Swap-bot Time: November 7, 2024 2:33 pm
www.swap-bot.com

12 Crafty Days of Christmas (Handmade only)

Launch gallery slideshow

Swap Coordinator:LINBUR0100 (contact)
Swap categories: Crafts  Seasonal  Handmade 
Number of people in swap:19
Location:International
Type:Type 3: Package or craft
Last day to signup/drop:October 1, 2009
Date items must be sent by:November 16, 2009
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

I love the idea of a 12 days of Christmas swap. However, the ones I've seen so far are for purchased or handmade, with an emphasis on purchased. I'd like to go just the opposite. Let's do a 12 Crafty Days of Christmas swap.

You will have one partner, and you will send your partner 12 handmade loosely holiday-themed items. Each item needs to be marked for the day you want your partner to open it. They don't have to be completely Christmasy, but should be able to be interpreted in a Christmasy way. (i.e. could include a pair of handmade red earrings...not Christmasy, but fit the theme. Get it?)

Keep in mind that these items can be any type of craft, so if you are very picky about the kinds of crafted items you would like to receive, this swap is probably not for you. It is not necessary, but would be nice, if you can look at your partner's profile and try to include one or two things that you think s/he would like based on their profile.

For days 1-11, items can be kind of small, as long as they are handmade. For day 12, try to make the item a bit nicer. For instance, it could be a scarf made in their favorite color, a mini altered book done to their preferences, or perhaps a collaged cigar box.

Since this is a swap with a large commitment, I must limit it to those with ratings above 4.9, and with no 1's within the past 6 months. People who are new now (in July) should have plenty of time to get swaps under their belt. However, you must have at least 5 craft/package type swaps completed by the swap signup deadline.

All participants must have signed in to their profile within the week before the swap signup deadline.

If you have any questions, PM me.

Let the Christmas crafting begin!

****Edited: Crafts can be handmade by anyone, (i.e. purchased from an ETSY store, etc.) as long as they are handmade and not obviously kitschy mass produced items. I did a poll and the few responses I received indicated that they were fine either way as long as it was specified. So I hope everyone is okay with this.

Discussion

thriftymermaid 07/ 2/2009 #

I love this idea!! After all isn't handmade and thoughtfullness what Christmas is all about!! Its on my watchlist and I will be joining when it gets closer!! Thanks for this swap!! :o)

bobilani 07/ 2/2009 #

Great idea!! Love it! I'm putting it on my watchlist for now and will join when it's a bit closer. Thank you! :)

papermuse 07/ 2/2009 #

Would love to participate...if only it were international (or at the very least, US/Canada)! Have fun!

craftymomme08 07/ 3/2009 #

do you think you could make the end date a little sooner so we could profile specific the homemade things? i just don't think that 12 handmade items could be made nicely in a only a month.

pahasiga 07/ 3/2009 #

If anyone will make an international (or Europe) version of this, give me a nudge!

picxie 07/ 3/2009 #

id love an international version too :)

vanessalouise 07/ 3/2009 #

i would also love an international version =)

queensonia2001 07/ 3/2009 #

fantastic idea! I always try to make Christmas more handmade than storebought. So excited!!

LINBUR0100 07/ 6/2009 #

Craftymomme08, while I want to give people a long time to make items they think their partner would like, I am hesitant to make the cutoff date too early because I'd like to get as many people involved as possible. I'm afraid if I make the cutoff earlier than October 1 as it currently is, people won't be enough in the holiday spirit to sign up. If you'd like, you can be working on the majority of your items and only leave one or two that you would like to make profile specific.

LINBUR0100 07/14/2009 #

Please note that I have edited this swap to make it international due to multiple requests. If you are not willing to participate in an international swap, please let me know. I'd hate to lose you in the swap, but don't want you committing to something you aren't comfortable with.

vanessalouise 07/14/2009 #

I'm so pleased that you have made this international, thank you. it's on my watch list and i will join closer to the sign up date

picxie 07/14/2009 #

yay!!!!!!!! loving it already :)

allium 07/15/2009 #

I love the fact that this is handmade AND international. It makes it challenging to think of 12 fun, exciting things that will fit into a smallish (?) box! :)

joanieponytail57 07/15/2009 #

Hi! With finances tight, I can't say that I will be able to do an international package swap at this time. I will see how things are when this gets closer. I may rejoin later.

imakebelieve 07/21/2009 #

Can we specify no religious items? Is that okay? We celebrate a more secular Christmas, and Winter Solstice.

LINBUR0100 07/22/2009 #

Imakebelieve, I would not feel comfortable making that a requirement since people can already be making their items before partners are assigned, and after all the whole point of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ. However, I personally would find it difficult to think of something religious to make for this and I am a devout Christian, so I doubt you would get very many religious items. At most possibly a cross ornament or something that you could perhaps use for an ornament trade with someone else later.

ladycolor7 08/10/2009 #

watching

Zanara 08/16/2009 #

Hello, I am slightly worried that with a send date of November 24th, an international package would not find its way to its partner in time to start opening their 12 days of goodies especially during the busy mail season. - watching--

LINBUR0100 08/26/2009 #

This is a response to Zanara's comment above. I would love to get more feedback about what other participants or potential participants think about it:

Traditionally, the 12 days of Christmas actually start on Christmas, not 12 days before. However, as most people will want to start with the small item and move on up to the larger one, I calculated this to start on December 14 with Christmas itself being the 12th day. Then I calculated backwards 3 weeks, which is how I came up with November 24 as the send day. I do not know much about international send times I'll admit, so if it is unlikely that a package would reach its destination in that time, I can add one additional week of lead time. However, that will be removing one week of craft time, which I think most of us need, especially for the large, somewhat special item to be opened last. I know a lot of us would probably want to make that last item at least somewhat related to our partner's profile, which could take longer. Which would you find more of a risk: having only 3 weeks of mail time, or not having long enough to work on the gifts? Please post comments below.

LINBUR0100 08/27/2009 #

Hallo ladies. I have had a question as to whether or not the items could be handmade by someone other than ourselves. In my opinion this would be fine, because my sole intent in creating this swap was to avoid the typical "candy and mass produced Christmas knick-knacks" trap that we could easily fall into with a non-handmade swap. If anyone has any other thoughts about this, please let me know, but otherwise, I'll say that it would be fine with me.

ArtGirlBlue 09/ 2/2009 #

Love this idea! Not sure if I can afford an international send for this though. I'll be watching for now.

pahasiga 09/ 7/2009 #

I'd say you need to make a clear decision, whether it is "handmade" (and if some items are not made by sender, must of course be stated so in the note accompanying the swap), or "handmade by you".

jerilynfoley 10/ 1/2009 #

I would really like to do this, but I have gotten international swappers several times (more than several) and have never been picked to receive something from an international swapper. That's one of the major reasons I joined the swapbot. International mail charges can be quite a bit. If a swap comes up with less of a commitment, (less items) I would love to do it.

ArtGirlBlue 10/ 1/2009 #

I just noticed this is now international. :( Can't afford that right now. Have fun everyone! This seems like a great swap!

thriftymermaid 10/ 2/2009 #

Sorry, I'm in the same boat! Love international mail, but can't afford to send larger packages, also worried that this is such a busy time stuff is more likely to be lost/very late delivered internationally! If you make another usa one, I would love to join!!

LINBUR0100 10/ 5/2009 #

Partners have been assigned. Sorry for the delay but I was waiting to hear back from someone who almost but not quite met the requirements. It did not work out, so I was able to assign today.

Happy Christmas Swapping!

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Click here to log in.

I received the item
I sent the item

Received from:
For multiple members, separate names with spaces

Description: