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.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Our Mardi Gras Swap

Our members came up with some
great creations for our Mardi Gras swap.

by Wendy A.

by Abby L.

by Amanda E.

by Beckie H.

by Nancy S.


Friday, February 17, 2012

Alice's Mad Tea Party Swap

This swap is for Paper Traders Members only
So why don't you join us?
Click on the purple yahoo button on the right sidebar.

Alice's Mad Tea Party ATC Swap


You're all late for tea! Said the March hare. Now don't be late for an Alice in Wonderland ATC swap. It's time for the red Queen, the mad hatter, Alice and the white rabbit to visit from wonderland. Feel free to interpret Lewis Carroll work as you like. . Please make sure your ATCs fit the 2.5" x 3.5" size and are made from firm matt or illustration board. This is a 3/3 or 6/6 swap and ATCs are due by April 31st. Please include a self-addressed mailing label and $2.00 for return postage for 6 or $1.00 for 3. For international swappers, just include an extra ATC and I will cover the return postage. I will mail all returns out in bubble envelopes. 

Don't forget to use to all your ...muchness.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Gallery: Love Notes Envelope Books

Amanda E

Beckie H

Beckie's book

Cathy C

Cathy's book

Janne R

Nancy S

Wendy A

Friday, February 10, 2012

Old West Mini Book Page Swap


This swap is for Paper Traders
Art Group Members only
Please join us. We'd love to have you!
Click on purple yahoo button in sidebar.

New Swap!! 
Old West Mini Book Page

Please join our Old West mini book page swap.
 Cowboys, cowgirls, rodeos, wild west shows, fences, the open range!! 
The art should be created on round, square, or oval coasters. 
Most restaurants have round ones available and many of you already 
have some in your personal stashes. 
They can also be  purchased at the Dollar Tree.
  If you do not have a stash of coasters 
in your art supplies you can create them from 
mat board OR 140# watercolor paper. 
Size is approximately 4” in diameter, but don't get 
caught up with the size  - just join and create some fun art!! 
Art is created on the front of the coasters with light decoration 
and your name on the back. 

7 for 7 "drink coasters" altered with western art
Sign ups by: 2-25 & Postmarked by 03/25/2012



Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Mini Leather Book Necklaces


One of our Paper Traders members,
Cathy Calamas from A Surcee Life
is sharing a tutorial on these
mini Leather Book Necklaces.

She got the idea from Wendy at
Art by Wendy
who got the idea from


I cut 8 pieces of watercolor paper into
 1.25" by 3" strips. I then roughly tore the edges
 down to 2.5" in length.

I folded them in half. At this point you could use
some distress ink along the edges as well as
across the sheets. I did this after I had put 
my books together and it was much harder.
So do it early.
:D

I then punched three holes across the folded edge
of each piece with a large darning needle.
Don't skip this step as it makes sewing the spine
SO MUCH EASIER.

Sewed the spines.

Cut out another piece of watercolor paper
to wrap around. 1.25" x 3"

Glued the spine in. Apply glue thickly.
I use Alene's.

Let dry with clips to hold in place and keep tight.

Cut leather into 1.25"x 3". I used an old leather
belt from a leather jacket. It is pretty soft leather.
Cut some very thin strips as well for the closure.

Attach 3 eyelets in these positions. 
One at top for necklace cord 
and two at sides for closure tie.

(sorry, missed a photo at this next step)
Glue leather cover onto the book pages ,
being careful to only go half way up 
the back spine  so as not to glue 
shut the eyelet.
Wrap around and hold tight with clips til dry.
Glue embellishments with Fabri-Tac glue.
Use thins strips to tie book closed.


Use leather cording to make necklace.
You can write special verses, memories, etc.
inside like I did.


Thanks for stopping by !

Moo Card Tag Swap

For Paper Trader Members only
(so please join us, click on purple yahoo button)


A Moo card is half of a business card (lengthwise) 
 1" x 2.75". 
Vintage Fashion Theme. 
Please attach ribbon, string, etc. for hanging
 and decorative paper on the back
 Pls. include $1.00 postage or ephemera in lieu of postage.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

"All Things Lace" Challenge


Fabric lace, paper lace or digital lace.
We would love to see what you can create
using any of the three.

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 and 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 "Lace".
  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 Feb. 29th, 2012.
  3. After posting your "Lace" art on your site, come back to this post and leave us a comment with 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. 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 the month.


Free images to get you started!


credit

credit

Member Inspiration


by Beckie H.

by Beckie H.

by Cathy C.

by Cathy C.

by Aimeslee W.