Happy Friday! You may have noticed that the blog is a bit wonky… we hope to have it fixed up better than ever over the weekend, so definitely check back! For now, here are some fun links…

• Wow. Talk about crafty brilliance! I would love to have a rug like this hand-painted, DIY rug made from a cheap drop cloth.
• Ooo! I love the new USPS holiday gingerbread house stamps! Need to stock up…
• Check out these cute, free, printable cup cozies that you could use for Thanksgiving.
• Your S’more of the week: S’mores Muffins.
• 30 fun autumn ideas from A Beautiful Mess.
• I need to make one of these beautiful Artifact Uprising postcard packs using my own photos.
• For the spicy folks on your holiday gift lists: Sriracha Candy Canes!
• I know, I know. Halloween is over — on to Thanksgiving! — but this Haunted Speakeasy Party looks like it was pretty spectacular!

In addition to the blog improvements, we will also be announcing the annual Swap-bot Holiday Charity Donation Drive very soon… Stay tuned!!

FunnerKimberley has been hosting some awesome Ernie-themed swaps! Her most recent was the Ernie the Envie Inspired Swap #2 – Halloween Themed.

These two frighteningly awesome Ernie creations were made for the swap. Count Ernie von Envelope (seen above) was made in glass by smadronia. I love the little fangs!! And the FrankenErnie plushie (seen below) was made by moonlightlaura. Look at that detail! So cute!

You know that I am in love with every amazing Ernie interpretation. If you’ve made or received one, please send me photos to rachel – at – swap-bot.com. And if you’d like to try your hand at an Ernie craft, check out FunnerKimberley’s upcoming swap: Ernie the Envie Give Thanks and Swap. Fun!

Halloween is next week! Are you ready? Here are a few last-minute ideas to try…

• Love this idea: Glitter Pumpkins!
• A spooky How-Tuesday: Shrunken Head Lollipops.
• These folded ghost treat boxes from Mr. Printables are so cute!
• MMmmm. These Witches Brew Cocktails sound tasty.
• Check out these fun Halloween treat ideas, plus a free printable.
• Wow! Quite a round-up! 40+ Candy Corn Recipes!
• 10 easy, last-minute Halloween costumes.
• Two over-the-top, insanely-delicious-looking milkshake recipes for you this week: Coffee and Doughnut Milkshake and Candy Vanilla Milkshake. Yum.

Have a spooktacular weekend!! Boo!

Just a few spooky & spirited links for you this week…

• What a fun bat craft! (Use toilet paper tubes!)
• For unique and festive autumn or Halloween decor, try these sparkly Confetti Dipped Pumpkins.
• Cute Halloween ideas and free printables from A Beautiful Mess.
• Need party ideas? Check out this round-up of Halloween Drinks!
• Just because they look insanely delicious: Milk Chocolate Cupcakes with Fresh Mint Frosting.
• Your S’more of the week: Pumpkin Butter Oven S’mores.

Have fun!

A group of Swap-bot members from Missouri and Illinois planned a crafty meetup over the weekend. Seen above are the swappers, from left to right: Vickyen (Vicky Englert from Waterloo, IL), sammie91 (Linda Bishop from St. Charles, MO), hiimtm (Tonya Bentley from Fenton, MO), and transplanted1 (Rachel Kaye from Columbia, MO). Seated: Elliepatterson (Ellie Patterson from O’Fallon, IL), and cwfshoppe329 (Terri McHugh from Hallsville, MO).

Vickyen sent this report:

_On Saturday, October 12, 2013, six Swap-Bot members got together at the Foundry Artist Centre, in St. Charles, MO. The members were from different parts of Illinois and Missouri, and had never met in person before this fun-filled event! Each member had their own type of swaps they enjoy participating in and looking at the crafting area, they brought lots of goodies to share and work on!</p>

Terri McHugh was showing everyone how to make lovely fondant flowers. Linda Bishop brought tons of crafting supplies to share. Ellie Patterson had lovely goodie bags and techniques to share. Tonya Bentley, Rachel Kaye, and Vicky Englert also had fun sharing and learning! What a great group of gals!

The time at the Foundry went way too quickly and everyone agreed that we should try to do this again! Also a big Swap-Bot Thank You to Rachel Johnson for the Swap-Bot swag – everyone loved it and will think of this fun day when they use their goodies!</i>

It looks like a fun event… I would love to learn how to make fondant flowers someday!

If you meet up with other Swap-bot members, please let me know! We’d love to publish your report here on the blog. Email me photos and details at rachel -at- swap-bot.com. Thanks!

