L.

Lillian M.

Lillian M.

Pam C.

Pam P.

Sandy A.

Shelly R.