Tag Book progress!

Just a note to let those of you in the Tag Book swap know . . . I have mapped out the actual swapping part on paper and it looks like it will work out just fine, phew! If you receive someone's tag in your book, they most likely have one of yours; I like to try to "trade" swap pieces based on my sense of what you both might like. It is a highly scientific process -not! 
I simply need to concentrate a bit while doing the figuring out so I can remember and note on paper when I have swapped a piece so we end up with the right numbers. I am kind of used to this process now after 8 or 9 years of hosting, but it's always a challenge. For me, once I have the swaps mapped out on paper, it is not so overwhelming to physically swap them out! I put together the first Tag Book late last night as I was excited to see what it looked like. I will tease you with a photo of it on top of my swapping out lists:

This will give you an idea of what your tag book will look like . . . because I do not believe any of the tag books have the same tags in them! They will all be different. The top tag is the cover tag I made myself for all of the books and they are all a little different too. The little round tag is an extra I made for all the books, just for fun, reminding you to never forget to PLAY!

As I think I have mentioned, my oldest son Decklin, his girlfriend Tina, my sister Kathy and my nephew Dale are all flying in today from Connecticut and Massachusetts. So I will be busy with them, but during down time I will be wanting to get back into my studio and put your Tag Books together. This is more fun than I even imagined, seeing them take shape! My goal is to get the books made and packaged up to send by the end of the week, but I will keep you posted . . . . Steven and I also find out later today we hope, if the offer we made to purchase a home very near my parents, is accepted or not!! We are renting a house right now some 15 minutes from them, which is not bad, but I have been scouring the housing market down here in my free time for something better : ) Both Steven and I do love this house, so fingers crossed they accept our offer. I will be back by the end of the week and in the meantime, check out the Garden Variety Postcard (and 1 ATC!) swap. This new swap is sponsored by Alpha Stamps and already very popular with 28 participants as of this morning . . . so sign up soon if you are interested!

creative swaps update

Here's my swap bag, almost completely filled with your envelopes of 4x4's for the swap. See a few envelopes peeking out of the top?

I have eight more packages to come in and I know of at least 2 that have already been mailed. That means there's about one week left to get those swaps into my hands, with a due date of April 24th! I can't wait to have them all here and then swap them out. 

Shortly after I send the returns out, I will announce a new swap with a due date of early to mid June. I have not completely decided what the medium or the theme will be -Yes, I have some ideas, but it is not totally firmed up. *IF you have an idea of what you'd love to make: ATCs, quilties, inchies, twinchies, or another shape or size -- OR if you have a theme you are hankering to work on, PLEASE leave me a comment on this post! I will take all ideas into consideration. I have something brewing if I don't get any responses, but here is your chance to say what you want!!

In mid to late June, I will be announcing a swap due at the end of August that will be hosted in conjunction with Alpha Stamps. This will be a 4x6 Postcard swap (fabric, paper or both) with a Vintage garden variety theme. Alpha Stamps will have some wonderful things for you to work with and it will be awesome! I have hosted a number of swaps with Alpha Stamps previously and the supplies are always so inspiring. You need to work with Alpha Stamps products for these sponsored swaps but Leslie always gives gifts to all participants. Here's a link to the Alpha Stamps Grimm Fairy Tales Collage swap we did in 2008 to give you an idea. 

So that is my update on the swaps! On a personal note, an update about my dad as i know many of you wonder . . . . the pet scan results he got the other day show his Liver is pretty clear of cancer right now. Phew, because that treatment really takes a toll on him. He gets to be off of chemotherapy for a couple of weeks now, hooray! thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. xo lenna

Alice in Wonderland ATC swap: Frieda Oxenham, Scotland UK

One of my favorite artists and good friend, Frieda Oxenham in Scotland, has sent a wonderful set of 10 Alice in Wonderland ATCs for our swap. Her package arrived yesterday. Wow! Frieda has written all about how she made them, on her blog. They are most beautiful indeed! Frieda made an extra ATC for me, and I have chosen the one pictured here to keep. Thanks so much Frieda!!

