Colour my World ATC swap complete/sent!

I am pleased to announce that the colour my world ATCs have been swapped, packaged, stamped and ALL sent -- whoo hoo! This swap included  27 participants producing over 100 ATCs mostly for the swap and some as an extra ATC for me! (thank you!) Below is what my pile of packages and envelopes looked like before I took them to the post office. It was not that huge of a swap so I tried to decorate with postage stamps, stickers or rubber stamps and also use up some of my mail art envelopes.

When I got to the post office I had them check my postage calculations.

Good thing I did this, because most of them needed more!!

I think I was using an older chart and basing the postage on large envelopes 

when I should have been thinking "packages" for some of them . . .

 if envelopes are too thick the post office considers them packages.

But they were really nice and helpful and Irene (on the left) said: oh no problem, I can add 

more postage stamps. I know you like that!! They got a kick out of my 

"The Mailbox is a Museum" rubber stamp ; ^ )

Now these Colorful ATCs are heading home to you. I hope you love them!

Please let me know and let your swap partner know (I swapped them as a trade) that you have received their lovely ATC. I know it takes a little bit of effort, but it is so appreciated. 

If you need an email because you cannot find it, please write to me!

There is another ATC swap with openings, you can still join - 

it is due September 3rd - Read about it here.

The postcard mail art swap also has openings - 

it is due September 17 - Details Here.

Thanks again for a great swap! ; ^ ) lenna

Chel Quam - July ATCs: colour my world!

Here are Chel's very rich "colour my world purple" ATCs that I received yesterday! I am happy they made it in my hands on time. Click for details.

My visiting family left to go home today so we've been busy, but I wanted to get this last creative swap entry for the Colour my world ATC swap up! Tomorrow I'll be back for the 1000th post here on creative swaps -wow!! That will be your chance to leave a comment  for not just one, but 5 celebration prizes ; ^ )

July ATC swap is closed: 8/6

I received one package of ATCs in the mail today, from Chel Quam in Washington. Hooray, the package made it! Today was the last day for me to receive for this swap. The Color my World ATC swap is now officially closed. I will scan and upload the last entry to share here as soon as I can. My youngest son and my sister have both been visiting this week and we have multiple airport trips coming up -but worth it, to see them. I'll be back with both the scans and an announcement about a celebratory giveaway for reaching 1000 posts at creative swaps. There will be multiple prizes. After that, I will work on swapping these beautiful, colorful artist trading cards out!! Thanks for your patience.

Josie Greene - July ATCs: colour my world

From Josie in Maryland, 3 beautiful and bright colored ATCs!

I really like the background and how she stitched all around.

This is Josie's first creative swap -what a wonderful job! 

Hope to see you return for more.

Very soon, I will mark 1000 posts here on this blog since 2007, even though I took most of 2009 off while we were selling our home in CT and moving to Florida! That's how busy you have kept me! : ^) 1000 posts is quite a feat so I will do something to celebrate -some sort of giveaway! 

stay tuned!

Julie Wolkoff - July ATCs: colour my world

From Julie Wolcoff in Massachusetts, we have some very yummy ATCs. Julie created 3 chocolate ATCs for the swap and an extra confetti one for me. Thank you so much!

This is Julie's 1st creative swap - thanks for participating, Julie!

Leslie Hanson - July ATCs: colour my world

From Leslie Hanson in Oregon . . . .WOW! Leslie wants to color her world Orange. She wrote me a really nice note (in orange marker!). She said she loves my swaps and all the wonderful players but found this swap quite challenging . . . .  until she took an Orange Tootsie pop out of the candy bowl at work! The inspiration almost knocked her over! ; ^ ) After that her only challenge was to make the ATCs with two 5 and a half month old rambunctious kitties flying around the room - love this story, Leslie. thank you!

; ^)  fantastic!

This is Leslie's 5th creative swap!

Sharon Walworth - July ATCs color my world

Sharon Walworth is from Rhode Island and we have had the pleasure of meeting in person. She was a student in an ATC book class I taught in 2007 at  ARTFest4theSoul -in CT. Sharon and I have kept in touch via my creative swaps and email since then, and she consistently comes up with very creative responses to my swap calls. I think she really takes cake with what she has done for this swap, take a look and see what you think!

Sharon combined her ATC on top of a tag for presentation.

 She wants to color her world, "Red Thread". Click for details.

Sharon registered for 2 sets of 3 ATCs . . .

I have never seen anything like this!

Sharon's take on the theme is most unusual and welcome. 

Sharon used a small red clip to hold together the ATC and tag.

The tag holds the quote she wanted to send along with the ATC.

Her package to me --

Then, Sharon includes a decorated rolodex card (and blanks) as she knows I am not that familiar with them and she would love to entice me to host a swap on them! I'll definitely try decorating one Sharon, and take it from there. Seeing Sharon's altered rolodex card is a big incentive!

I absolutely love this quote! 

Thanks so much, Sharon . . . 

I believe this is Sharon's 14th creative swap!!!!!!!!!!

Angelika Westermann - July ATCs: colour my world!

From Germany, Angelika sends 3 adorable ATCs, each in their own handmade envelope. She also decorated her envelope and sent me a beautiful tag, thank you!!

Angelika has colored her world Tan . . . . 

She writes that this is the first time she has made ATCs using mostly paper. 

click on any photo for more details!

Thank you, Angelika. I hope to see you in future creative swaps! 

(This is Angelika's second creative swap.)

You can see more photos on Angelika's blog: Dragonquilts. ; ^ ) 

Crystal Gafa - July ATCs: Colour my world!

Crystal Gafa from Utah, registered for two sets of ATCs. She sent in 3 gold ATCs and 3 copper ATCs to colour her world. This is Crystal's third creative swap!  I am very happy to have your participation, Crystal.

