MAIL SWAP DECEMBER 2006: Vintage Christmas [Archive]

webchyck

11-28-2006, 02:11 PM

Wow! We had so much fun with the Under Lock and Key theme! You guys are really growing in your mad ATC creation skillz! I know some of you are having issues with interruptions from the holiday and postal lines and card sizing and everything else, but just remember...all we want is for you to have fun with these swaps. The deadline is a guideline...no pressure! We trust that everyone who commits to play will follow through....eventually! LOL!

So, on with the next swap! I know the busy holiday season is upon us, but maybe having the theme Vintage Christmas can actually be a benefit to you. The ATCs you design for this swap could translate quite easily into printable gift tags! Just alter the backs, and ta-da! A one-of-a-kind, homemade tag!

Now, what do I mean by "vintage"--well, in my mind's eye I see classic Victorian era imagery, but hey, how you interpret "vintage" is up to you! Maybe you won't go back quite that far in history to draw your inspiration. A classic Coca-Cola ad inspiring you? Go for it! Got a hankerin' to go mod a la the 60s...no problem! Just have fun and bring us a little Christmas cheer in the mail box. We don't want to be like Charlie Brown, standing out there waiting for cards that never arrive! We want to know we're getting some cool art in the mail this holiday season! So, what are you waiting for! Sign up!

Just send me an email (mailto:webchyck@comcast.net)with the subject: DECEMBER SWAP. Please include your name, mailing address and email address. You have until midnight Eastern on December 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 December 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). You may create one ATC based on the theme and replicate it for everyone or you may create nine 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 hope you all have a great time working on these cards this month, that it brings a little bit of the holiday spirit into your heart and home!

Chinook

11-28-2006, 06:41 PM

WOO HOO ... count me in! I have emailed you the information.

Cheers!
Karen

Pixeldigger

11-29-2006, 05:25 PM

me too, please.

DeniseD

11-30-2006, 01:20 AM

Sent you the info - too fun! :)

Just wondering - how long do you think it takes to get to England?

akissling

11-30-2006, 08:42 AM

I'm in for the first time!!!
Alison

webchyck

11-30-2006, 11:15 AM

I've got 15 so far, and we're not even into December yet! Woo hoo!!! It would be great to get up to 18 so we could have two groups of 9, our original max number of participants per group. Invite your friends!

Nevermore

12-03-2006, 03:36 PM

I don't have any friends but I have a multiple personality so do you want me to sign up twice?

Just noticed I am now "quirk a licious". I would rather be booty-licious. Can I write to management to get that changed?

Nevermore

12-03-2006, 04:15 PM

Alison! So glad you are going to join in! Can't wait to see your card but kind of dreading it too--how WILL i get my hands on German glitter?

webchyck

12-03-2006, 04:44 PM

I guess you could be in BOTH GROUPS, Kim! LOL!

I would suggest the internet for German glitter, but I'm not sure it would get to you in time for the swap deadline! ;D

akissling

12-03-2006, 04:47 PM

I hate to brag but mine arrived last week! You bet I am going to use it too!!!!

Mish

12-03-2006, 10:38 PM

I know I'm already signed up but I wanted to post here anyway.

Getting ready to put on my plaid pants....for Kim!

jsiperko

12-04-2006, 03:36 PM

hi ladies!

Becky, I emailed you!!

Jackie

webchyck

12-04-2006, 04:46 PM

We're up to 18 now, folks! Keep on signing up! We have until the 7th!

Nevermore

12-04-2006, 07:41 PM

Becky, just a suggestion but carrying forward from what you emailed, could we please try to do a little more posting here and less emailing? I love the email and I don't see why it can't be shared. Hopefully, people who aren't in the current swap going on will get one glimpse of our INCREDIBLE fun time and BEG to come in and swap next time.

webchyck

12-04-2006, 09:04 PM

I love that idea and when we set up the December groups, we can just link everyone to this thread for chatting!

Rikki

12-05-2006, 03:43 PM

Just came back here after being absent for some time. What's all the German glitter about? Is there something that we have over here and you haven't, so that Americans actually order it in Germany??? I have never heard that before, LOL, it is ALWAYS the other way round.

akissling

12-05-2006, 04:51 PM

Yes, Rikki, I actually order German glitter imported from Germany. It is real silver glitter (it tarnishes as it ages). I believe it was made in the late 1800's from German ornaments that broke and were then crushed and used as glitter. I am sure if I am wrong someone will correct me! I also think now it is made again because of the new found LOVE of GERMAN GLITTER!

webchyck

12-05-2006, 06:21 PM

Hi Rikki! I got your November card in the mail! Love that quote! I will be sure to keep my inner madman under lock and key! Thanks for swapping with me!

webchyck

12-06-2006, 11:17 AM

FYI...cute new vintage images at Scrap Artist by Paper Relics that would be cute for this month's ATCs...tee hee!

webchyck

12-06-2006, 12:48 PM

Here is a site with vintage collage sheets to sell:

http://www.tuscanrose.com/collage_sheets_page_six.htm

ETA: They are PAPER sets.

webchyck

12-06-2006, 12:51 PM

Oh my gosh! Look what I found while searching for Vintage Christmas images:

http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/slidebk.html

That is GORGEOUS!!!

DeniseD

12-06-2006, 03:24 PM

What a cool site! Lots of inspiration - TFS!!

Pixeldigger

12-07-2006, 09:00 AM

I have done my ATC, usung the art e zine site for the father Christmas. I have put my grandmother, as a child, on the card so it truly is vintage - 1886.

webchyck

12-07-2006, 12:44 PM

What a great idea to use a heritage photo! Can't wait to see it! But don't post it until the mail swap is over.

webchyck

12-07-2006, 03:22 PM

Today is the deadline to sign up for this month's swap: 9 p.m. Eastern!

webchyck

12-08-2006, 04:35 AM

This swap is closed. I will be emailing the lists to the participants. Let's chat through this thread this month to cut down on email!