Frieda uses a variety of Alpha Stamps products to create these ATCs as well as making a fabric paper background. You'll find Alpha Stamps Dresden scrap . . . Alice in Wonderland Collage sheets, a clear Alice Tea Party rubber stamp set is put to use, and the wonderful large rabbit seen on the ATC below is from an Alice in Wonderland Paper Doll set available through Alpha Stamps as well. That particular ATC is the one Frieda requests to be sent back with the 8 others she'll receive, and I don't blame her one bit! It is gorgeous.

Click on the scans for more detail and enjoy!

Thanks again, Frieda. I know how busy you are and so appreciate you could squeeze this swap in!

Alpha Stamps Alice in Wonderland swap

Can you imagine that I have finished ALL of my Alice in Wonderland ATCs for the swap already?? Here is my 9-pocket holder with all of them tucked inside and ready to go. I really enjoyed working on these! I created 4 of them in October and just finished the last 5 over the past few days . . . .

I've written a post on HOW I made them and uploaded descriptions to my creative lenna blog -check it out there! You can click on this scan for more detail too. There is still room in this swap to join and the ATCs are due in my hands Feb. 3rd. You will find the registration and swap details to your right in the sidebar, just scroll down a bit.

happy creative new year!

winter holiday hello!

I know many of you are busy with holiday preparations and I imagine things will be quiet here on the creative swaps blog for a while. I sent the forest quilties home a week ago and have heard from some excited recipients, thank you! I know how busy this time of year can be. I have been working about 20 hours a week at Stonewall Kitchen here in Avon, CT and it has been VERY busy and quite crazy! Inside that store, you would not know there was a recession going on!! Anyway, I have been thinking about what a busy time this is and have decided to extend the deadline for the Alpha Stamps Alice in Wonderland ATC swap. The new due date (in my hands) is Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009. I hope this helps you! For the information on that swap, please go to this post.

Steven and I are leaving on Monday the 22nd to spend 6 days with my parents in Florida. The good news as of yesterday is that the chemotherapy seems to be having good effects, even if it has made my dad feel bad sometimes. Yesterday the Dr told my parents that his CEA marker (a cancer marker) was down from 90 to 9 - wow! Great news. I can't wait to see them and plan on visiting as much as I can in the coming months.

I will announce another swap, but not until after the new year. I am thinking of an April due date for that. Thank you for your participation, your wonderful art and your support & friendship! It is treasured.
lenna

Alice in Wonderland ATC Swap

Just a couple of notes about our Alpha Stamps sponsored ATC swap . . . I am not sure if all of you know that there is a AS Yahoo Group - Alpha Stamps online group for rubber stamping, collage art and general artsy-type discussions. This is where you can join in AS swaps, contests and other fun projects. It is free to join; just click on the yahoo group link above to do so. One of the benefits: special hidden sale pages for Alpha Stamp Yahoo Group members only! Even better than that, especially if you are participating in the Alice ATC swap, is that right now there is a special sale page for the Alice in Wonderland collage sheet images, thanks to AS owner, Leslie Elledge! Once you have joined the group, just look for message #1254 titled: Special Sale Page!

Another very helpful thing for our Alice in Wonderland ATC swap that Leslie shared with me is an online version of the story. I have only had a chance to look at this briefly, but I will be referring to it again I am sure. As of 11/08/08 I have 21 participants signed up, which means it is halfway full already. This swap is due in my hands 01/24/09 extended to: 02/03/09, and you can read the particulars in the swap call -here. Sign-ups take place on the blog via a PayPal ‘Pay Now’ button. You can register for any open swap by finding the appropriate PayPal Button in this blog’s sidebar on the right.

* * * This post marks the 500th post since I started this blog 04/22/07. WOW! * * *

New Swap - Alpha Stamps Alice in Wonderland ATCs

Hi! I am announcing the first Creative Swap for 2009 today! I am very excited about it because I just love the images from Alpha Stamps that we'll be using. I also know many of you are fans of Alice in Wonderland . . . so without further adieu, here is the swap call. I hope you enjoy the idea and that I see you in the swap! Some of my own samples are highlighted here in this post for illustration. I've added descriptions on how I made these ATCs to my creative lenna blog: go here to read them, and . . . I have now added more ATCs for this swap -go here- to see the ones I created with fabric, transparencies & clear stickers.

