I love participating in swaps.. but I sometimes feel that I get all hung up on the extras of a swap. Correct me if I'm wrong.. but isn't there something wrong with spending another 10-30 dollars for the extras after you have made the required item. Then add in the shipping on top of all of that!!!
Yes its great to get the wonderful extras... don't get me wrong. I have had my share of wonderful items given to me ;) But I think... or should I say... I need to rein in our extras a bit... Really I only want you to spend no more than $5.00 on store purchased items. Feel free to use what ever you have on hand to make your extras. I am sure your partner would rather have wonderful handcrafted items vs store purchased anyway. ;)
I know I would love these items :)
Here are some suggestions of what you can add to your package.
White Tissue Paper (could be used for making apron patterns)
Free Wal-Mart Recipe cards
Post it notes
Spool of Thread
One Candy Bar
Small package of cookies
One Pk Gum
Handmade tea bag holder
Handmade check book cover
Handmade Eye glass case
Handmade Potato/corn cooking bag
Sew your favorite item and share that with your partner
Small cloth Drawstring bags (nice for the special items in your pantie drawer)
Handcrafted Potholder
Make a pillow cover (sham type .. from your stash)
Make a cloth head band
Pincushion (handmade of course)
Handmade Rotary cutter bag
Handmade Project bag ( simple no frills)
Handmade Grocery bag
Handmade draw string shoe bag
Handmade Needle book
One of those handmade.. scissor and strawberry fob things (I forget what they are called)
Handmade micro-wave heat pack
Handmade Cloth lunch bag
Handmade... sewing machine scrap bag (the kind used for sergers)
Handmade can cozy
Handmade chair cozies.. (the ones that hang over and you put your remote control and TV Guide in it.)
Handmade Bed Cozy (the kind that fit between the mattresses. You put your glasses and book in them)
Handmade cloth boxes (or bowls)
Handcrafted Stuffie
Pk of Needles
Pk of Rick Rack
Roll of lint remover tape (to get creature hair off projects)
Felt squares
Embroidery Floss
Recycle your favorite book or magazine
Emery board
Small bottle of Hand lotion
Take something from your stash that you haven't used yet (fabric,lace,buttons,tape measure, snaps, floss, rickrack, etc)
Old buttons
Send an old craft pattern
Last but not least... send that gift that you got for Christmas that you hated and will never use :)
My brain is fried on ideas... I know my creative women can come up with something wonderful :) To make for their partners.
I hope everyone gets the idea.. small is more with my swaps from now on!!! Everyone knows I have had a huge chop in pay.. and I Know there are a lot more like me out there that wants to play but can't afford the expensive extras... so let back up and reflect... the swap item is really what matters here :) That is what we sign up for not the extras!!!!
Thanks for letting me voice about this very important issue to me. I have to cut back if I am going to continue to play... sorry if this is disappointing to many of you!!!!
20 comments:
I agree...and I want to keep swapping but I would hope no one 'expects' extras that take away from my 'table'...I just started Swap-bot and it's so fun and addicting but I got into it for the fun...not the $$$$. Happy Swapping!
I totally agree. If it's an apron swap that should be the emphasis. We have no need to one-up each other. The last package I mailed cost me more than the contents and those were $30. You add another $27 on for shipping to Norway and wham-o. Busted! I am always okay with not getting the extras. I won't be participating in this swap but maybe the next.
Love your post and your list. I feel overwhelmed sometimes thinking my package isn't going to be as good as what I get and don't want my partner to be upset.
Ditto, Carla.
It's good to have these guidelines. It makes the whole swap thing easier to be involved with.
I agree. I think people get way out of control. It's nice to recieve but sucks if all that is expected of you as well. The first public apron swap I held was all about the apron, no frills, no pressure.
Meme says that she agrees- I know folks who quit swaps as they could not compete -and on groups folks tell what they received.....
little things for a surprise is a nice thoughtfu idea but over-doing spoils the swap-
re apron- you could add a special bag of tea- (the ones that are prewrapped) or a book mark- or if from another country- a post card of your area-
must go now but just wanted to add a thougt-- hugs from Meme
I do share the items I get.. but I don't always tell all of the extras.. unless they were made special just for me.. and I know that they were made special. I just post a photo most of the time of the themed item with out the extras.
M
I agree too! I am sore that I cant play this time. With moving I am afraid I am not going to be able to keep up with the timelines.....I cant wait to see everyones results though.
M ~
Thanks for this post and the list of GREAT ideas for extras! Sometimes "the extras" are the most stressful part of the swap!
I agree that we all need to be more reasonable about this, so we can still afford the enjoyment we get out of swaping:)
Thanks for the swapping fun, Auntie:)
Hugz,
CJ
I agree, and thank you for the list of extras. It will come in handy for me since I'm committed to two swaps and have just recently been let go from my job.
~Tootles for now!
Couldn't agree with you more Marcel!WELL SAID and you spoke for many of us..I even thought about doing no more swaps.Because I just couldn't spend all the extra for extras. Then felt so bad.I agree what ever the swap maybe whether is be a Apron , Doll what ever that should be what the swap is all about.You list is wonderful and I really think we do need guidelines to go by.That way there are any hurt feelings!
I totally agree!! Sometimes I don't do some swaps because I can't do many of the extras. I had my first partner let me know she was disappointed and she's never been a bloggy friend. It took me a little while to try another swap. Only that first one was like that. I've only had about 3 flaker's, which I think is good. While I don't like flaker's, I'm kind of to busy thinking about what to do for someone else.
I love love your blog. The name and the background is to cute. I am so glad that I came across your blog. What you said about swaps is very true.The postage is what cost about as much as the goodies.Very good idea,maybe this will make people stop and think.
Please stop by.
What a wonderful list and idea. THank you for sharing.
I agree with you 100%!!!!!!
Hugs,
Missy
I always trust my Auntie with her views! I am in!
you have hit the nail on the head...and I totally agree with this..I may use your logic in some of my up coming swaps to remind people to stitck to the swap idea, the main gift.. :) then no one feels cheated when they get less back after they over spent.. 3 cheers to you for putting it into words.. :)
I trust my Aunt Pitty, too! I also completely agree with all of the above! Thanks for the list, I'm going to make one for my blog,too!
I'm the same as Carla (up near the top of the comments). I'm quite often perturbed about joining swaps coz I can't afford to add all the bells and whistles that people send. I'd love to be able to, but the most I can do usually, is the swap item and maybe a small item on top. Postage, especially for overseas people (I'm in Australia) can be a killer, ours is bad enough. The more items you send, the more it's going to cost for postage and that's me out of the game. I'm not trying to make anyone feel sorry for me, but agree so much with someone else's comment about people trying to one up others....get back to the spirit of things...if you want to enter a swap and it's for 'item x' then send item x. If you join up for a swap and they have a dollar value...then remember to do the exchange rate thing and approximate it to your local currency, coz you may live somewhere, such as USA where things aren't as expensive as say Europe. Anyhow, I'm hogging the comments space, when all I really wanted to say is if I were there I'd be giving you a round of applause hun, for being ballsy enough to be the first (that I know of) to voice alot of other peoples thoughts about the 'extras'. Talking of which...thanks for the list of suggested extras....I've printed them off! lol THanks heaps for being swap momma too. Hugs Naomi from Adelaide, Sth Australia
I know I know, I said I wouldn't hog the comments, but I just thought of something that I'd be happy to receive with a swap, especially a handmade one, is a photo of the person making the item, or holding the item if not a handmade swap. Ok, I going back in my box now.
Hugs
Naomi from Adelaide, Sth Australia
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