September has been declared ATC month!

I have declared the month of September ATC month in my Yahoo group. Participation is voluntary for this swap. If you are going to play though, please read through the entire swap requirements and email me at crazyartgirl@sbcglobal.net or post a message through the group. You are probably not the only person with that question. You can make one ATC or you can make 23 ATCs. The quantity is up to you. The only thing that I ask is that you create an ATC that you would like to receive yourself. Also, the ATC should not contain anything alive or anything that was once alive like plants, shells, feathers, etc. because international mailing will not allow it. You will be mailing directly to that person. Nothing will be coming through me. You are more than welcome to put a picture of your ATC into the photo gallery before mailing. Note: make a sister ATC at the same time to you won’t feel sad about parting with the ATC when you are done making it. I always make ATCs in batches or pairs so I don’t miss them when they are gone.

Sign-up deadline: You have to put your name and complete mailing address into the database so you can receive ATCs from other members. If you do so, on your honor as an artist, you promise to mail at least one ATC to another member during the month of September, 2011.

Mailing deadline: Postmarked by the end of September, 2011. Once you have mailed an ATC to someone, please put in that person’s address line that you mailed to them. I would like to see in everyone’s address line that they have at least one ATC sent to them for their efforts. You will see what I mean once you go into the database.

Qty: As many as you like, maximum number is the number of artists sign-up for the swap.

Size: 2.5x3.5 inches is the standard size for an ATC. The ATC can be any orientation that you please.

Requirements: The ATC can be any material that you choose. Please make sure that the ATC back is a sturdy material or that the fabric is pretty sturdy. On the back should be your name and email (minimum). You can put it in an ATC plastic sleeve if you wish for mailing or put it in an envelope. There is no particular theme. Make sure that everything is dry and relatively non-smelly before mailing. Dangles are okay.

Mailing: You will be mailing directly to the recipient. Their mailing address should be in the database. Put in the database that you mailed to that person. Be kind and acknowledge that it has been received. International members are welcome to play – postage should not be that much more for the small size.

Let me know if you have any questions or comments. Have fun!

Yahoo group: (You have to be a member to play, free to join)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mmartfriends/

Basic format for hosting a swap

Thought this would be a good reference since I just typed it up.

It is not hard to host a swap. You set up the database for people to sign-up. You can follow my format in the swap and RRs in the file section. The format is basically this:

Sign-up deadline: I usually give until the end of the month. It is usually a Sunday.

Mailing deadline + where to send to: I give a month or more so people have time to do the swap. I give my complete mailing address here.

Mailng requirements: Don't forget to include what you want to do for international members. I ask that people include extra stamps for heavier swaps. I ask for new envies because people who send used ones create an issue because I have to cover old addresses and use tons of tape to close envies.

Qty to be swapped: I usually do 5 for 5 or 10 for 10. I also set a max as a cap because some people get enthusiastic and send a lot and I can't cover the amount. Each set can of 5 can be the same they have to be different from each other because of other people sending in multiple sets.

Swap requirements: This is where you put size and other requirements. You don't want stinky or wet items sent.

Theme - if you want to have one:

Belinda's post-CHA Resin Special and Resin Experimentation Swap!

In honor of Belinda's post-CHA Resin Special that I am having on my blog, I am having a swap. I was so happy with how my demos turned out at CHA, I was wondering howI could let more people know about the great resin that I have been using from Little Windows. It is not a secret that I get a referral fee for telling people about Little Windows and if they use my name when ordering. Well, I thought about how about me giving up my referral fee to that personwho was ordering? That would be my way of saying thank you for trying it out?That would be a great savings in this economy.

Here is how it would work:

1. US only! You get free shipping on that initial order. You will get a FREE $15 coupon included with that order for your next order. Important: You need to put in code Belinda910 (case sensitive).

2. International only! Since her website is set up for US orders only (sorry)you will need to email her your order. There is a link to send her an email.She will deduct $15 directly from your order since she cannot give you freeshipping because of the increased cost. )

website: http://www.little-windows.com/

Special ends 9/30/2010.

I am also having a swap. I just started it up. Sign-ups until end of this month. You have until the end of September to mail. The details are in the Yahoo group. Sign-up in the database section of the Yahoo group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mmartfriends/

Come over and play! The point is to try out resin and experiment to your heart's content.

