“pass it on: mail art affirmations” reader swap

Maybe you’re stuck in an art rut and your muse is on vacation. Maybe your life is in the doldrums, and you need some motivation to get into the studio and start creating. Wouldn’t an uplifting thought or a positive message inspire you? Even if things are going great, who couldn’t use a little good news? If you could, then join our “Pass it On: Mail Art Affirmations” Reader Swap.

We’re inviting readers to swap a favorite art-related affirmation, quote, or positive message with other readers through mail art. Once you receive your swapped mail art message, we encourage you to keep spreading the positive vibes by passing it on via mail to another artist—or make another one to send along.

the rules

• Create an original, artsy 4" x 6" postcard with a positive, art-related message on the front. The message can be something you made up, a famous quote (include the source), or an affirmation—even an upbeat fortune cookie saying.
  
  
• Your postcard must be free of any text or images that are protected by copyright, unless you have the expressed written permission from the person or institution that holds the copyright and you provide that written permission with your submission.
  
  
• You may use paper, fabric, fibers, soft or bendable embellishments and found objects, inks, paints, stitching, etc. However, according to U.S. postal regulations the postcard should be bendable/flexible, with no hard lumps, and should not exceed 1/4" in thickness.
  

note: We will send your swapped postcard to you in a padded mailer, but if you want to pass your postcard along to someone else via regular mail, be sure to adhere to the USPS rules stated here, and we suggest that you visit the post office to have the card hand cancelled.

• On the back of your postcard, leave the right half blank so the recipient can address it and send it through the mail, if they wish to. Also, write your name and email address on the card so the person who receives it can contact you, if they’d like. If you prefer not to share your email address (or you don’t have one), just write your name.
  
  
• Take a picture of your postcard and print out a copy to include with your submission. On the back of the photo, please include your name, mailing address, email address, and phone number. This information will be used for any questions we have about your submission and to mail your swapped postcard to you. We encourage you to upload the image of your “Pass it On: Mail Art Affirmations” entry to our photo gallery on the clothpaperscissors.com community, going live in February.
  
  
• Include an entry fee of $5 (U.S. and Canada) and $7 (all other international), to cover postage and handling. All funds must be in U.S. dollars and made payable to Interweave. Swap participants, including international residents, may charge the entry fee to their credit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Please include the necessary information, including the expiration date and CVV code.
  
  
• Your postcard must be in our offices by Monday, March 1, 2010. We will swap and mail them out no later than the week of April 26, 2010.
  
  
• Please send your postcard to:
  
  Cloth Paper Scissors
  Attn: Mail Art Affirmations Swap
  23 Gleasondale Road
  P.O. Box 685
  Stow, MA 01775

We will feature some of the swapped postcards in an upcoming issue of Cloth Paper Scissors and/or on our website.

note: By submitting your mixed-media postcard to our swap, you are authorizing Interweave Press LLC to publish your postcard in upcoming publications and promotional materials, on our website, and in other Interweave e-media, as well as possibly display them in shows. Interweave Press LLC will not be held responsible for loss or damage due to circumstances beyond our control.

mixed-media pendant swap

Our charm swap in 2009 yielded so many wonderful little pieces of art that we decided to host another mixed-media jewelry swap: pendants. Read the rules below and join the fun.

pendant swap rules

• Create an original pendant using any mixed-media supplies and techniques you like. The pendant should be no smaller than 1" in diameter and no larger than 2" wide or high. The thickness should be no more than 1/4".
  
  
• Your pendant must be free of any text or images that are protected by copyright, unless you have the expressed written permission from the person or institution that holds the copyright and you provide the written permission with your submission.
  
  
• Attach a jump ring to your pendant and fasten a card with your name and email address (if you have one) onto the pendant’s jump ring.

note: The card will be sent with the pendant so the recipient can contact you if they desire. If you do not want us to send your name or email to the recipient, please let us know in a note with your submission. Please send only one pendant in to the swap. If you send more than one, we will consider them gifts and they will not be swapped or returned.

• Take a picture of your pendant and print out a copy to include with your submission. On the back of the photo, please include your name, mailing address, email address, and phone number. This information will be used for any questions we have about your submission and to mail your swapped pendant to you. We encourage you to upload the image of your pendant to our photo gallery on the clothpaperscissors.com community, going live in February.
  
