Christie's notched journals

Here are two lovely journals made by Christie:

I love the inclusion of the painted security envelopes with their little windows. (watch the video to see them!)

Dawn's notched journal

This beautiful little book of hand painted papers was made by Dawn.

I love the rounded edges on some of the pages.

Terrie's notched journals

The notched journals have started arriving and they are gorgeous!

I'm going to highlight the work of each artist separately, and include both still pictures and a video flip-through of each book.

Terrie is the artist who brought this technique to my attention and suggested we do it as a swap, so I will show you her handiwork first.

She made FOUR wonderful little books.

and now here's the video, showing you the inside pages of all four books.

(many thanks to my son Max for flipping through each page while I shot the video)

Tri-fold ATCs part 2

Here are some more fabulous tri-fold ATCs.

I was getting nervous that no one else was going to join this swap, but there's been a flurry of activity in the last few days.

As I did last time, I'll show you what the card looks like in it's folded 2"x3" state, what it looks like unfolded and flattened, and what it looks like standing up.

First up...

This beauty from Anne:

 Carroll plays hide and seek with the seasons:

 Here's one from Ellen.  I've also included a shot of the lovely backside:

This one from Jan is embellished with

ribbon and metal and jewels and a dimensional flower.

 

Here are two from Joyce, who writes that fellow swapper Christie created the folding base of her cards for her.  How's that for an MMSA partnership?

The artwork is all her own:

 

  

 

Here are two from Julie:

 

Leslie celebrates Flower Power:

 Here's a series of three from Susie:

 

 

 If you tried this process, what did you think of it?  Were you challenged by the measuring, cutting, folding aspect of it?  Were you challenged by the design elements?

Share your experience!

Milk Carton House Ornament Swap - Due December 2nd

Our last swap of 2013 will be an ornament, suitable for hanging on your Christmas Tree, in the shape of a house.

Here's the beginning of one I'm making:

I got the idea when I saw this beautiful one, made by Karenann Young, and she mentioned that she was able to mail it flat.

Perfect for a swap group!

You can find a number of different templates if you google "milk carton house template."

Here's a link to the one I used for mine.

I printed my template onto some green card stock and cut some hand-marbled paper to fit inside each of the little rectangles and triangles

 

Before I glued down the patterned papers, I cut out the template, and made all the appropriate folds (with the printed side of the paper on the inside of the house so the lines don't show)

I ran some double sided tape along the flap.  It's the kind of tape that has a film on top that you don't peel off until you're ready to stick it down.  I could mail it like that to my partner and all she'll have to do is peel back the film and finish assembling the house.

I glued down all my patterned paper.

(Obviously you could paint or draw straight on your base, or you could use scrapbook paper, or old book pages, etc.)

I punched a hole at the top for the ribbon so it can be hung.

 This is as far as I got with mine, and it's just begging for all kinds of cool embellishment and decoration.  There is so much potential for what you can do with this template.

The beautiful thing about it?  Even if you adhere all sorts of lumpy-bumpy dimensional objects, you can still send the house flat, in a padded envelope.  Whatever you decide to use as a ribbon/ornament hook will have to be mailed unattached from the house and the recipient will have to string it together.

 

Swap Details 

• Make a house ornament using a milk-carton style template of your choice.

• Feel free to make more than one.  You will get back the same number you receive.
• Pack them carefully and securely in a padded envelope.
• I will re-use your padded envelope to mail you back your new houses.
• Include a mailing label with your name and address on it.
• Include the amount of postage it costs you to send it to me.  (Include stamps or cash in the envelope, or send it to me via paypal)
• Sign the back of your house with your name and contact info, or include a little note/card for your partners so they know who created the house and how to reach you to say thanks.

Mail them to me no later than December 2nd.

I'll get them back out to you by December 14th so you'll have them in time for Christmas.

Sorry,

I'm keeping this one U.S. only so that I don't have to deal with customs forms and post-office lines right before Christmas.

I won't be hosting any other swaps in December so that I can focus on my family and my favorite holiday traditions.  Never fear, there will be plenty of great swaps starting up again in January 2014.