Journals & Collaborative Projects

Below you will find a sampling our members' work from previous collaborative projects.  Click on images to view them larger. We hope this will inspire you to come and play with us! If you are interested in joining our group, please visit us at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paper_Traders/

Tutorials & Techniques

Below are some of our favorite tricks for adding depth and dimension to your art.  We hope you have fun giving these a try!

Current Group Swaps & Projects

Below is a list of current swaps and projects available to group members. If you are interested in joining our group and participating in these projects, please visit us at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paper_Traders/.  

For existing group members, you can sign up to participate  in these projects here: Swaps & Current Projects.  

We look forward to swapping with you.  Happy Arting!

Member Gallery for Group Swaps
 
Below you will find a sampling our members' work from previous group swaps and projects.  Click on images to view them larger. We hope this will inspire you to come and play with us! If you are interested in joining our group, please visit us at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paper_Traders/.
 
Come play with us... Join today!

Paper Traders is a friendly online community of artists from around the world. We nurture and value creativity, embrace new ideas, products, and techniques yet also value tried and true methods of artistic expression. Our projects consist primarily of paper arts, mixed media collage, artist trading cards, altered art, assemblages, collaborative journals, mail art, and more.

We are interested in creative individuals of varied skill levels who wish to challenge themselves artistically and help build a supportive community. We are at our best when we can share our creative efforts as well as techniques, resources, feedback, and insights. We encourage conversation about art, the art process, and what it means to be an artist.

Paper Traders is hosted on Yahoo Groups at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paper_Traders/.
We hope you will consider joining us on an artistic journey!

In order to prevent spammers and to insure that all applicants are actual persons interested in creating art, a questionnaire will be sent to all potential members. When applying, please submit digital examples of your work or direct us to a website where we can view your art. The intent of the questionnaire is not to judge the merits of your art but to safeguard the integrity of our community.

Free Images for Download

Below you will find images that are owned by our group members and offered for your personal use as well as images found in the public domain. Images may be freely used in your personal artwork but may not be used for commercial purposes of any kind without written permission of the owner. No images may be used to create collage sheets or image collections for resale.

To download, follow the link provided. In some cases, you may be able to just click on the image to enlarge it, then right-click and select "save image as". Content changes frequently and many images are available for a limited time.  Please check back often for newly posted images to use in your art journey.

Open Art Challenges !

We're changing things up here at Paper Traders. Instead of the monthly challenges of the past, we'll now be hosting special challenges that might feature a specific technique or product and will be rewarded with actual prizes sponsored by our group members.

Our new challenge for 2013 is a year long word prompt journaling project/challenge. Each specific challenge will be open for one month and all art bloggers can participate, whether you are a Paper Traders member or not. Each artist will comment with a link to their blog post that features the artwork for that particular challenge. For each challenge, a winner will be selected whose art best exemplifies the challenge. The winning artist will be featured here and get a "Trader Treasure" blog button to display on their own blog. They also will receive one chance for each entry for the end of the year prize drawing. Watch this page for more details and challenge announcements.

Friday, February 16, 2018

ATC Holder

As an active trader in this group 'Paper Traders'. I have hundreds of ATC size art pieces.
I thought this would be a fun way to store some of them.
Always make a template before you do your final cuts on good paper. I do this out of lightweight paper, so I can bend and mark till I get the size and shape I want. then I transfer all markings and fold lines to the final materials.
~Cut one sturdy background 14" x 3-1/4"
~Cut two pieces of pattern paper to 'wallpaper' both sides of the background.
~Mark your cardboard  @ 2" then @4" then @8-3/4" then @10-3/4".
~Use a score board to score along your lines and fold so it makes a box with a bottom flap and a top flap. {I used a cereal box that had the exact size folds I needed for the top and bottom "2inches"} 
 
~Repeat the entire measure and folding with your decorative papers for inside and outside.
~Next wall paper inside and outside, make sure you secure it down really tight with glue. Clamp and let it dry overnight.
~Find the center of each end flap and mark about one inch down from edge to secure a button or toggle on each to close. The assembly took a bit of patience because I did it in two pieces so I could use the folds to their full potential. I glued clamped and let it dry.
I used some scrap pieces that were about 2" wide  and random length for the bottom.
{this is where you will secure your ATC pockets}
Score at 1/2" intervals, then score in between your other score marks and accordion fold everything.
Each valley will hold a card holder, so do as many as you like. I have one that holds 12 and one that holds over 30. Your choice. Secure the accordion as pictured along the back spine.
Draw glue lines front to back along the floor of the holder.
Secure the front to the front flap then gently press the folds into the glue. Weight and allow to dry overnight.
Now make the pockets cut as many pieces as you desire at 6" x 4".
Score at 3-1/8" in from both ends. Fold to the center to form a pocket. Glue the bottom flaps and center back flaps at the same time. Cut a half circle out of the top center of each pocket so you can get your ATC's in and out easily.
Layer a quick grabbing glue in the valleys. Just do 4 or 5 at a time so your glue doesn't dry too fast.

Start at the back carefully securing each pocket. Stack them carefully making sure you center each one, so they all line up uniformly.
I then went in and placed about an inch long piece of double sided tape just down from the centers and snugged each one to the one in front. This way when you open it, it fans nicely.
NOTE: I made three of these at once. I found I could just use the double sided tape and skip the accordion folded bottom step. Tape them all together first, making sure they line up perfectly. Make sure you secure the front and back pocket in securely if you do this. Have fun with this project.
 
 
 

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Monthly Blog Freebie - December 2017

It's time for another freebie courtesy of your Paper Traders Moderators. A great big THANK YOU to Connie Holso for preparing this seasonal offering for your personal use. Please use the link BELOW the photo to download the high resolution file. Enjoy!

Download Hi-Res Version BELOW:

Saturday, October 14, 2017

October Freebie

It's time for another freebie courtesy of your Paper Traders Moderators. A great big THANK YOU to Connie Holso for preparing this seasonal offering for your personal use. Please use the link BELOW the photo to download the high resolution file. Enjoy!

Download Hi-Res Version HERE:

Sunday, September 17, 2017

September Blog Freebie

It's time for another freebie courtesy of your Paper Traders Moderators. A great big THANK YOU to Beckie Holso for preparing this terrific offering for your personal use. Please use the link BELOW the photo to download the high resolution file. Enjoy!

Download Hi-Res Version HERE:

Sunday, August 20, 2017

August Blog Freebie

It's time for another freebie courtesy of your Paper Traders Moderators. A great big THANK YOU to Connie Holso for preparing this terrific offering for your personal use. Please use the link BELOW the photo to download the high resolution file. Enjoy!

Download Hi-Res Version HERE:

Sunday, July 16, 2017

July Blog Freebie

It's time for another freebie courtesy of your Paper Traders Moderators. A great big THANK YOU to Connie Holso for preparing this terrific offering for your personal use. Please use the link BELOW the photo to download the high resolution file. Enjoy!

Download Hi-Res Version HERE:
https://1drv.ms/i/s!ApNPaUGF98dM3HMgJ53YUfwC8U7D

Sunday, June 18, 2017

June Blog Freebie

It's time for another freebie courtesy of your Paper Traders Moderators. A great big THANK YOU to Connie Holso for preparing this terrific offering for your personal use. Please use the link BELOW the photo to download the high resolution file. Enjoy!

Download Hi-Res version HERE: