animoto video :: vintage note card swap!!

I love putting together Animoto videos and could not resist creating another one for creative swaps. This one showcases one note card from each participant. So yummy!
Click on the link below to view the video and enjoy!

Click-->Vintage Note card swap!

photo of the beautiful cards:

It is done!

The vintage note card swap is done!

These are some of the cards I traded for or was gifted.

Thank you so much!

Early this afternoon I went to a small post office located inside an outlet department store called Bealls (that's definitely Florida!) near my home. I mailed all 30 packages I needed to, in order to send this swap home. What a great feeling -phew! The woman working at the post office did not even flinch at all my packages. She even smiled at me when I thanked her! I do hope you receive them soon. They are on their way!! 

You can use this blog post to reply to/comment and let me know your package has arrived. But please use the email list I sent you yesterday to make sure your swap partners know directly that you have received theirs! Thanks. 

There are 2 email subscription boxes in the sidebar of the blog for you to use to keep up with the posts via email and learn of new swap announcements. The first "subscribe me" box will sign you up for ALL of the posts made to this blog. The second box will put you on the "Swap Participants" email list, which is handwritten by me to the subscribers and announces or reminds you of a new swap only. There will be another swap coming up soon and announced in a few weeks. You'll want to make sure you are signed up for one of these Feedblitz email lists, just so you won't miss out.

Again, thanks so very much for all of your efforts. Yes, it is work to organize these swaps, but because of your fine efforts, it is well worth it. I am very proud of what we do together. Thanks & love, lenna : )

working on the swap!

Look at all this bounty!

I am figuring it out on paper first -my tried & true method . . .

Then I will do the physical swapping of the note cards.

Lastly, comes the packaging up - and sending home to YOU!

I'll keep you in the loop - be back soon.

wrapping up the vintage note card swap

I have scanned all of the envelopes and note cards for our vintage swap-hooray! Sorry for any delays up to this point and going forward, this swap is ending at a very busy time for me. Unfortunately in this swap, I had one package that came in that I could not accept. I was very sorry to have to return that package, but the swap pieces were postcards, not folded note cards as I specified and the gel medium that was used on them caused the postcards to stick to the envelopes so much so I could not really get them out.

I'm telling you this not to be mean, but so you will know when using gel medium, it's good to place a piece of wax paper in-between the gel medium surface and the paper it is next to. If you do not follow the swap directions so much so that I think a participant receiving your pieces will be upset (card literally stuck to the envelope, postcard/and not a note card) I will have to return your pieces. This is a rare occasion, but I wanted you to be aware!

I will start working on the swapping process very soon. I usually am lickety-split about this because I like to get the job done quickly and I like for you to receive it quickly. This time, I am busier than usual with my online class going on - http://4artists4ways.typepad.com/ and our friends returning Thursday for 2 nights. The swapping and packaging could take longer than my usual 1 week turn-around. I will definitely keep you posted and let you know the status of  the swapping and the mailing. I hope to be mailing your swap packages out next week, but I am not going to over stress myself about it. Next week is when my lessons are up online. I know you will understand! I will keep you posted!!!

Thank you for the awesome Vintage note cards, the swap returns are sure to please.

Rena Matus: Vintage Note Card Swap!

From Rena Matus, my friend and student in Connecticut, we have our last package for the swap and what a lovely selection it is!

I adore this card and envelope!!!

beautiful and dimensional -click to view
Rena used tiny micro beads.

wonderful envelopes

This card has chalk, tiny punched flowers
and something dimensional called flower soft

I am very impressed with  these cards, Rena. Thank you so much for your artistic efforts! Fantastic!!
I just checked and this makes at least 13 swaps Rena has done with me. I am sure it's more because she participated in many exchanges before I had this blog. Congratulations Rena, that's a lot of creative work and art!

Leslie Hanson: Vintage Note Card Swap

Leslie in Oregon sent 2 entire sets, so I have 6 cards to share from her. She enclosed an extra $2 in postage for a heavier package home, so it's fine with me that she doubled up! Leslie's cards are in clear envelopes and they were sealed when they arrived so I did not open them up to scan. Sometimes you might see some reflection in the scans because of that. If you would like me to take the cards (or whatever) out to scan, simply leave your clear envelopes unsealed. After I scan them, I will seal them up for you! Whatever you wish. Here are Leslie's beautiful note cards and envelopes.

The back of the envelopes for the cards above

Beautiful job!

Tea and lace 

thanks so much Leslie!

I really like your note cards.

This is Leslie's 4th creative swap!

Cynthia Zdanzukas: Vintage note card swap!

From Cynthia in CT, here are some lovely lovelies!

The flowered paper is what Cynthia wrapped her cards in

The insides have an embossed saying

all the envelopes are lined and stamped with butterflies

even a beautiful envelope - thanks so much, Cynthia! 

Cynthia has done 10 creative swaps! Add to that even MoRE art exchanges she did with me before I started this blog. So glad to have you, Cynthia! 

Vintage note card swap closed

the last 4 swap packages!

The deadline was today, the 26th of February and I have received all the swap pieces I expect to, for the Vintage note card swap. I still have 4 packages to upload but I will get to that soon, promise! Steven and I have very good friends from NY visiting us through Monday. I may be able to sneak away to scan and upload, or I may not until after Monday. Thanks for your patience, this has been a great swap and I look forward to sharing the last four entries.

Yes, there will be another swap coming up, announced in about 3 or 4 weeks, possibly sooner. I need to do my usual organizing and write a lesson for you first. I am excited we are going to swap LITTLE BOOKS! So, you can start thinking now if you like . . . it will be a 2 for 2 swap and I will give you lots of ideas and instructions. I'm thinking small, perhaps no larger than 4" x 4"? I will let you know for sure when I get the instructions all worked out. But before that, I will be back soon with the vintage note card sets that will finish up our swap, thanks!