  
• Place the pendant in a small plastic zipper bag before sending.
  
  
• Include an entry fee of $5 (U.S. and Canada) and $10 (all other international), to cover postage and handling. All funds must be in U.S. dollars and made payable to Interweave. Swap participants, including international residents, may charge the entry fee to their credit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Please include the necessary information, including the expiration date and CVV code.
  
  
• Your pendant must be in our offices by Monday, April 5, 2010. We will swap and mail them out no later than the week of May 31, 2010.
  
  Please send your pendant to:
  Cloth Paper Scissors
  Attn: Pendant Swap
  23 Gleasondale Road
  P.O. Box 685
  Stow, MA 01775

We will feature some of the swapped pendants in an upcoming issue of Cloth Paper Scissors and/or on our website.

note: By submitting your mixed-media pendant to our swap, you are authorizing Interweave Press LLC to publish your pendant in upcoming publications and promotional materials, on our website, and in other Interweave e-media, as well as possibly display them in shows. Interweave Press LLC will not be held responsible for loss or damage due to circumstances beyond our control.

2011 cloth paper scissors calendar contest: “make it pretty”

We’re looking for some pretty mixed-media art for the Cloth Paper Scissors 2011 Calendar: pretty funny, pretty unusual, pretty inspiring—or just plain pretty! Each month and the cover will feature a piece of 12" x 12" artwork by one of you, our readers. The 13 winning entries (the cover and 12 months) will receive a prize package worth $200.

how it works

• Create up to two original, not previously published, 12" x 12" square, pieces of mixed-media artwork based on the theme of “Make it Pretty!” Each piece of art must be 12” x 12”, with a depth (height when laid flat) of no more than 2" and the entire submission, including packaging, must weigh no more than 5 lbs. The artwork should also be sturdy enough to be wrapped and shipped for display at various quilt and textile shows with Cloth Paper Scissors.
  
  please note: Your entry must be free of any text or images that are protected by copyright unless you have the expressed written permission from the person or institution that holds the copyright and you provide that written permission with your submission.
  
  
• Because the winning pieces will be photographed at their actual size and used in the 12" x 12" format, all embellishments on the submissions must remain within the 12" x 12" x 2" boundary; unfortunately, submissions that open to a larger format, have a pocket or flap with a hidden artistic element, or that have embellishments that extend beyond the border cannot be accepted.
  
  
• Although we welcome all mixed-media styles, each entry should be of original design, created for this challenge, and fit the theme. Also, though we encourage you to follow your muse, please be aware that artwork that is overall very dark or very shiny does not photograph well, and is thus is less likely to be chosen.
  
  
• Submit three 8" x 10" photographs of each submission, one of the full piece and two detail shots. To give your submission the best chance of being accurately evaluated, please make sure the photographs are well-lit, clear, and are printed on photo-quality paper (not copy paper). Please label each photo with your first and last names, address, phone number, and email address.
  
  
• Along with your photos, please include a brief narrative explaining your interpretation of our theme, “Make it Pretty!”, as well as the methods and materials used in your artwork.
  
  
• Deadline for entry: Monday, March 1, 2010. Please note that this is a receive-by date. Your photos and descriptions must be in our office no later than March 1st.
  
  
• On Monday, March 15, 2010, we will announce the finalists on our website and ask them to ship the actual artwork to our office. Please check the website on that date. Finalists will also be emailed.
  
  
• On Monday, May 17, 2010, we will announce the winners on our website and contact them via email.

please note: We reserve the right to keep the 13 winning pieces for display through December 31, 2011.

Cloth Paper Scissors
ATTN: 2011 Calendar Contest
P.O. Box 685
Stow, MA 01775

We cannot accept emailed entries. However, if you have questions about the contest, please email Barbara Delaney at bdelaney@interweave.com or write to us at the address above.

Good luck and thank you for your participation.

By submitting your artwork(s) to Cloth Paper Scissors you are authorizing Interweave Press LLC to publish your project in the 2011 calendar as well as in other upcoming publications and promotional materials, and on the Cloth Paper Scissors website. Interweave Press LLC cannot be held responsible for loss or damage due to circumstances beyond our control.