Free How-To: Make A Recycled Artist Trading Card Storage Box

Make a pretty storage box from recycled materials to hold your Artist Trading Card (ATC) collection. The free tutorial is at:

www.bead-patterns.com

(Look for designer Busy Crow Studio)

Zentangle? What's that?

I saw a swap for "rainbow zentangles' atc swapping at swap-bot.com, and following the info trail learned that they are a relaxing form of doodling/artwork. (More info can be found at http://www.zentangle.com/). Though the website indicates that the zentangle is basically without a specific form, I couldn't help it, mine came out in forms of koi, cat, peacock, etc.! They were fun to do, though....

Abstract Art Artist Trading Cards ATC

These cards are the ones I created for the Abstract Art Artist Trading Card swap at swap-bot.com. Top row: "Hummingbird & Morning Glory" and "Thorny American Beauty"; bottom row, left to right: "Don't Get Mad, Dance" and "Parrot in Flight".

Mola Technique Artist Trading Cards ATC

Part of the fun at swap-bot.com is hosting a challenge, not just joining in the existing challenges. I hosted a Mola Technique ATC swap, and here are the cards I traded out -- Sun, Horse, Bee, Rooster, and Crow.

Inchies !

I had never heard of 'inchies' before I started playing at swap-bot.com. Inchies are like artist trading cards, but much smaller, only 1 inch by 1 inch in size. This swap required that only recycled paper goods (such as envelopes, mailers, cardboard, etc.) be used for making 9 inchies.

Mixing It Up With Strangers This Year....

Since I recently discovered swap-bot.com, I've decided to give it a year and join in the fun that's going on there. They've got swaps and trades going for every item or subject ever thought of in a creative mind. There's even swaps asking to trade stories on "How you will survive a zombie attack"! And of course, more sedate being the tea bag swapping. But if you search for a topic or item that you want to trade or swap with someone else, you are sure to find it, and if not, you can start your own.

Another good thing about the site is that they monitor good swappers and bad. They have a system of earning 'hearts' for good swapping (this being mailing your items off in a timely manner, and mailing items that are good enough that you would want to receive them yourself); and no good feedback for bad swapping (not sending items, even though you signed up for the swap....etc.) will earn you bad ratings and get you banned from participating.

So far the swaps I'm signed up for are Bubble Swap (trading those vending machine toys that come in a plastic bubble....this swap is international, so I really hope I get one from out of the country); Slipper Swap (creating some slippers for swap partner); Stuffy Swap (sewing up a stuffed creature for a partner); Link Swap (swapping home page links for viewing), Angel Cat Swap (swapping cat ATC's); and Mardi Gras ATC swap.

I believe that being creative is more fun when you are making something that will be given to someone else, so I think I will enjoy swapping at this site all this year! I will post photos of items received.

Artist Trading Cards ATC

Artist Trading Cards are just the thing to make if you are in need of a creative burst. With their small size (they must be 2.5"x3.5"), they are not a daunting project. To get some new perspectives in creativity, I've joined up with some ATC groups, and have my own collection for trading at:

http://groups.msn.com/busycrowstudio