Themed Art Journal -Newbie Friendly!

Such a cool idea, only a bit expensive. I would join if it was Europe only. I'm sorry.

Sounds fun but international postage is killing me lately and I've had to watch the swaps I join because of it.

Nice idea! Just a clarifying question based on the comments above: (The first person lives in Europe, but it looks like the second comment comes from someone who lives in the U.S.) The description says "Regional-U.S."--correct?

I'm a little slow with a cold today. I reread this and I'm not sure about the when to send. Is it as soon as partners are assigned or the deadline date? I have the impression that we make it now and have it ready to go by the last date to sign up and we get our partners, is that right? Sorry for my brain fog.

I was wondering the same thing....

Thanks for the questions. Since this is kind of different from other swaps I figured everyone might not be able to read what I had in my mind!

Clarifications: USA only - Initially I had written International - but after the above comments I changed to to USA. I contacted those who signed up - but neglected to post it here.

Timeframe: Create/start YOUR journal now. Send it out to your first partner as soon as they are assigned. From there - you should send on/get another journal every 2 weeks or so. The Nov. date is when I predict you should get your own journal back. At first I had put the first send date in the 'Date Items Must Be Sent By' - but then I thought that would be confusing as well.

Hopefully this helps. PLease sent me any other questions - and thanks for signing up. I am excited about hosting this!

On second glance - I think I will change the 'Send' date to early Sept. - when you should send your journal out for the first time - in case people think they have until Nov. to create their journal. Sorry for the confusion.

I changed the wording in the write up slightly - hopefully to better explain the dates I also changed the send date to Sept. 5 - which gives you the first week of Sept. to get your journals sent out. I will send out reminders to all.

Thanks again for signing up and helping me clarify things!

Ok sounds good to me and alot more clear ; )

Watching... I love the idea of a traveling art journal, I even have the perfect book to use. I have another round-robin going right now, though and need to finish 1 before I start another.

Thank you for the clarification. I'm excited about this. Would other participants mind saying what kind of journal you're using. I was originally going to use a composition notebook, but now I'm wondering if I should choose a book or a notebook with a spiral that will allow the book/notebook to expand.

I was planning on using a composition book, too, but I did see some art journals with spiral bindings on sale somewhere and was also thinking that would be better.

I bought a 6" x 6" sketchbook. The pages are a nice thickness and they take pencil, ink and light watercolors. If we need to glue a few pages together to help them stand up to paint, etc., I think that would work well. Thank you for commenting.

Sounds good. I think I will get something similar.

I have a spiral bound scrapbook that I found in the archives wing of my home. Okay, in my junk closet with a box of old scrapbooking supplies. I think it is 5 x 7. Thick pages. Still thinking about the topic. Any other ideas?

My thought was to pick something I like (music) and would be interested in hearing other people's thoughts. My second choice would have been something like hearts. It could be colors ( (your favorite - or our favorite colors), poetry, dream vacations (info for YOUR dream vacation - or our dream vacations), nature, food, season (your favorite - or seasons in general), animals (your favorite - or animals in general), holiday (your favorite - or holidays in general). I think it is important to pick something YOU are interested in. Even if your partners don't know much about the topic- I think it would be fun to research & learn about new things for the journals.

I just sent out an email to all those signed up asking the participants to post your journal topic to give others some ideas and to let you do some planning for the journals you will be getting (though you won't know who's you will be getting until Sept.1). There is no problem in 2 or more having the same topic. The most important thing is to pick something YOU are interested in!

jj9jj - topic: Music

My theme... I am doing a flip flop topic. 2 different topics and I will let my partners decide on the one they want to invest in. Both topics will share the same journal you will just flip it over to see the other topic. Topic 1 Recipies: yours, favs, borrowed, etc. Topic 2- WHich animal are you most like and why. Useful and imaginative... Sky is the limit

I love the idea of 2 journals in one!

I joined a little late, but definitely want to participate.

