Absolutely Everything Swap Central

New Green ATC Swap!

2010-03-05T06:09:00.000-08:00

Greetings! We're finally getting active again! We took a long hiatus over the fall and winter last year and really slowed down to a crawl. Life gets in the way of having a good time and I guess we just have to deal with it.

So now, we're working on getting back to being an active creative group once again! We're starting out easy with a green atc swap. This was a quickie swap and the members had to do all green based atcs. The rules were simple: Standard atc sizing, with green being 75+ % of the card coloring. That's it, simple! The results that are coming in are outstanding! I'll be posting a photo of all of those as soon as they're here. For now, here's a peek at some green cards from the past.

The tag swap is just about to lift off!

2009-05-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

We're getting our tags together to be mailed out to our partners on June 1st! I'm so excited! I love doing tags, and cannot wait to see what goodies everyone comes up with. Be sure to check back and see all the lovely tags people have made for their two partners.

We're now in talks to figure out what we're going to be doing for June-July, July-August. This year is truly zipping by at the speed of light.

The tag swap is upon us!

2009-05-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

We're all tied up for the tag swap! Partners will be announced soon! We're just in the process of deciding whether we want to do one partner or two. This is going to be so much fun.

So these are some funky tags I made up tonight for the photo for the front of the group. I love playing with text bacgrounds. The thing I find hardest about tags is that I can do a beautiful face on the tag, but then I'm completed stumped about what to do on the other side. By trying to figure that out, I usually ruin the whole tag!

I liked the way the fronts of these turned out though!

Tag art swap! Come join us!

2009-05-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

Greetings fellow artisans! T'is time we get this ball a'rollin. We've been slow for too long and I'm hoping to spark a lot of creative energies into the group. We're gearing up for a tag art swap and I hope you'll think of joining us! I love doing tag art love getting tag art to see what other craft people have come up with. This tag art swap is not themed, meaning wild abandon creation is par for the course! Members who need tags can contact me on group and I'll supply them with tags. Be prepared! Tag art will be showing up here shortly!

Swapping Resumes!

2009-03-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

It's about time! We've been awfully quiet on the AB EVE front. Holidays crept in and stole precious crafting time. People are slowly shaking off the hibernating bear syndrome and Spring is IN THE AIR! We started the year off with a 2x2 chipboard swap!

I'm also hosting a game in connection with the swap! Match and WIN! Any member of AB EVE can play and the winner with the most correct choices will win an extra small flat rate box crammed full of artsy bits and bobs from my extensive collection.

ALL MEMBERS WELCOME TO PLAY FOR THE PRIZE!

ANSWER NOW, you'll have until Wednesday to play!

NEW HAPPENINGS AT AB EVE!

2008-08-12T17:09:00.000-07:00

WOW! It's been awhile since things have been buzzing along at Absolutely Everything. We've got some great swap ideas coming up however and would love it if you'd join us. Our group swaps art of all kinds! Atcs, handmade postcards, altered art, art pins, handmade toys, art dolls, chunky books and so much more! If you like doing art and getting to know great artists, come on over and join us!

We're now starting up a themed front page. Every other Monday a theme is chosen. From that Monday to the following Saturday, members have the opportunity to load their artwork into the specially marked folder and have the chance to be picked for the front page! We're hoping it'll be a smashing success and bring lots of lovely artwork to brighten up the opening page.

We're also gearing up for a great swap. An Absolutely Anything Treasure Swap. This swap is limited to 10 participants. Each participant makes 9 items and sends 1 item to every other participant! What a great way to share the creative spirit!

Lucky dip

2008-05-06T16:07:00.001-07:00

check it out lucky dip going on now!!!!!!!

LUCKY DIP EXPLAINED

2008-03-11T08:19:00.001-07:00

For those of you who are new or might need a refresher on what the
Lucky Dip is. Here's the Lucky Dip recap from Sarah. I'll be taking
her place in assigning partners however.

SO read on if you wanna be in the know! :)

For everyone wondering what the blimmin heck the lucky dip is, here's
how it works :)
Dont forget to shout out if you have any questions, and somebody will
dive in to answer them :)

Basically the Lucky Dip is held on the 8th and the 22nd of every
month.

