A couple of days ago I received an email from Art-e-Zine about an upcoming paper arts swap. I used to spend quite a lot of time doing a variety of paper arts, but mostly making Artist Trading Cards (ATCs). You can see some of my things in the photo albums on my side bar towards the bottom. I have even had a few of my cards published in books and shown on websites. The hobby got a bit obsessive, however, and I found myself having to make schedules of swaps that I was participating in. Not only was I making art for swaps, but I was even organizing them (which can be a headache all its own!). And you have no idea how much money you can spend on a hobby like this (there are so many cool things out there to buy you can use for collages these days). Things got a little crazy, so I put away my glue and paints (and all the other paraphernalia making these might entail), and for about year and a half I have not done anything creative like this.
This is an ATC that I made for a swap (it is posted in the ArtChix gallery) to give you an idea of what they look like. ATCs are the size of a standard playing card, and that was what I always used as my "canvas". They are fun to make, but as I've said, somewhat addictive. The thing is, this swap sounds so tempting, I'm wondering if I can join in, but without the fear of me going over the edge once again. Just when I have finally gotten my book buying habit under some kind of control, have not been buying hardly any needlework supplies, it would not be a good thing to start ordering collage materials again!
The swap is "An Artful Christmas Swap" and the idea is to have a group of twelve--each person makes a small artsy gift (twelve of the same). The person organizing everything will receive all the artwork in the mail and redistribute the artwork and mail it all back out. Each player will end up with 12 "gifts"--one to open on each of the Twelve Days of Christmas. The idea has been done before. There is an Artful Christmas blog set up for this new swap. I even have an idea of what I would make if I joined. I would have two full months to work on my artwork, and really I only need one good idea (only I would duplicate it twelve times). I am going to make myself think it over for a few days. If I am still as excited about doing it over the weekend I might just have to sign up. Even if I don't join a swap like this, I wouldn't mind working on a creative art journal--something just for myself. You can see what my other hobbies are besides reading, what are yours?