1.5" squares for swap

Scrumptious squares from Mixed Mania book study. Not my swap but I'm playing in it. Only swap that I'm not hosting this year that I am playing in! Love the richness of the color. They do look better in real life. Colors done with Smooch Spritz and Inks.

skybluepink.com sale for pendant swap

Just wanted pendant swap artists and jewelry fans in general to know that skybluepink.com is having a sale in honor of the Mixed Media Art Friends Yahoo Group pendant swap (I'm hostessing) and Cloth Paper Scissors Pendant Swap. Grab these great deals while you can. I shop here all the time. I buy from here just like you do. I just try to get you a great deal in the process because I want to make the swap as much fun as possible. I don't get a thing for doing this from skybluepink.com. 8-D

Here is the link: http://www.skybluepink.com/belinda.html

Here are some other things I like from their website while you are there looking:

2" canvas: http://www.skybluepink.com/alterables.html
If you don't have Dick Blick near you.

Scroll down a bit and they have board books (called Possibilities Board Books) that are blank and ready to be altered. That saves you a lot of time and effort sanding down board books if you are really into ABs. I am going to get a couple and see how they compare to regular board books. My kids are past the age where they read board books (my sources have dried up).

Teeny tiny buttons: http://www.skybluepink.com/beads.html

Scroll down a bit further and on the beads page and you will come to my favorite Chunky Ball Chain Bracelets. I so love these! I wear those all the time. You can cut the excess length with a pair of cutting pliers. You can't beat the price.

Flat hand charms and Chinese charms: http://www.skybluepink.com/beads.html

Wooden Bingo numbers: http://www.skybluepink.com/products5.html
makes great charms or part of jewelry

Diamond Glaze and Smooch:
http://www.skybluepink.com/media.html

Letter Tiles and teeny puzzle pieces: http://www.skybluepink.com/products3.html
Letter tiles are great as charms or part of jewelry
puzzle pieces great for collage or ABs

Punchinella: http://www.skybluepink.com/punchinella.html

You can see some of my artwork/jewelry in skybluepink's gallery:
http://www.skybluepink.com/gallery9.html
http://www.skybluepink.com/gallery3.html
http://www.skybluepink.com/gallery.html

Whew! I am going shopping now before all of you take the stock and I am left with nada.

Rune-type pendants for pendant swap

If you haven't heard, Cloth Paper Scissors is having a pendant swap. So, I am supporting the effort by hosting my own swap right before that swap to get artists' juices warmed up and going for that swap. Mine is a 5 for 5 swap. It is in the Mixed Media Art Friends group.

http://quiltingarts.com/cpsmag/cps_challenge.html Here are the rules for the CPS swap.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mmartfriends/ Here is the link to the Yahoo group.

Realize that the quantity and rules differ for both swaps. Read each carefully please.

I will be trying to do a few tutorials between now and the swap due-date but I will be posting them within the Yahoo group only. 8-D

Newest sheets of fabric paper

Need to make good fortune birds and dolls for swap for the book study from Kelli Perkins book in my Yahoo group. Will do more sheets and experiment more but my latest was with Polished Pearls with fluid acrylics base with lace paper tissue paper. How's that for a long run-on sentence? The layers are still relatively thin and is pretty pliable so I can sew on it. Will make for some interesting birds. Found a really good bird template online. Gotta go and make some birds now. I got some great bells in the Xmas section of Walmart. Will put them to good use.

Swaps open in my Yahoo group

There is one Yahoo group that I am still active in and run with Judy Matheny. It is called Mixed Media Art Friends. Here is the link:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mmartfriends/

It is also on the right side of my blog.

I don't host swaps that much any more. Time and other issues. I am hosting a technique fat book page swap though. We are swapping pages only of different techniques. Sign-ups are until Sunday. You have until February to do the pages. There are not a lot of people in the swap, so the number of pages will not be hard to do.

The other swap that I am coordinating is a Spring Flowers Book Swap - you have the choice of paper or fabric backing. You get a partner and you mail the books directly to each other. My only involvement is doing the sign-ups and matching up people. Sign-ups end next Monday, 12/1, and you don't have to mail until end of February.

If you want to play in either swap, then join MM Art Friends. The details are in the File section. Email me if you have any questions.

Charm Necklace Swap

This swap just got started in the Dremel for Artists group. It is a 1-for-1 swap, so I don't actually do much. Not a lot of requirements. Chain has to be at least 24" long and 6 of your charms have to be created using a Dremel rotary tool. The rest is up to your creativity.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dremelforartists/ Go here if you want to join and play.