If you would like to enter, all you have to do is upload a scan/photo
of what you want to swap and put it into the lucky dip folder here in
the photo section of the group.
You can enter as many or as few things as you like.
And you can upload whenever you want.

Then on the draw date, i put all the items in a paper bag (the height
of sophistication i know, lol), and pull out two at a time, those
people will swap those items before the next draw date. The draw is
based on the items rather than people, so if you put more than one
thing in the folder, you'll more than likely be swapping one thing
with one person, and another thing with a different person etc.

You can use any art of yours, any theme, subject, size, medium, etc

Its pretty straight forward, all you really need to worry about is
putting items into the folder and waiting for the lucky dip partners
to be announced by moi, then sending your things to your partner and
waiting for yours to arrive from them :)

Oh yes, and all players are required to post when they send and
receive so i can keep track of things. You have to send your items to
your partner by the next draw date at the latest.

~~Chelsae
(excerpted from Sarah's first "Lucky Dip recap" post.

HAPPY 2008 ALL!

2008-01-27T09:17:00.000-08:00

Well the new year is already almost a month over. We're cleaning up shop, and getting ready for a whole new trading year at AB-EVE! We've had a great amount of new members join and we just can't wait to get the boards active and swap-licious! To start the year off L. is hostessing a great Altered Barbie (or barbie knock-off) swap. I hope a lot more of our members will join in the fun. So far there are four of us and hopefully a few more will kick in. L is making it a contest so that the person who gets the most votes will win a small package of goodies from her stashes.

We're also getting our members to put in their choices for what we'd like to do this year swap wise. We're going to be doing art pins again sometime soon and most likely a charm swap. I'm looking to host a handmade toy swap in March or April and I hope a lot of people will come and join us in the fun.

Be on the look-out for some great pictures to be coming of Altered Barbies in process or completeion! They're going to be GREAT!

altered coke cans

2008-01-06T20:59:00.001-08:00

members of msn group

coke tags and star by rosebudinnh

pear and flower by Vicki York

ok ladys drag out your sizzix dye cutters.....Grab your favorite soft drink, youll be wanting to recycle the can, or alter it. would any one be interested in a swap? if so let me know thanks Rose

these are too fun. drink your soda, or POP, ice tea, or beer. rise can and let dry. Cut the bottom of can then the top , cut down the strip of writing. pick a dye, to cut ,heart , flowers, or tags. which ever you like. now cut a piece of foam to add to the back. glue the fun foam to the can cut out. the die cut will turn down edges for you. Todays cans are thin not like they used to be so you can cut them first with regular sewing scissors.

These may not be a part of the swap, some photos are to show what can be done. If youd like more information. the origanater for this wonderful idea.is at this link.

http://groups.msn.com/RECY-CANRECI-LATAS

Dia de los Muertos and Halloween chunky pages are rolling in!!!!

2007-11-03T19:37:00.000-07:00

The lovely ladies in this art call at Absolutely Everything have really outdone themselves. The work is STUNNING! I'm getting ever so excited to be getting the books together! I can't even express my excitement as I wait for the last few participants to show. I'm itching to sit and get this book all organized and put together. There are so many lovely goodies and things to add, and so much love put into the work that I'm sure everyone will be ECSTATIC when they get their returns.

We're in the process now of discussing what we're going to be doing next. We're thinking a Valentine's book of some sort, or something along that line. It might not even be linked to a specific holiday, but it's getting exciting. There will be much talk on group about what we want to do.

Halloween/ Dia de los Muertos Chunky Book Requirements.

2007-08-29T16:18:00.000-07:00

OK people, here it is finally! I finally have a chance to sit down and lay out the instructions and guidelines for the chunky book. :) YAY!

The Alice Chunky book turned out spectacularly. I really enjoyed seeing all the pages come in and getting it put together.

First a little explanation of what Dia de los Muertos is for those of you who might not know. It is essentially a celebration for the dead. People make alters in their homes for deceased members of their families to honor them. It's a celebration, not a mournful sad time. You can read more about it at these links.
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rjsalvad/scmfaq/muertos.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/history/

So here are the final requirements/directives.

