Munny Swap!! Thoughts anyone??

[BlueEclipse]

Okay everyone, I've been pondering this kind of swap for a while and would really enjoy running it on here with all of you... but, i'm not even sure if there is enough interest... or which way I want to run it.

First, if you're not really familiar with Munny's they are a really awesome DIY vinyl toy that you can customize with mostly any media.

They come in two sizes the standard, and the mini.

Here is a link to view the standard: http://www.kidrobot.com/ShopAll/Desi...teEdition.html

Here is a link to view the mini:
http://www.kidrobot.com/ShopAll/Desi...teEdition.html

Here is a link for some awesome samples artists created:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/minimunnycontest/pool/

They can be fun, funky, scary, cute, and everything and anything in between.

Now, if there is enough interest I can set this swap up one of two ways.

The first way would be similar to how we would run rolo trades. You can sign up under the Standard or Mini size Munny. List a few themes you'd like to trade for, then contact other members in the group for 1:1 trades. This type would be ongoing, so you can come and go as you please, and trade as frequent or as infrequently as you choose.

The second way would be similar to a PAT. You'd sign up into a group of three, join either P&P, MMA, and would be using the mini munny's (mainly to reduce costs of supplies and shipping to the artists in your group). This would probably have a late finish date -- looking to be around early fall.

Just looking for some thoughts, opinions, or suggestions how you'd like this kind of swap ran. Also, to see if this sparks any or enough interest to actually start up a swap.

[goodmorningstarshine]

You should contact QuriousQat. I know she was wanting to swap for Munny's a while back. I'm sure she'd like to join.

http://www.illustratedatcs.com/forum...ighlight=munny

[HeavenPhoenix]

Ooooh, how interesting!! I was introduced to Munny dolls through a jewellery/metalwork contest: a guy used a doll in his project. The theme was "Superstition", you can see the whole show here, it's really cool =) And I reasearched a bit, and it's crazy what amazing things people come up with. Have you seen the incredible basement sock eater?

That being said, I'd really love to try my hand at these little guys! Maybe more on the mini side, and I'd like scary/gory/weird ones, can't help it XD

I think it's an awesome idea!

[oddbreed]

cool swap idea!

[Meran]

Yes. and it wasn't long enough, so now it is.

[Meran]

My post was too short

I love these! (that basement sock eater is priceless! I made James stop what he was doing, paused the tv, had to share )

The only thing is: if I do a neat one, I'll want to keep it. If I do a bad one, I'll be ashamed to show or trade it.

You see, I've never done one. Should we, instead, make this a challenge, we sign up, we make something or several somethings, and then arrange trading? It's a different approach, yes, but we may get more participation that way, too.

Do you have an economical source for the various sizes?

[grrrdjules]

Oh I love these. What about like a monthly trade where people sign up and then get randomly paired? I know for $10 a pop I don't really want to do 3...

[HeavenPhoenix]

I agree with Juli that making 3 would be quite expensive.

[catpratt]

So you're talking about trading actual dolls?
I was wondering if we could do a template like how EraserQueen did for the fish swap, we all work with the shape same size as everyone else say 4 inches top to bottom, decorate, mail in swap etc. Just a thought that wouldn't cost so much. The open ended self swap idea might work too. I'm doing the watercolor moley book swap that way. Seems to be working out but my concern is that a swap like that is going to fizzle.

[grrrdjules]

Has anyone painted a munny? I would think a lot will be figuring what does and doesn't work material wise. I think I'll get one and start playing. I had an idea ages ago of getting a bunch of cheap troll dolls - you know, little bodies, crazy hair - and spraying the bodies matte white and then decorating. End up with a little troll army (:

[catpratt]

ooooo, a troll army. I LIKE that idea Jules!

Has anyone painted a munny? I would think a lot will be figuring what does and doesn't work material wise. I think I'll get one and start playing. I had an idea ages ago of getting a bunch of cheap troll dolls - you know, little bodies, crazy hair - and spraying the bodies matte white and then decorating. End up with a little troll army (:

[EraserQueen]

I am not sure what the texture of the vinyl is for the munny, But I have worked with My Little Ponies and even Barbies, and acrylic works very well. In fact, the acrylic might work better on the munny - barbie vinyl is very soft and malleable, so the paint peals and cracks...my little pony and, I'm guessing, munny vinyl is harder, so there is less cracking to worry about unless you are really man handling it!

[Meran]

They are smooth.
I just ordered a bunch of different models, all the small size.
I'm just going to play with them. I may use the sculpt clay recommended.. I also want to see how they come apart.

I've checked out a lot of the finished models, and modification is big.

[BlueEclipse]

Juli, I like the idea of a monthly paired up swap deal. Cost is a huge factor for me, too, which is why I think it would be more feasible to create one at a time instead of 3.

The Munny surface is a smooth vinyl like feel. It's pretty solid for the most part, however, if you leave it in really warm to hot water, it helps to soften it to make it easier to modify the vinyl (or so i've read, I never gone beyond painting one). I painted with acrylic on them before after I primed with gesso. I imagine a spray paint for plastic surfaces should work, too.

I want to try using the apoxie sculpt stuff on one... but there is only one nearby retail store that carries it, and it's a bit of a drive.

I'm definitely enjoying the feedback... I'll create the guidelines either tomorrow or friday and get this thing going ^_^

[Meran]

I bought some of the smaller 4" forms. Now to come up with ideas.
The examples show many just markered or painted, then there's the heavily modified.

I'll see what I come up with and more importantly, whether I want to trade
I'll post pictures of what I bought when I take them off the camera.

[grrrdjules]

It's cool, but $!300?????? http://www.etsy.com/listing/88089414/marciano

[Meran]

Any piece of artwork is what the buyer will pay for it

But I agree: I've seen MUCH more awesome Munnies... I don't know yet, what I want to do with mine. Just paint it? Or modify then paint?? Even the subject.... Though I'm making a list of ideas...