(Updated)Hand-made (Int'l) Collage Page swap - New

It's almost time for the swap assignments, so PLEASE, if you are unable to complete this swap, remove yourself before the deadline.

Let's try to make this a very successful swap -

It seems there are some lately no-sends and cancelled profiles going around swap-bot - I've "met" several in some swaps of late - If that's any of you, then please just go and find yourself or do some meditating or yoga or another "individual" activity, and please don't involve the rest of us or try to spoil swap-bot for others.

MaryB

Signup deadline changed to the 15th, since hearing from a couple people who could not sign up til then.

Sorry for any inconvenience, everyone -

have a good week, and happy swapping!

MaryB

since it doesn't look like the three people who contacted me about 'holding off' the deadline are signing up, I won't be extending it further - partners will be assigned SOON - you can already be working on your pages, I hope you had some fun with it!

Happy swapping, everyone, MaryB

great swap idea! it's gonna be fun making these... i would never had thought of it! susi

Sat down tonight with a nice glass of wine, four folders, and went through ALL my ephemera and paper supplies. I have folders for each collage and tomorrow morning I will start them, with a nice cup of coffee. I love my beverages :-)

Finished one sheet this morning. The thing about having a lovely beverage nearby... sometimes one gets very involved in the process and the glue brush is dipped into said beverage instead of glue container. Coffee with a hint of glue anyone?

I had way more paper scraps than I needed for this sheet, so I am going to prepare much less for the next. I'll have enough from the first to make at least two more collages on the same theme, which I may just do, but not until I've finished the swap.

And what fun it was to peel the glue from my hands afterwards. Brought back teenage memories when we used to collage all the time (mid-1970s). I remember making a huge collage on the back of my bedroom door... gluing the paper right to the door! My mother still comments on how they ended up having to buy another door to replace my art-covered one when they sold the house.

Hi Post Muse, I hope they kept the door and made it into a table?

I'm sure the door went to the landfill. My mom wasn't the most sentimental of people, though, in her defense, she did move about quite a lot when we were young (military family) and got used to keeping mementos at a minimum. She's making up for lost time now, and keeps everything the grandchildren made.

Finished collage #2 tonight. I'll photograph both and post them here in the gallery tomorrow.

Postmuse, that just cracked me up about your "door story" - and yes, bringing back "rubber cement" memories hit me too, while I was making mine - this really IS kinda fun, and at least rubber cement does rub off easily -

but dipping your brush into your bevie was a biny bit TOO artsy for me! So I'll pass for now, LOL

I'm SO happy that people seem to be enjoying this, and yes, make several - that's what I ended up doing.

and thanks for so MANY of you messaging/emailing me that you appreciate the emailed reminders - if it helps, then it's all good....and I like swap-bot too much to let a couple bad experiences ruin it...(nuff said)

Have a great week everyone ~ MaryB

I've got three of the four collages posted in the gallery right now. The last one is still drying.

Gram's Button Box, can we fold these to post or keep them flat?

My last one is posted in the gallery. I sent the two to Ireland off this morning and will send the two going to Washington, USA, tomorrow.

I sent mine unfolded. I don't think I could have folded them if I wanted to 'cause they would have cracked. I want to know what kind of glue to use to make collages that fold!

Hi everyone, good question about folding - since we do not know what these might be used for - (I mean, yes, ATC's would not be a problem, of course, but maybe the recipient has other plans for them) - - I think it would be a little difficult to fold them and still retain the quality. Also, the adhesive may work itself loose.

Personally, I'd say 'no folding' - there are large flat envelopes, that would hold them - but if you can do it without compromising the quality or creating "cardboard creases", then it's up to you.

MaryB

Have messaged some of you, please respond asap - thanks!

Ok, now mary, please don't get me wrong on this question, because we have been discussing this privately as to the gluing method. My question is this: Is anyone else having issues with gluing the paper down? I have tried gel medium because i did not have rubber cement and I used dictionary pages. The neat thing was that for some reason, the gel medium "antiqued" the dictionary pages. The bad the was that the paper wrinkled a little bit, not bad but a little. So.... I bought rubber cement and i asked Mary how she did it, so she explained, and that's how I did it. The rubber cement kept drying up on the pages, my scraps would nould not stick down, I should say the edges....and now that they are dry, i am having trouble rubbing the cement off the pages. The paper scraps are rubbing off with the cement!, especially where are loose edges. Then... I used my dandy handy, (or is it handy dandy?) old chepo glue stick from Big Lots. I had much more control, if there were edges loose, I just pasted them down. It took a bit longer, but I felt better with the end product. Am I just being too anal about the loose ends? Should I try yet another glue? Should i keep with the glue stick? Should I rub harder to get the cement off (that sounds baaaaad!) Should I try the gel medium again, since I want to make another security envelope page? Or should I just quit? LOL! I have made 6 sheets already... 3 dictionary, 2 cool magazine, (with rubber cement), and 1 blue security envelope page. So i am really done with this swap... when i have others I need to finish, aaarrrggghhh! (but I found tearing paper relaxing, and I NEEDED that!). I like the concept a lot, but I think I'll stick to doing this on a smaller scale, on atc backs, 4x4 sheets, etc. Hum de dum....what shall a girl do??? Ha Ha! Susi

I started to use rubber cement but that lasted about 10 minutes.... fumes got to me! Too cold here for proper ventilation. I hate, hate, hate glue sticks since the only ones that work well are the expensive sort and they disappear too fast. I love Yes! glue, but it is soooo tedious to work with because it is so thick and takes forever to spread on the paper scraps.

