MAIL SWAP OCTOBER 2006: Fall is in the Air

[webchyck]

This month's swap theme was suggested by dear Quirkster, Carolyn. She really wanted us to have an autumn themed challenge because she's got a good idea for a card! Well, I couldn't let her down, and besides, Fall is my favorite time of year. Most of us that have been participating have been residents of the Northern Hemisphere, so it is indeed fall here, but if you live in the Southern Hemisphere and want to take on this challenge, feel free to make it Spring is in the Air! Or whatever season you like! LOL!

So, if you would like to participate in this snail mail ATC swap, please send an email to me (mailto:webchyck@comcast.net)with the subject: OCTOBER SWAP. Please include your name, mailing address and email address. You have until midnight Eastern on October 7th to sign up. On the 8th everyone who has registered will receive a list of all the other artists with whom they will be trading. You will then have until October 31st to create, print, and mail your artist trading cards to the other participants. (Keep postal rates in mind before you sign up as you are responsible for mailing the cards yourself. If we have enough participants in a particular country, we can group them together, otherwise it will be an international endeavor.) Each swap group will have no more than 9 participants (including yourself)--though we have been known to adjust this rule a bit to include everyone in one group. You may create one ATC based on the theme and replicate it for everyone or you may create unique ATCs to send out. You may also use any combination of paper and digital you like for this swap.

If anyone has any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. We do have a lot of information about Artist Trading Cards (http://www.digitalartquirks.com/articles/article_atc_becky_march2006.htm) in an an ARTicle in our Resource section that might answer any questions you have.

I'm looking forward to this swap...now, don't LEAF me in the lurch--let me know if you want to play.

[Nevermore]

I have to ask my family first. They had to live through the last one.

P.S. Family is on board!

[Pixeldigger]

Me me me me me please

Aaagh! I just noticed that someone has 'tidied up' my conkers! I hadn't scanned them in yet!

[PamPie]

I finally got all my September cards into the mail this week, and so now I can say I'm looking forward to the next swap! :)

[webchyck]

We've got eight so far! Anyone else want to play?

Email me at webchyck@comcast.net (mailto:webchyck@comcast.net)

[happyrobyn]

I'll fallow suit and play.

[webchyck]

Don't fall all over yourself to get in the swap, Robyn...there's plenty of room!

[happyrobyn]

I was scared you were going to leaf me out!

[Diginellie]

First time for me but I am in and I have signed up.

Looking forward to this very much

Helen:)

[happyrobyn]

Cool Helen! Welcome to this crazy group!

[Nevermore]

Becky, could you please make sure you have changed my postal code? I appreciate it. The mailman got all of the September cards to me anyway but it was probably more of a slog for him/her than it had to be. Thanks!

[digime]

Hi Helen, Glad to see you signed up and yes, it's a crazy group (but in the best possible way!). Just don't talk to "Nevermore" or you may change your mind! It's good to expand the groups horizons to "down under".

[webchyck]

I've changed your zip, Kim, on my master list! Thanks for the reminder!

[webchyck]

We've got 12 swappers so far this month. Anyone else up for the challenge? If we don't get six more (to make 18--2 groups of nine), do you want to do one group of 12, girls? I don't want anyone to be overwhelmed by that number (ahem...Kim), so we can certainly do six per group!

[happyrobyn]

six is not enough! LOL! I like LOTS of mail!

[webchyck]

Helen, it's okay to talk to Nevermore...just don't bring up Warhol, adhesives, cardstock, printers, Fiskars, or open car windows.

I'm with you, Robyn, I like getting more mail, too! Just don't ever want postage to be an issue for folks. I know it's not a fortune, but I don't want anyone to have to forego buying the latest digital art kit somewhere to participate, you know? LOL!

[Nevermore]

Let me just say this about all of that...I am devastated that I have now received all my cards--I would love to see one group of twelve so I can get twelve! Every single card received got the kind of reception usually offered to new babies. As for my ability to actually produce 12 cards, let's not go there. It has been announced to the group but not to the forum, I have taken a vow of silence for Round 2. In light of my decision to buy a Xryon or somesuch, I cannot even begin to imagine what I am facing.

But regardless of that grim, lonely path, smeared with glue and ink and blood, littered with skin and hair with follicles attached, dripping with streams of tears of frustration, anger and pain, I will soldier on and produce 12 cards. While you are whistling while you work, cheerfully and deftly adding ribbons and brads, smugly secure in the knowledge that you know your own postal code, think of me every now and then. Not for long, just a brief pause, a sad shake of your head, and then giddiup along your Martha Stewart trail.

[happyrobyn]

Becky - If I'm not in Kim's group this time ... you're a dead woman!!! LOL!

[webchyck]

I'm guessing we'll have one group...as I don't want to be a dead woman!

I actually had some time today to create some ATCs! I printed out some of Mindy Terasawa's papers (just used plain ol' paper, not cardstock) and her word art about autumn, and I made little paper ATCs with real cardstock backs. They are all so cute, I'm not sure I want to give them away! LOL! You should've seen the mess! Paper scraps, alphas, stickers, brads flying everywhere, stamps, ink. I even had the vellum glue dots out! (Oh Kim, you must try those sometimes, they are wondrous I tell you!) It was a lot of fun. I only have 7 done, but one more session, and I should be able to get them all done. They're all unique, so no one will have the same one (yeah...that was totally redundant!). Good times!

[Nevermore]

"While you are whistling while you work, cheerfully and deftly adding ribbons and brads, smugly secure in the knowledge that you know your own postal code"... I quote myself, sigh.

Becky, I don't want to know about vellum dots. Please make sure that the unique ATC you send me does not have a vellum dot on it. In fact, I would prefer if it was not even adjacent to any vellum dotted ATCs during the making in case it picked up some strain of dottiness (vellum not artistic. I cannot think how to stop the transfer of artistic dottiness unless you produce in full quarantine garb. Cards, not children. It is not possible to produce children in full quarantine garb.)

I am VERY suspicious about Robyn wanting to be in my group--is it just another excuse to drink?

[webchyck]

Kim, I dare you to try to find a vellum dot anywhere in the world! The reason they work is because they are completely transparent and teeny teeny tiny! You do not see adhesive through your vellum paper. It's AMAZING! There COULD very well be transfer I haven't noticed, however, so I will make sure to create YOUR ATC during the next session wherein I will refrain from the use of any vellum products.

[Pixeldigger]

An adjunct to the comments on quarantine suits - never fart in one, or you are stuck with it for the duration.

[happyrobyn]

I am VERY suspicious about Robyn wanting to be in my group--is it just another excuse to drink?

Of course it is!

[PamPie]

First time for me but I am in and I have signed up.

Looking forward to this very much

Helen:)

This will be my 5th time, and I've enjoyed each round--I hope you will too! Getting fun mail is so great!! :cool:

[Pixeldigger]

I took some cool berry photos while I was looking for things to put on my ATC and I decided to play with painting techniques and this happened

Berries (http://www.digitalartquirks.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2002&cat=500&ppuser=239)