Swap-bot Weblog

weekly featured swap: Your Creative Space!

Jun 30th 2010 07:14:40 am

creativespace

I don’t often feature “Type 1: Electronic” swaps as the weekly swap, but there are some great ones out there in the Swap-bot universe! So, this week I am featuring , an email swap hosted by . For the swap, you will email two photos of your own creative space (your office, craft corner, art studio, etc) with a description to each of your five partners. (Above is a photo of my office space – on a clean day – where I do all of my working and crafting.)

More instructions from the swap description:

“Please include a brief summary of what we’ll see, features you’re proud of, why exactely you need your cat sleeping in that exact place, procrastination devices we might spy … and please tell us what you’re doing there – writing, crafting, woodwork, alienating significant others, developing world domination plans…”

It is an easy email swap, but I always find it fascinating to see where other people create! New users are welcome in the swap, but everyone must have a completed profile and zero no-sends. The sign up date is coming up quickly on Monday, July 5th, so if you want to share your creative space with your fellow swappers!

6 Comments » Categories: Weekly Featured Swap

handmade marketplace: Etsy Bunting Picks

Jun 24th 2010 09:11:25 am

Are you hosting any parties or picnics this summer? Why not do some easy and festive decorating with one of these handmade buntings (garlands?) found on :

I just love fun party decorations and these reusable buntings seem like such a better idea than the disposable ones you can buy at party stores. What do you think?

monsters the movie

3 Comments » Categories: Handmade Marketplace

Ready, Set, Create! Call for Entries

Jun 23rd 2010 12:42:52 pm

Have you heard of Ready, Set, Create?

2 Comments » Categories: craftiness

weekly swap: Put a Hat On It – Altered Postcard

Jun 22nd 2010 07:15:05 am

I haven’t featured a postcard swap in quite a while and this one sounds like a lot of fun: hosted by .

For this international swap, you alter three store-bought postcards (one for each of your three partners) by putting a hat on at least one human or animal on the front of the card. The swap description describes the requirements best:

“For this swap you will have 3 partners and you will send 1 altered postcard to each partner. The cards you send must be store bought cards which you have altered by putting a hat on at least one person, animal, or object on the front of each card. You can of course add more than one hat and alter the cards in any other way you like. You may use any method you like to alter the cards such as drawing, collage, stickers, stamping, etc, but remember that the card needs to survive the post so make it strong.

Please send your altered cards “naked” through the post without an envelope and use a real stamp if possible (unless your partner prefers otherwise). Don’t forget to write a nice message to each of your partners on the backs of the cards.”

It is a fun and easy postcard swap with a twist! All swappers with over a 4.5 rating are welcome to join. The sign up deadline for the in June 30th.

1 Comment » Categories: Weekly Featured Swap

friday link love: June 18th, 2010

Jun 18th 2010 08:05:51 am

Father’s Day is on Sunday (in the US) and there is still time to make a cool DIY gift!

Fold these cute on Paper Crave (seen in the photo above).

I love this superhero-themed (with free printables) from Jordan Ferney (of Oh Happy Day!) on Alphamom.

There are more over on MarthaStewart.com.

And just for laughs, does your dad need some ?

1 Comment » Categories: friday link love

Swapper Meet-ups!

Jun 17th 2010 03:19:12 pm

download movie welcome to the rileys hd

There were a lot of great Swap-bot meet-ups last week! Above is the group that met at in Chantilly, Virginia, on Sunday. In the photo are , , , and (with Syrus). This is the group’s second meet-up and they have another planned for September. It looks like they made some fun clay masterpieces!

On Tuesday, I met up with two Swap-bot members in New York City. (on the left) came all the way from The Netherlands, and (on the right) traveled from Boston. ( in the middle.) We had fun shopping a few craft stores in Soho, buying yarn and some stamp carving supplies. It is so awesome to meet swappers in person! I love it!

There were two other large meet-ups over the weekend in Illinois and Ohio. I hope to share photos from the events soon. I have already received some excellent reports about all the fun they had!

