PDA

View Full Version : Circle Journal Guidelines


Carole Cadek
02-19-2008, 10:39 PM
Welcome to Circle Journals!

What is a circle journal?
Briefly, a circle journal is a sort of art scrapbook in which many artists contribute pages or two-page spreads. Traditionally, a number of artists would create a group in which each would make a journal dedicated to a specific theme (or none at all, leaving page design to each artist's choice). At intervals chosen by the group, each artist would mail the journal to the next artist on the list, in a circle or round robin fashion. With the last mailing of the cycle, each of the journals would once again be in its owner's hands, now filled with beautiful art by the other members of the group.

Circle Journal Groups at AFA
Mailing entire journals each month can be costly. When members experience a crisis of some kind, it's possible for mailings to go off schedule. Finally, journals filled with beautiful artwork can be lost (or damaged) by the postal service or a member who goes MIA (missing in action.)

For that reason, Circle Journal groups function as page trades. Each member chooses a theme, and at appropriate intervals, members mail individual pages or spread to each other.

The Group Leader is responsible for arranging the mailing schedule, pairing partners for each month of the rotation. (For example, if Alice and Beth are January partners, they will make pages for each other. In February, they will each have other partners for whom to create pages.) Leaders will also check to see that members are active in the group thread and that pages are being created and mailed in a timely fashion. Leaders will also get complete contact information for each member (real name, street address, telephone number/s, email, etc.).

CJ Policies
1. Groups will be composed of no more than six people in each.
2. Group members may join no more than two circle journal groups at a time.
3. To join a group, you must have a trader rating of +15 and have successfully participated in three swaps. If the Board changes these guidelines, this post will be edited to reflect the new requirements.
4. To host a group, see CJ Hosting Guidelines, below.

Circle journals are tremendous fun! Visit the Gallery to view the wonderful art members have created for each other's journals. Then, when you can't wait any longer - jump in!

Carole Cadek
02-22-2008, 04:26 PM
Circle Journal Hosting Guidelines

Anyone that wants to start their own Journal Group may do so, as long as they meet the requirements and these will be treated the same as Swaps here on this site.

1. You must meet these requirements before you are allowed to start a Journal Group or participate.

- You must have a trader rating of +15 minimum and be an active member on the site. These swaps requires a long-term commitment and we do not want to lose anyone's pages due them. No exceptions.

- These groups require a dedication of both time and money (for shipping costs, for materials, etc). Please do not sign up to host if you are not sure you can provide both.

2. Most journals are 2-page SPREADS and "6x6" or 8x8". We have a number of articles, hints and tips on construction.

3. A Journal Group Host is responsible for the following:
* Keep track of who sent pages to whom.
* Make sure members are regularly posting weekly on the thread, and if they are not, let a Moderator know.
* Start a new thread for your group (MUST include these rules and member list, etc). Collect names/addresses/phone numbers for everyone in the group and redistribute the list to the entire group.
* Create a mailing order for every member of the group.
* Mail out dates: We will have mail out dates of every four weeks. This will allow us time for packages to arrive (up to 14 days on them sometimes) and will be easy for all of us to remember when to mail.

4. We mail our 2 page spreads to each individual directly, like a PICK A THEME swap. This means that you will have mailing partners each month, each month to the next name down the list until the circle is complete. This will save postage costs and heartaches due to a whole journal getting lost. People list their "theme" and page spreads are done for each person in the group.
For example:
Group Leaders set up monthly partners:

* A & B - 1st Month.
* C & D - 1st Month.
* A & C - 2nd Month.
* B & D - 2nd Month, etc.
You can look at the groups that are running now to see examples.

5. Media: These circles are set up by different media.
* Fabric Groups: Due to the time needed to make pages, fabric pages are ONE page, art on the front and the back is usually the place to add info about yourself.

6. Limited sign ups for first-time participants. Individuals new to circle journals at ATCsforALL.com can only sign up for one journal group initially. After the successful completion of their group, they are welcome to sign up for multiple groups but must check with a Moderator before signing up for more than three(3).

7. Please ask questions BEFORE you sign up.

8. Because these are treated the same as Pick-A-Themes (PAT) each person that completes a spread is entitled to a TRADER RATING. Likewise, if a person does not fulfill their obligation to their partner a Negative Rating is posted if one partner sends and is received, but never received a spread from their partner.

Journal Group Participants

* You will be notified to PM your Journal Group Host with your FULL contact information (Name, mailing address, email address, and all telephone numbers).

* A Start Date is selected either by your Journal Group Host or there may be discussion in your group.

* You are required to check in on your Journal Group at least once a week to let us know how things are going. If you are going to be away from the 'net' or on vacation or whatever, please let us know in advance so that people aren't worried about their spreads! If you do not post to your group thread or to a Group Host for more than two (2) weeks, the Group Host may report you to the Moderators and your membership in the Circle Journals will go on suspension. Your name will be taken off the rotation and pages will not be sent to you. NO EXCEPTIONS. We expect active participation in all the groups.

* Delivery Confirmation Numbers (for USA) on packages are no longer mandatory for page spreads, but if you do use them, post the # in the group thread.

Carole Cadek
09-28-2008, 01:14 PM
............................6 player journal rotation

1st month----2nd month-----3rd month-----4th month----5th month
A&B------------A&C-------------A&D-----------.--A&E------------A&F
C&D------------B&F-------------B&E--------------B&C------------B&D
E&F------------D&E-------------C&F--------------D&F------------C&E