Pixeldigger

12-08-2006, 07:35 AM

What a great idea to use a heritage photo! Can't wait to see it! But don't post it until the mail swap is over.

I'll be good. I'm going to be busy though, so no guarantees when I can get to a post box.

webchyck

12-08-2006, 10:46 AM

We all know how busy you are, Judy. And December is just crazy for everyone! I am preparing the lists right now. Just going to check my email one more time for any last minute sign-ups, then I'm sending the final list out!

akissling

12-08-2006, 02:18 PM

Thanks for getting this together Becky!

webchyck

12-08-2006, 02:58 PM

My pleasure as always. I'm so excited to now get to mailing mine out. I've been plugging away at them all week.

happyrobyn

12-08-2006, 07:06 PM

Merry Christmas to me ... I DONE and mailed!

webchyck

12-09-2006, 12:29 AM

I mailed my American mail tonight (well, you know...put 'em out in the mailbox--it's locked); will do the overseas stuff tomorrow...at the self-service kiosk, of course! I truly, truly love the way my ATC, my greeting cards, my envelope and my ATC sleeves turned out. I hope you all love them, too! Enjoy! (Um...yeah...I put myself in both groups...you know...because I could.)

happyrobyn

12-09-2006, 12:37 AM

Nevermore

12-10-2006, 08:47 AM

Merry Christmas to me ... I DONE and mailed!

You have mailed your December cards before your November ones? You are truly quirky Robyn! Love your inside out style.

webchyck

12-10-2006, 11:44 AM

I bet she cheated and mailed them both together! LOL!

Nevermore

12-10-2006, 01:38 PM

Well, I have to warn you I probably will do mine the week in between Christmas and New Year as I am taking three days off (good grief, was that the sound of the ceiling falling in?). Of course, I am working 7 days a week right now so I can get the three days but what the heck. Was in for three hours today, four yesterday. Still managed to get the laundry done, my blog done and colour with the kiddo. Not bad for an old lady.

The senior partner noticed he was getting emails from me at three in the morning. Life is a little outrageous right now.

webchyck

12-10-2006, 06:56 PM

Sounds like a crazy life, Kim. I hope you're TRYING to take care of yourself somewhere in between everything you're committed to doing.

happyrobyn

12-10-2006, 10:59 PM

I bet she cheated and mailed them both together! LOL!
Ya got that right Becky!

Now Kim ... go take a nap!!!

PamPie

12-11-2006, 01:32 PM

Life is a little outrageous right now. As long as you don't go crazy, Kim!

Okay, I actually got my cards finished before the middle/end of the month--and they were all mailed today. Um, had a minor issue with the heat gun though...

webchyck

12-11-2006, 02:33 PM

Heat gun??? Sounds like a heat-seeking missile device of some sort! Were you embossing something, Pam?

webchyck

12-11-2006, 02:48 PM

P.S. My overseas mail went out Saturday, so all my cards are flying around the world to you all as I type!

PamPie

12-11-2006, 06:35 PM

Heat gun??? Sounds like a heat-seeking missile device of some sort! Were you embossing something, Pam?
Yes, I sure was--just a little bit o' gold on there... :rolleyes:

ScrapAlice

12-11-2006, 08:16 PM

Today I got Robyn's cards and Christmas card, as well as Karen Bowers' card and that great little card case!

Robin, what a great looking bunch of kids you have! And so well-tanned! LOL! Easily one of the best Christmas cards I've ever gotten! Your "slutty" Nov card is a hoot, and the Dec one is very sweet. The 3-D touches are quite wonderful.

Karen, the card case for the December swap is awesome! Your trading card is too, with lyrics from one of my favorite carols. Just beautiful work.

Thank you both so very much!

Alice

webchyck

12-11-2006, 09:48 PM

Can't wait to see Karen's card...well, the case anyway! That's sounds like it's The Thing to See! LOL!

akissling

12-12-2006, 06:10 PM

I have NOT finished mine, I have NOT mailed mine, I have NOT thought about what to put them in! OK!!!!

Nevermore

12-12-2006, 07:18 PM

Alison, so nice to find you in such a warm holiday mood. Some people get all grouchy and stressed out as the season presses down harder and harder but others simply rise above it all, with an elegant enigmatic Mona Lisa smile. You are my role model, and so I have to echo you: I have NOT had one flipping minute to even THINK of mine, I don't WANT TO THINK of mine, I am PRAYING Santa will deliver mine ready for redistribution right down to the CUNNING ENVELOPE I have NOT designed. With my luck, I will go the library with them and SOME PERVERT will steal them before I even get the chance to mail them. Or will pull and Andy Warhol and WHIZZ all over them. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

akissling

12-12-2006, 07:52 PM

Misery loves company Kim!!!!

Diginellie

12-12-2006, 08:25 PM

Oh these all sound so great, the trouble with living so far away is that you are all raving about your wonderful cards and I have to wait wait wait :mad:

Anyhow I printed mine about 5 minutes ago and I plan to mail them tomorrow. My next mission is to find an album to put them all in, my collection is starting to grow and it has only been 3 months so far that I have been doing this. It really is much fun creating these miniature Artworks :D

Nevermore

12-12-2006, 09:27 PM

webchyck

12-12-2006, 09:58 PM

Kim and Alison just need to calm down a little bit! Nothing to get stressed over, girls! Lots of month left! Put the ATCs at the bottom of your list, because it is just not that important in the big scheme o' things. I would rather you were happily involved in your family's Christmas plans than worried about when you would be able to do your cards. Listen to Mama Becky now, ya hear? I am, after all, Queen of the Quirks, and I forbid my subjects to be stressed out about ART!

akissling

12-12-2006, 10:15 PM

Kim, just a titch!
Becky, you are just so sweet! I seem to complain about every other swap about stressing out. Maybe I need to suggest a few sessions of therapy as a Christmas gift this year (wouldn't that be the ultimate gift that keeps on giving!!!). By the way, enjoying the holidays with my family is part of the stress ha, ha!!! My house at this time has ZERO decorations up, ZERO cookies baked and ALMOST ZERO gifts bought! Calgon take me away!!!!!!! I promise that I will get it together by the end of the week (a lot of drinking might be involved...again)! By the way, Becky I just love your card that came with the ATC. In my stress-like fog, I did not even notice that you made the card too! Again, you out did yourself!