I've read through the comments here and saw that we were asked to leave our journal topic. I'm going to pick religion.

I want to know what you believe in and why and how. It doesn't matter if you're atheist, Wiccan, Christian, Muslim, etc. I want to know how you came to your beliefs, why you still believe, how you practice, whatever you want to share about your beliefs--maybe even some good websites or books to you think would be helpful to learn more, whether or not I share your religion--pretend I don't.

The reason for this topic is because I'm on my own spiritual journey and I want to know about others'.

What an interesting idea, OpheliaQuilts!

I want in on this one!!! I don't have the book yet, but my topic/title is going to be "Somewhere In Time". I love medieval/renaissance period stuff - the clothes, the castles, the chivalry - so that's where it will start. If you could go back in the time, when would it be, where - if a particular place is involved, what would you like to do, who would you like to meet, etc. It can be way back historical or just a decade or two ago.

I've had trouble settling on a theme, but I'm going to choose "Reflections". It will leave the content fairly wide open for participants. I think I'm going to include a list of questions to help us reflect. That way those who need the questions can use them, and those who don't can just jump in.

FYI - You are not locked into the theme you post here. We were just looking for some ideas. If you change your mind before you actually send your journal out - that is OK. lummelingram has a good idea to include some questions to get us going or lead us in the direction you want us to go.

I have my journal topic, but thought I'd leave some ideas if anyone is stuck. 1. Pick a holiday and say how you celebrate it. 2. What's your motto/catch phrase...explain how it effects you. 3. "Give a Hoot, Don't Polute!" What do you do to recycle/reduce/reuse...share your favorite hints/tips/habits. Oh, and my journal is 5X7 spiral hard cover and all the pages have lines. Hope that's okay.

My Topic is: Your Happy Place. Where do you go in your mind when you need to go to your "happy place". For me, I have a pretty little beach side or woodsy cottage that I mentally walk to when things are bad or stressful. Where do you go in your mind for your happy place? Journal size spiral bound 7.5" w x 6" t.

I love this idea! I'm thinking about giving everyone a choice of two also: what inspires you? and Joy. Can't wait to see what everyone does!

Too much fun! I just joined but my topic is going to be "what I like about myself". Way too many people have negative self images..so I want to know what my swap-partners like about themselves. smiles And honestly? I could use a little joy spreading.

I'm starting my journal this weekend and cant wait to get it back!

I'm very excited and I'm getting started on it, so I'm posting my topic. My topic is "Things That Make Me Happy". Whether it's a thought or an actual item or even a movie or song. I want people to view this topic as broadly as possible. Journal is 5.5" x 5.5" and the pages are sketch pages and acid free.

I emailed this to all of you - but I thought I would post it here, too!

I have assigned partners. By the end of this week you should get your journals in the mail. If you didn't have time to finish the cover or any pages you are doing - don't worry! You'll be getting it back! The time frame for working and sending on is appx. 2 weeks - roughly Sept. 15, Sept. 30, Oct. 15, Oct. 31. We all realize 'life beyond crafts' gets in the way sometimes - so please be considerate of delays and try to get your pages done on time. If you really can't get your pages done - please contact the owner and send the journal on. I know I would rather have my journal back with only 3 partner's work, than not getting it back at all. I have a feeling some of us will be inspired to do more than just 2 pages anyway!

Be sure to:

Please email your partners what your theme is so they can get ready!

Also - please KEEP IN TOUCH with your partners as to when you receive/send the journals. It would probably be nice to email each journal owner as you get their journal.

Include a list of your partners with the journal. Also - be sure to cross your name off the list as you do your pages in each other's journals.

Please include a note with any thoughts or suggestions as to what you would like to see in your journal. Many of you have shared your themes on the project page online - but it would be good to re-state them on a paper to send along with your journal.

As host for the project I would like to loosely of monitor all the journals travels - so I would appreciate it if you would email me ([email protected]) a copy (or :CC) of your partners.

