Oct 29th 2010 07:12:15 am

The Halloween weekend is finally here! If you haven’t planned your festivities or costumes yet, here are a few helpful links for last-minute halloweenie projects:

• Aren’t those candy corn jelly bites seen above beautiful?! The recipe can be found on the really amazing blog, Jelly Shot Test Kitchen. Who knew you could make so many cool, bite-size treats with gelatin (i.e. Jell-O)?!
• Creative Halloween Snacks and Treats on Kitchen Explorers.
• These Melting Witch Cookies (from Jennifer of Death by Cupcake) are ingenious and adorable!
• No-sew Halloween Costumes on MarthaStewart.com.
• This is just fun: 22 Amazing Halloween Costumes From the 80s.
• Last-minute, Non-candy Halloween Treats from Tonya Staab. Think coloring pages and crayons instead of more candy…
• There may not be time left to do this yourself, but this Lego Indiana Jones costume is pretty rad! (Also, adorable Mythbusters.)
• Last-minute costumes for your pets on Etsy.
• Speaking of pets and costumes, this is just too cute: Hipster Puppies.
• This is my favorite (especially if you are a New Yorker): 16 Easy Costume Ideas in a cute 90 Second Video on Daily Candy.
• I think these beaded spiders on Tatertots and Jello are pretty – I think there is still time to make a few!
• And… there is a another Last-Minute Halloween Link Love over on the Fave Crafts blog.

Have a spooktakular Halloween!!

2 Comments » Categories: friday link love

Oct 25th 2010 09:35:01 am

By now, I think most Swap-botters know that ATC = Artist Trading Card, and that ATCs are one of the most popular craft items to swap on the ‘bot. I am always looking for interesting ATC swap variations and this one caught my attention this week: Interactive ATC II: Pocket Swap hosted by starrgazer.

The Interactive ATC II: Pocket Swap is international and open to anyone who has completed five mail swaps and has a 4.9 rating. For the swap, you make one interactive ATC that incorporates a pocket for your one partner. Directions from the swap description:

“This card will need to feature some sort of pocket. Intrepret the theme as you wish as long as there is a pocket, with something tucked inside of course. Get creative, think outside the box. Make a quality piece, something that you would enjoy recieving. Senders choice, so you may begin creating at anytime, but profiles can always be inspiring!”

Sign up for the Interactive ATC II: Pocket Swap before November 12th!!

No Comments » Categories: Weekly Featured Swap

Oct 21st 2010 08:13:35 am

As we get closer and closer to Halloween, I feel the need to add some fright to my life. I have also been watching a lot of True Blood, lately… so “vampire” seemed like a good thing to search for on Etsy. (Above is a plush vampire bat from the SoftiesbyRachel Shop.) These are some of my favorite handmade, vampy goods:

Are you into the vampire craze (Twilight, True Blood, Vampire Diaries, etc…) or are you totally over it?

6 Comments » Categories: Handmade Marketplace

Oct 18th 2010 11:38:34 am

Art history was always may favorite subject in school, so this week’s featured swap caught my eye!

If you enjoy art history you should join the Art History ATC Swap hosted by tyttoastronautti. The swap is the first in what hopes to be a series of art history-inspired swaps. Each swap in the series will be inspired by a different period in art history, the first one being Art Nouveau.

Art Nouveau is an international movement and style of art that was most popular at the turn of the 20th century. It is characterized by organic, especially floral and other plant-inspired motifs, as well as highly stylized, flowing curvilinear forms. Artists include Alphonse Mucha, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Gustav Klimt, among many others.

The Art History ATC Swap is international and each participant makes one art nouveau ATC for their one partner. You must have completed at least three mail swaps and have a 4.8 rating, or higher, to join. Sign up before October 30th.

1 Comment » Categories: Weekly Featured Swap

Oct 15th 2010 03:53:51 pm

It is somebody’s birthday today! Travisj, Swap-bot’s web guru extrordinaire, to be exact. We’ll be celebrating tonight, and we want you to have fun, too! Have a link party and visit all of these awesome crafty links…

Halloween-y Links:

• Above is a photo from a video tutorial for making Witches Hat Halloween Cute Cakes using Donsuemor pre-made cakes and Bugles. Yes, Bugles!
• Submit your Halloween costumes, food and drink recipes, and Halloween party decor projects to CraftZine.com’s Halloween Contest for a chance to win great craft prize packagess. Enter by Nov. 2nd.
• Warning: these are pretty gross! 15 of the most disgusting Halloween candies you can buy on Blastr.
• Warning: these look delightful and delicious! Candy Corn Cookies.
• Three kinds of cute ghost cupcakes for Halloween on Cupcakes Take the Cake.
• Do you watch the tv show Dexter? If so, you’ll be intrigued by this How To for Dexter-inspired blood slide candy. Creepy!

General Fun Time Links:

• NASA and Etsy are co-hosting a contest! Enter your handmade artistic item inspired by the NASA Space Shuttle Program and space exploration by Nov. 2nd for a chance to be a VIP guest at a NASA launch.
• Speaking of contests, learn about the JoAnn’s Crafting for a Cause Contest over on CraftyPod (the deadline is October 30th).
• Incredibly sweet: Mila’s Daydreams – amazing baby portraits.
• I need to learn from this: 10 Food Photography Tips to Make It Look Tasty on Photoble.
• ArtShow is a website where you can buy art directly from the artists. They also have an extensive listing of art workshops, classes, and tours.
• Speaking of buying art, Bale & Twine is another lovely online store where you can buy limited edition handcrafted goods.
• Do you crochet amigurumi? Check out this free online amigurumi pattern generator.
• Kind Over Matter has another wonderful round-up of free Positive Printables – there’s some really sweet stuff available!
• Royal Mail just released the most adorable vintage-style Winnie the Pooh stamps! love.
• Humorous tutorial: How To Write a Letter on Instructables.
• I’ve read through this list a couple times before, but I pick up new helpful tips each time: Real Simple’s 50 All-Time Favorite New Uses for Old Things.
• Just for laughs: A friend of mine recently created this website, RunSpencerRun. Spencer Pratt loves to run!
• Want more links? Check out Forbes.com’s Top 100 Websites for Women.