Nevermore

12-12-2006, 11:19 PM

Dear Alison, we need to go out together for a coffee. We are in exactly the same place. No tree, no decorations (except Max's snowflakes), no gifts. I won't pretend no cookies baked as that has never been and will never be on my to do list. I was speaking with my sister last night, however (the one who has our entire family for Christmas one night followed by her husband's entire family for Christmas the next night) and she reminded me that last year I was EXACTLY the same. How did I cope? I asked. She told me I went out one Saturday and bought everything in one day. Now, my poor head is obviously fried because I can't remember at all but it strikes me as mega efficient~ so, if I can just take some solace in knowing I am perfectly capable of going out at ten on Saturday morning and returning at nine that evening with 60 or 70 presents, then, bob's your uncle. Hey, that frees up a number of evenings. Maybe I can go out with the rest of the quirks, too!

ScrapAlice

12-13-2006, 02:09 AM

graybonnie

12-13-2006, 07:39 AM

Becky, just love your holiday creation.... it rocks!

PamPie

12-13-2006, 11:10 AM

Let me toss out a suggestion: I've been out of color ink for my printer for about a month, due to other things being more important in the budget. So, I've uploaded my cards, situated two up on a 4x6 print, on Yahoo Photos and had them printed down the street at Target! I think you will agree if you've gotten one of my ATCs that the quality is pretty good. All I have to do is trim them and that's a relief. Oh, and it's one hour photo service, too!

Walmart does a similar thing, but I'm not much for dealing with them.

Cheers,
Alice

Terrific suggestion--not having a printer at all (yes it's true) I have mine printed at a local photo store--works for me (so far)... :cool:

Becky, I received your ATC--I really like the touch of sparkle here and there--lovely :) Have it sitting next to Robyn's on the dining table...

ruthpics

12-13-2006, 11:55 AM

Just came back from the post office...all stamped and on their way!

akissling

12-13-2006, 03:53 PM

Kim, coffee sounds good to me! At least this thread inspires me to actually write down everything that I need to buy, bake and decorate! Sadly Mark's work party is Saturday night or I would do it this Sat. Hmmm...maybe Sunday then! What I need is an assistant who will do everything that I write down. When I was a kid I was my Mom's right hand woman (cooked dinner at 13, wrapped gifts, decorated...all of what I used to think was fun stuff!). Neither of my girls seem interested, sadly! Oh well, you are right, it does seem to get done some how, some way!! Good luck to you! I expect a full report on Sunday!

DeniseD

12-13-2006, 10:56 PM

Becky - got your card, it's very pretty. Thanks a bunch!

The sleeve - is that something we should create? It's a fab touch, wasn't sure.

webchyck

12-14-2006, 08:49 PM

Sleeves are optional, Denise! They do make plastic ones you can purchase to protect the card (trading card stores have them)...or you can cut down lunch baggies like Kim did! LOL! (She did...but it's really best left NOT done!) I use Maya's ATC Envelope Kit at SBG. It's a total pain to cut out the envies, though! But, it's something you can do while watching TV (or rather listening to TV).

Hey, Pam...got your card today! So impressed!!!! Just really, really pretty! DD loved the gold threading as much as I did! Great corner punch, too! Thanks!

Nevermore

12-15-2006, 06:47 AM

After a few false starts, I have the idea for my card. It isn't often that that is the hardest part for me, but it was this time. Still waiting for my red ink! Don't want to send them out for printing. I do appreciate the tip but I don't know if anyone appreciates how often I have to print mine out before I get something swappable!

As for cutting down sandwich bags, I had no choice. I made them too bulky by adding jewels. They wouldn't fit in their sleeves. I do wish I could have just used uncut sandwich bags but the uncut sandwich bags wouldn't fit in the mailing envelopes. I am not sure why Becky says it is better not to this--whether this is from an environmental viewpoint (used a whacking lot of sandwich bags) or from an archival viewpoint (I haven't bothered researching but I doubt sandwich bags have any archival quality per se even though they themselves will not deteriorate for five million years) or from an esthetic viewpoint. If the latter, she is probably right.

graybonnie

12-15-2006, 08:01 AM

You can get a ton of little ziplock bags at the big shopping store. I picked up a bag of 100? for a couple bucks. Found them in the jewerly supply section. Believe or not we do not have hobby shop in our town.

webchyck

12-15-2006, 11:34 AM

What can I say, Kim...necessity was indeed the mother of invention for you, wasn' it?

graybonnie

12-15-2006, 06:47 PM

Pam...OMG...your card is gorgeous!!!!!!!! I'm so intrigued by the thin gold thread. Thanks bunches, Bonnie

Diginellie

12-15-2006, 07:21 PM

Diginellie, I asked Max to get me a Yu gi oh trading card album for Christmas so I can alter it for my ATCs. I am with you--I have the most wondrous little art collection! I just gotta keep my fingers crossed that he doesn't decide to keep it for his Yu gi oh collection! My art stuff has a funny way of ending up in his room. My printer needs ink which is on special order so I can't print mine out (if only I had them ready to print out. I don't. But I keep telling myself that even if I had them ready, I couldn't print them out so what is a quirk to do?) It really ups my angst level that people are already receiving them. I notice Ms. Kissling is a titch angsted out about it, too!

