"Open Doors" swap announced

Open to Paper Traders members only

http://www.flickr.com/photos/heticobai/3025002382/

Doors are wonderful to look at, fun to decorate, and full of symbolism. And don't we just want to peek in some doors to see what's behind them? With that in mind, let's make our doors able to open so we can take a peek of something mysterious, surprising, funny, etc.  This will be a 4-for-4 swap.  Cards will be 4"x6" must feature a door that can open, any technique. They can all be the same or different. Postmarked by August 31st. Please include $1.00 for postage or ephemera in lieu of postage.  Hosted by Cathy Calamas

Direct to Paper Technique

Direct To Paper Technique

By Connie Holso

This is a simple and easy way to turn plain cardstock into beautiful custom backgrounds. I usually do several sheets in different colors at one sitting.  You will get totally different looks just by what colors and stamps you choose.

 Supplies:

• Medium to dark-toned cardstock
• Pigment inks (Colorbox or Cats Eyes) in light, medium, and dark – 4-6 colors is good
• Assorted small to medium sized stamps
• Optional: dye inks for over stamping
• Scrap paper for covering work area

Process:

You will want to lay down some scrap paper to protect your table. I always get out more inks and stamps than I need as I usually decide as I go along unless I am doing it for a specific project.

For this technique you need pigment ink for covering the paper with ink because it stays wet letting you move it around and blend it.  Dye ink does not work as it is absorbed too fast. Also it is transparent and just stains the paper. Because pigment ink is opaque it will let you completely change the paper color. You can not achieve the glow that the pigments give with dye inks. 

I mostly just use whatever inks I have in the colors I want for over-stamping, except for stamping with light colors, for those you will need to use your pigments.  Otherwise both dye and pigment inks work fine. 

When choosing your inks you want to use the white or very light colors first as they are what make your paper “glow”.  They also make the other colors brighter and help make the stamped images pop. 

Smearing white ink over entire paper.

Begin by smearing your lightest color (white here) lightly over the surface of the cardstock. This works best if your ink pad is a bit on the dry side.  If it is new and quite wet, use a sponge instead of the pad.  This first light coat of ink just makes a base so it is easier to move the other colors around and blend the edges together.  It also helps give more luminosity to the page.  

NOTE: Use caution if you use your pads to add the ink to the paper as too firm of pressure can damage the foam ink pad. 

I use white for my first color. 

Next using either the pad itself or a sponge add more white in splotches making some go off the page. This is so it will not have an “edge” and will look evenly colored when cut into pieces.  It will look messy but that is how it should be.  

I used Dusty Plum for my second color.

Now add your second lightest color, again in splotches, with some going off the page, blending the edges just a tiny bit. You want it to be quite blotchy as each layer will blend it more. 

I added Peony next.

Continue adding colors from light to dark until you are satisfied.  You want good contrast but if you do get a spot too dark you can add more light ink (or ink in a lighter tint of your paper color over the dark spot to soften it.

Turquoise added last.

When you are satisfied with the background, you will stamp over it.  You can use either pigment or dye inks for stamping, or even some of each.  I just use whatever I have in the colors I want for the project.  

This sample shows some images in pigment (midnight) and some in dye (blueberry) and you really cannot tell the difference.  

Usually I stamp my largest images first, spacing them randomly over the paper.  You may want to stamp them in different directions so there is not an up or down to the sheet.  Fill in around the large images with smaller stamps in different colors until the sheet is full, being sure to stamp off the page to avoid an “edge”.

That’s it.  Wasn’t that easy?  And it is so beautiful!   

I cut this one into 10 ATCs and only had this tiny bit of waste.  Have fun! ~CKH

Challenge #4 - Vintage Swimsuits

Our 4th Challenge is here

Accepting Digital submissions

The theme for our second PaperTraders Art blog challenge is "Vintage Swimsuits" .
You don't have to be a member of Paper_Traders Yahoo Art group to participate
but if you would like to join us and be privy to even more great paper crafting swaps &
challenges plus better than ever artistic support, that would be super!

When the challenge closes, we will pick a winning piece that best showcases the theme
of the challenge and/or supply requirement.

 Challenge Rules

1. Make a paper craft, mixed media or digital piece of art ( any size). The theme is
  "Vintage Swimsuits" and your creation must include a vintage swimsuit
   image and/or bathing beauty.

2. Post your art to your blog, Flickr, Picasa (online albums). Mention
   our name PaperTraders Art Blog with a link back to this post.
   You are more than welcome to grab our button and post it on
    your blog as well.
   The last day to post for this challenge is August 14th, 2011.

