SHAPE-IT-UP SWAP TIME!

Welcome to the SHAPE-IT-UP! Christmas Swap! It will consist of making a tag or ornament in the shape of a Christmas symbol. For example, something like this, but with embellishments (stuff) on it:

YOU DON'T CRAFT? YOU DON'T CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS? If you aren't a crafter but still want to join the swap, you may do so by buying a tag/ornament instead of making one. If you don't celebrate Christmas, but love crafts and swaps please enter! Just let your partner know that it will be a Winter swap instead!


Here are the directions:
1. You will be making one tag to swap with one person. (If you want to make more than one tag for your partner, that's up to you.) You may also add in any goodies you want to the package, and buy little gifts, but don't go over $10.00 - some of us are in the poor house this year (me, included!).

2. Sign up in the Linky list below.

3. Sign up will be for two weeks, from now until Friday, Nov. 23 (although I always accept stragglers!). There's no limit to how many may join, as it's a one-on-one swap.

4. I will list your partners on Monday, Nov. 26. Then you can go to their blog to check out their style and likes - or ask them directly!

5. Mailing deadline will be Friday, Dec. 7 - that gives you a few weeks to make and mail.

6. Once you receive your tag, post it on your blog. If you want to view others' tags you can go to the Partners post that I'll make, with everyone's blog link on it.

7. Contact your swap partner for their mailing address. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me (or your swap partner) know!

IF YOU'RE NEW TO TAG MAKING, HERE'S A HOW-TO:

~ You can make them as simple or as elaborate as you want.
~ They can be any shape. Don't go larger than 6"x 6" or it won't be considered a "tag". Most people make their tags 3"x4" or 4"x6", though.
~ You want it to be sturdy, not flimsy, so your best bet is to use a piece of cardboard as a backing - many cut out from cereal boxes, etc. - that's a good thickness.
~ Glue sticks or double-sided tape work well for adding paper on. You'll need a stronger glue, or glue gun, when adding embellishments.
~ Print out pictures from the internet and/or use scrapbook papers found at craft stores. Oh, and a word of caution, while you're at the craft store you'll want to bring home a ton of little do-dads to add on - so take lots of money, lol!
~ A piece of ribbon or string to hang it with and, voila, you've got yourself a tag!


If I've forgotten anything, be sure to holler! Feel free to advertise this swap on your blog so others may join. Here's a smaller pic for your sidebar.

HAVE FUN!

2012 CHRISTMAS SWAP COMING!

 I'll be having a Christmas craft and gift swap this year. It will consist of making a tag or ornament in the shape of a Christmas symbol. For example, something like this, but with embellishments (stuff) on it:

**If you aren't a crafter but still want to join the swap, you may do so by buying a tag/ornament instead of making one.**

You may also add in any goodies you want to the package, and buy little gifts, but don't go over $10.00 - some of us are in the poor house this year (me, included!).

I'll be posting the dates and details in the next week or so, but wanted to give you the info ahead of time to get your gears in motion!

DO NOT SIGN UP ON THIS POST! I'll just ignore it. Wait for the official post.

REDNESDAY

Hi everyone! Lots going on this week - school vacation, for one (yay)! I finished my February Page-of-the-Month spread. Here it is ~

The left side is "WISH". I look at all the flower seed catalogs and wish I could buy everything and grow a perfect garden! I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way (right, Carol?). The letters are German scrap, and the flat-back button on the left is from Popalicious Too on Etsy.


And, of course, the opposite page is for Valentine's Day. The cute cut-out girl is from a vintage bridge tally card I have. She's adhered with foam dimensional stickers. The card on the right is a Mini Sweetheart Valentine Flashcard from Pretty Little Studio - love that place!


Here's a close-up of the girl.


I'm going to host an Easter Tag Swap! I'll put up a post with the details on Thursday so the comments don't get lost in with Rednesday.


And, last, if I could ask you guys a favor. If you haven't read my post from Sunday, called Vote for Me!, I'd appreciate it if you would head over to Facebook and vote for my craft in a contest I entered. Thanks!

MY SECRET SANTA & TAG SWAPS!

My goodness! Are you ladies (and gents!) as busy as I've been this past week, getting ready for Christmas? On top of regular life, and dog sitting Bentley, it's been very tiring - but a good tired!

