A couple of weekends ago, I was teaching a mixed media class at Escape 2 Create in Port Lincoln, South Australia. It was incredible, but more on that in an upcoming post. It seems several of the ladies enjoyed my napkin technique & they've already been out scouring shops to stock up on pretty napkins.
My friend Tammy reminded me recently that I hosted a napkin swap on my blog several years ago and I thought it only fitting, that I host another!!!!!
I want to make this is easy as possible, so scroll down a bit to read what to do in my napkin swap!
Napkins have been one of my favourite products to use in card making, scrapbooking & now my mixed media for many many years. I have loved teaching & sharing my technique with others & watch as people get obsessed with collecting & using them in their own artwork. I can't really discuss the extent of my personal napkin collection but lets just say, I have ample packets on hand. Oops!
Now for those who are new to napkins & haven't really used them before, here's a link to an old post I did on my technique plus quite a few ideas for how to use them in papercrafts. These days, I prefer gel medium over Mod Podge but whatever you have on hand you might as well use up. Just remember, napkins can be applied to almost anything & can be sealed with spray Matte sealer/varnish to protect/reduce tackiness/take out the glossyness of gel medium &/or gloss Mod Modge.
Here's a napkin I used in cardmaking many years ago. Actually still one of my fave napkins on hand.
Now don't laugh at the very very old layout & corny photo here below, but even in my earliest of layouts [previous lifetime ago], I was using napkins & mad stitching & patchwork. Still all my fave things to do in my mixed media canvases today! Even the chipboard alpha had napkins applied to them & then dimensional magic put over the top. This baby in the photo is about to turn 7, can you believe that? Way too fast!
And here's an old journal/list book I made back in about 2004/2005 that I am still fond of. So many beautiful napkins available. If you think there's a whole world of pattern paper to be used in papercraft, ADD NAPKINS & that pool of beautiful colours & patterns doubles!!
So I hope you can see that you can use napkins in a variety of ways & adapt to your preferred papercraft project. Or try something new! The possibilities are endless! And don't throw away your scraps!!! Gel medium them down onto white paper and make your own unique patterned papers!
So anyway, here it is.... LETS SWAP!!!!
Kate's napkin swap May 2012:
1] If you are interested in participating, please either comment here on my blog or email me to let me know that 'you're in!' - and also so I have some way of contacting you should I need. And of course so I can give you my postal address in Adelaide! email: kate [at] katemason [dot] com [dot] au
2] Send anywhere between 2 and 16 napkins PLUS the same sized envelope [with correct postage] that you used to send napkins to me so that I can return the same amount back to you.
3] Yes you can send 16 identical napkins, or less. Any mix you have on hand.
4] Whilst we are starting to see a nice mix of napkins coming through Neds & discount stores, please don't send rubbish/party type napkins [plain colours/Christmas/childrens party hat & streamers/sesame street/cartoony etc]. We want napkins that can be used in artwork; birds, floral, Asian influence, text/script, other interesting arty patterns.
So how does that sound? Make sense?
To the best of my ability [and napkin availability!] I will send back the same number of napkins to you, with a variety of patterns. Hang on, let me re-phrase... If you send 12, you'll get 12 back & I'll try to send you 12 different ones! But on the off chance, I get masses of the same napkins sent in, I'll have to mix as best I can.
If you can send them to me by Friday 18th May, I will sort out & send back out to you [in your enclosed pre-paid envelope] by the end of the month.
I look forward to sharing some from my personal collection & seeing what napkins everyone has in their local stores! The more the merrier so come on & join in!
Kate xo
