Swapping Resumed :)

Anyone up for a St. Patty's Day Swap?!! Let me know if you are and I will work on details. Or maybe we should do a St. Patricks/Easter/Spring Swap all combined?

Swapping on Pause... Sorry!

Hi There Swap Sisters!

I am so sorry to do this, but I am pregnant and struggling with morning sickness (all day long!) and am finding the need to minimize my responsibilities. My limited energy needs to first go to my family and there isn't much left after that. I fully plan to restart again when life gets calmer- although it may be a year from now. Until then, keep crafting and feel free to post any fun ideas you may have seasonally.

--Kirsti

kirstikoo(at)gmail(dot) com

THANK YOU Christine!!!

This was such a fun package. Thank you for the cookbook of treats, the kisses, the ornament kit, the ornament, the Santa, and the little paint books for my little ones. My favorite was the reindeer. My little girl was also so excited about the reindeer. I love their little noses and their tails and just everything about them. Thank you, I am sure they were a lot of work for you. We love them.

Megan
Thank You! We love it all!

Thank You Melonie!

How cute are these snowman shirts that Melonie made for my 3 boys?!

They couldn't wait to try them on!

Thank you Melonie! They are so fun, we love them!

THANKS!!!!!

Lindsey!!!

Thanks soooo much for my gift!!!! I love it all, but especially the nativity block!

I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Thanks again!

-Megan

Thank you Karen!

I was so excited when I got your package!  You outdid yourself!

Everything is wonderful!!  My favorites are the big "JOY" sign and the nativity. (I needed a nativity!) Thank you so much!  I love everything!

Thanks again, Melanie

Thank you Teri!

Thanks Teri for the awesome swap! I love the advent calendar- made out of mini match boxes all decorated. Each day there is an activity- this will be perfect for my kids and a fun way to countdown until Christmas!

My boys loved their mini stockings full of activities- especially the scissors and stencils! I couldn't even snap a picture because they were claiming whose was whose-- and the Nerds! One of the boxes had a hole so it was literally snowing red, green and white nerds!

I so love this little burlap tree (it is so my thing :).) and looks great with my other home-made trees. These little snowmen are darling!! You have to show us how you made them.

Also, I loved the quote you cut for me and I am trying to figure out what to put it on-- what did you do with yours- frame, wood...? It says:

"Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus! -Neal A. Maxwell." I Love it- and it would go perfect my nativities.

(And I forgot!)

This darling snowman family- it's us :) I have it on my desk in my office!

Thanks again for the fun swap Teri!

Thanks Barbara!

I had so much fun participating in my first swap! I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but my mind just got reeling with all the things I could make with the little tidbits given! I not only had fun creating some little things for my swap buddy, but loved looking forward to something too!

I also am in love with what I got! Barbara you nailed the essence of me! :)

I accidentally opened the box on my bed and got glitter everywhere. Oops! Love the non-traditional take on Christmas!

Very much looking forward to the next swap and challenging myself even more! This was a great experience!

Thanks Julie!

I am so excited to wear this adorable apron during all my holiday cooking, and maybe just for fun because it is so cute!  Thank you soo much!  The jingle bells frame is adorable and my 3 year old's favorite.  My daughter loves the Merry Christmas frame and plans to help me find just the right picture to put in there.  Thanks for the great package today!

Sneak Peek for Malinda

Looks like snow...

A Preview For Teri....

Teri - Here is your preview....Bwa-Ha-Ha!!!! I had such a blast putting it together and have just one little thing to finish up. It's personally my favorite swap gift yet....hopefully you enjoy it too! I'll be sure to mail it 2-3 day priority. Happy Holidays!!

A little peek for Kirsti

I tried posting this several times yesterday, but blogger kept giving me errors and I am just now getting time to sit down at the computer and do it today.
It is in the mail and I hope you enjoy it.

Sneak Peek for Melonie

Merry Christmas!!

I hope that you enjoy these goodies :)

Sneak peek!

For Julie L.

Sending this priority today.  Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!

Sneek Peek for Karen S

It's on it's way!!! Should be there with-in a few days, it didn't have a long ways to go!

I hope you like it, I had a lot of fun!

I also hope that you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

-Megan J

SNEAK PEEK FOR MELANIE F

I HOPE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ENJOY THIS PACKAGE!

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sneak Peek for Christine!!!

I had a lot of fun putting this package together!