I found a trading card store in our town on Friday, it was in a dingy little arcade and run by a geeky looking guy with a beard, wearing black. All around were tables occupied by teenage boys wearing black T Shirts with strange images on the front. They sit there all day and play games and swap cards (I think). Anyhow I ventured in and Eureka! He did have trading card albums with (you guessed it) black covers and also extra insert sleeves. Just what I wanted, I figured I could alter the black vinyl cover. Anyhoo I get out my Mastercard and he says he doesn't take cards, only cash, he has no electronic anything as he is "too small". At this point it was obvious we both thought each other seriously weird so I said well I'll be back. :cool: Soo I sent DH back with the cash and (I thought) clear directions. He comes back with nothing, he says: "I could only find this weird shop filled with teenage guys wearing black and I knew you wouldn't be buying anything from there". ROFL

Sooo to cut a long story short I will go back again on Monday. Now I just need help on how to alter a black vinyl cover :)

Nevermore

12-15-2006, 07:27 PM

I am so with you--the place where I bought my sleeves was so small it was unbelievable and it was jammed full of testorone. I got plain sleeves. I asked if they had anything "nicer" and you could have heard a pin drop. I took the plain ones and fled.

DeniseD

12-15-2006, 07:34 PM

Pam - got your card - Thanks so much! You ladies are inspiring me to add a little sparkly to my ATC.

Oh THOSE hobby stores - been to some with my hubby. Try using the restroom in the back with all the guys heads swiveling with you, lol.

Nevermore

12-15-2006, 09:27 PM

Hmmm, Dee Dee, your's must have been upscale because I am positive at mine they just went in the back alley and used the wall...

PamPie

12-15-2006, 10:41 PM

Helen--your story has made me chuckle! I went to a sports trading card shop several months ago for my clear sleeves, and there was only one guy in there, and he was hangin' out in lay-z-boy lounge chair. But still, glad I didn't need to check the condition of the restroom/alley ;)

Sounds like all my cards got to their domestic destinations--Becky, Allison, Bonnie, Denise--so pleased you each like it! The gold thread I found in the sewing/fabric area of Hobby Lobby--they had various metallics :)

happyrobyn

12-15-2006, 10:49 PM

My house at this time has ZERO decorations up, ZERO cookies baked and ALMOST ZERO gifts bought! Calgon take me away!!!!!!! I promise that I will get it together by the end of the week (a lot of drinking might be involved...again)!
HIJACK! Did someone mention lots of drinking ... I'm so there with you Alison!!!

akissling

12-16-2006, 10:00 AM

If you don't want to navigate the back alleys then try EuropeanPapers (http://europeanpapers.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=EP&Product_Code=ATC-AL&Category_Code=ATC).
or Stampin Up (http://catalogs.shoplocal.com/stampinup/index.aspx?pagename=listpage&searchtype=keyword&fsid=aba33636-d01c-4091-bbe4-94f721a8ef2d&pagenumber=1&sortby=1&circularid=9554&storeid=1038724&keyword=atc&keywordsearch=1&x=0&y=0) (go to the mini winter catalog and you will find then there). Both are reasonably priced (I think) and of course, I have BOTH of them. Stampin Up has chipboard that you can then cover with pretty paper. Euro Papers is black and needs to be covered. You adventures in the male dominated stores do sound funny so maybe you still want to go because it makes for funny threads!

webchyck

12-16-2006, 01:17 PM

I am so cracking up hearing about your escapades in the trading card shops! I stupidly bought the same kind of sleeves I had before thinking this box I was buying was different, but it wasn't (well, it was black not blue, but the same brand). These have this stupid metallic logo on the front! Ruins the effect of my cards! I think I'll stick to making the envies. Or not putting them in anything but a card. We'll see. Or, I'll venture into the local trading card shop...it's just about a mile away, so it's not like a major trip...and yet, it sounds like it is a universe away in terms of culture! But hey, I just went to will call last night at a local music venue to pick up a ticket to Public Enemy for my son...if I can do that with a straight face, I can go into a trading card shop. (BTW...Sam said that was "the best concert EVER!" LOL)

Mish

12-17-2006, 12:27 AM

Look at all I've been missing on this thread! Our group has been emailing and we are missing all these great stories!

I just finished my cards...they are printed and cut, now I just need to add the GLITTER! Of course I don't have fancy German glitter...just Crayola glitter glue LOL.

My cards turned out not to be very vintage, but they sort of are...I don't know! Sorry Kim...I ditched the plaid pants idea. It just wasn't working for me!

Rikki

12-17-2006, 05:16 AM

Mish, I'm glad you said that, my card does not look vintage at all (but I had the best intentions). Does that matter? All the cards I got so far just scream "Vintage Christmas", but mine would probably whisper "amateur country style with PS pen").

We don't even have a Trading card shop over here (or if we have, it is hidden in some back alley and doesn#t advertise). I buy all my stuff on ebay, thank God for it.

webchyck

12-17-2006, 12:36 PM

Serene Fairy Godmother...can't you just wish yourself some trading card sleeves? LOL!

Just remember, I create these swap themes with my own little idea in my head of what I want to do. What you guys decide to do is totally okay!

So, for next month, do you think Winter Wonderland is too close to the recent Rolodex swap Winter White theme? I know there are some that do both, but I have a hankering to do more with snowflakes!

akissling

12-17-2006, 02:24 PM

Sounds great to me Becky! I just found cellophane sleeves at our candy supply shop that are the perfect size (2.5 x 3.5 plus a 1/2inch for folding over!) for the next trade!! Doesn't everything look better in a cellophane bag and a ribbon!

Nevermore

12-17-2006, 05:22 PM

Doesn't everything look better in a cellophane bag and a ribbon!

{pictures Alison a la Phyllis Diller greeting her husband at the door on Christmas Eve in cellophane bag with ribbon}

webchyck

12-17-2006, 06:12 PM

ROTFLMAO...If only I WOULD look better wrapped in cellophane and a ribbon!

graybonnie

12-17-2006, 06:18 PM

Phyllis Diller!!!!! LOL.... too funny... I remember hearing that joke long before I understood it!

It's a little hard to think of snow. We are having very untypical weather here in the central Appalachians. Spent the afternoon in a long shelve tee shirt working in my flower beds. Our ground should be frozen by this point. But, I do like snow flakes so I have no objections.