What I used, with I think great success, is slightly watered-down Mod-Podge, the decoupage medium. I started with using it straight from the jar, but it felt too heavy. So I poured some in a small cup and added just a little water and used an old paint brush to apply it to the scraps. I did my gluing on old magazines, turning the pages as they got gunked up so I always had neat(ish) surface to work on.

Halfway through each page I stuck a piece of waxed paper on the top of the collage and put a very heavy book (wrapped in plastic bag) on top for a hour or so. After finishing each page, I did the same, but left it for many hours.

I don't see any issues with loose edges on my pages, but they are gone now, so maybe my partners will chime in if they do when they get them.

I also found the preparing part very relaxing. I am going to make many more collages to use as ATC backgrounds and altered book pages. I think I might try using the rather wrinkled and not so waxy sheets of waxed paper for the background of a few.. hoping for a lighter weight finished product that has a bit of transparency so the back looks like a washed out version of the front. I think that would be a cool altered book page.

received KnittyWitch's pages already - and wow, Janet, they are So delightful! I hope you had as much fun making them as I did enjoying all the beautiful things on them! (meow)

Hope you are all having fun with this, and have a good weekend, MaryB

((I am in the middle of a family emergency at the moment, so may not be able to check back more than once a day - I apologize for any problems that may cause anyone - I AM here - take care everyone))

URGENT - (and I do not know your swap-bot name, but...)

PLEASE - - "may davis" - contact me immediately, via email at gramsbuttonbox at yahoo dot com, or here, thru the swap-bot message board.

URGENT - please - if anyone knows WHO that is, (with a swap-bot name, please let me know via the same means!!~)

thanks, MaryB

Well collaging friends, I found out what worked for me, and also a system that really helped. I did use my gluestick on about 6 pages that I have made, the other 5 were made with gel medium and 2 w/ rubber cement. I used cheap glue sticks from BigLots and I think I only went thru 2 sticks. I did my papers in themes, dictionary pages, security envelopes, sorted by color, clothing catalogue stuff (those I just cannot send out, they are too rough feeling, and still have rubber cement on them, so I will find a use for them some how. Anyway, the other themes I did were patterned scrapbooking papers, (I have a HUGE box of scraps), plain colored cardstock scraps... that one I glued on plain paper because I knew that a double layer of cardstock might be hard to cut, and finally one page of reciepts! (shop til you drop, you know!). Anyway, here was the system that I used, and that worked well for me. I made 6 mages this morning because I was a bit stressed and I found that doing this (after the first few attempts) is quite relaxing... no thinking involved, just tearing and gluing. So... what I did was coat the backs of my biggest torn scraps with the glue (I glued on the same cardstock base, so there was little mess), and laid them carefully on the edges, all aaround the page. Then, I did the inside. Again, I got a bit anal about where or how many of one color/pattern were in close range. They worked up quite quickly then. I know now that I will also be making many more of these for ATC bases or altered books or chunky books or whatever. I can just glue my little fingers off, and watch those scraps (some go back as far as 2 years!) and my cheap cardstock get used for something useful! So, after all, I ended up having fun, and will continue to do so, for a long time after this swap. We ought to have another round too, We might all have some extras to swap! I know I will! Thanks Mary, for hosting this! susi

You are very welcome, and I agree that it has been relaxing and FUN - so yes, I will probably start it up again.

Have a good week everyone, thank you to those who have sent kind thoughts and well wishes -

MaryB

uh oh... i sent two comments today, and I don't see them... with my luck I sent them to the wrong swap! I better check1 One was a happy one, the other was not so happy... =+( susi

well, i don't know where I posted them, but I am going to post them again... one is not very nice, a real disappointment. Today I received one set of collage papers that I am so veery disappointed with. This person used neon colored plain paperweight paper, with images that were haphazardly cut, falling off, and that did not even come near covering the page. These papers are not suitable for use in anything except going in the trash. I hate to be mean and vindictive, but there are so many of us that really work hard on making our swaps, and to do what is expected of us, and then I get this, in plain and simple words, GARBAGE!. Maybe my partner did not understand what she was supposed to do, although Mary did spell it out quite clearly and even had pictures. Sorry to post this comment on the list, but I really needed to vent! susi