Crystal sent hostess gifts of butterflies, vellum sentiments and Mail Art! 

Three gold and three copper ATCs to swap. Click for details.

The backs. Thank you, Crystal! 

Sabine Schneider - July ATCs: colour my world!

These ATCs are from Sabine Schneider in Germany, who has completed 10 creative swaps with me!! Sabine has decided to color her world Pink. That sounds and looks good to me. Thank you, Sabine! I love your fabric ATCs.

Barbara Johnson - July ATCs: colour my world!

Barbara, from Illinois registered for 2 sets of ATCs, so I have 6 to share with you. Personally I love that Barbara made all six ATCs based on different colors. She also sent them to me in a very interesting way, see below!

Barbara made two little bands to hold her ATCs and attached them to a piece of cardstock. This kept 3 ATCs in one band and 3 in another -no shifting during mailing and fairly flat. How ingenious! 

Below are ALL of Barbara's ATCs:

Barbara would like to color her world --Maroon, yellow, white, blue, brown and red, plus she has great titles for her ATCs too! 

Below are the backs -click for details:

Thanks so much, Barbara. When I see your name I always think of the "striped pants make me dance" book you made for the little book swap we had. I smile even when I just hear the title!!!! 

Very happy to have you involved in another creative swap!

Andrea Millington - July ATCs: colour my world!

I received a lovely envelope in the mail yesterday from Andrea Millington in Cornwall, UK. Do you think this could be one reason why I host art swaps, to get all this fabulous mail?? Well, it IS grand. Yes, some work involved -but worth it! Andrea has decided to colour her world: BLUE! She enclosed a note that said she was able to buy pre-cut ATCs and they came with matching envelopes, how marvelous. You can read more about how Andrea made them, including their texture, here on her blog -Indigo Blue! ; ^ ) 
I think I am seeing a blue pattern here!

Andrea also wrote, "My school has broken up for the Summer Holidays today so I am hoping that more colour can be added to my world over the next 6 weeks."  Well, your colorful swap returns will be coming back to you during that time, Andrea -so I think your hopes will be turning affirmative! 

This marks 987 posts since April 22, 2007. I think I should do something special for the 1000th post! I will put my thinking cap on and if you have any ideas you can email me or leave a comment -thanks!

Kat Hou - July ATCs: Colour my World

This is Kat Hou's first creative swap with me. I am happy to have her! Kat sent 2 sets of ATCs in a beautifully stamped and decorated box. She also enclosed a gift for me that I could use in my art journal. Thanks so much, Kat! This beautiful little box traveled here from California. Isn't it cool??

Kat sent these cute cupcake papers that can be used like you see attached to her note.

What a super idea!

Kat would like to colour her world, Plum -- yum!!

Thank you, Kat!!

Kat has written about making these on her blog and you'll find that here.

And by visiting her blog, I found out she did a post on the box too!

www.acuriouskat.com/2011/07/mail-art.html

p.s. This is my 4th post today! If you missed the earlier ones, find them here:

Val Cowan

Christa Bockelmann

Lisa Robinson

Val Cowan - July ATCs: Colour my World!!

Val has been swapping art with me for so long, since at least 2008! She has made some really beautiful pieces too- click here to view! This swap post will be at the top and all the rest of the cool things Val has done with me will follow after. If you are looking for your "link" to all the art you have done with creative swaps, scroll to the bottom of the blog. You will find the link list (VIEW CREATIVE SWAP ART :: BY PARTICIPANT) after the last post! Just click on your name and you will go to a page that has just your swap entries on it. You can even copy the web address in the box at the top, save it, send it to friends or return to it to view at anytime. I label your posts so your work/art will continue to be added to this page!

Now! Back to Val Cowan, who sends to us all the way from Scotland. She made ATCs that are a combination of paper and fabric . . . and even sewed paper -- all on a theme of: Colour my World Green, enjoy!

Thanks ever so much, Val.

I love all that you do!

Christa Bockelmann - July ATCs: Colour my world!

All the way from Germany, we have 3 different colour my world ATCs by Christa Bockelmann. I loved receiving Christa's envelope! Below is the back. I have this stamp -it just made me laugh!

Such pretty postage stamps on the front. Christa also enclosed goodies for me! 

An unmounted rubber stamp, some German text pages and music notes!
Thank you so much. 

Below are Christa's ATCs .  . . and I like them very much, Christa.
No worries about that! Click for details.

She chose blue, green and brown and gave them each a title -click to view.

Christa is the sister of Marion Bockelmann and Sabine Bush. 

So much fun to have all of you participating!! 

Lisa Robinson - July ATCs: colour my world

From Alabama, I have received Lisa Robinson's July ATCs! She wants to color her world green, and has decorated her ATCs front & back.

click on any photo for more details . . . 

Fabulous ATCs, Lisa. Thanks for participating! 

Laurie Morris - July ATCs: Color my World

Laurie also completed the July ATC swap with a theme of color. Laurie choose Blue and Red when thinking how she wanted to color her world! Enjoy her lovely and creative additions to our swap below.

Thanks so much, Laurie!

This swap is still open for registration, but only until July 31st. 

You can register here, for a special price of $5 which includes a great handout on ATCs!

All July ATCs - Colour my world are due August 6th.

: ^ ) lenna 

Donnalee Nichols - July ATCs: color my world

I received Donnalee's wonderful Orange Crush ATCs today, wow! What a color. Thank you for making an extra one for me . . . I chose the "Florida" one because it seemed so appropriate for me ;   ^ ) Here are all 4 ATCs. See if you can recognize where some of the words Donnalee used are from.

Donnalee has a blog and posted about them here! (If you have not figured it out you can find out there). Thanks again!