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.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

New Swap: Abstract Art Canvas

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.


Abstract Art Canvas Swap
2-for-2 Direct Mail 4x6 Canvases
Skill Level: 2 - Budding
Sign Up by: August 29th
Partners Announced: August 30th
Mail Out by: September 14th
Hosted by: Beckie Holso

Description: For this project, you will create two unique 4" x 6" canvases using your choice of mixed media techniques to create an abstract design. These will be original compositions and NOT image collages. You can use the substrate of your choice and thickness but the size should be approximately 4x6 inches.

I've pinned some samples for inspiration on my Pinterest board here.

Mailing Guidelines: You will send one completed canvas to each of your two assigned partners. Names will be randomized and mailing list announced on August 30th. You may have to mail internationally so keep the postage costs in mind when designing your canvas - if it's really thick or heavily embellished, it will cost more to mail.

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.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Tutorial: Faux Tiles with UTEE

by Connie Holso

Today we're sharing a simple technique that gives elegant results. This tutorial comes from one of our group moderators, Connie Holso, who always gets rave reviews when she uses this technique.

  1. Dry emboss the tile grid on your cardstock.
  2. Carefully stamp the image over the grid, keeping ink out of the indentations.
  3. Replace the stencil and coat the "tiles" with clear embossing ink.
  4. Remove stencil and sprinkle on UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Powder).
  5. Tap off excess powder and heat.
  6. Tada!!

by Connie Holso

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

New Swap: Cemetery Angels

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.


Cemetery Angels
3-for-3 ATC Swap
Skill level: 1 - Sprouting
Sign up by: August 10th
Cards due in hand by: September 20th
Hostess: Mel Dunkley

Inspired by my recent visit to Highgate Cemetery in London, I am happy to announce this new ATC swap. Please send three ATCs in any style as long as they feature a Cemetery Angel, statue or other grave monument.

Please note that I am in the UK, so most players would be posting internationally. UK participants, please send a SAE.  International players can send ephemera or an extra card in lieu of postage, or $5 if you prefer.

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.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

July Freebie: Soaring into Summer

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:

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge "SIX"

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.


By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge "SIX"

Skill Level: 2 - Budding

The sixth challenge for our monthly art journaling project is to use a resist technique on your pages.  There are LOTS of different and amazing ways to use resist elements - You can find instructions for several different techniques 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 "six". You can find a list of idioms here:
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/six
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. We won’t be swapping or mailing pages – you will keep the journal you create for your own.

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

  • at sixes and sevens
  • six feet under
  • six of one and half a dozen of the other
  • check your six
  • deep six
  • double six
  • eighty-six and 86
  • Joe Six-pack
  • on your six
  • six-bits
  • six-pack
  • six of the best
  • knock for six


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.