ScrapAlice

12-17-2006, 07:08 PM

Winter Wonderland works for me. It's almost 70 degrees here today, and the forecast is 60's right up to Christmas. Way too warm for the holidays.

graybonnie

12-17-2006, 07:44 PM

Alice...great avatar... looks like you have your own winter wonderland!

akissling

12-17-2006, 08:26 PM

Alice, love the new avatar! Kim, my husband wishes! Becky, I actually thought you wrote the comment! Perhaps I should buy a rosey colored cellophane bag because it might deflect the horrific sight of variose veins!

Nevermore

12-17-2006, 11:50 PM

A quiet moment pondering what it means that I wrote a Troxel like comment. I think I will just decide not to go there!

We have extremely complicated garbage here. We have a blue box, a grey box, a green box and "normal" garbage. Not to mention yard waste. I suspect Joe's only comment if I garbed myself thus would be to mutter which garbage the cellophane had to go in...

Pixeldigger

12-18-2006, 07:20 AM

Digital glitter for me. I was going to get the real stuff, but decided that would mean too much hoovering up. I am going to get the cards in the post today. I have been very lazy so they don't have backs on, but I am sure you understand. I hope you like them.

Hugs,
Judith

webchyck

12-18-2006, 06:00 PM

Judith...I'm sure it's not laziness on your part...just overwhelming fatigue. We will all love seeing your art "backed" or not!

graybonnie

12-18-2006, 08:13 PM

Judith... Listen to Princess Becky and follow her decree. Glad you are back posting.

graybonnie

12-18-2006, 08:18 PM

I feel like Santa stopped by my mailbox today.... I received a sparkly beauty from Alison, the HappyRobyn treasure trove, and Michelle's little cutie lock & key. Thanks all for making my day!!!!!

akissling

12-18-2006, 08:57 PM

You can see that actually did something on Friday! It arrived pretty quickly!!

ruthpics

12-18-2006, 09:27 PM

After a tough day at work, I was very excited to see I had a little surprise waiting for me in the mail box today! Thanks Becky...what an awesome card and fantastic packaging!

akissling

12-18-2006, 09:30 PM

Gee, the cards to Canada sure take a while don't they Becky! I guess someone is hand delivering over the border! I hope you get mine before Christmas guys!

graybonnie

12-18-2006, 09:36 PM

Alison... what kind of printer to did you use for your card? Colors are wonderful. The construction looks like card stock with board sandwiched between? Sorry inquiring brain cells swirling and twirling going on.

webchyck

12-18-2006, 10:37 PM

Alison...I got your card today! Very vintagey and I love the glitter! Thanks so much! Just love it!

PamPie

12-18-2006, 10:48 PM

Alice, your ATC/ornament arrived today--it's adorable! Thank you very much :)

(And thanks so much for the lock/key bonus card!!)

DeniseD

12-19-2006, 01:45 AM

Hmmm, Dee Dee, your's must have been upscale because I am positive at mine they just went in the back alley and used the wall...

ROFL, you have to go back! Just for the entertainment!! :)

Mish

12-19-2006, 02:04 AM

I really need to find one of these off-color card shops and drag my girl in there with my. Wouldn't that just be a hoot?

We used to have a "used" record store here in town...Boogie Records. It always had that kind of feel to it. Probably smelled like pot too, but then I never did "get" what pot actually smells like.

Oh, speaking of pot...what are the laws in Cananda? When DH and I were in Toronoto this summer we saw a place called "Toronoto Hemp Store" or something like that. They had all the supplies for it, so we thought maybe it was legal. Then there was a sign on the door saying they don't sell anything illegal...sooo....hmmmm. If they had sold it there, I would have bought some. :D

Yeah, I bet you all didn't peg me for the pot type did you? That's because I'm not!! Never tried it, but I sure am curious...

Now I'm off to soak in a nice hot tub full of good-smelling stuff. I'll post a link tomorrow for the recipe to my fav. bath salts. Cheaper to make than to buy!

Nevermore

12-19-2006, 06:05 AM

Mish, Canada is exceedingly conflicted on the pot question. Exceedingly. There is nothing illegal in selling accessories. And if you have a medical problem, you can buy government grown pot (I hear it is not that good. Why on earth they wouldn't recruit convicted growers to do this as a prison job is beyond me unless they themselves would actually have a hard time pushing their hypocrisy that far.) In actual fact, it has been a political hot potato for quite some time and the majority of people would like to see it decriminalised. The difficulty is that our neighbour to the south has promised to go ballistic if we do since drug wars are right up there as one of the wars being fought.

Totally love all my Yankee friends but get a bit knotted at the interference with Canadian domestic policy. I am not talking about decriminalising hard drugs, not sure that I want a Needle Park in downtown TO, but I grew up in a generation where pot was the drug of choice over alcohol. I neither drink nor do drugs of any but the anti-depressant kind so it is not my personal fight. I just know for a fact that a very very large percentage of Canadians do smoke the stuff and I am not talking kids. I don't see these people as criminals any more than I see people as criminals who continue to drink when prohibition comes in. It is always very difficult to try to govern personal morality through criminal law and I daresay that uses of the criminal law for these purposes are generally unsuccesful in the long haul ie. homosexuality, abortion, suicide.

Sorry for that little rant! But everything comes down to limited resources. Our police are on a very tight budget. I would love to see the kid porn/internet porn division get ten times its budget and leave the idiotic grow ops alone (criminally. Tax the hell out of them civilly).