It was so exciting to receive two tags and a Secret Santa package this week! I'll start with the tags.

The one on the right is from Linnea of Neabear and B'Daddy's Nest. The one on the left is from Wendi of Soul Delights. Such beautiful details on both of them! Linnea made hers double-sided, too!

I was surprised when Wendi also sent along a redwork towel and a hand-made tote bag! And, also a Ghiradelli chocolate bar! ;) Thank you, ladies!
Again, sorry for the poor photo quality. It breaks my heart that I can't afford $100 to buy a new camera. Would you believe my printer/scanner is down, too? It just won't turn on - don't know if it just needs a new power cord or if it's something more serious. As you all know, a camera is vital to blogging! But, I'm the type that can make do and carry on!

Now, on to my Secret Santa gifts! I joined the Secret Santa Soiree this year. I received the most wonderful gifts that were tailor-made for me!

In the background is a folded square tablecloth made from red bandanas! I absolutely love it! Look at that scrub brush in the center ~ her dress is the holder! Ingenious! Three vintage Hitchcock mystery magazines - I can't wait to dive into those. At the bottom is a beautiful card of a teacup with cherries on it, and a (real) teabag inside! To the left of that is a pair of vintage red-capped S&P shakers with cherries painted on them - I squealed with delight when I saw these! Beside the scrub lady is a most wonderful hand-made pillowcase of a sunbonnet girl with a cherries print skirt. I'm going to hang it like a dishtowel! On the case is a (not-hand-made) tag of sunflowers that says Sunshine on a Stem. I like that saying! Right above that is a juice glass with a cherry on it - perfect!
The rest of the items in the pic are pretty gift bags and ribbons that these items were wrapped in. My Secret Santa wrote little notes, one for each item - I enjoyed reading these so much, it was a nice personal touch! I tell you, I couldn't have picked out better items for myself - well done, Secret Santa! And you know what? My S.S. didn't reveal herself! But, I know who she is! ;)

CHRISTMAS TAGS AND BENTLEY!

Ladies, are your tags mailed out yet? Today's the mailing deadline. My tags are all gone, now I can't wait to receive!


Katherine is dog-sitting her cousin's dog while she's on vacation this week. I forget what kind he is, but Bentley is a cute little white fluffball! Yesterday was our first day with him and things were quite hectic around here, what with the four cats feeling quite put out by the whole ordeal!


Mister has a new job after being unemployed for three years. He's doing shift work at a beer bottle manufacturing plant. A far cry from biochemistry! But, it will pay some of the bills. This week he's on the graveyard shift (midnight to 8:00) which doesn't coincide well with Bentley's barking at the cats! Oh well, the dog will be gone before we know it.

He sure liked playing with the empty cat food bag!

(Santa, I need a new camera for Christmas!)

CHRISTMAS TAG SWAP PARTNERS

Okay, ladies, here we go! I couldn't wait until Monday to list your partners. We have a healthy list of 22 of you! Hooray!

Here's your partners:

Ruby Jean of Ruby Jean and Donna of Donna's Lavender Nest
Mamatkins of (no blog) mamatkins@hotmail.com and Cheryll of Gone Stitchin'
Linda Ruthie of Linda Ruthie's Aprons and Sara of Different Randomness
Susie of Little Susie Home Maker and Deb the Garage Sale Gal
Carly of SwtVintageLove and Sharon of My Vintage Studio
Lynn of Life On the Wienee Ranch and Mary of Visits With Mary
Tammy (no blog) and Chris of Perfectly Printed
Anne of A Shabby Life and Mary who is Ms. Redo
Shirley of Zetta's Aprons and Toni of Blue Mountain Rise
Janice of Curtains In My Tree and Hope of Pixies Ponderings
Tammy Gail of Wholly Surrendered and Myrna of My Enchanted Home
Wendi of SoulDelights and Myself

Now, you all know what to do! Let's get crafting!

The link to the original post with all the instructions and deadlines is here.

CHRISTMAS TAG SWAP

The link to the list of partners is HERE.

Welcome to the 2011 Christmas Tag Swap! This will be easy-peasy, just like the Autumn Swap we did recently. In fact, I'll just transfer directions from that post to this, so I don't have to retype them!