Sharon Walworth: Vintage note card swap!

The other day I received a stunning package from Sharon Walworth in Rhode Island . . .

wow! I love mail like this : ^ )

Inside were some really beautiful, detailed vintage cards. Sharon wrote me and said she thought she would use some antique silk log cabin squares she had to make little crazy quilt pieces, embroider them with machine stitches and add a vintage yo yo on each. "OH NO! After my initial stitching, the old silk shredded, rendering the squares impossible for this project. It took awhile, but I came up with a solution which I think you will like." (I do!) She set out to develop a new approach. The note cards are centered around VINTAGE ATCs she started creating for another swap. She had planned to make them for all of the participants, but over thirty cards was way too daunting. After ten or twelve cards she told me she began calling them, "the girls" and they were shelved. (a good thing for us!) Now those cards are mounted on very old, brownish paper doilies which she found in her stash, then backed with vintage looking paper. Sharon says, "I am delighted to find a home for 'the girls', and still have a few for another project." ; ^ ) we are delighted too!

so beautiful . . . 

each card has a stamped envelope that goes inside a glassine one.

They are petite, only 3-1/2 x 5"

Sharon has quite a touch!

stunning!!

Thank you Sharon for the extra note card for me, the mail art, and for the antique silk log cabin squares to play with! So generous. Exceptional cards! Three more days for delivery, I'll be back when more arrive!

Celine Combet: Vintage note card swap!

I received Celine's delightful envelope a few days ago - but it took me until now to upload her pieces. I've been very busy finishing not one, but 3 lessons on altered books for my week of teaching Artful Pages - 4 artists 4 ways - this new collaborative online course opened yesterday and registration is ongoing. My lessons are now finished!(phew). Everything just needs to be looked over, polished and then sent off to Mary Green who is organizing the workshop -my week of teaching is 2 weeks from now. But today is my birthday, so I think I will leave that last bit of class work until tomorrow! Without further ado, here are the lovely note cards sent from Celine in Biggelswade, UK.

So imaginative with the twill tape going through the envelope.
The vintage Paris image with the balloon is grand!

I adore this postcard image and all the variations I've seen.
The lace fits this perfectly! 

The use of the sheer fabric on this card is great.

a lovely mail art envelope for me -thank you, Celine!!
This was a plain brown envelope Celine collaged with magazine images.

The backs of her cards are lovely! 

There are a few days left for me to receive your Vintage note cards if you are participating in this swap -they are due in my hands by February 26th. A few people had to drop out - they ran out of time . . . but I believe I'm still expecting 9 packages. If you can't make the deadline please let me know, thanks.  Now I am off to discover a Warm Mineral Hot Spring, right here in Florida . . . a gift from my sweet husband for my birthday ; ^ ))
See you later in the week with more beautiful note cards . . .

Cat Dodt-Ellis: Vintage note card swap!

From Idaho, beautiful cards and stamped envelopes by Cat Dodt-Ellis:

I love this card & envelope. Thank you so much Cat,
for making an extra card for me!!! xo

so soft and sweet! 

beautiful composition on this . . .

lovely, lovely vintage note cards! 

They are protected inside handmade wax paper envelopes!

Perfect! Cat put her email on the envelopes above. 

Cat's blog is called Catworx! If you click on that link it will take you right to her post with more info on these beautiful cards she made. She also wrote some very sweet things about my art swaps - thanks so much. Cat has been involved in art swaps of mine for many years -even the ones I ran before starting this blog dedicated to them. I will have to check my files sometime and see actually how many swaps I have run . . .  a lot I think! I obviously enjoy it.

I will try my best to keep up promptly with the remaining -maybe a dozen?- swaps I expect to receive by Feb 26th -final final day for receiving. I will make a note in the sidebar under 'Participants' when your packages arrive and upload them as as soon as I'm able. There are a number of things going on that are keeping me very busy now . . . number one is Artful pages - 4 artists 4 ways! This online class taught by 4 of us (me included) opens on Sunday, February 20th -in just a few days! If you've been thinking about it, I hope you can join us when the class opens. If not, please know you can join in later at anytime.

All my best, lenna

Cindy McMath: Vintage Note Card swap!

wheee! Lovely cards from Cindy McMath in Canada have arrived! Cindy works closely with ARTchix Studio which is located in her home town. If you are not familiar with this company go check out the link, ooh la la! So, I was not surprised and actually very delighted to see these romantic ARTchix Studio images on Cindy's cards. Take a look -click on any photo for more detail.

Similar design, but each card is a bit different - all beautiful! 

The colorful butterflies are a perfect touch!

Cindy is using her signature Bingo cards & it looks great.

Cindy enclosed an ATC for me!
(for the first swap of 2011)

My envelope was delightful with flowers . . .
and the ArTchix girl sporting an umbrella over her head : )
I love the Tissue Tape too... thank you!

Thanks so much for the ATC and the extra card for me, Cindy!! Please visit Cindy at Pink Bird Studio. She always has interesting and beautiful projects going on. Thanks for another great effort for Creative Swaps, Cindy!

Karen Owen: Vintage Note card swap!

Today, I received 3 gorgeous vintage card & envelope sets from Karen Owen who hails from Georgia, in a lovely handmade envelope for me. She also made me a beautiful, lacy tag as a thank you for hosting. So sweet!

Just lovely!

back of her cards - so nicely labeled

so cute! I love this vintage drawing.

a very beautiful card & envelope . . . 

my wonderful mail

Thank you, Karen!
It is super to have you in this swap!

Karen's blog is called: Karen's Muse and Musings and if you click on that link, you can read more about her cards and navigate around from there!