Again - communication is the key! Let me know if I have forgotten anything!

Happy Journaling!

One more thing - remember this is 'Newbie Friendly' so while we expect everyone to do their best - we may not all produce works of art ready for a museum! Do the best you can with the time you have to produce something you are proud of!

I wanted to note that my theme is-Your Best Low-Cost Vacations: Tips and Tricks to Making a Great Low-Cost Vacation :)

As I understand it - partners are assigned randomly, each getting 4 partners - to whom you will SEND your journal. - but not necessarily the same ones that you will GET journals from. I have no control over the partners - swapbot does that and it does not make small groups that just swap between each other.

So, the list I get is the list of people my journal gets sent TO. So, I send to person A then person A sends to MY person B, which is included in the list of people in the journal--correct?

Yes, that is correct. Be sure to send a copy of your list with your journal.

On Sep 1, 2009, at 1:49 PM, Kathryn McPoland wrote:

Hello! I will be sending my journal out in a couple of days. My theme is “Low-Cost Vacations: Tips and Tricks to Making a Great Low-Cost Vacation.” I look forward to seeing all the different ways people vacation. PS-I do have a question maybe someone can answer. I noticed in the swap description that it says this: When you receive a journal take appx. 2 weeks to add a new 2 page spread (or more) on the theme of that journal and then send it along to the next person on the list So we do make a list with everyone’s name and address in the front of the book for each to send on in the list or do we wait to get it back and send it to the next person? Thanks everyone! ~Kat~

It would take too much time (and cost more) to send it back and forth to your partners - so we are trusting each other to forward it on to the next person on the list you include. You wont get it back until your 4 partners are done! I am going to post your question and my reply on the project page. thanks!

Janine

IMPORTANT: If everyone could hold on for a day or so before sending out your journals I would appreciate it. The way Swap-bot assigns partners made it so that several of you are 'first' on several lists. I have printed out everyone's partner list and am trying to re-order the names (not change WHO you are sending to - just putting them in a different order) to make spread out your receiving journals. Tomorrow id the first day of school for me and this will give me something to do at the meetings!

PS - If you have sent your journal - just let me know and I won;t change your first name.

Thanks!

Janine

IMPORTANT: If everyone could hold on for a day or so before sending out your journals I would appreciate it. The way Swap-bot assigns partners made it so that several of you are 'first' on several lists. I have printed out everyone's partner list and am trying to re-order the names (not change WHO you are sending to - just putting them in a different order) to make spread out your receiving journals. Tomorrow id the first day of school for me and this will give me something to do at the meetings!

PS - If you have sent your journal - just let me know and I won;t change your first name.

Thanks!

Janine

I have emailed everyone the 'updated' partner, sending list. It is divided into 3 sections - groups with no changes, groups with a different order and 3 groups that have 1 new/different member. I am sorry about this - but I appreciate you all letting me work this out. I do apologize for the confusion. The way swapbot assigned partners several of you were getting 4 journals at the same time and none at other times.

There is going to be an issue with ratings for the 3 groups with a different partner(s). Maybe some of you have some ideas how to work that. I don't want to make more work for you. Maybe some of you know - if you just don't rate someone - does it affect their standing? In which case maybe the 3 groups can work something out to email ratings and post each other's ratings. In any case - we won't be able to do any ratings until we get the journals back in Nov.

Again - thanks for being patient.

I just re-checked my list - it is 4 groups that have a different partner. Sorry!

If you can't find someone's snail mail address on the participants page, please contact me.

My journal is going out on Tuesday. I didn't realize that the 5th was a Saturday and I didn't mail it yesterday. Sorry it is going out a little late. It's ready though.

I wasn't thinking of the holiday when I picked the dates. I am sure everyone will understand things being a little delayed (mine is going out Tues. also). Thanks for keeping us posted!