NOTICE: If you love tag swaps, but don't celebrate Christmas, sign up and ask your partner for a Winter (or Hanukkah) tag swap instead! I'd hate to leave anyone out of this.

1. You will be making one tag to swap with one person. (If you want to make more than one tag for your partner, that's up to you.)

2. Sign up in the Comments section or by emailing me.

3. Sign up will be for two weeks, from now until Friday, Nov. 11 (although I always accept stragglers!). There's no limit to how many may join, as it's a one-on-one swap.

4. I will list your partners on Monday, Nov. 14.

5. Mailing deadline will be Friday, Dec. 2 - that gives you three weeks to make and mail!

6. Once you receive your tag, post it on your blog. There may be one or two who have a partner without a blog - please post the tag you make for them, too! If you want to view others' tags you can go to the Partners post that I'll make, with everyone's blog link on it.

7. Now, because this is Christmas, you certainly may send your partner any goodies, of any kind, that you'd like to!

8. Contact your swap partner for her mailing address. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me (or your swap partner) know!

Newbies, here's how to make them:

~ You can make them as simple or as elaborate as you want.
~ They can be any shape. Don't go larger than 6"x 6" or it won't be considered a "tag". Most people make their tags 3"x4" or 4"x6", though.
~ You want it to be sturdy, not flimsy, so your best bet is to use a piece of cardboard as a backing - many cut out from cereal boxes, etc. - that's a good thickness.
~ Glue sticks or double-sided tape work well for adding paper on. You'll need a stronger glue, or glue gun, when adding embellishments.
~ Print out pictures from the internet and/or use scrapbook papers found at craft stores. Oh, and a word of caution, while you're at the craft store you'll want to bring home a ton of little do-dads to add on - so take lots of money, lol!
~ A piece of ribbon or string to hang it with and, voila, you've got yourself a tag!


Let me know if I have forgotten anything, and please feel free to advertise this on your own blog - the more, the merrier!

I GOT MY TAG YESTERDAY!

I'm so thrilled! My partner in the Autumn Tag Swap was Lynn of Life On The Wienee Ranch! She did a fantastic job here, lots of details, and double sided!


She also tucked in these adorable stickers ~


And, you'll never guess who they're made by. None other than our dear blog friend, Jenny, of Everyday is a Holiday!


This is the tag that I sent to her:


Can't wait for Christmas swaps to begin!

AUTUMN TAG SWAP PARTICIPANTS

I hope you're not getting tired of seeing Autumn Tag Swap posts!

Participants - I know some of you mailed out your tags late (which is OK) and missed the deadline for linking up. I added another Linky to accommodate you (and me!) - it will be open through Wednesday. It is at the bottom of the same post here.

AUTUMN TAG SWAP LINKY

Sorry it's so late in the day, ladies! I had forgotten about the link until Tammy reminded me! I'll leave it open all week, so you'll have plenty of time to post the tag you received. I don't have mine yet; but, then again, I didn't check the mail today!

AUTUMN TAG SWAP PARTNERS

Partner time, ladies!

Deb, Garage Sale Gal and Chris, Perfectly Printed
Renee, My Vintage Mending and Bitsy, Bits of Ribbon
Trisha, Glass Slippers and Janice, Curtains In My Tree
Linnea, Neabear and Jo, . . . and a cherry on top
Sandy, 521 Lake St. and Tammy, Tammy's In Love (Tammy, please send Sandy your email)
Lynn, Life on the Wienee Ranch and myself
Ruby Jean, Ruby Jean and Tammy Gail, Wholly Surrendered

For those of you new to tag making I've added a few pics below, of tags that I've made in the past, as samples.
~ You can make them as simple or as elaborate as you want.
~ They can be any shape. Don't go larger than 6"x6" or it won't be considered a "tag". Most people make their tags 3"x4" or 4"x6", though.
~ You want it to be sturdy, not flimsy, so your best bet is to use a piece of cardboard as a backing - many cut out from cereal boxes, etc. - that's a good thickness.
~ Glue sticks or double-sided tape work well for adding paper on. You'll need a stronger glue, or glue gun, when adding embellishments.
~ Print out pictures from the internet and/or use scrapbook papers found at craft stores. Oh, and a word of caution, while you're at the craft store you'll want to bring home a ton of little do-dads to add on - so take lots of money, lol!
~ A piece of ribbon or string to hang it with and, voila, you've got yourself a tag!