Registration for any Creative Swap takes place on the blog now via a PayPal ‘Pay Now’ button. You can register for any open swap by finding the appropriate PayPal Button found in this blog’s sidebar on the right. Your choice of buttons will be #1) for the swap you are interested in and #2) for the mailing options -me sending to you within the USA or mailing swaps to you outside of the USA. After you have paid for postage and handling via the PayPal button = I receive notification from PayPal. You are registered for the swap! I will email you confirming your registration and send the FULL swap details including my mailing address. *Make sure I have your proper email and mailing address for confirmation and swap details. And, please be patient, but email me if you have not heard from me confirming your participation in the swap by 48 hrs.

Due Jan 24, 2009 February 3rd, 2009: an Alpha Stamps Alice in Wonderland ATC swap (9 for 9)
After seeing the many interesting and beautiful Alice in Wonderland images offered by Alpha Stamps, I could not help but decide to host an ATC swap using them! The swap specs:

– create and send in nine ATCs. Receive nine in return (one will be your own)
– Each ATC MUST use an Alpha Stamps Alice in Wonderland image from any of the image sheets, paper dolls, stickers, or rubber stamps available at Alpha Stamps. This includes the Tea and Tea party related collage images and rubber stamps. As long as you have something Alpha Stamps and Alice in Wonderland, you are good to go!
– your images (from sheets) may be card stock (paper), fabric, clear sticker or transparency – as Alpha Stamps offers all of these choices
– Create the base of your ATCs from fabric, paper, thin wood, acrylic, or anything you can imagine as long as it fits into a clear nine pocket plastic holder . . .
– All ATCs must be sent to me in a nine-pocket holder (look for baseball card sleeve)
– All ATCs must be 2.5” x 3.5” in size (6.4 cm x 8.9 cm)
– your design can be either landscape or portrait orientation
– Any media can be used in creating these ATCs
– your ATCs may be ALL the SAME design, ALL different, or a mix – 3 of 3 or whatever. It is your choice.
– If you wish to be included in the swap, your ATCS must be in my hands by: Saturday, Jan 24, 2009 I have extended the due date because of the winter holidays to:
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009!

Each participant will receive a custom 'thank you' collage sheet as a gift from Alpha Stamps plus the chance to win a special *First Prize* for the most creative ATCs. Besides the collage sheet, Alpha Stamps’ owner Leslie Elledge is also donating an Alice in Wonderland Tarot Card Deck as the first prize, wow. Thank you, Leslie!

If you are new to creating ATCs or need some inspiration I will have links for instruction and design ideas for you when I confirm your registration. In addition I can answer your ATC questions via email.

Registration for the Alice in Wonderland ATC swap is $6.00 for mailing within the USA and $8.00 for mailing internationally. Use the ‘Pay Now’ buttons on the blog to register. If the buttons have been removed, the swap is full. This registration fee includes shipping and handling for nine ATCS, a small gift from Alpha Stamps plus any needed help from me with your ATCs. If you send payment to me via PayPal and you do not hear from me within 48 hours, or if you have any questions, please email me.

Alpha Stamps Grimm fairytale Collage swap -first prize!

It seriously took me some time to decide on a First Prize winner = the most creative swap entries in our Alpha Stamps Brother's Grimm fairytale swap! I had a long list of about a half a dozen participants who I thought really showed creativity with their 5"x5" collages but it was these collages featured to your left that I kept returning to.

Lulu Hlavin from Des Moines, Iowa is our winner!

Congratulations to Lulu! I loved the way she collaged both the front and back of her cards and she used so many elements . . . dimensional leaves and flowers, beaded trim, large die cut letters, different ribbons & trims, foil pieces, metal trims and spiral clips, fabric rosettes and glitter . . . all put together very creatively with the Alpha Stamps Brothers' Grimm images as well as some of her own childhood storybook images, wow! The photo to the right below, shows just how dimensional, interesting, beautiful and creative Lulu's collages are! (click on any picture for more detail).

This is an Alpha Stamps sponsored swap, and Lulu receives a prize for being the winner! The book below is the First Prize donated by Leslie Elledge at Alpha Stamps.

I know Lulu will love it!

Actually, everyone who participated will be receiving a prize - A gift collage image sheet from Leslie at Alpha Stamps, but I am going to keep what it is a surprise until you receive it . . . .

I have my swap list designed (how I sort swaps out - on paper first!) and I am working on swapping the 200 pieces that came in. If you were in this swap, I will be sending out your package with the Alpha Stamps gift collage sheet sometime next week -I will keep you posted to my progress!

