I love Swap-Bot!

I came to papercrafting mainly through jewelry. There were LOTS of fun things I wanted, but I couldn’t justify them because I couldn’t use fun patterned paper for jewelry. Of course, that was just a challenge and I found a way 🙂 One of the reasons I like making jewelry so much is that it’s useful.  You can wear it. It makes great presents. You can even try and sell it. Brides love you 🙂 Art for Art’s Sake has always been kind of difficult for me. I justify making cards because I can send them to people, but I hardly ever do so they tend so sit for awhile. But…I have all this stuff!!!

Enter Swap-Bot. Swap-Bot is AMAZING. As they state on their home page, “Swap-bot is a online service that organizes group swaps and a community of creative individuals.” And it has EVERYTHING! No matter what kind of swap you are looking for, they probably have one going. If they don’t, you can start one. Just looking at the home page right now there are swaps for Blue ATCs, stickers, candy, Pinterest, recipes, postcards, inchies and SO much more! Isn’t that amazing? You search for the swaps you are interested in, decide if you are looking to swap regional or international, and you’re all set.

Swap-Bot has really helped give me a chance to make things and play, but at the same time, feel like there is a bit more use to them. AND all those cards I have sitting around? I can mail my swaps in those! Over the next few posts, I’ll show you some of the swaps I’ve sent out so far. I have several I’m working on right now and it seems like I just can’t stop joining them.

I think I’ll start with one of my favorites. This was for a Bird ATC swap. ATC stands for Artist Trading Card and they are 2.5″ x 3.5″. They are always traded and never sold and are most often one of a kind. I bought this little bird stamp at the Madison stamp convention a few years ago and I haven’t stopped laughing at him since!

Who got all this stupid Glitter on me?!?

Man…I love this guy. He is so puffed up and ornery. I watercolored him using Tim Holtz Distress markers and used one of my new favorite Studio Calico wood veneers. The sentiment is actually from a Paper Smooches set called Squeaky Clean. Purple glitter Stickles just to annoy him. 🙂 I hope this little guy is happy in his new home!

Comment on the Giveaway page for a chance to win some fun prizes and I’ll see you again soon!

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I Think I’ll Steal Like An Artist

A quick post that I had to do…I read a lot of books. There are also a lot that I still want to read so I rarely read anything twice. If I want to read it again, I will often get the audio book to listen to at work. This book is different. I’ll be reading this again and again. There are SO MANY flags in it right now!

Go to www.steallikeanartist.com.

I’ve never called myself an “Artist” so I wasn’t completely sure about this, but no matter if you are an Artist or just like to creatively make things or make things with words, this book is amazing. Really. Go read it and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Oh! And don’t forget to go to my Giveaway page and comment! I want to send fun things to you! 🙂

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Smile!

As I’ve said before, I LOVE paper piecing. It’s a great chance to use fun patterned papers and mix and match them. Paper piecing is also a great excuse to use up small pieces of scrap paper. If you have a favorite paper collection and you can’t bear to part with any little piece of it, this is a good way to use every little bit. Indian Summer from Basic Grey is one of those for me. Paper Smooches stamps are wonderful to use for this. Their current photo challenge gave me the chance to play with my pieces.

Here’s the inspiration photo!

 

And here’s my take!

Awwww!!!!

The shape and smile of the of the cute little salt and pepper shakers reminded me of the smiling fingers. I used a bunch of scraps to make a bed for the breakfast tray to rest on. I think this would be a great way to start ANY morning!

I’m entering this in the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge and the Simon Says Stamp Challenge–Anything Goes!

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The Paper Girls Challenge #26: Washi Tape! Take 2!

Hi.

My name is Marissa and I’m addicted to Washi tape.

Traditional washi tape is a type of Japanese paper tape. Washi comes from wa meaning Japanese and shi meaning paper. Since the tape has become popular and trendy, the term is now often associated with any decorative, low-tack tape no matter it’s material. And I love it all.

So the opportunity to use my Washi tape with The Paper Girls new challenge was perfect! I created two cards because I couldn’t stop at just one.

Here’s the second card!

Fun!

For this one I used my favorite Studio Calico wooden stars, Washi tape from the new Teresa Collins Memories collection and some starry tape.

I LOVE these stars so much!!!

It’s a little hard to see, but I topped the stars with my other favorite thing–Stickles!

Thanks for stopping by! Comment on my giveaway page to win some fun dies and I’ll see you soon!

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The Paper Girls Challenge #26: Washi Tape!

Hi.

My name is Marissa and I’m addicted to Washi tape.

Traditional washi tape is a type of Japanese paper tape. Washi comes from wa meaning Japanese and shi meaning paper. Since the tape has become popular and trendy, the term is now often associated with any decorative, low-tack tape no matter it’s material. And I love it all.

So the opportunity to use my Washi tape with The Paper Girls new challenge was perfect! I created two cards because I couldn’t stop at just one.

Love the pretty butterflies!

For this first one I punched some butterflies out of paper from my new My Mind’s Eye Collectable (yes, that’s how it’s spelled). And the I added some Washi from We R Memory Keepers and a Hero Arts Stamp.

Thanks for stopping by! Comment on my giveaway page to win some fun dies and I’ll see you soon!

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