My favourite sign on an American store was "No hidden firearms". This was a bookstore. I was being facetious when I asked the owner, so, is it okay if I bring my weapon in in full sight?" To which they cheerfully replied it was. They were so nice I bit my lip and turned away rather than ask why anyone would need to bring a weapon into a bookstore. This was in Beaufort, North Carolina. Beautiful place with beautiful people.

webchyck

12-19-2006, 05:14 PM

I'm as conservative as they come, and even I think pot should be decriminalized. If it did any more damage than alcohol to the culture/society/people's lives/brains, then maybe I would reconsider, but it's just ridiculous to spend all the time and resources we have spent on chasing pot growers, sellers and users. My in-laws have run liquor stores for years (which in Oregon are agencies of the state), so believe me...I don't think there would be any difference if they sold pot, too. Think how much crime would go away...ack! Don't get me up on my soapbox.

Besides, I'd love to legally take a couple of hits again sometime in my life. Not willing to take that risk right now...but back in the day...when guys would give you pot for free, I DEFINITELY inhaled!

webchyck

12-19-2006, 05:15 PM

You know, as I was writing my post I realized I didn't know which thread it was in...what a rabbit hole we've gone down! A far cry from Vintage Christmas, folks!

akissling

12-19-2006, 06:00 PM

Like most quirk threads we run the gamut of subjects with some innocuous title like MAIL SWAP DECEMBER 2006:Vintage Christmas! Our government will be convinced that we are doing something sinister in the place that we call DAQ!

happyrobyn

12-19-2006, 06:37 PM

akissling

12-19-2006, 06:59 PM

I guess we need to figure out what we are covering up and go from there!

graybonnie

12-19-2006, 07:09 PM

Ruth... was delighted to discover your truly vintage ATC in my mail... LOVE IT! And, the little card hold too! Thanks bunches

ruthpics

12-19-2006, 09:58 PM

Ruth... was delighted to discover your truly vintage ATC in my mail... LOVE IT! And, the little card hold too! Thanks bunches

So glad you liked it Bonnie! This is my first ATC swap and I have to admit I was a little nervous dropping them of at the post office knowing I couldn't retrieve them and stop the process!

Nevermore

12-19-2006, 10:34 PM

Yikes, I have gotten some ATCs too and haven't said a word! I have been sorting magnets and writing tutorials and trying to run the stupid Student Council Raffle and just generally being run off my feet. The little ATCs are about the only good news I am getting these days and, of course, like good news everywhere I am neglecting them in favour of the bad news! I do so hope no one is looking for mine yet, they are still being incubated (lol). Just think, when all the Christmas stuff is done, all the present unwrapped, nothing in the mail except Visa bills, lo and behold, lo and behold, there will finally arrive Raven's ATC! If nothing else, will break up the monotony of those After Christmas bills :)

PamPie

12-20-2006, 01:13 AM

Rooth! I too received your card today--I'm delighted!
Your first ATC is great!! I like the sepias and blendings, and the whole overall vintage feel--very nice :cool:

digime

12-20-2006, 01:49 AM

My cards are finally finished and in the envelopes...they'll be off to the mailbox tomorrow...yippee!

I also hit the jackpot this week with November cards from Kay, Michelle, Bonnie and Robyn and December cards from Pam, Ruth and Robin. Thanks to everyone for their beautiful creations. I get such pleasure tucking them into their little sleaves in my album, examining them all again and enjoying the overall effect of seeing them displayed together! Love it, love it, love it!

Ruth, your first ATC is beautiful! We're so glad you joined the swap.

As to the pot discussion, yes as Nevermore said, Canada is very conflicted politically, but not so much with the people. Vancouver also has a safe injection site which has been very contraversial but is considered by most to be making the best of a bad situation by at least providing damage control. A difficult situation with no easy solutions.

Nevermore

12-20-2006, 06:51 AM

Kate, I heard that it was working well but is not being funded once the experiment date ends. Oh yeah! Wouldn't you like to do a quirk layout of our politicians? Or would that be too much like shooting fish in a barrel?

Sorry for the brief political interlude. As they say, back to regular programming. Just so nice to have a Canadian to chat with from time to time, lol.

Diginellie

12-21-2006, 12:19 AM

3 beautiful cards have arrived here in Australia so far. Karen B, I was sure I recognised that leaf element and sure enough it's in my avatar! Robyn yours is beautifully vintage and I love the ribbon. Then this morning my mail lady delivered a gorgeous card from Karen A inside an equally beautiful envelope. Thanks to all of you.

I have now purchased my card protectors. They were really cheap and hold 9 ATC's to a page. All my cards now have a home and look great. Next I will buy and then `alter' a 3 ring binder. This will have space for the cards and ephemera as well. I am now determined to find some decent adhesive, mine is gluggy. I know these things are unimportant in the big scheme of things but I hate gluggy gluesticks LOL

akissling

12-21-2006, 07:42 AM

I am with you on the aversion to gluggy glue! I just used the last of my very gluggy matte modge podge. I just had to make it work because I didn't have time to go out and buy more. Isn't that always the way!
Kim and Kate I would love to see your political ATCs! My Aunt in Sherbrook keeps us posted because our tv news is so ego-centric that we have to watch the BBC to get the real international news!!!

PamPie

12-21-2006, 10:19 AM

our tv news is so ego-centric that we have to watch the BBC to get the real international news!!! I sometimes do that too--what a totally different perspective :o

Pixeldigger

12-21-2006, 05:54 PM

Tired, dizzy, achey, crappy! I'm looking forward to getting all your beautiful cards, they really cheer me up. Thanks folks

PamPie

12-21-2006, 08:39 PM

Tired, dizzy, achey, crappy! I'm looking forward to getting all your beautiful cards, they really cheer me up. Thanks folks
Oh Judy, then I hope mine arrives very soon for its 19 seconds of holiday cheer! Another big {{hug}} for ya...

ruthpics

12-21-2006, 09:01 PM

I received Alison's card in the mail today! Thanks Alison...it is beautiful! Love all the sparkles! Can't wait to see what might be in my mailbox tomorrow! ;)

ruthpics

12-22-2006, 07:28 PM

I got Pam's card in the mail today....just awesome! Love the gold thread and the fancy corners! I now have 3 in my collection! Waiting with great anticipation for the rest!