I got the following message today:

My name is Mikey I am akacrazie's boyfriend. I just wanted to let you know that she is in the hospital. SHe was in a really bad carwreck. This swap meant alot to her and she made me contact you to give you a heads up. She received a journal yesterday and I have returned it to sender as she is unable to complete this swap at this time. Please pray for her and our family. I don't know who will be sending to her so I am asking that you please pass this around. Thank you. Mikey

I am sure we will all keep her in our thoughts! A get-well email might be nice, too! Here is her email: [email protected]

If you had her on your list (or get her on a list that you receive) would you please just send the journal on to the next person on the list. That means you may get the journals earlier than expected - but you will have 4 weeks before you need to send it on again. Perhaps some of us can do an extra page or 2 in her place - but it is not required. I don't know if her journal went out - but please help out in this matter. Thanks!

It looks like she already sent her journal. If we could go ahead and do hers and pass it on quickly, it will give her something to read while recovering.

Also, I plan to send a get well card to her home address. Anyone care to join me in a card shower? If so, try to get it in the mail Friday or Saturday. Postcards would be okay, but be careful about mentioning she's in the hospital. Not everyone needs to know, you know? Just a "thinking of you" and something to make her smile...a happy thought.

You all might want to read the swap-bot forum at: http://www.swap-bot.com/forums/topic/42714 before you go too crazy. I am not sure what to make of it. In any case, please keep each other posted when you are sending the journal, etc.

Did anyone send their journal to her? I hope not. I read the forum. I hope she doesn't have anyone's journal.

FYI - akacrazie has been removed from the Swap-bot users. Don't know anything more than that. The journal which was sent to her was returned to it's owner who is sending it on the the next person. If you see her name on anyone's list - please be sure to cross it out with a note to skip over her to the next person. Thanks!

These artistic journals are a lot of fun to do! Great Swap!!!

I haven't seen any discussion about ratings. I'm still pretty new at this, so I'm not sure what to do. Would it help to email the administrators of the site to let them know the problem?

I recived my themed journal back a few days ago and I am THRILLED with all the work that was put into it!! Thank you everyone!

Also, I have the "music" journal now and will be adding my pages over the weekend.

jennifer's journal arrived today and it looks fabulous! I should be able to do my pages and get it out to her by the end of next week. That's my goal anyway!

Hey.. just wanted to let everyone know that I've yet to get my original journal back :-( I've sent all the ones on that I did pages for but mine appears to be mia. Does anyone have it right now?

I haven't received any journals since October, nor do I know where mine is. Anyone have mine??

MIne seems to be MIA too.

This is really sad :-( I've even contacted jj9jj a while ago and she never even responded to me. Who knows where our poor journals are...

My journal has made it back home, and I want to thank you all for the lovely entries! In the circle of exchange, I sent the chocolate journal and the happy place journal to jj9jj in November. Hopefully they will make their ways home soon.

My partners didn't match...so what can you do? I loved my journal and gave 5's and hearts to the people that I could.

If you did not make an entry in the "Somewhere In Time" journal and would like to do a private art journal swap, send me a PM.

Any news about the MIA journals? I'd just really love to see what ever was done in mine.

I am sorry I haven't been watching the postings here. I especially apologize to you, Meredith, I didn't realize that I had not written back to you. I am still waiting to hear from 6 participants. I will keep at them until I get some answers. I do see that a couple of the participants are on 'partial' suspension from SB. I hope that hasn't affected this swap. Hopefully I will get some answers. I know you all want your books back.

Only 5 left to hear from:

denisecouser Normsgal91 oangelo143 OpheliaQuilts centralperky31

Only 3 left to hear from:

denisecouser oangelo143 and centralperky31

Let me know if you have heard from any of these people recently.

I've emailed oangelo143, pm'd her, and even sent a note to her snail mail. NOTHING. I'm afraid she's holding my journal hostage. I'm VERY disappointed.

Someone has my journal hostage too.. I've yet to receive it and no one has even told me who actually was supposed to have my journal so I can't even message people myself..