I've decided to make it a 4 inches wide x 7 inches tall book. For binding purposes, please leave an inch
at the left margin free from embelishments. You can art clear to the left margin, but leave me an inch free of embelishment things (ribbons,fabrics, any kind of attachements such as brads, eyelets, glues,glitters) If you put such things in the way I won't be able to punch your pages and include them in the book.

I'm asking only $5.00 on this book. A lot of people charge 10.00 or more to be part of their chunky books, but I don't feel that is necessary at this point..Please send your money (check, money order or well concealed cash) in the mailing with your pages so that I can use it to mail them back to you or you can paypal me the total plus 50 cents in US or 1.00 in foreign currencies to cover paypal costs. If you want to paypal me, email me and I'll give you the paypal account info. The postmark date will be October 1st. That gives us alittle over a month's time to play around with ideas and work out any kinks.

PLEASE KEEP A ONE INCH MARGIN AT THE LEFT MARGIN OF THE PAGE FREE FROM
EMBELLISHMENT AND THICK BITS SO I CAN BIND THEM. The binding machine
will pitch a fit if it has thick things at the 1 inch margin on the left.

Your bases should be of heavy cardstock or watercolor
paper. Any thing that you like to work with is good as long as it has
a nice hefty strengtht to it so they'll hold up to repeated handling
of the book. What you do to that cardstock is entirely up to you.
Make fabric layouts and stitch it to the page (keeping in mind the
inch binding at the left margin. Make a collage and copy it enough times to
make the right amount of pages and emblish the copies, make all
original artworks for each page and embelish those. The possibilities
are ENDLESS!

Viva Dia de los Muertos, and Halloween! Creepy creepy or cute cute :) It's up to you! Embellish like madwomen!

HALLOWEEN/ DIA DE LOS MUERTOS Chunky Book is starting!

2007-08-07T15:59:00.000-07:00

Come on in and check it out! The Halloween/Dia de los Muertos book is starting soon! We're looking for some good players. The Alice book was a great success. Only one missing participant and such wonderful and amazing artwork!

Now it's time to tune up the spook bones, check into the shiver machine. Scare up a good idea for some fun and funky art on Halloween or Dia de los Muertos. This book will be chock full of wonderful art by our glorious members! This is going to be another mixed book. The members have a choice of doing embellished copies or all original art pieces.

So tip yer hats, be on the alert for black cats to be crossing your paths! Come on in and join the spooky ooky fun!

Come Join the July Chunky Book!

2007-05-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

The July Chunky is STARTING SOON! Be sure you don't miss out! We're going to be doing that chunky in the color themes. I haven't decided yet wether to make it a rainbow of colors where everyone gets one color to work in, or make it a color combo book where you have to work in the color combination.

The signup is in the database! Be sure you get signed up!

alice has landed !!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-05-16T10:55:00.001-07:00

And was so much fun, everyone loved this so much were doing another chunky book!!!! Thanks too chels for making this happen!!!! looking forward to next book....

alice in wonderland chunky book tip in.

2007-05-16T10:55:00.000-07:00

ATPins from Carolyn MCComas

2007-05-08T11:19:00.001-07:00

ATPins from Carolyn MCComas

artist trading pins new entry

2007-05-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

ATPins Karen Cardot

new ATpins on trades

2007-05-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

oh these pins are soooo pretty!!!!!! the details are amazing, the colors are so awsome, this scan doesnt do them justise..... These works of art are by our own Pati Bristow............... love them...
theres still time to join in...... send yours now to Rose mark the envie artist trading pins. Thanks Rose

Lucky Dip Swap Update

2007-04-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

The photo is of "Fabric Deco New Wet Wipes Case" by Vicki York, one of the entries for the next lucky dip swap, which is being drawn on 8th may.
The last couple of draws have been quite successful, with some lovely entries, and everyone, thankfully, mailing out on time and everything going without a hitch - yey!

MORE ARTIST trading pins

2007-04-02T07:57:00.002-07:00

They can be made in any medium that you like. lets trade!!!!

how to make felt trading pins

2007-04-02T07:57:00.001-07:00

12. one with a trim.now lets see yours!!!! Rose

11. samples

10. add pin to back and sign it....

9. You can leave fringe. Or you can cut them off and add a trim around it. photos to follow.

8. add flower, photo. If you need to add more fill ins use fabric glue add more fibers, ect.or you can sew them down.