Now, for the good comment! Last night, as I was waiting to go to sleep, (I'm an insomniatic{sp?} nightowl, LOL!), I was doing these collaged papers on a smaller scale, using a base of about 6x6 or so, because i found a really neat card in my stash I wanted to use, but I knew it would not cover an 81/2 x 11 sheet. I then realized what I was making! Have any of you heard of serendipity squares? I used to make them all the time, using my glue stick or even my xyron for the adhesive. I also embossed them when I was finished collaging the paper, sometimes with decorative stamps, sometime I just sprinkled embossing poder over the collage, and what stuck to the glue from the glue stick , I'd emboss. It worked like a charm! Anyway, After these were done, I'd cut them into 1", 1 1/2", and 2" squares. They make great embellishments on cards, scrapbook pages, and I bett they will in altered books and atcs as well. i even have used one cut into ATC size as an abstract atc for a swap here. I can't believe that I have been doing these all these days, and it did not come to me until last night! I betcha I even have a stash of these that I made a couple years ago hiding somewhere! If you want to find out more about serendipity squares, go to Lisa Vollrath's site, (lisavollrath.com) "Go make Something" section, register if you are not already, and look up in her "how to's" on serendipity squares. She gives great step by step instructions, and you'll really get hooked on making them! She also has many many MANY other great ideas on her site as well. Check it out, you won't be disappointed. susi

Great ideas, susi, and I really enjoyed reading about them - what a great way to use up our little pieces.

CAUTION - to ALL swap-bot swappers - (and yes, she's in our group, sigh)

If you EVER come across a swapper with ANY of this info, BEWARE - she has been scamming swap-bot since the beginning, I don't know if she EVER has sent anything!

JENNA PERRY QUIGLEY EUGENE OREGON

(Any of those words in her email, website, or swap name - do NOT send to her, unless she sends and her items are RECEIVED!)

She now has a rating of 1 - which is a good thing, once she delets her profile, which she probably will do, those will all disappear - -

SO MAKE A NOTE OF THE ABOVE - - AND BEWARE!

MaryB

Mary, I found my lil stash of serendipilty squares, would you like me to take a pic and upload it to the gallery? I am going to look through them, now, just for the memories...I see that not only did I just cut them into little squares, I the, backed them on black or white cardstock, cut a bit larger than the square itself. they sure are purty! susi Glad I could give another idea for y'all to use with your collage paper scraps, or, just make them on a smaller scale like I did, and use them just for serendipity squares!

I've made serendipity square collages, too, but found I don't use the squares as much as I thought I would because they are rather thick after all the layering. I've taken to cutting the collage into ATC size and then I make a little envelope, attach that to the background and write a message (quote, random thought, fortune) to tuck inside the envelope. Serendipity ATCs :-)

Oh look! There is a swap for 1 x 1 inch art that would be perfect for the serendipity squares!

http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/2833

One of the swappers sending to Jenna Perry/Aloha had already sent before I could "stop her" - but I also did write to "Aloha" and told her that yes, we all know who she is, and that she had been my swap partner 3 times, but never sent anything, so even tho she WOULD be receiving one swap from here, the rest of the group would not be sending to her, UNLESS and UNTIL her items were received.

It is NOT enough to simply wait for these scammers to click the "Sent" button - so often, they do so, and then delete their profiles!

And of course, if one were going to be sending to them, it LOOKS like they are being honorable and sending! Wait until the items are RECEIVED!

Anyway, If you would like to be an angel, please let me know - the people who would receive from her, have sent their stuff, but won't be receiving anything, quite obviously.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you could "step in" -

Maybe swap-bot will become a "Member's only" site.....sigh, but at least we might not have to go thru things like this!

Have a good weekend, everyone, MaryB

I got collages! I got collages! Thank you Susi for these beautiful creations. The colorful one reminds me of my mom's crazy patchwork quilts and the dictionary one is near and dear to this reader's heart. Thank you!

Mine are sent today - one to New Zealand, the other to Stoughton, MA - Kathleen and Shari, I sure hope you like these and can find uses for them.

This WAS fun, if anyone would like it run again, let me know - I also have "extras" - and found that the "process" of tearing/cutting the pieces was almost theraputic!

Have a good week, MaryB

My collages will be shipped out on Monday morning. I hope they don't take too long to arrive. One is going to New Zealand, the other to Iowa.

Hi Oma and Taylor your collage pages are winging their way to you today from New Zealand, they will take about a week to reach you. I hope you like them, they where fun to do and as you will see I used 2 different types of glue as I wanted a wet, water look for one and smooth on the other. I just hope that works for you when you see them!

Hi Gram's button box and Ashleyshea, I will keep and eye out in about a week for your pages, I am realy looking faward to seeing them.

I was a swapper that got cought badly by Jenny Perry, as I sent her a hand made album for a swap she ran and got nothing. Even her blog has been closed down!

First I wanted to thank our host for the kind words about my collage papers. I really sweated them, but they were lots of fun to do too. I used rubber cement and glue sticks. I hope they hold together. This week I received collages from Jess and hiddenjade. Thank you. Will rate as soon as I can. Thanks for all the info people have been posting. It helped me a lot. Janet

Hi Ashley Shea, thank you for your great pages that arrived Friday in New Zealand and for all the coppies, I love them all and they will all be used in up and comming art work :-)))