 I hope you love it!

 Merry Christmas!!!

(I will get it in the mail today, and it doesn't have too far to go,

so you should hopefully have it within a couple of days!)

Sneak Peek for Beth!

Hi there Beth! So excited to be sending these goodies to you tomorrow! I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!!

For Lindsey K.

Here is your sneak peak.. It will be in the mail by wednesday!! Hope you love it!!

Sneak Peek for Rachel S.

I feel mean for teasing you like this, but hope you enjoy! :)

Winter Swap 2011

I don't know about you but I am already thinking about Christmas decorations and crafting!

I love winter time; planning for the holidays makes me giddy as I think about the preparations. Christmas celebrations full of twinkling lights, hot chocolate, wrapped gifts, and more family gatherings. Let's celebrate by swapping our favorite Winter and Christmas things!

If you are not already a Seasonal Swaperoos Member, go here for details and qualifications. Once you become a member, we will gather together and create some fun seasonal and Winter holiday items: decorations, treats, paper crafts, accessories, you name it! You should spend about $15 on supplies to create your items and may also include some store bought items. Just remember that this is a craft swap, so the majority of your items should be handmade.

Here's how to participate:
Go HERE for more information on joining our Swaperoos Group! That will give you information on how to enroll. If you qualify, enroll in Swaperoos Group by paying the $5 membership fee (1 Year Membership). If you started your membership last December, you will need to renew, email me if you need me to check or I will send you a paypal bill if yours has expired.

Email me (Make sure you spell my name right with "i" before "r"!)

Give me your postal address and tell me 5 things about yourself that you want your swap partner to know about you so she can customize their gift to your needs/family size/particular likes. MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE WHAT WINTER HOLIDAYS YOU CELEBRATE!
DEADLINE TO ENTER IS Friday, November 11.
I will pair you with your swap partner by Monday, November 14.
Create or buy your winter-time favorite items, package them up and send them to your swap partner by November 29. PLEASE HAVE YOUR PACKAGE POST MARKED ON OR BEFORE Tuesday, November 29. This way we will have our Winter items in time to decorate by the first week of December!!
Receive your new holiday items and enjoy!!

Also, when you sign up you will receive an invite to become a contributor to our Swap blog. You are committing to post a sneak peek and thank you post to your partners- we love seeing what everyone is creating!!
**I need your help in promoting this swap!! Grab the button or copy the banner, post about it on your blog and share pictures of your gift when you receive it! Please share with me any suggestions you may have along the way.**

Copy this code onto your blog!

<center><a href="http://swaperoos.blogspot.com/2010/11/winter-swap-2010.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn75/kirsti_clark/winterbutton.jpg" /></a></center>

Also leave a comment telling everyone you entered and tell us your favorite thing about winter time! Remember to email me to make sure you qualify to participate with our updated crafting quality rules :)

(a special thanks to Melonie W. for designing our Seasonal banners and buttons!)

Swaperoo Changes:

At the request of many to modify Seasonal Swaperoos into a craft-only type swap, starting with the Winter Swap, Swaperoos will be a little different. In order to participate you must:

--have or participate in a craft blog, website or shop (and must be submitted to me for approval).

If you currently do not have a blog please show me some of your crafts or creations. If you have participated in the swaps in the past it will be easy for me to see the quality of your crafts and creations.

--have the majority of your swap package be handmade items. Of course it's great to add treats, accessories and trinkets, please be mindful this is a craft swap. The main items should be handmade

In addition, we will be spotlighting each of our swap members throughout the year, so we can all get to know each other and see where each of us get our inspiration. If you would like to be spotlighted with this next swap or have a project you would like to show us, let me know. Make sure you take pictures of the creation process so we can do a step by step tutorial post.

For those of you who have already paid for one year and do not qualify for future swaps, I can get a group together for the remainder of your membership.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know!

Thank you,

--Kirsti

Wooden Owl by Lyndsey F.

I sure loved this cute owl that Lyndsey gave to Malinda for the Fall Swap!

Thanks for sharing with us Lyndsey and Can't wait to get to know you better!

1. Tell us a little about yourself?
I am Lyndsey and I love creating. I am a mother to 2 crazy kids .. they take up most of my time. We are a very close little family and do just about everything together. I love it that way!! Can I just say how much I love swaps - we look forward to each one!!