7. add strings fibers, tiny pieces of mulbury paper.cover and Iron again. Remember to use paper.

6.cut into equal pieces .Iron two pieces together use paper,so not to stick on iron.

5. Cut into strips.

4. cool and peel off paper, save paper to reuse.

3. Heat iron and bond to felt

2.cut the heat and bond same size as felt.

1. choose felt, colors ,fibers,strings...

Alice is marching in!

2007-03-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

I'm so amazed at all the amazing art that's marching to my door for the Alice swap. Yesterday brought Mels amazing redwork pages! GORGEOUS! I'm in process for making the covers and back cover and have some pretty cool ideas for it (if I can get them to work) I hope a lot of you will join in for our next Chunky book! They're so much fun and The results are always STUNNING! I'll be posting pictures tomorrow. I'm actually not at my own pc at the moment but wanted to share the thrill of the pages. I see Pati's pages below and they're too cool!!!!

Excitment abounds!!! I'm really looking forward to piecing them together and getthing them sent back out!!!!!!

Check back in a day or two to see the pages!

The big Tease Felt trading pins

2007-03-30T12:43:00.000-07:00

the big tease I have started the lesson on this, for our group...and this is gonna be so fun... This photo is too get you thinking on your colors for felt and fibers, strings,thread,flowers,and photos.....

More wonderful charmsFrom Pati Bristow

2007-03-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

Alice in Wonderland Chunky Book Swap

2007-03-27T12:27:00.000-07:00

Heres some pages that will be in the Alice in Wonderland themed chunky book, the top two are by Pam Haislip, the bottom one shows the front and back of a page by Pati Bristow.

charms received

2007-03-27T11:43:00.000-07:00

Wonderful charms I got in the swap from Lauri Jean Crowe I LOVVVE THEM.... One happy camper Rose

Some Lucky Dip Entries

2007-03-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

Because i announced the Swap at very short notice, we didnt have many people having stuff ready in time, but lots of people are going to have stuff ready for the next draw on the 8th April.
Heres two entries by Lauri for your viewing pleasure;

New Swap Announced today: Lucky Dip

2007-03-10T01:45:00.000-08:00

This is an ongoing swap, so it will basically go on until we all get bored of it! All you have to do is upload your art into the 'Lucky Dip' folder in the photo section. You can enter any type of art you like, and as many as you like.

On the 8th and 22nd of every month, i will put the names of all the pieces of art into a hat, or other suitable container, and draw out two names at a time (if i pull out the same persons name i'll do it again til i get a different person to swap with). You then have until the next draw date to post out your art to each other.

Obviously if theres an odd number, or you have a lot more art than there are other people, those pieces left will be carried over to the next draw.

You cant join in another Lucky Dip until your art has been sent to your partner from the previous Dip.

Please bare in mind that sometimes you may get art thats much smaller than you sent, this is just the nature of the swap, after all, it is a lucky dip, and next time it could be the other way round, although obviously theres no way to tell for sure, so before entering your art make sure you're willing to swap it for whatever you might get....if that makes sense?

I'll post again about this at a later date when we've got some entries, as ive only just posted this to group and nobody has had any time to do anything yet! The first draw will be the 22nd of March.
Obviously only members of the group can take part in this, but we always welcome new members, and we're a friendly bunch, so if you'd like to play in this please feel free to join us!

Charm Swap

2007-03-10T01:32:00.000-08:00

These beautiful charms were made by Rose and Pati, for the group handmade charm swap. Deadline for this swap is March the 20th, which is when they'll be swapped out. So theres just enough time to get in on this if you want to get your hands on one of these sets of charms! The swap host for this is Rose.

Welcome to our Blog!

2007-03-09T22:43:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Absolutely Everything Swap Central blog!
Here you'll be able to find out all the latest news and events from our group, everything from latest swaps to member spotlights! We hope you'll enjoy visiting this blog as much as we're going to enjoy making it!

We're an art trading group, currently based on yahoo, swapping all and every kind of art on both a one to one, and group basis. We always welcome new members to come and join the fun! To find out more about the group you can visit our website at http://aeswapcentral.ourprofile.org