DeniseD

12-22-2006, 08:11 PM

I wanted to thank Ruth and Alison for their lovely cards! My cards went out a couple days ago, hoping they reach domestic before Xmas.

Happy Holidays Quirks!!

PamPie

12-22-2006, 08:54 PM

I haven't had mail delivered since Tuesday due to the blizzard, but after digging my car out from under a mound of snow this morning, and helping neighbors do the same, I noticed the mail truck had come to the area--I was exhausted from the work, but after a long, hot shower, I decided to walk the maze of snow walls to my box. So pleased that I did--inside were three ATC's!! One from Mish for the November lock/key swap (love the little you--it's adorable!), one from another site I'm swapping with, and Allison's--I like it a lot--love all the sparkle you gave it too :)
Thanks so much to you--I love how wonderful they look alone, and with the others!

akissling

12-23-2006, 08:40 AM

WOW, Pam I can't believe the amount of snow that I saw on tv! My neighbor is driving out to spend Christmas with her daughter (they left yesterday). Maybe by then (SUnday) the roads will be open??!! Thanks for the thanks and your heroic effort to get your cards out! Have a great holiday (we will have 50 degree weather...not very Christmas-y!!).

akissling

12-26-2006, 03:13 PM

Ruth, Bonnie, Judith and Denise thanks so much for the beautiful ATCs that I received today! They are all gorgeous! We all had holly one our minds! I guess I can't go into detail about what I liked because some of you haven't received yours yet but they are all just stunning!!

graybonnie

12-26-2006, 04:51 PM

Dee Dee, you made my day when the postman delivered you card. Elegant beauty!

ruthpics

12-27-2006, 07:05 PM

Kate, I received your ATC in the mail today! It is fabulous! Thank you so much!

webchyck

12-28-2006, 11:01 AM

My goodness! It was an after-Christmas card-a-palooza in my mailbox! I received the very clever card from Judy with her relative snuggled in next to Santa; the sparkly and fun I Believe card from Kate; Denise's beautiful angel (love the glitter--and that sneaky Norman!); and Bonnie's fairies ready for a Christmas game! You all are so talented! Just inspired! Thank you so much! I'm off to post the next Swap Info! Hope you can all join again!

PamPie

12-28-2006, 03:28 PM

Denise--your card arrived on Tuesday--what a beauty--thank you :cool:

DeniseD

12-28-2006, 03:48 PM

Judy, Bonnie, Kate - Thank you ladies for the cards. They are all unique & wonderful! :)

graybonnie

12-28-2006, 05:33 PM

Kate, your card arrived today... what a beauty... reminds me of Miracle of 34th St. The greeting card is also fabulous! Thanks bunches.... Bonnie

ruthpics

12-28-2006, 06:53 PM

Thanks Judy! Your card is beautiful!

PamPie

12-28-2006, 10:29 PM

Bonnie--your card arrived today--so glad I decided to go to the mailbox--the ATC is charming :)

Diginellie

12-29-2006, 02:00 AM

Alice, your ATC/ornament arrived today--it's adorable! Thank you very much :)

(And thanks so much for the lock/key bonus card!!)

Alice I received your cards yesterday - we have 4 days without mail at Chrissie so don't think they were late. I love them both thank you very much. My album is starting to look really stunning now and I re visit it every day. I am turning into a DATC tragic LOL

ruthpics

12-29-2006, 09:42 PM

Another surprise in the mail today! Thanks Bonnie for the awesome card!

Nevermore

12-30-2006, 02:06 AM

to one and all for the amazing December ATCs!

I am not sure who sent the Santa and Marney card--there is nothing on the back and no signature on the enclosure card. The envelope it came in got thrown out so I can't crack it geographically. It is adorable. Will the artist please step forward and take a bow?

Ruthpics, I am so glad you came out to play. I adore the dreamy photo montage look you have going.

Alison, your card just took my breath away. The colours are stunning and your application of the glitter pure art.

Pam, I had to buy a heritage corner punch after I got your card. Forgot to buy the wide ribbon--next trip! The gold thread is inspired. It is perfect.

Alice, I love your corners too! I smiled when I opened this. Love the little poppet with her kitten but really like the star and ribbon.

Robyn, what can I say? I haven't taken your October card off my bulletin board yet. I just so love your style. I wasn't able to find photo canvas paper but ended up with some funky canvas. (Do you notice a theme of idea theft running through this thanks thread? lol).

Kate, this card is just gorgeous! I love the edging and the back, too! I actually put the Christmas card on my bulletin board. It is so soft and pretty. It makes me serene just looking at it.

DeeDee, everything is just right including the back. I love the deep red glitter. How on earth you found an angel holding a Christmas tree is beyond me (seems to be a mixed metaphor) but you couldn't ask for better.

Becky, you may or may not believe me but I seem to have temporarily lost yours! I know I got it because it was a Russian doll kind of a thing--an envelope with an envelope with a card! I have every confidence that it will show up soon (now worried and about to take a flying run through the house to try to find it--you really DO like to push my buttons, no?) I just realised it is not in my new ATC album. Okay, gotta go ransack the place before I go to bed.

Again, mega thanks all! I swear you guys are getting more talented by the month. I am so pleased I have a nice place to put them all, they deserve to be showcased.:)

akissling

12-30-2006, 10:14 AM

Wow, Kim that is a lot of individual thank yous...and you are most welcome! Judith sent the Marney card.

Rikki

12-30-2006, 10:50 AM

I finally managed to send out all my cards today, the last possible day of the year and within the deadline :) ).

I think I got all of your cards, too, and loved them all. They were all so christmas-y and yet so different. Thanks for all those Christmas cards as well, they are all up on our shelves on display.

Mish, your daughters are tow absolute dolls. How come they have such cute German names?

Nevermore

12-30-2006, 11:11 AM

Well Rikki, you will beat me to the punch then because mine are done but will not get mailed until Jan. 2.