Happy Friday to you! I hope you are in the mood for food because I’ve got plenty of recipes for you this week! …plus, some other fun stuff, of course.

• This ginger cake and apple butter combo would make a lovely autumn gift.
• This yarn pumpkin garland is a fun addition to any Halloween decor.
• MMmmmmmm. Grown-up Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Milkshakes.
• Cute & creepy! Monster Eye Cake.
• Such a unique and adorable idea: Halloween Pompoms!
• What?! Is this even allowed?? Apple Pie Fries!
• This Hot Cocoa Popcorn looks almost too decadent!
• 5 Spooky Spiderweb Project for Halloween.
• More Halloween decor: I love these glow stick ideas!
• Not Halloween related, but this DIY paper straw necklace is so pretty and would be a great craft to do with kids.
• Your S’more of the week: Giant S’more Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies!

What are your plans for the weekend?

Autumn has arrived (in the Northern Hemisphere, anyway) and that means falling leaves, Halloween, and Thanksgiving are all on their way. In celebration of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, Swap-bot member TC is hosting an Attitude of Gratitude Swap.

I love the idea of the swap: “to get us thinking about all the things for which we should be grateful.”

For the Type 2 swap, you send your one partner two items, a letter and a flat surprise. The letter must describe three things you are thankful for: a person, a place, and a thing. A simple concept, but one that can help us focus on the good things in life and our gratitude for them.

New and experienced USA participants are welcome to join the swap, but problem swappers will be removed. A filled out profile is required. Sign up before October 23rd!

October is here and the Halloween themed crafts are out in full force! I know not everyone is keen on the spooky holiday, so I’ve still got a mix of crafty, mail-y, autumn-y links… Have fun!

• These pinata-style Trick-or-Treat cookies from Not Martha are amazing!
• And this Haunted House Pop-Up Card is genius! Check out the tutorial for instructions and a template.
• New Swap-bot member, jjhere, wrote this great blog post about the ‘bot and shared her incredible steampunk ATCs. Very nice!
• Yum, yum, yum! These Ultimate Caramel Apples would make the most delicious fall treat!
• In fact, I am in an apple mood. Check out all of these delicious apple recipes: Apple Rings with Cinnamon Cream :: Apple Cinnamon Roll Muffins :: Apple Cider Muddy Buddies :: Apple Cider Sangria :: MMMmmmmmm…

• Need Halloween decor? I love these Fringe Banners on Etsy’s How Tuesday blog.
• I might have already posted this at some point… but I’m crazy about the cards and craft kits from Yellow Owl Workshop. SO much color!
• Did you know? October 9th is World Post Day.
• This will warm your heart: An adorable illustration for C.S. Lewis’ poem, To love at all.
• How well do you see color? Take this fun online color test to find out.
• Your S’more of the week: S’mores Milkshake.

Whew! That is a lot of links… I hope they gave you some fun inspiration for the weekend. xoxo

Hello and welcome to your Friday links!

• Super-duper cute printable Halloween invitations on A Subtle Revelry.
• A little more Halloween: check out this stamp-covered pupmkin!
• I love these crafty, collage-y tags made by Kira of Oops, I Craft My Pants.
• This Sweater Pillow Tutorial would be a pretty craft for fall.
• Just for fun: the JAWS text adventure game.
• Check out 5-year-old Toby’s cool world snail mail project, Writing To the World.
• CATS!
• Your S’more of the week: Peanut Butter S’mores Baked Doughnuts.

Give me more links in the comments!!

This amazing Ernie the Envie constructed in glass was made by smadronia. She made one for her partner, FunnerKimberley, for the Ernie the Envie Inspired Swap last month AND she also made one for ME! I am so excited. I will cherish Glass Ernie and he will be displayed in a prominent place in Swap-bot HQ.

Smadronia sent a letter explaining the complex glass fusing process:

_“I used one of your Ernie postcards for reference, and cut the glass to shape, as well as all the little pieces. The mouth gave me a little trouble, as glass doesn’t like to cut into circles well. I ended up using a couple pieces of scrap glass that already had curves cut into them.</p>

Once everything was cut, I cleaned all the pieces and arranged the in the film. Once the pieces were in the kiln, and laid out correctly, they spent 12 hours in there. Ordinarily, glass goes to almost 1500 degrees, but for this style of fusing, I only took it to 1350. That way the piece didn’t come out completely smooth.”</i>

Fascinating! What an incredible craft process! Ernie definitely looks striking in glass!

Thank you so much, Smadronia!!!