Happy weekend!

2 Comments » Categories: friday link love

Oct 14th 2010 08:11:58 am

I have a hard time not focusing on Halloween themes at this time of year, and while I was browsing Etsy today candy corn kept catching my eye! (Like those cute needle-felted candy corn from QueenHeronCreations seen above.) So, here are some adorable handcrafted candy corn picks for you to enjoy…

Warning: Halloween is only 17 days away!!

4 Comments » Categories: Handmade Marketplace

Oct 11th 2010 03:21:33 pm

Usually, I try to highlight international swaps that everyone can participate in, but this week I am featuring a USA-only swap. In the US, our general elections are coming up on November 2nd, so this week’s featured swap is the Vote on November 2nd! A Postcard Reminder swap hosted by melusina.

This postcard swap is quite easy, but it will help to spread the message that voting is important no matter what your politics. Simply mail one postcard to your one partner – the postcard must have an image that will help remind others to vote on November 2nd. The recipient of the postcard can then hang it in a public location as a voting reminder.

Sign up for the Vote on Nov. 2nd swap by this Friday, October 15th. It is a great way to help get ourselves and others involved in our democracy!

No Comments » Categories: Weekly Featured Swap

Oct 7th 2010 11:08:57 am

Look at all those Swap-bot goodies! Wouldn’t you like to receive that pack in the mail?!

There is still time! Donate $5 (or more) to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through my Team in Training fundraising page and the swag pack is yours! I (racheljohnson, your Swap-bot Admin) am training for the NYC marathon with Team in Training while simultaneously raising money for the LLS. Many Swap-bot members have already donated – in fact I have already sent out more than 70 packs! – and I greatly appreciate the support. I just wanted to announce the swag pack bonus again today because I will only be continuing this offer through the end of October.

Here are the details of what you will receive in your swag pack:

• 7 Ernie the Envie postcards
• 2 “Love Snail Mail” postcards
• 1 original Swap-bot postcard – these are in limited supply!
• 4 Swap-bot 1″ buttons – 2 of each style
• 3 two-inch square Swap-bot stickers

Donate Now!

All donations go toward the mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, to find a cure for all blood cancers and to support patients and their families while they are fighting the diseases.

That is me running over the Manhattan Bridge last weekend. The New York City Marathon is exactly one month away, on November 7th! I am extremely excited, but I’m also getting nervous.

18 Comments » Categories: Announcements

Oct 6th 2010 06:53:53 am

I recently received a copy of the amazing “Going Postal Gallery,” a mail art zine created by Swap-bot member TangleCrafts, and I just had to share it with you…

From the zine’s cover description: “In January 2010 TangleCrafts launched a new mail art project, inviting artists and crafters worldwide to submit a postal or mail art themed ATCs (an ATC is an Artist’s Trading Card – the only requirements for them being that they are only ever traded – never bought or sold – and that they each measure 2.5″ x 3.5″). All contributions received a free copy of a mini-zine featuring their artwork in exchange. The project drew to a close on August 31st, 2010, and this zine-shaped ‘gallery’ showcases all contributions received, plus notes on inspiration, techniques, and crafty habits from the artists. Enjoy!”

For more information about the project, check out the mail art section of TangleCraft’s blog.

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I can’t share all of the awesome ATCs included in the Going Postal zine, but here are a few examples…

The top ATC is titled “My favourite time of the day: Special Delivery” and it was created by oliviarrow using pen and watercolor.

The lower ATC by farstarr was created with upcycled materials including a cancelled fish stamp, and is titled “Fish in the Mail Make my Heart Beat Faster.”

The top card here is actually an ACEO (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) created by Hazel Fisher. It is a gouache painting of a British postbox.

The bottom ATC is a moveable collage created by TiaBel of Swap-bot. The flag can be moved and inside the tiny envelope is a personalized postmark.

All three of the ATCs seen above were created by peony. They are collages utilizing stamps, maps, envelopes, and other ephemera. I love the use of the airmail stripes!

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To see all of the submissions to the Going Postal Gallery, you can purchase a copy of the full-color, 32-page zine here. If you are looking for even more mail fun, TangleCrafts has a fabulous blog all about zines and mail art. She also has cool mail art products in her Etsy store.

5 Comments » Categories: craftiness, Swapper Report, Swappy Goodness

Oct 4th 2010 12:11:27 pm

This week, I am getting back to Swap-bot’s roots and featuring the October Magic Yarn Ball Swap. The very first featured swap here on the blog was a Magic Yarn Ball Swap, but recently I haven’t seen many similar swaps… until now!

The October Magic Yarn Ball Swap is hosted by cinderella730 and it is international. Make sure to sign up before the deadline this Friday, October 9th!

So, what exactly is a magic yarn ball? Basically, you wrap cool, little treasures up in a ball of yarn, and give it as a gift. As the recipient crafts with the yarn the treasures fall out one by one, and they discover the fun as they knit or crochet. You can search “magic yarn balls” on Flickr and view many examples.

1 Comment » Categories: Weekly Featured Swap