New Swap: Nesting Dolls

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.

Nesting Dolls

3-for-3 ATCs

Skill: 2 - Budding

Mail out by December 12th

Hosted by: Nikki Smith

Super excited to announce this new Swap - "Nesting Dolls"! For this swap you will need to make 3 ATCs. Each card should have 3 matching nesting dolls in 3 different sizes attached on an ATC using a brad to hold all 3 together on the ATC card.  You will need to create your own unique nesting doll. Use paper, paint, watercolors, or whatever mixed-media medium you would like to use.  For a special element, add a quote or message on the ATC so that when you move all 3 to one side, it reveals the message - 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 $3.

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.

New Swap: Ave Maria

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.

Ave Maria

3-for-3 ATC Swap

Skill: 1 - Sprouting

Due in hands by: December 1st

Hosted by Karla Jackson

The gentle season of love will soon be with us again.  For this swap we will make 3 ATCs showing adoration between mother and child. While I had in mind the classic image of Mary and Jesus, any depiction will do as long as it is mother and child. You can use a painting from an old master, a Christmas postage stamp, a Russian icon, a gentle image from an old Christmas card, etc. There are many images to pick from in my Pinterest album here:
https://www.pinterest.com/mzpeach/ave-maria/

Create your three ATCs portrait-style with a Gothic, Roman, or peaked arch... as long as the top is not flat this time. Embellish with lace or Dresden scrap to make them extra lovely and do not forget to make the backs nice also with pretty papers. This swap is rated Sprouting... anyone can do this!

There will not be a sign up deadline as long as you meet the due-in-hands-by deadline of December 1st. PLEASE send an address label as this really helps me with swap out. I will cover return postage as a Christmas gift to everyone!

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.

Anniversary Project: "Finnabair-style" mixed media 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.

10th Anniversary Project

One-for-one "Finnabair-style" mixed media canvas

Hosted by: Beckie Holso

Skill Level: 2 - Budding

Sign Up by October 31st

Mail Out by December 1st

Each year we try to do a special project to honor the anniversary of our group. This November will be a decade that Paper Traders has been going strong and that is certainly worth celebrating! We hope everyone will want to participate in this year's project as it is going to be a wonderful one - we will be making Finnabair-inspired mixed media canvases. Finnabair has a tutorial video on YouTube. You can watch it here to see exactly how she does this technique...

Teaspoon of Magic - Creative Jump Start 2014 Video

The term "canvas" is being used generally for our project - you may use any substrate of your choice, as long as it is strong enough to support your creation. There is no specific theme so you can let your imagination and creativity run wild. Projects should be at least 5"x7" up to 8"x10" in size. I have set up a Pinterest board with lots of beautiful and inspiring examples to get your creativity going.

Sign up in the group database by October 31st. Mailing list will be announced on November 1st. This project is open to all participants so keep in mind you may be mailing internationally. The size and weight of your project will have an impact on the overall mailing cost.

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.

By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge "NINE"

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.

"NINE" - our ninth By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge

Skill Level: 2 - Budding

The ninth challenge for our monthly art journaling project is to use modeling paste on your pages. This can be done in several ways and there are some 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 "nine". You can find a list of idioms here:
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/nine
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. Please post images of your journal pages in the “2015 By the Numbers Art Journaling Challenge" album on the Gallery site.

We won’t be swapping or mailing pages – you will keep the journal you create for your own. Please sign up in the database if you plan to participate so that I can keep track of who is playing.

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

• dressed to the nines
• nine day wonder
• possession is nine-tenths of the law
• whole nine yards
• cat has nine lives
• nine days' wonder
• nine times out of ten
• nine-to-five job
• on cloud nine
• stitch in time saves nine

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.

New Swap: Holiday Gift Tags

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.

Holiday Gift Tags

12 or 24 2"x3" tags

Sign up by: October 31st

Due IN HAND by November 15th

Skill Level: 1 - Sprouting

Hosted by: Pam Colosimo

I am all about using things, and making useful stuff. So, I thought we could do a gift tag swap. The obvious theme is Christmas, so we will go with that.

Each participant will choose to make:
12 @ 2 ”x 3” tags (2 groups of 6 with different styles please}, or you can option to make:
24 @ 2” x 3” tags {4 groups of 6 with different styles please}

You will receive 12 or 24 back according to what you choose to make. Keep them fun, pretty, and "Winter/Christmas Theme” - please no religious themes. A 12 x 12 sheet will cut exactly 24 in this size. You can fancy cut your corners or ends if you so desire.

Pinterest idea boards HERE.

Keep them as flat as possible, but must have different elements to add interest. You could add bits so the receiver can open it up or make it 3-D by bending or unfolding.

Paint, stamp, hand cut designs, hand drawing, etc. No stickers please! They will be similar to an ATC, just slightly smaller. Decorate the fronts and leaving the back with a simple TO: and FROM: - maybe a border, but leave room so it can be personalized. No signatures.

Ideas:
Reindeer
Snowflakes
Santa
Poinsettia
Winter Wonderland
Angels
Candle
Stars
Snowman
Trees
Winter birds
Holiday colors - silver, gold, green, red, winter blues, sparkle & shine

Send a return address label written and sized as you want it attached to your envelope. Canada and US: please send $2.00 for 12 or $4.00 for 24 for postage. International: I will cover. As an option, international participants can send bits and bobs. (I do love ephemera - real postage stamps and bits from different places)

Sign up in the group database and choose either 12 or 24 to swap; list your themes, if you have them. Note: themes can overlap - it will just give everyone an idea of what is being created. Mail so I have them in hand for turn around before November 15th. Sign ups will close on October 31st. Try to mail out in the first week of November, so everyone will have them before Christmas.

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.

October Freebie: Holiday Grab Bag

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:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=4CC7F78541694F93!11249&authkey=!AHWAwWBsMFJVEQs&v=3&ithint=photo%2cjpg

Speed Swap: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

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.

Time for ATC Speed Swap #17!

This month's theme:

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Sign-up by: October 15th

Mailing list announced: October 16th

Skill level: 1 - Sprouting

To kick off the month of Halloween The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde theme will require you to find an image of a person or animal and split it in half. One side will be the found image (Dr. Jekyll) and the other side will be your alteration of that image (Mr. Hyde).

Inspiration samples are located in the Google search “half and half art”.

Each month on the 1st, we will announce a theme or technique for your ATCs. Anyone interested will have until the 15th to sign up. The list will be randomized, announced on the 16th, and you will mail one ATC directly to each of the next two people on the list. A total of two ATCs each month for the speed swaps. You don't have to sign up every month, just when you feel like it or like the theme or have the time.

We'll have brand new creative excitement each month and this will keep postage for each of us to a minimum as long as you don't make bulky ATCs. But of course that will be your choice. It's approximately $1.20 to mail internationally for one ATC in a note card envelope. You must be able to mail internationally to participate in this swap.

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.