Alison, had to do the mega thanks because I did not do one single thank you the whole month!

graybonnie

12-30-2006, 07:32 PM

Judith...Lady Routledge arrived today... she is a sweetie. Curious... how did she get the name Marney?

Mish

12-30-2006, 10:16 PM

Awww thanks Rikki! It's funny...we didn't really plan the German names, they just sort of evolved. Since they are twins, I didn't want rhyming names or names that started with the same first letter. And nothing cheesy, yet two names that somehow went together.

We chose Heidi first, since it's short, doesn't have a nickname and it's not very common here in the US. Then we figured the "common bond" in the names could be to choose another less-common German name. It was between Gretta and Gretchen.

I have some German friends at church who said that Gretchen isn't a "grown-up" name in Germany...only young children are called that, and when they grow up it's Margaret. Is that how it is where you are?

Rikki

12-31-2006, 09:06 AM

Gretchen is a diminutive, so I suppose you could say they are right, but then again, it doesn't matter, really. Since Heidi is such a cute name, Gretchen goes so well with it. The adult name could also be Greta or Margarete, and they sound way too serious to go with a Heidi :) .

Pixeldigger

12-31-2006, 11:19 AM

Marney got her name because I couldn't say 'grandmother' when I was little, Grandmummy became Grandmarney then Marney.

graybonnie

12-31-2006, 12:08 PM

Judith... great name hacking....thanks for the explanation.

PamPie

12-31-2006, 04:24 PM

Kate, the rose tones with the green on your card make such a lovely combo--thank you so much for your piece of art!!

ruthpics

01-02-2007, 04:20 PM

Denise, thank you so much for your card...it is gorgeous! I love my first collection of ATC's!

Diginellie

01-03-2007, 09:19 PM

Mish your December ATC has finally made it to my letterbox in Australia. It was a lovely surprise and very special. Thank You. I also loved the photo of your 2 beautiful daughters.:)

PamPie

01-03-2007, 11:42 PM

Judy, your card arrived today--I love how personalized it is with Marney :)

graybonnie

01-05-2007, 05:05 PM

Jackie....What a nice surpise I found today...great card and intrigued by the edging you applied. Thanks bunches, Bonnie

ruthpics

01-05-2007, 09:45 PM

Thanks Kim for your wonderful card! I am probably the first to receive it, so I don't want to spoil it for anyone...but I love everything about it! Thanks!!

akissling

01-06-2007, 09:45 AM

Jackie, I just received yours too! Love it! I really like the finish on yours as well as the vintage image!

webchyck

01-06-2007, 12:56 PM

Kim's got mailed? Cool! Is it awesome? She's awesome!

Nevermore

01-06-2007, 01:10 PM

Yes, mine got mailed on Tuesday. I did find Becky's (and as always, have to wonder how she finds the perfect little add on elements every time!). I really do need to take pictures of my ATC Binder to show how awesome it is to have "collections" of the cards. They look so amazing! I finished the "outside" but have to do something with the cool internal tab dividers. Still have my thinking cap on about that one.

Everyone except poor Jackie has been mailed a card. Becky added herself to my group ! (the perogatives of being the Chief) so I miscounted the number of cards I needed. I did have a spare but wee Max actually wanted this one and it is a badge of honour when Max likes it so had to give it to him. (He also insisted on getting my New Year's layout because he loves the yin-yang thing. You may think it is cute to live with a 6 year old critic but it is not all wine and roses. I am so happy when he wants something, makes me realise how much I want his approval! Probably because he is truly interested and engaged so it matters to me. He has expressed some negative concern about my recent fruit obsession, lol).

Never fear, Jackie, you are on my weekend list and it will get mailed on Monday. I did run out of my best element half way through the series (sob, could not find anymore!) but I did find a substitute so hopefully it is not a dead loss!

Now, (pausing to ruminate) I got a card this week, gotta go find it...(easier typed than done)... Yeah, got it! From Graybonnie and it rocks. Lovely job, really like the bigger "attitude" girl.

Have to spend a little thought on the next one! A little tough given the Dexxie theme but if I give my head a slap should be able to come up with something fresh!

PamPie

01-07-2007, 03:51 AM

My collection is rounding out nicely--Saturday brought Jackie's card--thank you very much!!:cool:

akissling

01-07-2007, 02:27 PM

Kim, I have yours in my hot little hand now! Even opening the envelope made me laugh (the paper clipped "extra"!!!). Love the card, especially the little toy! Do I detect canvas paper?? Thanks, Kim and THANKS to everyone who participated!!! I love my collection!!!!

graybonnie

01-08-2007, 06:50 PM

Oh Kim, you brightened my Monday... love your mail.... it is totally yummy!

Nevermore

01-08-2007, 11:01 PM

Jackie, I took yours to work today and FORGOT to mail it. Ah, well, it has one foot in the mail. I got yours and laughed like crazy at your tropical santa card. Whhoooowee. Love the ATC, too!

webchyck

01-09-2007, 10:51 AM

webchyck

01-09-2007, 11:25 AM

Honed in? I think I meant horned in! LOL!

DeniseD

01-09-2007, 06:12 PM

Kim, thanks so much for your card! Love the metal charm. :)

I bought a binder that I need to alter, but I have the cards in their little slots, they look so cool together. Thanks so much ladies!!

Nevermore

01-09-2007, 07:41 PM

I got Kim's and Jackie's and I'm so thoroughly impressed by both! Lovely and vintagey. Kim, the 3D touch is excellent! Jackie I love the silver edging on your card.

Sorry that I honed in on your group last month. I did not put myself on both lists this month...only because I only have stamps for one group! haha! Besides, I told you, Miss Kim, to send "mine" to Jackie--I'm not THAT greedy!
Yes, you did tell me to send yours to Jackie. I sent Jackie her very own :) I am not sorry you put yourself on our list at all! I should be able to count to ten even with my mathematical problems. I got deked out because the mail said that we had 9 in each group; however, there were clearly and obviously and undoubedtly ten! Jackie will no doubt forgive me I'm sure... Glad you liked it.