3 Comments » Categories: Swappy Goodness

handmade marketplace: Etsy cupcake picks

Jun 16th 2010 08:06:39 am

I know, I know… cupcakes have just about jumped the shark in terms of popularity, but I can’t help but continue to love them! There are thousands and thousands of cupcake-themed items on , so it is hard to browse them all… but here are some cupcakes that caught my eye:

What do you think? Are cupcakes totally over-played or do you still love them?

buy tron: legacy the movie

4 Comments » Categories: Handmade Marketplace

weekly swap: Adopt a Despicable Me Minion!

Jun 14th 2010 11:06:29 am

UPDATE:
will be in theaters on July 9th and are out spreading the word! They want to travel the globe and Universal Pictures is helping them do just that by sponsoring an international on Swap-bot.

Every participant who signs up for the by June 22nd will receive their very own, free
watch yip man 2 film

, blow-up Minion mailed to them for use in the swap. Then, each swapper will personalize their Minion by dressing him up, adding some bling, a prop… anything! For the swap, each participant must photograph their minion in a local spot (for example, I’m taking my Minion to the Brooklyn Bridge) and then email the photo to their two swap partners. It is like a Flat Stanley-style swap, but with cute Minions! Plus, each swapper can submit their photo to MinionSwap@gmail.com for a chance to win a Despicable Me prize pack, which includes a $50 Fandango gift certificate and fun movie merchandise!! Wow!

Crusher loves his Minion!

All of the Minion photos will be submitted to the and may be shared on the . I can’t wait to see what everyone does with their minions!

For more information about Despicable Me, check out the or the . You can even have fun while you wait for your real Minion to arrive in the mail.

7 Comments » Categories: Weekly Featured Swap

friday link love – June 11th, 2010

Jun 11th 2010 02:02:38 pm

Hello, friends! It has been a while since my last link love blog post, so I have a lot of good stuff for you. Enjoy!

Do you like that cheery garland seen above? You can make your own by following the on I Still Love You. It is such a simple idea, but creates such a unique and lovely result!

This is really funny and I can totally relate: (Due to her super-large craft stash, not due to bad behavior! ha!)

I had never heard of the until it was introduced to me by the Craft Critique editors.

This may be slightly odd, but it is totally ingenious: Check out the dryer lint crafts (yes, dryer lint!) on this week.

You already know that I love postal mail, but you may not know that I also love letterpress stationery. is a beautiful design studio in Oregon that combines both!

Check out all of these fun summer recipes:

on Disney’s Family Fun site. (Father’s Day is June 20th in the US.)

Love this on Craft Gossip!

Mint and chocolate is my favorite combo, so I have got to try these on Joyful Abode.

on Chica and Jo.

Ok, I revise my statement above. S’mores is actually my favorite chocolate flavor combo and I must make this on Make and Takes asap!

How cool!

If you live in the Chicago area, you should really consider going to the happening on June 18th. ()

Speaking of crafty get-togethers, two Swap-bot groups are hosting events this weekend:

Tomorrow (June 12th) the is getting together in Carbondale, Illinois. Contact for more info.

Tomorrow the is meeting up in Columbus, Ohio. Contact for more info.

On Sunday (June 13th), Swap-bot members in the Washington, DC area are getting together at Clay Cafe Studios in Chantilly, Virginia. Contact for more info.

For even more crafty fun, think about attending or hosting an event in honor of Etsy birthday on June 18th! And, if you’re hosting an event, check out these .

That is all I have for now, but please share more cool links in the comments section…

1 Comment » Categories: friday link love

Throw an Etsy Craft Party!

Jun 10th 2010 07:40:32 am

Have you heard about the giant, worldwide event happening next Friday?!

In partnership with and (a new, cool service from Meetup.com), has launched a global initiative to energize local communities to make art together. They want everyone to celebrate crafting together on June 18, 2010 (which just happens to be Etsy’s birthday) with as many Craft Party celebrations across the globe as possible. Their goal is to get 10,000 people to RSVP’s for Craft Parties on !

If you want to play along, host your own Craft Party next Friday and make sure to list it on the . Then, invite your friends and have them RSVP. Etsy will provide free downloadable Craft Party Kits containing crafty project instructions and templates, along with tips and ideas for hosting your own party. Stay tuned to the for all the details!

No Comments » Categories: Handmade Marketplace

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