2.What are your favorite materials to craft with?
Hands down- SPRAY PAINT!! I seriously try to spray paint everything.. it is addicting. It provides a new life to anything.. plus its easy to change if it doesn't turn out just right. I would seriously be happy with a diet coke in one hand and a can of spray paint in the other.

3.What keeps you motivated and inspired?
I LOVE pinterest- if you have yet to check it out you MUST!! I also have a long list of favorite bloggers that inspire me. I love to change things in my home - so blogging and crafting gives me a great outlet to do that!!

4. What do you think is most rewarding about crafting?
I love making something that has my personal stamp on it. I love walking around my home and seeing the things that I have contributed with my own hands. I think it awesome to create something different then what you could pick up on a shelf at a store. It doesn't hurt either when someone sees something you have made and loves it :)

I am showing you how I created the little wood owl. I feel kind of like a cheater because I did not actually do anything beside paint and decorate this owl.. but I hope you will like it anyways.

I picked him up unfinished at a local wood craft store..



So I am not great at tutorials .. mainly because I struggle with patience and get way ahead of myself before I realize I forgot to take pictures. So here are the pieces already painted..


I sanded all the pieces and applied glitter to the wings. I use modge podge to make the glitter stick - its the easiest way I have found that doesn't make a huge mess.

Again- horrible blogger time: I cut a small piece of scrap book paper and modge podge it on Mr. Owls tummy and for his little eye balls I cut some small vinyl circles. I used the glue gun to attach all the pieces Thats it!! Easy right? Maybe to0 easy!! Thanks for letting me show you anyways :)
Thanks Lyndsey!! Also, we've made some changes in who can participate in our swaps. A list of qualifications for the Winter Swap and sign up details will be posted soon!! --Kirsti

Pumpkin Trio from Kelli

Today we are excited to learn about Kelli from Lolly Jane!

1: Tell us a little about yourself: My twin sister, Kristi, and I run our blog, Lolly Jane. It's a great outlet from my busy life with 4 kids and a police officer husband who's gone a lot.

2: What are your favorite materials to craft with? I love wood and paint. Paint can make the BIGGEST difference with a little effort. And if you hate it, just re-paint it!

3: What keeps you motivated and inspired? Kristi & I motivate each other, lol! We're always bugging each other with a new craft to work on or technique to try. We're inspired by what's around us, Pinterest is a current fave too.

4: What do you think is most rewarding about crafting? The end result is the most rewarding. Looking at something that was headed to the dump but is now pretty and functional always gives me a sense of accomplishment. I have to craft on a budget, lol, cops just DON'T get paid enough!

Today I'm featuring my Pumpkin Trio. I saw the idea on another blog but slightly altered it. {I try not to copy other projects exactly and try to put my own spin on it}. It's great for fall AND Halloween and that's the best craft, a multi-use one. (:

I was looking for inspiration for my Halloween swap gift and of course began browsing my Pinterest Halloween board where I saw this cute tute. I got to work and within my daughters naptime, had a fun pumpkin trio set for my swap partner:

To make your own, you'll need:

• (1) 2x4: Cut in sizes 6", 8" and 10" heights


• (1) Chunky stick, cut into 3 pieces with saw


• (3) Headless nails


• Chisel & Hammer (wear gloves)


• Mouse sander


• Orange acrylic paint


• Black acrylic paint


• Coordinating brown ribbon

To make these bad boys:

{Part 1}

1. Cut a 2x4 into 3 sizes: 6", 8" and 10"

2. Use mouse sander to sand away splinters/rough edges

3. Use chisel to create pumpkin-like grooves

4. Discover 4-year old's pictures while you were chiseling ;)

5. Smother blocks in orange pumpkin-y paint

6. Distress pumpkins with black paint

Take a break and catch up on DVR'd shows wait for paint to dry :)

{Part 2}

1. After paint is dry, drill nail-size hole into wood

2. Add wood glue onto headless nail

3. Insert headless nail into drilled hole

4. Cut wood stick into 3 pieces (mine are between 1.5-2.5")

5. Drill hole into stick

6. Lightly hammer stick into nail so there's no gap

When wood glue is dry, top with ribbon and that's that!

Your pumpkin trio set is all ready for display:

I am getting SO STINKIN' EXCITED for the holidays as my home is getting more & more festive each week.

Thanks so much Kelli!! Love that this can be used for Halloween or Thanksgiving!