Are you familiar with scrapbook/stamping swaps? They happen often on blogs and message boards, where someone offers to host a swap. For instance, 20 people will join a swap – of 8×8 pages, of greeting cards, of ATCs, whatever – and they make 20 of the same item. Everyone sends their items to the host, who divvies everything up into 20 piles, and mails them all back to the swap participants. So each person ends up with 20 different things, all handmade by crafters. Pretty cool, huh?
I’ve only participated in a few swaps over the years. The first one I did was major. It was a 12×12, double layout swap at CKU-San Jose way back in ’05 (spoken like a true, crusty old scrapper, huh?). I think we created 5 of the same 2-page layout, and there were probably 30 or 40 participants. This gal from Australia hosted it; I still remember her name (it was Maureen, LOL). On the first day of CKU, we all met in an empty classroom, put our layouts out on the tables, drew numbers, and took turns picking layouts until every person had 5 to go home with. It was an awesome experience. I adore all the layouts I got that day. It’s so fun to see someone else’s creativity and add your photos or whatever else to make it your own. Since then, I’ve done a couple ATC swaps at the AMR Message Board and it’s been a lot of fun. My favorite was a “Drink ATC” swap where you made ATC’s of your favorite drink (mine of course was a Starbucks venti sugar-free vanilla triple breve latte…try fitting THAT on a 2×3″ card!).
I had to take a break from swaps when I went back to work full-time last year. My time got really crunched, and I didn’t want to commit to something and feel so pressured to meet a deadline or whatever that it ceased to be fun. But I tell you, it’s been really hard to see all those fun swaps posted at AMR and not be able to take part. Since I started working from home full-time as of last week (can I get a woot woot?!?!), I decided I could stick my pinky toe back in the swap water. I wanted to start small, just to make sure I didn’t over-commit myself and then have to kick my own ass. I hate it when I have to do THAT. Then over on 2peas one day, I was reading the daily blogger thread, which led me to joining THIS swap. It couldn’t be easier, just make 20 journaling spots and stick ’em in the US mail. The very day I joined, I went over to my desk and stamped out my journaling spots. I even made some extrees for myself and a few for the hostess with the mostest, BONNIE. I just need to sign the backs and they are ready to go.
The process was so easy and fun, and I am SO looking forward to receiving my 20 journal spots from others, that I got a wild hair and decided to HOST my first swap evah! I posted my idea on the AMR board to see if there was any interest in a journaling spot swap there. There was, so I posted it in the EXCHANGES AND SWAPS forum on Saturday. {Forgive me, Bonnie, but I copied over a lot of your wording because you did such a perfect job of explaining it, LOL!}. As of now, there are 13 ladies signed up and 7 spaces remaining. So it’s going well. I think everyone feels they can always use some journaling spots and why not take advantage of other scrapper’s journal stamps or whatever to get some variety. Doesn’t cost ya much, just time and postage, right?
If you’re interested in this swap, just come on over to AMR and join up, then go to the Exchanges and Swaps forum. Look for me, I’m “journeyfan” over there. And if you’ve never done a swap before, I really recommend trying it. It’s a scrappin’ blast! If you have done swaps, tell me about the kinds of swaps and were you glad you did them?