Thanks very much for your participation in another really awesome swap! To see ALL the entries, follow this link for the entire Brothers' Grimm Swap Gallery at Alpha Stamps.

; ^ ) yours creatively, lenna

Alpha Stamps Fairytale collage swap update

I am sorry it has been a while since you have heard from me . . . I am fine! I've just been very busy spending some much needed time working on my new website -- but never fear! I finally got all of the swap entries scanned, yippee! I have sent the scans to Leslie at Alpha Stamps and she will soon have already has an extreamly full folder of beautiful art - with 183 photos from this swap! Everyone has done a fantastic job creating and there is SO MUCH art from this swap that it is incredible, thank you! To the right is one of Lulu Hlavin's collages >>> click on it for a larger view. This is just a little tease as there will be more collages to come tomorrow!

I have an inkling of an idea of who will win the prize for the most creative collages but I am going to wait until I get all the swap pieces uploaded here before I make my final decision. I have the beautiful gift collages sheets for all of the participants as well as the first prize for the winner from Alpha Stamps in my hands and ready to give out. This is getting quite exciting!

Tomorrow I will upload the final swap pieces that came in right before the deadline. They are all prepared (there were A LOT of them). It will be worth the wait as they are gorgeous! You can also go to the Alpha Stamps gallery (link above) to view the swap peices.

Oh! ~ More about my swap related workload of scanning, editing & posting that I wrote about last week . . . if you did not see my earlier comment to the last post, here is my plan: What I have decided to do as far as sharing swap art in the future is to scan one or two pieces myself and then add a link (if available) to the participant's art, if they have uploaded their swap art to their own blog, pictureTrail, Flickr account or other account for sharing photos. This saves me the time of scanning, cropping, resizing and uploading all of the pieces. By forcing myself to limit what I do, it will cut my workload, which is getting too large, but still give a taste of each participants' art by showing a representation of their art. If there are MORE photos available because the participant has scanned and uploaded photos herself, then I will be happy to publish the link if you send it to me. Deal?? Thanks to everyone who wrote me and gave suggestions! : ) lenna

New Swap #6: Alpha Stamps/Grimm Fairy Tale Collage Swap due June 28

Creative Swaps 2008, swap #6 - An Alpha Stamps/Grimm Fairy Tale small collage swap, due June 28 and closed for joining. This is a 4 for 4 swap of mixed media collages (all sized 5”x 5”). If you desire, create 5 pieces for 4 in return. This extra will go to the sponsor/hostess and is optional. I will send your extra piece along to Leslie at Alpha Stamps after choosing a few to keep for myself! Any extras are most appreciated by your host & sponsor. If you are not familiar with the Grimm Fairy Tales, take a look at this Wikipedia entry.

This swap is sponsored by Alpha Stamps and has required Alpha Stamp products. Each participant will receive a special Alpha Stamps gift collage sheet made especially for this swap just for participating : ) One lucky artist will be awarded a special first prize from Alpha Stamps for the most creative collages! This swap is limited to 35 players.

Requirements: The collages for this swap will be created and layered onto a 5”x 5” art board or cardstock -your choice, but no substitutes. Your collages must utilize fabric, paper and/or transparency images from the new collection of Alpha Stamps Grimm Fairy Tale collage sheets. This special collection includes Red Riding Hood sheets, a dozen new Cinderella Sheets, new Sleeping Beauty, Grimm fairytale book covers, related castle, roses and jousting sheets -- all available now. Snow White and the Frog Prince collage sheets should be available soon, as well as many others! Leslie Elledge, owner of Alpha Stamps collects vintage children's books, so lucky for us! There is a link under “More Fairy Tales” on the Brother’s Grimm page on Alpha Stamps where you can sign up to be notified of additions to the page.

Your collages MUST be created with any of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale collage sheet images from the Alpha Stamps website. You may do TWO sets of four collages if you wish. When you receive your swaps back, four collages would make a lovely framed display and eight pieces could even be made up into a small book. It’s up to you whether you create 1 or 2 sets of 5” x 5” collages & you do not have to tell me in advance how many pieces you will create. Deadline for this swap is due in my hands by June 28th, 2008. Late entries will be returned.

*Because participation is limited you must email lenna to check availability and sign up for any of the creative swaps. Please include your first and last name along with your preferred email address for correspondence. After I receive your email I will let you know promptly if there is room in the swap you desire to join - and sign you up, if there is/or put you on a waiting list, if there is not. Once your participation is confirmed, I will send you via email the full details of this swap including mailing instructions. Your swaps must arrive to me -by the due date. Create your swaps and send them along with your label/envelope/shipping funds. All swaps will be mailed to you promptly in early July, 2008. As the swaps arrive, I will post your artwork on the creative swaps blog for all to enjoy. If you have a personal blog or website, send the address to me with your swap pieces and I will add that to your post of your swap pieces.

After confirming your space in this swap, create your collages! Again, they must be based on either a 5”x 5” piece of cardstock or art board and utilize fabric, paper and/or transparency images from any Alpha Stamps Brothers Grimm collage sheets. You can use additional papers, fabric, paint, watercolour crayons, any mixed media along with the Alpha Stamps images. Your collages can be completely different from one another or they can be all of the same design. They should be left plain, without a hanger, so that your recipient can decide whether to put these collages into a book, hang them together in a frame, hang them separately, or not at all! You will receive a mixed variety of collages in return. It is always nice to know who created what, and even how, so for each collage please add a tag, write a note, add a business card, a Moo card, or at least sign your name, and perhaps add a description of your techniques. Thank you!

Happy Holidays & update on 2008 swaps!

12.04.07- 010, originally uploaded by creativelenna.

Even though I'm sure everyone's attention has most likely shifted to the Holiday season, I still wanted to say hello and update you on my Creative Swaps for 2008. One of the 4 swaps I announced (in late November) is already filled! The Shades of White Quiltie Swap, due April 26th is now FULL with 30 participants. If you are interested in being put on a waiting list, I will take a few names just in case someone who has signed up has to drop out. Email me at: lenna[at]creativelenna[dot]com.

The other 3 swaps have just a few spaces; Creative Bags is now closed (12/13 -check the sidebar for updates), and no spaces for the Valentine Ornament swap. There are 7 spaces left for the Alpha Stamps Tallulah's Postcard/Card swap -I am taking up to 35 participants for this Alpha Stamps Sponsored swap (with a free gift) and so, there are more spaces available.

I hope you will be joining in on the fun! If you are not able to join a swap, it's always great just to check out the art here once the swap pieces start rolling in. The Valentine Ornament swap is due in my hands by February 2nd, so I imagine I will have a busy January uploading art! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the holiday season with family and friends. . . . . . I should let you know that I will be away to a warm climate with my dear husband December 16th - December 23rd ~ our present to each other! So if you write to inquire about signing up for a swap that week -- I will not be able to respond to you at that time. DO not worry; I will get back to you sometime after December 25th, I promise. If you do not hear from me by the 27th of December, please email me again.

Have a creative holiday and thanks for all the fun, and the inspiring art this past year via these swaps!!!

A look into swapping out the Mother Goose ATCs!

Here's what the floor of my office looked like, before I even swapped any of the ATCs for our swap. This was just the preparing stage! You can be very sure that the door to my office was closed at all times during this procedure to keep curious, playful kittens at bay! It really was not a bad job; I prepare by setting everyone's work out on top of their mailing envelope and then I usually figure out the swapping on paper first; making a chart of sorts. When doing the actual, physical swapping there always seems to be one piece leftover needing a swap, so I end up doing another swap with someone to make sure everyone gets different art in the exchange. It typically works out without too much of a hitch. : ) Packaging them up after they are swapped is another job it itself, but I don't mind doing it despite the work because of all the great art I get to see first-hand. Thank you for joining my art swaps! They were all mailed yesterday, November 5th, 2007 - and included a gift from Alpha Stamp's owner Leslie Elledge.

Below is a peek at the folders I told you I was making for the swap to hold your swap returns . . . . . they are stamped with Humpty Dumpty and Three Little Kittens rubber stamps from Alpha Stamps.

100th Post! (and the Alpha Stamps gallery)

I keep forgetting to tell you that I am also posting all the Mother Goose fabric ATCs for our swap sponsored by Alpha Stamps, on the Alpha Stamp on-line Gallery. Click on the link and look under Swaps for Lenna's Mother Goose Swap! It's nice to view them all together, and Alpha Stamp aficionados can make comments there too, so check it out! : ) lenna