ATC Word for 2015

Inspirational Word for 2015 on an Artist Trading Card

SWAP THEME: You're all familiar with the concept of a 'word for the year', yes? In this swap you will be creating a set of 10 Artist Trading Cards to send out to five (5) different partners which have inspirational words on them. You may make 5 cards all the same, or choose five different words. You will be receiving five (5) randomly selected cards in return. (You may choose to make 6 and keep one for yourself, of course...)

SWAP STYLE: These cards can be portrait or landscape, and created with any mix of painting, digital scrapbooking, traditional collage, zentangling, watercolour, scrapbooking, etc. - embellishments and extensions (fibers, fold-outs, attachments) are more than welcome, but ensure, as with all ATCs, that everything will tuck away so that the card fits in within the standard 2.5 x 3.5 dimensions. Please make your background from sturdy cardstock – cereal boxes and playing cards are the most common – and use good quality adhesives and fasteners so that your elements do not detach from the ATC. You are sending out a small artwork, so please give it your best and spend adequate time on the piece; this should be something you would be proud to display on your mantel, desk, or home altar/shrine! Choose a clear font/typeface/lettering and make sure the word itself is prominent on the front of the card.

You do not have to decorate the 'back' of the card but please ensure your real name, swapbot name, the title of the card, and the date are included somewhere. You might also want to write the series number (1 of 6, 2 of 6, etc.) Check my Pinterest board for downloadable templates for ATC backings!

TIMING: The swap will officially begin as of today, December 29. You have until January 6, a full week, to sign up and join the swap. It will then run the full month of January, which allows you time to MAKE and MAIL the five cards. You will receive your partners' addresses through Swapbot as soon as signup is completed, but you can begin work on the cards immediately.

TECHNICAL DETAILS: First, create an account at Swapbot. Then use the link I have provided AND the password ('peace') to sign up for our private swap. (It's private so that only the ABLA group and their personal friends and family can join; it's not open to everyone on Swapbot – and in fact is not even visible, so no one will be offended by being left out, either! This is OUR party – though I'm sure we'll be hosting more swaps in the future and may well want to play with a bigger group later...)

HOSTING: If there are any questions, please feel free to message me here, or preferably on FB (which I check far more regularly than SB) or send me an email at minstrel@poetic.com. I'll do my best to help everyone through the swapping proceedure! If things go awry and you don't receive all of your cards, as the host I am responsible for 'making good' and will be happy to make sure you are satisfied. But please realize that signing up with Swap-bot gives you accountability and feedback; each person commits to making her ATCs and to sending them on time. This protects everyone involved in the swap and makes sure they all have their own individual responsibilities clearly defined.

Please be aware that your host is in Ontario, Canada and her time zone is Eastern Standard Time - EST (UTC-05:00). Other swappers may have as much as a 14 hour time difference from you, so have patience if communication between your host or your partners is not always immediate!