Contact your swap partner for her mailing address. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me (or your swap partner) know!

You will have two weeks to make the tags and have them mailed out no later than Thursday, Sept. 22nd. On Monday, Sept. 26th I will open a Linky post so we can all share our tags on our blogs.

AUTUMN TAG SWAP

Okay, folks, here it is ~ the Autumn Tag Swap!

You can make any shape tag that you want, and no larger than 6" x 6".Sign up in the comment section below and, when I have all the names in, I will randomly pair you up with another participant.

Sign up begins today, Tuesday, August 30 and closes Wednesday, Sept. 7th. Then on Thursday, Sept. 8th I will list the swap partners. You will have two weeks to make the tags and have them mailed out no later than Thursday, Sept. 22nd. On Monday, Sept. 26th I will open a Linky post so we can all share our tags on our blogs.

There may be a few people who do not have blogs, so their partner with a blog should post both the giving and receiving tags.

Let me know if I have forgotten anything! Oh, and feel free to advertise this on your own blog.

Partner list is here.

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK . . .

I want to host an Autumn Tag "party". Should we do a tag swap, or a tag blog hop?

For those of you not familiar with these . . .

~ a tag swap is where you make a tag, I choose randomly a partner for you from those who sign up, and you mail the tag you made to each other.

~ a tag blog hop is where you make your tag, post it on your blog, then link it to my blog on a certain date (like on Rednesdays) so we can all view each other's.

Let me know what you like, and I'll choose from the majority of comments!

EASTER TAG SWAP GOODIES

I have sent my package of Easter Tag Swap goodies to Deb, the Garage Sale Gal. And . . . I received my package from her! Lots and lots of goodies, fer shur!

Awesome, awesome cherries! ME items, a fluffy chick, recipe cards, and I LOVE the little chalkware cherries!

Oops! Forgot to put the pen in the cherries pic! Beautiful tag, and some stickers, postcards, chick figurine, and chocolates - that were eaten upon arrival!

The two chicks made a friend straight away and feel right at home on top of the piano!

The back of the tag is so pretty, too!

And, here it is displayed on the front of my craft cupboard!
Thanks, Deb, for your wonderful Easter gifts!

REDNESDAY - VALENTINES AND A ROBIN

Remember the photo I showed last week of the Robin seen through the wreath? (go here) Mister has been throwing raisins out occasionally for it. Two days ago it was on a lower branch of the crabapple tree, so I threw out a handful and it didn't even fly away. This morning I went out again and, as soon as I threw some raisins onto the snow it flew down to them immediately. As I threw the remainder, the robin didn't even flinch - guess we have a new "pet"!

As promised, I'm going to show you the stunning Valentines I received from my Swap! Lots of detail, surprises, hard-work, originality, and loveliness (and a few bits of candy, too!). Thank you so much, everyone, for your pretty, pretty creations! ~

I am also linking this post to Bluebird Papercrafts Dolly Dingle Valentine Exchange! list.

Sandy of 521 Lake Street
I've been restraining, but I don't think this lollypop
is going to stay on that card much longer! Sandy made a
detailed double-sided tag, but she's definitely not two-faced!

Carey of Chicory Nits
Great job, Carey, you really captured me!

Elizabeth of Bluebird Papercrafts
What can I say? E is the best tag maker EVER!

Angela of Down to the Darling Details
I love the cross-stitch look of the letters, and
the piece of "taffy", too!

Kadra of Fun With Aunt Kadra Louise
Isn't this the most unique idea using the Sweet Stripes box?

Jean Kemp
Simply sweet on the outside, precious on the inside!

Carrie of Junque Magnet
Love the glitter key and beads!

Linda of Linda Ruthie's Aprons
Mmm - cherries and gingham!

Sharon of Red Lead Paperworks
Fab card and extra goodies to boot!

Patty of Sewing Seeds
Such soft colors with a petite fairy!

Betty of She's Sew Pretty
Love those chubby cheeks!

Cindy of Whimsical Musings
Even though not a swap participant, Cindy sent
this beautiful tag with the most gorgeous
turquoise and red - and an "S" for me!

I think I still have a few stragglers yet to come - I love getting mail!