My new swaps

I am hosting two swaps and that will be it for the rest of this year. I am trying to host and participate in fewer swaps. I am doing more art that I really want to do and that leaves me with a lot less time for swaps. My other life is also getting to be busier as the kids get older.

One swap is in the Ask Suze group. We are going to be swapping pendants. It is a 3-for-3 swap where you have to use at least 3 of the Tim Holtz Idea-ology items on the pendant. Anything else is extra and is welcome to be used.

Second swap is in the Mixed Media Art Friends - a skinny book. It is 25-for-25 pages. I am not binding it or doing the covers. I am just swapping out the pages. Each swapper can bind and do the cover pages themselves. There are 4 categories: color, words/quotes, fabric, and technique.

If you want to play in my swaps, then you will have to join that specific group and sign-up. Links to the groups are in the right column.

The other three 6" panels

Info in the following post. Elizabeth and friend, hope you like them!

6" panels for a private swap

Just wanted to post my final results. We got the idea from a Quilting Arts issue. I offered it as a swap in one of my groups but did not get a good response. Elizabeth, a friend of hers, and I are doing 2 squares for each person so we end up with 6 including our own. I did not exactly stick to the color scheme for mine, so I made an extra panel in case the other two were too busy for what they wanted to create with it. I got a little delayed in doing it with my sister's passing. I also had the end of school. I lost my muse for a couple of weeks. It is slowly coming back. She is dipping her big toe back into the water. My muse is slowing wading back in.

2x2 fabric samples

So, here are my 2x2 fabric samples for the swap. Swap in the Mixed Media Art Friends group. I think sign-ups are until 6/1. Not sure.

This tutorial is more for fabric newbies.Experienced fabric artists can skip this.

You are better off starting off with a larger piece of fabric than the 2x2. I used a larger piece of fabric that I tore from a yard that I had. I sandwiched a piece of batting between the two fabric layers and cut the batting using the fabric as a guide. It does not have to be exact.

I started in the middle of the fabric sandwich and I went up and down in one direction with my sewing machine. Does not matter if you go length or width-wise. Just start in the middle and go outwards to your left or right and then outwards in the other direction. This is so the fabric does not pucker too much. You also want to have less tension than more so the stitches do not cause the sandwich to curl. I used longer rather than short stitches. Personal preference as to straight or zigzag stitch. I used both.

Once you are done with sewing one length, do it the other way so you have pretty much checkerboard. That means that if you were sewing length-wise, then sew width-wise in rows. Your rows can be pretty random. Do not do the rows too close together and far apart. That will cause curling, too. You just want to do enough sewing to hold the fabric sandwich together. I zig zagged and went in a diagonal in some rows.

Once you are done, use a sharp pair of scissors or rotary cutter and straighten out your edges. I then used a piece of card stock and paper cutter to cut a 2x2 template. Keep reading to see if you should use a 2 and 1/4" template or not. Either using a rotary cutter or very sharp pair of scissors, cut out your 2x2 squares using the paper template. If this is one of your first times sewing, you might want to make your template 2 and 1/4 inches square, so you can sew about 1/8 inch from the edge (easier that way). Once you are done sewing, you can trim the edges and it will be pretty close to 2". Sometimes, the fabric might bunch up on the edges and expose the batting. It you go in just a tad, then you will not have that problem. You can trim the excess when you are done.

I chose a close zigzag stitch to do the edges of each square. Try to get as close to the edge as possible without catching the edges. Do all 4 edges. Trim excess with very sharp scissors.

Embellish any way you like. I used the collaged flowers from Prima that I got from cutabovescrappin.com. I put a brad through one and sewed on a button in the other. It is okay if your square is not exactly 2" all around, most of mine are probably not. If you want to do embroidery or more sewing inside the square, then knock your socks off. It is okay if parts of the squares are a little puffy. I like that.

BTW, the square on the left was sewn inside out. The outside pattern is facing the inside of the fabric sandwich.

That's it. Hope you are playing in the swap. Email me if you have any questions about my instructions.

2x2 metal samples

Just did these two samples for the swap. Not sure if done yet. Just really sleepy right now. Nighty night for now. Instructions to come later. The left one was done with the sandwich thing in my Wizard.