ATC Card Swap ~ Journal Prompts ~ Received!!

Hey there! I promised I'd come back with an update about my Journal Prompts ATC card swap and here it is!  You can click on the link in the previous line to go to the post with the pictures of the cards I created.  Here are the cards that I received:

 The picture doesn't do them justice.  There is lots of texture and detail on every card...

 Each one is unique and from a different person.

 I liked that this one had something "interactive".  You could put the little card in and out of the envelope.

 I really liked the soft effect of the spray paint on this one.

 Not only do I love the bold owl on this one, but I also loved the stitching around the edges.

 I loved the fall colors of the first one and all the collage layers...so rich. Then the second one had a great picture and a little bit of glimmer to make it shine just right.

Just a sample of the surprise goodies from our swap hostess, Sarah.  I love vintage ephemera and these will go to great use in my art journal, card making and crafts.

I need to start on my next set. It's due on September 30th!

Journal Prompt ATC Card Swap

It's been a while since I've participated in any swaps, but I'm so glad that I decided to do this one. I always enjoy Sarah's swaps at our Soul Journaling Yahoo! Group. This swap was a 13 for 13, meaning you make 13 cards and will receive 13 different cards in return. Each card needed to be made with a playing card. The only guidelines were that one side had to have a journaling prompt (writing or art) and the other side needed to have decorative paper of some sort and your email. Also, the cards could not be 3D (nothing coming off the card like buttons and such).

Here are my 13 cards. I made them each different and on most of them, I tried to do the actual prompt as part of my artwork. I really enjoyed these little ATC cards. I can't wait to see what I'll get in return. I'll be sure to come back and share what I receive!

(click on photos to enlarge and see details)

The "backs" of the first set...

The "fronts" of the first set.

Top Row:

1. Writing Prompt: "I love the sound of..."

2. Look through magazines to find pictures that make you smile. Cut them out and collage them.

3. Choose a favorite color and base your whole page around it. Write why you love that color.

Bottom Row:

1. Apply some paint or ink to bubble wrap and then "stamp" with it on your page.

2. What has been the highest compliment you've ever received?

3. Include some large hearts in your journal today.

Middle End:

What line in a song do you often "hear" in your head?

The "backs" of the second set...

The "fronts" of the second set...

Top Row:

1. Scatter water color pencil shavings over a water saturated page.

2. Write a secret you've been keeping, then gesso and create over it.

3. Writing prompt: "I am happy with..."

Bottom Row:

1. List 10 smells you love.

2. Add some sort of "bling" to your page. Glitter, sparkles, gems...

3. Make a page with 25 adjectives on it that describe YOU.

This was one of my favorites. I took a water color ATC card and totally saturated it with water. Then I just sharpened some of my water color pencils over it, allowing the shavings to fall where they may. I did that with several different colors, shook off the "wood" part of the shavings and then let it dry. I then adhered it to the playing card with tacky glue. I mod podged over the shavings to kind of "seal" it.

This one was my favorite out of all of them. I lightly gesso'd the card and then went over it with a wash of acrylic. I believe it was a mix of camel and mango. While it was still wet, I took a scrunched up paper towel and dabbed it. It left the nice texture and I heat set it right away. Then I stamped my image with Staz On black ink and then splattered the red acrylic paint on top of it all. I then added the prompt with gel medium and of course that was inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

They've gone out and are on their way to Florida. Come back to see what I receive. =)

Received another magnet swap!!

I just recently received my magnet swap from Sarah Whitmire's SoulJournaling group on Yahoo. I am so glad I participated in this one. Here's what I got:

This one is from Carol Z. and this tag was amazing. Bits of leather, bling, chipboard, glitter, charms...there was so much thought put into this! Here is her blog.

This magnet is really fun and kinda makes my mouth water! It was made by Mady and her blog is HERE.

This "fat free" cookie is adorable! This was made by Lisa and you can find her blog HERE.

One of the very cool perk's of being in a swap with Sarah is that she likes to send everyone who plays some goodies. This was Valentine themed, of course, and it was just wonderful. I especially love the card in the bottom right hand corner with the Lilies of the Valley. Lily of the Valley always reminds me of my Great Grandmother. Thank you Sarah!!

Here are the 3 magnets I sent in and then a small one for Sarah. I'm learning and loving the experience. Thanks ladies!!

One set of magnets received!

Here are the magnets I made. I shared about them in a previous post, but here's the picture again. These were made with mini Altoid tins. The top two are the closed view and the bottom one is open (obviously) =) . These were for my Altered_Start yahoo! group.
These are the three I received in exchange. I love that they are all three very different.

I really love red, black and ladybugs! This one is made by Resi.

The snowflake looks better in person - the glass kept catching the flash. It's made by Carol and the face magnet which I also love is made by Pam.
I had lots of fun with these and can't wait to get my next set from the other group. =)

Sweetheart Magnet Swap

I joined a magnet swap on my Yahoo! Soul Journaling group. I love these swaps because they challenge me to try something that I normally wouldn't do. I recently made a set of magnets for my Altered Art group also - they were made out of little Altoid tins were a lot of fun. You can see that post HERE.
The other reason I join these swaps is because it's always fun to see what you're going to get back. I will be sure to post what I get in return! I'm not gonna lie. There have been swaps where I've received things that weren't quite my style and that's okay. The only time is "bothers" me is when I receive work that is of a low quality, falling apart, sloppy, etc. That's only happened to me a few times and it was from an old scrapbooking message board I used to frequent. Anyway, because of that, I quit swapping altogether, but now I'm giving it a go again with these new groups.
Here are the magnets I made. I wanted them to have a homemade look because of the nature of the group. I have made adorable magnets with glass beads and such that actually look store bought - but the idea here is to look hand-made. =)

I cut hearts out of chipboard and then covered the front with quality printed scrapbook cardstock type paper.

I adhered the paper doily halves with gel medium, lined the edge with Aleene's craft glue and dipped it in vintage chunky glitter (I've had it since 3rd grade...that's vintage enough. LOL)

I then started layering on the embellishments like Prima flowers, vintage buttons (my great-grandmother's buttons), ribbon and then I added the stamped words.

The back is covered with book text from an old beat up copy of Pride and Prejudice. There was still glitter on the back when I took the picture, but I brushed it off before I sent them out. Of course with glitter, it will get everywhere no matter what. lol

Here is a little extra one that I made for the swap hostess. This was a wooden heart that I gesso'd and then painted.

The back is also covered in book text.
So, I had a good time with these. I will be posting some of my other magnets that I make for my Etsy shop - those are really great as gifts or for your own office. Have a great weekend!! - I'll be back with my 3 in 30, One Little Word Captured, and Simple Things updates through out the weekend. "See" you around. =)

Calendar Swap received...

I am a member of a Yahoo! art group called Altered Start. I've really enjoyed getting to know this community of fellow artists. I have participated in a couple of swaps and just got back the most recent one.
For the calendar swap, each person chose a month to do and then made 13 pages for that month. Each page had to be 6x6, have a pocket, and be creative. You send the pages to the swap hostess and she puts all of the calendars together, and even binds them, and then you receive a complete calendar for the new year. Each page done by a different person - including the cover page. I really enjoyed seeing everybody's different take on their month.
I did November. =)

Cover Page by: Carol R.

January by: Beth W.

February by: Gloria C.

March by: BJ C.

April by: Betsy B.

May by: Dee M.

June by: Francine DH.

July by: Rick St.D.

August by: Julia J.

September by: Rick St. D.

October by: Kristal T.

November by: Yours Truly =)

December by: Donna D.

I had such a great time with this swap and I'm looking forward to more in the future to keep me inspired!