New Swap: Sew Wonderful

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple Yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

Sew Wonderful

3 for 3 ATCs

Skill Level: #1 Sprouting

Sign up: In time to meet the Due Date

Due Date: Cards IN HAND August 11th

Hosted by Debra Claxton

Please make 3 ATC’s that have something to do with sewing, such as images of sewing machines, dress forms, old pattern pieces, tape measures, small flat buttons, etc… You may do actual stitching on your card, (but it is not required). Use any of your favorite mixed media techniques, and have fun!

Here are some inspirational samples:
https://www.pinterest.com/debclaxton/sewing-theme/

Details: Please include a return address label (I will supply envelopes).
* $1 return for flat cards
* $2 if using thick elements.
* International players may send ephemera, an international stamp, Euros,  or use PayPal. Please allow ample mailing time!

Skill Level: 1) SPROUTING - Geared toward the artist who has recently begun their journey into mixed media, these swaps are open to all group members, regardless of experience. Participation is the key - caring and sharing in the spirit of friendship and fun. Every artist needs to understand that contributors to these projects can be of any level of artistic experience.

Gallery: Tickled Pink

by Nancy S.

by Beckie H.

by Debra C.

by Shelly R.

by Eileen K.

by Linda E.W.

by Mel D.

by Nikki S.

by Quincy R.

by Sandy A.

by Jo M.

by Connie H.

by Pam P.

New Swap: CitraSolv ATCs & Papers

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple Yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

CitraSolv ATCs & Papers

3-for-3 Technique ATCs

Skill Level: 2 - Budding

Sign Up by July 19th

Due Date: Postmarked by July 21st

Hosted by: Beckie Holso

For this project, we will be creating CitraSolv papers and using them in the construction of our ATCs. There is no theme for this project so just let the inspiration of what you see in your papers be your guide. You may also use other solvents, if you prefer. You can use the papers as your background, dabble in the ink to "paint" a picture, cut shapes and images out of the paper and collage them on your cards... whatever you want to do!

For details on how to make CitraSolv papers, check out this post on the Paper Traders Blog for some tips and other useful links:
http://papertraders-art.blogspot.com/2015/04/technique-citra-solv-papers.html

In addition to the 3 ATCs, please send along some extra pieces of your unique papers so that I can share them around with all the participants.

Please send $1 for postage and a return address label. International participants may send an extra ATC or ephemera in lieu of postage.

2) BUDDING: Participants will be open to trying new ideas and materials, without necessarily being competent yet with their applications. Swap Hosts are encouraged to add the requirement of a technique or process such as creating texture, using crackle paint, doing photo transfers, painting with watercolor, etc.

Gallery: Bird Hybrid ATC Speed Swap

by Debra C.

by Jo M.

by Cathy C

by Connie H.

Linda E. W.

by Sandy A.

by Nikki S.

by Sandra D.

by Shelly R.

Gallery: Splatter House ATC Swap

by Connie H.

by Beckie H.

by Pam P.

by Eileen K.

by Linda E.W.

by Nikki S.

by Pam C.

By Cathy C.

By Jo M.

by Nancy S.

by Debra C.

by Sandra D.

June Freebie - In the Garden

It's time for another freebie courtesy of your Paper Traders Moderators. A great big THANK YOU to Connie Holso for preparing this terrific offering for your personal use. Please use the link BELOW the photo to download the high resolution file. Enjoy!

Download HERE:

http://tinyurl.com/PTFree-2015-06

New Swap: Seaside Souvenirs Lunch Bag Mini Books

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple Yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

SEASIDE SOUVENIRS MINI ALBUM SWAP

Hosted by: Karla Jackson

Sign up by July 15th

Due in hand by August 1st

Skill Level: 1 - Sprouting

Calling all seaside lovers to join in this creative swap! Grab 4  lunch bags and let's make a mini album in vintage style. Fold the bags in half and decorate each side (16 sides total) in faded, muted color tones, soft pastels (no brights). Please add something special in the open end of the bag...a tag, papers, poetry, ephemera etc. One of the bags will be the cover for YOUR book (designate which one with a sticky note). You will get 3 different bags in your album from other artists. I will assemble the books with beautiful ribbon and seashore charms. If you can fold, cut and paste, you can do this swap in any level. (Please no shedding glitter; sparkle Mod Podge works so much better). Please join me and see how fun these lunch bags are to play with... you will love making them!

Include $6 for flat rate small package and an address label. International postage will be around double that $12. (First Class mail can take up to 3 weeks or more to arrive.)

Here is a link for inspiration and a tutorial: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/paperbagbook/
This is my Pinterest Album with printable Seashore images: https://www.pinterest.com/mzpeach/seashore/
This lady has wonderful paper bag book theme ideas on her Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/debbie57d/scrapbook-pages-and-paper-bag-albums/

Skill Level: 1) SPROUTING - Geared toward the artist who has recently begun their journey into mixed media, these swaps are open to all group members, regardless of experience. Participation is the key - caring and sharing in the spirit of friendship and fun. Every artist needs to understand that contributors to these projects can be of any level of artistic experience.

By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge "FIVE"

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple Yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

"FIVE" - our fifth By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge

Skill Level: 2 - Budding

The fifth challenge for our monthly art journaling project is to use multiple techniques for creating texture with watercolors.

You can find instructions for several different technique on my Pinterest board here:
https://www.pinterest.com/artbeckons/art-journaling/

Don't forget to do some journaling on your page by writing down your thoughts using an idiom for the number "five". You can find a list of idioms here:
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/five
Just pick one that inspires your thought process and journal about it. I think the number theme of this project can add a fun element to your pages... you might want to use the respective number prominently in decorating your pages. Don't stop with a simple saying - that's just a prompt to get you started. Let the creativity continue to flow as you journal and decorate your pages. You have the entire month to complete your pages for this challenge.

Here are some idioms for "FIVE" to get you going...

• a good five-cent cigar
• bunch of fives
• five-finger discount
• Give me five! 
• hang five and hang ten
• He wears a ten-dollar hat on a five-cent head.
• nine-to-five job
• slip someone five
• take five
• five-oh and 5-O
• high five
• low five
• nine-to-five
• five it 
• a five-alarm fire
• take the Fifth

Don't forget... As a little incentive for this project, the moderators are offering the opportunity to win a prize for participating.

For each challenge in which you participate (there will be a total of 10), you will earn one entry into the random drawing to be held when the project is complete. The more entries you earn, the bigger the potential prize:

1-3 entries = prize value of $5
4-6 entries = prize value of $10
7-9 entries = prize value of $15
10 entries = prize value of $20

One lucky person will win a gift card to their favorite local craft store up to the value for which they qualified.  More participation >> More chances to win >> Bigger potential prize!  Plus... it will be lots of fun, too.

Skill Level: 2) BUDDING - Participants will be open to trying new ideas and materials, without necessarily being competent yet with their applications. Swap Hosts are encouraged to add the requirement of a technique or process such as creating texture, using crackle paint, doing photo transfers, painting with watercolor, etc.