Swap-bot Time: April 26, 2024 11:15 pm
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Handmade Charms - USA only

Launch gallery slideshow

Swap Coordinator:mspeegle (contact)
Swap categories: Jewelry  Handmade  Ephemera 
Number of people in swap:14
Location:Other
Type:None
Last day to signup/drop:July 31, 2008
Date items must be sent by:September 3, 2008
Number of swap partners:5
Description:

This swap is for handmade charms. Any media welcome, but be aware that most will end up on a charm bracelet or necklace so you might want to make them water resistant. I personally am collecting charms to go on the spine of an altered book I am working on. Try to keep them 1" x 1" in size, you can go a little bigger but don't make them huge. For inspiration search "handmade charms" on www.flickr.com You will have to make 4 different charms for 5 different swap partners, you can make 20 different charms or you can just make 4 different sets so each person receives a different charm. Newbies welcome with a completely filled out profile. USA only to keep the cost lower, since there are so many partners in this one. I hope I covered everything, this is my first time starting my own swap so just let me know if you have any questions. :)

****Edited 06/19/08 to now only have 5 swap partners instead of 20.

Discussion

LMNtalAlchemy 06/18/2008 #

I'm sorry. Did I read that right. TWENTY CHARMS?!

It seems like a lot. I could see three partners. Not 20. I do want to make charms and this would be overwhelming even if I were experienced. Perhaps three partners spread over several swaps would mix it up and give people enough for a bracelet or necklace even if they didn't participate in them all.

That's just my opinion.

mspeegle 06/18/2008 #

I am sorry, I justed edited the swap. The swap is 1 charm for each partner. NOT 20 charms for 20 partners. You will only have to make a total of 20 charms. I hope that is not too overwhelming for anybody. I was recently in a charm swap & I made 50 charms & it was my first time making any kind of jewelry & it was easy once I got the first "test" one complete. :)

Kristipye 06/19/2008 #

This sounds like so much fun!! What a great idea!

KristinaLynn 06/19/2008 #

Good lord - I had a serious brain freeze and just realised that was 20 different people and not just twenty charms to one person. I'm sorry - I would love to do this swap, but I don't think I want to spend 25.00 to 30.00 in shipping (I always send extras so there is no way I'd be getting away with anything less than that). I hope you or someone else does a swap like this! Ten charms and Ten partners would be a better number (for me, at least), I think... I could probably get away with only 13.00 to 15.00 in shipping, that way. :)

KristinaLynn 06/19/2008 #

Or! Ten Partners and two charms each... that would be cool too.

KristinaLynn 06/19/2008 #

I'm apparently a comment whore this morning LOL!

Since the swap last for a month, 25 to 30.00 in a month doesn't seem too bad (can you tell I really want to do it? hehehehe). I'll have to think about it more.

stacirose 06/19/2008 #

Very challenging swap - great idea!

I'm in the same dilemma with paperwaits! :P I don't mind the challenge, but the shipping and extras...I'll seriously think about this one! :D

mspeegle 06/19/2008 #

Okay, I am going to open this up for discussion. I was half asleep when I posted this swap late last night & didn't even think about having to mail to 20 people, I was just thinking about the amount of charms. Would it be better to have 10 partners & make 2 different charms each or even to have 5 partners & send 4 different charms to each partner? What does everybody think? I am leaning more towards just having 5 partners but sending 4 different charms to each partner. But then again I would have to think of 4 different charms to make & that might be hard, lol!

stacirose 06/19/2008 #

I'd appreciate the 10 partners, but most definitely appreciate the 5 partners! LOL! I don't mind the challenge (I'm looking forward to it - a good kick in the creative pants is a good thing!), but I was for sure stuck on the shipping. :)

Thanks for opening this up. :D

KristinaLynn 06/19/2008 #

I vote for five partners/four charms to each :D

mspeegle 06/19/2008 #

Ok, I just changed it to 5 partners / 4 charms. I think that would be better.

stacirose - you are right this will help me get more creative too. :)

Hazelette 06/19/2008 #

Just my $0.02 here...

Since this is your first swap, and this seems to be a new type of swap... I suggest 2 charms for 5 partners, if you plan to angel for any flakes yourself.

Or 2 sets of 2 charms for 5 partners (still making 4 charms total,) since postage for the charms themselves won't change really whether it's 2 or 4. (These will likely need to be bubble packed/wrapped, so it's the packaging that's the weight main factor.)

2 charms is perfect for earrings. And 2 identical ones on a charm bracelet won't really be noticable and would allow for more variety than a group of 4,6,10 of the same charm.

I know not everyone is going to go with the same charms, but some of us find a design/pattern we like and produce several at once.

Hazelette 06/19/2008 #

I so wish there was a way to WATCH a swap without joining. I can't commit to this now, but I don't want to forget about it later either (if it turns out that I can do it.)

mspeegle 06/21/2008 #

I just wanted to add that when I say different I mean you could make the same type of charm but use differtent color beads for each one, or different paper, they can be the same style just different in some way. :)

stacirose 06/22/2008 #

Looks good, mspeegle!

Also, dear partner, I don't care what size the charms are! Let your creative juices flow - big, small, gigantic - whatever! :)

fiberfriend1 06/25/2008 #

Wow! I was just reading the post 20# partners to begin with?!? lol I am glad you changed it to 5# partners and 4 charms each :) I look forward to the swap ^__^

artist60164 07/ 9/2008 #

Sorry to say it, but the best way to do it is to have everyone mail all the charms to one person. With a self addressed stamped envelope. That person divies all the charms up and sends 20 back to each person with the envelope and postage they sent with there charms. does that make any sense? Let me know I am in one of these charm swaps waiting for my charms to arrive. jeanne/artist60164

peppermintpatty 07/18/2008 #

I have hosted 4 charm swaps and let me tell you the easiest way is to have everyone mail charms to you along with postage and a return label. You can get the video mailers from the post office for free. They are $4.80 flat rate priority boxes. You separate them out and mail them all. It is a lot of work for you but easier since you are keeping track of who sends and who doesn't.

Just my experience.

VJP 07/20/2008 #

Interesting concept. How do you insure that people don't get their own charms back and how does that differ from having swap-bot assign?

mspeegle 07/20/2008 #

Yes, I was in a charm swap like that too & it was nice to send it to one person but it also took a very long time to get the charms back with the one person sorting them. I wanted to figure out some way to do it on swap-bot to get some different people from who I normally swap with & so everybody doesn't have to relay or trust one person to not run off with all the charms, postage and/or money. I am fairly new here & I don't want people to not sign up because they have to mail everything to me, KWIM? This way everybody can get some different charms & they can leave feedback on weather they received the charms or not. Of course I will still be swapping charms & other items through my regular group too. If anybody wants to copy this swap but do host it a different way feel free to, I will probably even join in. :)

Robin 07/26/2008 #

I know you said 1x1 inch.........is that a no go on 7/8 inch

mspeegle 07/27/2008 #

7/8 of an inch would be fine, you can go as small as you like. :) A little bigger would be fine too, just not too huge for everybody that would like to put them on a bracelet.

bellaluna 08/30/2008 #

since monday is a holiday i'm assuming it's okay to ship on tuesday?

mspeegle 08/31/2008 #

Yes, I was just thinking about that too. I edited the swap to have a mailing date of Sept 3rd. So that gives a couple extra days. :)

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