Musings of a Designer on Jewelry, Crochet, Crochet Patterns, Knitting, Running a Crafty Business, Movie Costumes, Books, Art, Design, Steampunk & the Geek Girl Life

Thursday, August 30, 2007

It's a Paper Dress Swap!

I saw some paper dresses a few days ago and, seriously, could not stop thinking about them. I .... NEEDED to make some paper dresses! LOL! Only problem being that as a jewelry artist, I had no pretty papers to cut up, no glitter, no embellishments, nada. My first thought was to use what I had on hand and form dresses from twisted wire. Let's just say those didn't work out so well. I did learn how to make little wire hangers though! So, instead of working on one of the infinite number of things I needed to accomplish this week .... I was making an emergency trip to the craft store and spending the wee hours of the morning creating dresses!


I went with a "garden party" theme and drew freehand some dress shapes and then used those shapes as templates to make a few similar dresses so I try out different decorations/embellishments. And I found a use for that deep rose dimensional metallic paper!



These are so fun, so pretty and so quick to whip up. How about a paper dress swap? I would just love to host one! I'm thinking: each person would create two dresses to swap with a partner. One would need to be an autumn or Halloween dress. The other one is designer's choice - completely up to you! The size of the finished dresses would be no larger that what could fit in a 6x9 envelope so mailing costs would be low and international players could play. Materials and embellishments limited only by the imagination, but paper should be a major component. Signups would close on September 5th with partners assigned the next day. Dresses would need to be mailed out by October 7th.

If you're interested please make sure to include your e-mail address in your post. And if you'd like to help spread the word about the swap, I'd be really grateful! The more participants, the merrier! Here's a banner if you would like one:


9/07 BLOG UPDATE: OK, SWAP IS NOW CLOSED! JOIN US NEXT TIME!

31 comments:

Lizzy said...

Ooooh... Not that I don't already have a bizillion swaps to work on (I'm a Swap-a-holic, didn't you know?), but count me in! How fun! Love me some paper dresses!
lizzy.mayorga@gmail.com

Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustrator said...

I'm in too! I'm a paper gal myself (bridedesign.blogspot.com). I think my little girls would get such a kick out of them as well! epmdesigner@hotmail.com

KV said...

Now how could anyone resist an idea such as this? You just know that this old doll lady would have to participate!

Kathy V in NM
kathyvberg@aol.com

KV said...

Please tell me how to get the Paper Dress Swap banner on my blog -- haven't done this before and nothing I try seems to work!


Kathy V in NM

Gracie said...

EEee! Sounds like so much fun! Your paper dresses are too cute. Although I am going into spring! I will have to think about the swap as I haven't made paper dresses before.
I will get back to you though xox

Betty said...

I've got the paper dress making bug too! I'm already doing one swap, but what's two more dresses? LOL Count me in! Thanks for coming by my blog today and leaving a sweet comment!

Charmingdesigns said...

Love your blog!! I'll take part of your dress swap!! Laurie

Anonymous said...

Heather..these are absolutely beautiful, and such a cute idea! I can see how these would get quite addicting! Unfortunately, I've got too much on my plate right now so I won't be able to participate in the swap, but I look forward to the upcoming fashion show!

Anonymous said...

Eeeeekkk! It's official! I'm CRAZY!

I'm gonna participate! If we only have to do two, I can SO handle that! The fun thing is that I fell in love with my "practice" dress for the other dress swap but that one had to be vintagey and so I couldn't use it. I can easily turn that style into autumn-themed dresses. Count me in!!!

Cheers,
Michelle
seester@mail.com

Anonymous said...

Oh and PS! Your dresses are SO cute like candy confections!!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm in! I've never done a swap before, so if my paper dresses are totally crummy, I apologize in advance. I can't post banners to my blog, but I will try to post a little piece about the swap next week. I'm getting so excited! Email: gwenpentATgmailDOTcom

sheetal patel said...

i've seen the dresses, too, and have been fighting myself to keep from dropping all the other things i need to get done to go make some! :) so sweet!

Mary Timme said...

These are charming, but I'm lucky in that I can resist doing this. Actually, I'd just go totally bonkers if I had to design a dress for something like this. Cute idea though and they are totally charming.

Lola Enchanted said...

Hello! I saw your nice comment on my blog~ so I hopped over to yours and what do I see??? BEAUTY! and a SWAP! please add me into this swap! This will be my first! I'm so excited! This is a realistic swap! I'm happy to join! www.lolaenchanted.blogspot.com
Ddccb@aol.com
Carrie

Tini A. said...

yeah.... your dresses looks soooo beautiful! I love these AND I love it to swap! Please please add me to your swap list!
Hugs from germany!
Tini

Roxie Morrow said...

I finally made it over here to join your darling lil paper doll swap. Sounds like this will be a first for alot of us. I have 4 daughters and love everything girly, so this shouldn't be too hard. I guess I will have lots of help. Yay, count me in!
jorabeels@yahoo.com

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

ONce you start making them, you won't want to stop! those little dresses are addictive!

isay said...

wow beautiful dresses! i have done some in the past and eventhough how much I wanted to join-unfortunately, I cannot right now-much to my regret.

But, here's wishing you all the best and have a nice time.

Lori said...

i just adore your sweet little dresses, too cute!
i am regrettably too swamped to swap, but maybe next time!
great idea for a swap :)

Sweet Remembrance said...

Your paper dresses are so sweet!
Love them...
Priscilla

roseroomnz.com said...

I know I shouldn't because I have just said no more swaps!!! But . . . just bought some gorgeous papers today . . . so . . . yeah why not!! Count me in, also my Mum who is in the process of starting her own blog.
The ones you have made are gorgeous!

Little Red Pony said...

I would love to be in the paper dress swap! What a nice idea!
www.penpaintpaper.blogspot.com
jensdesign772@midsouth.rr.com

Mackenzie Bergmann said...

What FABULOUS little dresses!

AND what a wonderful blog! I can see why you won the contests!

This is my first trip to your blog and I must say lots of eye candy here too!

Julie Bergmann

Kingswood Food and Craft Market said...

Oooooh am i too late ??? i would love love love to be in this swap!!! oooh paper dresses YAY i love them to bits!
Shannon
Paint Mine Pink
xo

Katrina Chambers said...

I have just found your blog and would love to be in this one! Count me in if it's not too late!! Thanks lots..
-Katrina
Little La La's
katrina@littlelalas.com

Alison Gibbs said...

I think I emailed you that I wanted to join the swap but just in case I never then count me in.
Sounds like fun.

Becky Bunn said...

I would love join the swap. Hope I'm not to late

bluemuf said...

Would love to join the swap. I e-mailed you but then noticed I was to leave a comment.
http://bluemuf.blogspot.com/
bluemufca@yahoo.ca

Your desses are beautiful and this swap looks fun
Thank you
Karen
Bluemuf

Southern Lady's Vintage said...

Hi! My name is Barbara and I somehow stumbled upon your blog and am so happy that I did! What adorable little dresses! Too cute!have enjoyed reading you blog and will be back!
Barbara
Southern Lady's Vintage

Anonymous said...

Can I join in the dress swap? It looks so fun, made my heart skip a beat and started dreaming up dresses!!! You can contact me through www.warehouseartchix.com. Thanks-Sandra

FrenchGardenHouse said...

Those tiny dresses are adorable!
Lidy