Jul 31st 2009 08:35:08 am

It is the last day of July and I have a big ol’ list of fun links for you! Everything from sewing patterns to crazy sandwiches. Enjoy!

• A free detailed sewing pattern for the most adorable toddler market skirt is available on the Dana Made It blog. (via Craft:)
• Ever wanted to scrapbook the photos you have on your iPhone? Soon you will be able to with a new scrapbooking iPhone App called Coolibah!
• I just discovered iDIY. It is a site all about Do It Yourself weddings, but the free printable downloads offered on the blog (like these labels, and these notecards) are awesome and would be great for lots of projects.
• Travis found this little gem: knitted cozies for plastic lawn chairs - crazy, but cute!
• There is an easy sewing pattern and tutorial for making a Tool Apron on the the Etsy Storque. It was created by the author of Sew What! Bags, Lexie Barnes.
• These AmiDogs patterns for sale on Planet June are so adorable! (They are original crochet amigurumi dog patterns by June Gilbank.) I think the Boston Terrier looks like Crusher.
• For all of you digital designers out there, this Color Palette Generator is pretty sweet. You simply choose a photo from anywhere on the web and it creates a palette from the colors in the image. (via Creature Comforts)
• Ok, this is just for giggles (or gross outs) - check out the crazy sandwiches on Insanewiches.com. The Rubix Cubewich might be the best one…

Now for two little self-promoting items:

• This is most definitely going to be the featured swap next week, but I wanted to give it a shout-out early: The Ernie the Envie craft swap (hosted by MyAliceFair. Ernie is the Swap-bot logo/mascot. Sign up for the swap to create Swap-bot-themed crafts for your partner… I want to post all of the adorable creations here on the blog!
• My friend, Jennifer (of Piddleloop fame), and I have started a fun, new Flickr group: Mugshot Thursdays. We take a PhotoBooth photo of ourselves every Thursday with our coffee mug (or tea mug… or milk mug… any mug) and add it to the photo pool. There are ten people currently in the group, but everyone is welcome to join in on the fun. Come show off your mug collection and your lovely face!

Jul 30th 2009 11:26:35 am

Two of your fellow swappers have generously offered to share some free downloadable templates with you. Check ‘em out!

This matchbox template was created by Swap-bot user, HelenJoy. It is for the larger, 250-count matchbox (approximately 4.75 x 2.75 x1.2 inches in size). Click on the image to go to the correct (larger) image size for the template. Then, save it to your computer and print it out - make sure to print it at 100%, not “scale to fit page.” (The template with both parts won’t fit on a single 8.5 x 11 piece of paper so you will either need cut it apart in an image editing program or download the two parts here and here.) The larger matchboxes need to be constructed from something stiffer than card stock, like a cereal box or light cardboard. Let us know if you have any tips or suggestions for constructing them successfully.

Another great download comes from user, IlonaH. She has created an ATC basics kit which is free for download on her personal website. Click here to be taken to “My other life,” Ilona’s blog and the place where you can download her kit. Her kit has an ATC template, plus some digital papers that she has created to get you started making Artist Trading Cards on the computer. A very cool freebie for those interested in trying out some digital crafting!

Thank you, Helen and Ilona, for your nice work and generosity! If there is anyone else out there who would like to share any free templates, patterns, or tutorials, please let me know (email rachel [at] swap-bot.com). I would love to share your projects on the blog.

2 Comments » Categories: free downloads

Jul 24th 2009 06:14:56 am

It is Friday again - enjoy these crafty links and have a great weekend! xoxo

• There are some amazing free printable downloads available on all sorts of fun blogs. Here are some that I have come across in the last few weeks: Floral Notecards from Creature Comforts, Thank You Card and Envelope from Cottage Industrialist, Embellish Recipe Card from Vale Design, and Spiral Dot Box from Don’t Eat the Paste. Print and play!
• I need this help: How to naturally clean your kitchen on the Etsy Storque blog.
• Dotee Doll construction tips on Crafty Place Tutorials.
• A really cute Anti-boredom Kit Tutorial on Instructables. The cute kit fits in a mint tin and would be great for both kids and adults.
• Is the weather super-summer-hot where you live? Check out this crazy tutorial for baking cookies in your parked car. Wild!