3. After posting your "Vintage Swimsuits" art on your site, come back to this post and
   use the Simply-linked widgit below to leave us a link to your post/image.
   You must include a direct link to your image or post,
    not a general link to your album or blog.

   Or you may create a link within the comment box below:
   All you will need to do is copy and paste the url address of your post found
   at the top of your browser window.
 
4. The winner(s) will be awarded our "Trader Treasure" blog badge which
     they can choose to feature on their blog.
    Their art will also be posted on the PaperTraders Art Blog for 2 weeks.

Free images !

From our Members!

 by Cathy C.

by Heather R.

by Amy W.

by Beckie H.

Jump in, the water is fine!

Anatomy Swap Gallery

Hey!!

We just wanted to share some our 

Anatomy Swap ATC's from our members.

 What a great swap idea! 

We had some really inventive ways to showcase anatomical drawings.

 by Lynda R.

By Abby L.

by Cathy C.

by Kim S.

by Marion B.

If you would like to participate in this swap, 

join our Paper_Traders group by clicking the

purple link to the left.

We'd love to have you!

"Christmas in July" Challenge

This Challenge is now closed.


Challenge #3 is here!

We'd love to see your digital creations as well.

The theme for our second PaperTraders Art blog challenge is "Christmas in July" . You don't have to be a member of Paper_Traders Yahoo Art group to participate but if you would like to join us and be privy to even more great paper crafting swaps & 

challenges plus better than ever artistic support, that would be super!

When the challenge closes, we will pick a winning piece that best showcases the theme of the challenge and/or supply requirement.

 Challenge Rules

1. Make a paper craft,mixed media, or digital piece of art ( any size). The theme is "Christmas in July" and your creation must include a Christmas/Holiday image.

2. Post your art to your blog, Flickr, Picasa (online albums). Mention our name PaperTraders Art Blog with a link back to this post.  You are more than welcome to grab our button and post it on your blog as well. The last day to post for this challenge is July 30, 2011.

3. After posting your "Christmas in July"art on your site, come back to this post and leave us a comment. You must include a direct link to your image or post, not a general link to your album or blog.

All you will need to do is copy and paste the url address of your post found at the top of your browser window.

   If you would like to leave a "live" link (html) to your post entry comment, please do so in this format in the comment box:

                  <a href="Your Url">my entry.</a> 

      (place your entry image address in the "Your Url" spot) 


Or use the simply-linked widgit below. It's very easy.

4. The winner(s) will be awarded our "Trader Treasure" blog badge which they can choose to feature on their blog. Their art will also be posted on the PaperTraders Art Blog for 2 weeks.

Free images to get you in the spirit

even though it is 100 degrees outside!

Art from our Team members

by Beckie Holso

by Karen Boatright

by Amy Weaver

by Cathy Calamas

by Heather Robinson

Last day for "Celebration Challenge"

Today is the last day to get your "celebration" themed

challenge art linked to our post.

Our "Red, White and Blue Bird " challenge is still on.

A new Challenge will be announced on July 1st.

Here is a little hint.

(Yes, I know it is Summer)

Please click on our Challenge page for more information.

ATC Background Swap announced

For Paper Traders Members Only

by Connie Holso

7-for-7 ATC  Swap
Theme: Backgrounds
Skill: 2 budding
Postmarked by: 7/25/2011

Hostess: Cathy Calamas

Backgrounds!! The starting point for every ATC and the hardest part for me.  One of my favorite "extras" when I get a swap in the mail is a piece of someone's background art.  Often it's, "how in the world did they do that??" With that in mind, I am hosting a Background ATC swap.

Create one background, on a 8.5 x 11" sheet of cardstock (watercolor paper,bristol board, etc.) using your tried and true methods, happy accidents, or something new you've just learned. You will be cutting this one sheet into ATC's.

Please include 7  index card size "instruction" sheets  with your ATC's, with either a link to a site where you learned the technique or your own written instructions. Then we can all learn from each other and share the fun.

Follow the method in the link below for cutting your paper into 10 ATC's. You will have 7  to swap and 3 for yourself.
http://tinyurl.com/atctemplate

There is also a file with the link in the Files/techniques folder on the PT home site:
PT Techniques
You will find instructions for some techniques there also - in case you need some inspiration.

Please sign up here:
Swap Database

Post pictures here:
Background ATC Swap 2011

This is a fun, easy and quick to do swap.

Cathy Calamas

If you are not a Paper_Traders member and would like to join this swap, click on the purple button to the right to start your membership process.