New Swap: Four Seasons Bird ATC Swap

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.

Four Seasons Bird ATC Swap

4-for-4 ATCs

Due: Postmarked by October 15th

Hosted by: Karla Jackson

We all love birds, so let's make four ATCs featuring birds in each season! When I was thinking this theme up about the four seasons, it was maybe a red cardinal or white dove for winter... a robin for springtime... a meadowlark, gold finch, or seagull for summer... a crow, owl, or turkey in the corn field for autumn.  While they are not necessarily birds of the season, they pair themselves well traditionally in those seasons. That being said, ANY bird will do as long as they fit into a representation of one of the seasons. Even artists who might not live in a four-season part of the world can play along... a dry season in summer, a rainy season in spring or even autumn... any idea can be adapted to work for this swap.

Each of your ATCs should represent a different season. As a technique, please use an old book page or sheet music for your background. All talents are welcome - anyone can do this!

When swapped, each artist will receive a different ATC for each of the four seasons. As my gift to all who join, I will be making an ATC that features each of the four seasons on one card.

For inspiration, some nice bird images can be found on my Pinterest page here.

Include an address label and $2 for return postage.

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.

New Swap: Halloween Tissue Tube Tag 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.

Halloween Tissue Tube Tag Book Swap

Hostess: Connie Holso  

Sign up by: September 1, 2015

Due (In my hands) by: September 26, 2015

Skill level: 2 

Number: 4 for 4

For this swap you will make 4 (alike or similar) tags with sleeves.  Make your tags and sleeves in a Halloween theme.  They can be whimsical, traditional or spooky, the style is up to you. The sleeves will be made from empty bathroom tissue tubes.  Do not punch or bind your tags or sleeves,  I will swap them, add covers, and bind them into little books for you.

INSTRUCTIONS:

SLEEVES:  Flatten the tissue paper tubes and crease edges.  Cut a piece of cardstock about 2 inches long and double the width of the end of the sleeve for the end cap/hinge of each sleeve.  Securely adhere end cap to sleeve as shown in the video below, placing sleeve about 1/4 to 1/2 inch from edge of sleeve. Remember DO NOT punch them, I will do that when I bind them so the holes all line up. Using a Halloween theme decorate the sleeves by covering with decorative paper, paint, inks, etc.

TAGS:  Your tags should be longer than the sleeves with a tab or ribbons to pull them out. They will need to be a bit narrower than the sleeves so they easily slide in. See the video for inspiration on tag length. Using a Halloween theme decorate the tags and be sure to sign them so others know who made them.

Please mail early to arrive by September 26th so I will have time to bind and return them before the Halloween season. Include $5 for return postage.

Check out this video for help in making your sleeves and tags:
http://papertraders-art.blogspot.com/2015/08/tissue-roll-tag-book-tutorial.html

See my Pinterest board for ideas and inspiration:
https://www.pinterest.com/stampgram/tissue-tube-mini-books/

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.

Tissue Roll Tag Book Tutorial

Thanks to Letha Richardson for this video tutorial on making Tissue Roll Tag Book pages.  These are the pages you need for Connie's Halloween Tissue Roll Tag Book Swap.  Enjoy!

Paper Traders Halloween Mini Book Instructions

New Swap: Flower Fairies ATC Swap

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.

Flower Fairies ATC Swap

3-for-3 ATCs

Skill Level: #2 - Budding

Due: Postmarked by September 16th

Hosted By: Nikki Smith

Super excited to announce this new swap "Flower Fairies!" For this swap you will make 3 ATCs. Each card needs to have at least one fairy and a flower on it. You can create your own fairy with wings or use one you already have. Also, each card must include at least one embellishment trim, charm, flower, bling, buttons, etc... anything dimensional!) The rest is up to you - whatever moves and inspires you. :)

Here is a link to Pinterest for ideas.

Please include an address label and $2 for return postage. International participants may send ephemera in lieu of postage or $3 for return 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 and etc.

Freebie: Cemetery Angels

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://1drv.ms/1MCkYPb

By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge "SEVEN"

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.

image from mypoppet.com.au

"SEVEN" - our seventh By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge

Skill Level: 2 - Budding

The seventh challenge for our monthly art journaling project is to hand-carve a stamp and use it on your pages.  This can be as simple or complex as you like.  It doesn't take special items to make a basic stamp but there are stamp-carving tools and materials you may find useful - especially for more complex designs. There are several helpful links 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 "seven". You can find a list of idioms here:
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/seven
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 "SEVEN" to get you going...

• at sixes and sevens
• a seven-day wonder
• in seventh heaven
• Keep a thing seven years and you'll (always) find a use for it.
• seven-year itch

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.