1 Comment » Categories: friday link love

Jul 23rd 2009 06:33:23 am

This large and beautiful bag with a sweet Ernie the Envie softie charm was made by Meitalt for her partner in the I Love Swap-bot Handmade Item swap, which she also hosted. The image on the right is a close-up of the hanging Ernie charm. Meitalt made the bag nice and large so that it can be used for taking swap packages to and from the post office. What an amazing handmade item for her lucky partner to receive!!

For the same swap, I (racheljohnson) crocheted this portrait of Ernie for my partner. I had a lot of fun working on him and am happy with how cute he turned out despite my low level embroidery skills.

Ernie the Envie is the Swap-bot mascot/logo. I would love to post any handmade Ernie creations on the Swap-bot blog. Feel free to use any of the graphics on the Stuff page in your projects and email your finished photos to rachel [at ] swap-bot.com.

3 Comments » Categories: Swappy Goodness

Jul 22nd 2009 07:25:55 am

This week’s featured swap is a creative craft project that will help you get ready for back-to-school time. It is the Altered School Notebook Swap hosted by sewcrazy. For the swap, you purchase a blank school notebook and alter the cover according to your partner’s preferences. You can request that your partner create a notebook for your child who is heading back to school, or one for yourself. Make sure to post your preference in the swap’s comment section after signing up! The completed notebooks could be used for homework or as a journal or sketchbook. The swap is international and it is open for sign up through the end of July. To join in you must have already completed at least five mail swaps and received five 5 ratings. Have fun decorating those notebooks!

No Comments » Categories: Weekly Featured Swap

Jul 21st 2009 07:05:42 am

Back from a little blog break, and I have some awesome swappy goodness for you:

This amazingly small and adorable Ernie the Envie was created by Swap-bot user, Carotte. She recently hosted a Teeny Tiny Stuffie swap that asked the participants to create stuffies smaller than 2 inches. While working on her stuffie for the swap, she created this tiny Ernie. She says he is about 1 inch wide and can really work as a teeny tiny envelope for teeny tiny swap… you can even put a teeny tiny letter inside and close it. How cool is that?! I just adore him!

1 Comment » Categories: Swappy Goodness

Jul 14th 2009 02:21:32 pm

This week’s featured swap is The Twitter Swap hosted by ladyrose. The Twitter Swap is a very simple electronic swap in which you send your Twitter username/url to each of your 10 partners. For example, Swapbot has two Twitter accounts that you can follow: SwapbotNews and swapbot. The swap is open for sign up until August 18th, so even if you do not already have a Twitter account you could create one and start tweeting in anticipation for the swap!

So what is Twitter? “Twitter is a free service that lets you keep in touch with people through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?” It is really fun and easy way to update friends, or family, or anyone on what you are doing.

1 Comment » Categories: Weekly Featured Swap

Jul 13th 2009 08:43:13 am

Swap-bot is having some technical issues and may be down for the next few hours. We are very sorry for the inconvenience.

7 Comments » Categories: bugs, site updates

Jul 13th 2009 07:50:21 am

This amazing (and very large) Ernie the Envie tote bag was crocheted by RobinT - the same fabulous crafter who made the previously posted Ernie plushie. She made it just for fun, not for a specific swap, but what a great way to carry Swap-bot packages to and from the post office!!

9 Comments » Categories: Swappy Goodness

Jul 10th 2009 08:40:36 am

Summer is here and I have the crafty summer-time links to prove it! Lots of projects for kids and adults alike… enjoy!

• Aren’t these adorable Chocolate-Ginger Bathing Beauties cookies too cute for words? You can find the recipe and instructions on MarthaStewart.com.
• Need some ideas to keep the kids busy while school is out? The Long Thread has a list of 50 Summer Crafts for Kids.
• Omg! Spud & Chloe has the cutest, FREE, knitted froggie pattern available for download on their blog.
• Hello Kitty turns 35 this year! She even has a special website to celebrate the occasion.
• Craftzine.com and Crafty Chica are hosting a craft contest. To enter, post a photo of a tote bag you have embellished in the Flickr pool by July 24th. The winner receives a huge craft party package of supplies from Crafty Chica.
• Diane at CraftyPod has just published a new eBook all about weaving and she is offering one of the tutorials from the book as a free download: Woven Wall Art tutorial. Thank you, Diane!
• A little self-promotion: I reviewed Amy Butler’s book, Midwest Modern, over on CraftCritique.com this week. Check it out!
• UPDATE: Travis found this awesome photo tutorial on how to make cheeseburger cupcakes by KateDW on Flickr.

1 Comment » Categories: friday link love