We have finally released the new swap coordinator requirements that were previously discussed in the forums . We made these changes to the requirements after receiving a lot of user input about who should be able to host a swap on Swap-bot. These changes will probably not affect any long-time users, but they will change how and when new users can host swaps.

Starting now, you must meet these requirements in order to create any swap:

• You must complete five different swaps (i.e. send and mark five swaps as sent).
• You must have received five 5 ratings (they can be for the same swap, or different swaps).
• You must have LESS than ten 1 ratings in your entire Swap-bot lifetime.

And, like always:

• You must have over a 3.0 average rating.
• You must NOT be suspended in any way (partially of fully) or be underage.

Any swaps that are already underway will not be affected by this change. I believe these new restrictions will help increase the overall average quality level of swaps hosted on Swap-bot. These restrictions are not perfect – other types of restrictions have been suggested, like restricting each type of swap individually – but I think they are a good start. They are much more strict than the previous requirement of just completing one swap!

Like always, we can override these restrictions if there are new users who have past swapping experience and would like to start hosting on Swap-bot. We still want Swap-bot to be a helpful tool for those who host successful swaps on their blogs, so I will continue to make exceptions for those types of swaps as needed.

Also, these restrictions are probably a lot more lenient than what many Swap-bot users look for in their swap coordinators. Remember to always check out the swap’s host before signing up for a swap. You can set your own personal coordinator requirements and only join swaps hosted by users who meet them. A good swap host makes for a successful swap!

was a very active Swap-bot member who passed away from lung cancer in May 2009. She was loved by many on Swap-bot and is still greatly missed. Two of her friends are currently hosting swaps in her memory:

– Hosted by , this swap entails creating a quilt square which will be part of the quilt that crochetjunkie will donate to the AMerican Cancer Association. You send the quilt square to crochetjunkie and send a photo of it to your swap partner. Sign up before February 20th.

– This swap, hosted by , is for friends of Cheryl who want to make a craft to commemorate her life. You will send your partner a quality craft that is inspired by Cheryl’s statement that she would rather have gills than wings. Sign up before February 28th.

I have a present for you! I got inspired and made these cute Swap-bot Valentines and matching envelope. One features Ernie the envie decked out for the holiday, and the other features Crusher. Crusher loves you!

The PDF file is totally free and you simply download it, print it out on card stock, cut out your Valentines, and give them to your friends! You could also use them as swap cards to include in your swap packages.

Download the Swap-bot Valentines PDF here.

There are some basic instructions on the PDF, but assembly is really easy. Cut just inside the black lines, then score and fold the envelope on the grey lines. Fold in the shorter sides of the envelope, then the bottom. You can glue these parts together. Slip your Valentine card inside the envelope, fold down the top, seal it, and give it to someone you love!

Crusher was so excited about these cards that he already started handing his out!

• The lovely photo above is from , a craft blog with lots of tutorials. Right now you can find two crocheted heart tutorials and .
• Another great Valentine craft: from Happy Together.
• How about some Valentine treats: on Pleasant Home.
• Are you snowed in? Are you going to be snowed in soon? Have you been snowed in for weeks? In honor of all the snow that many of us are experiencing, Swap-bot user is hosting a .
• The Super Bowl is on Sunday and Bakerella has a recipe for really cute . Yum!
• Bakerella makes all the best stuff! Check out these amazing made in honor of the upcoming Academy Awards.
• And speaking of baked goods inspired by events, these on Sweetopia are amazingly adorable. (btw: I am in with the , designed by super-cute husband and wife team, .)
• Just for fun and for the love of cute:

Three Swap-bot members from the met up last Saturday, January 30th. Members (plus her mom), , and all met in Portland, Oregon, at loricritt’s home.

The evening was spent crafting, of course! Tarabell150 brought bottle caps and the necessary tools to show everyone how to make bottle cap buttons, which they painted with alcohol inks. Loricritt supplied the necessities to make glass pendants, and there was also a “show and tell” of ATCs, Skinnys, Inchies, Dotees, and Button Fairies. Sounds like a fun afternoon!

If any other Swap-bot groups gather together, please take photos and please let me know about your event! I would love to publish a report like this one here on the blog. You can email me at [email protected].

Whew. What a wonderful time I had last night! Hosting was such a great experience. All of the matchboxes seen above were created by the attendees of the event. They were all so sweet and creative! Swap-bot loves forever!

There were about 30-40 attendees at the in-person event at the Etsy Labs and about 50 people watching the Virtual Labs video tutorial. Thank you to everyone – especially Swap-bot members – who came and watched. Lisa (Swap-bot username ) came to the in-person event early and helped set up, and I know I saw at least one Swap-botter (thanks, !) and my mom in the Virtual Labs! Were any other ‘botters there that I missed?

In addition to the Swap-bot peeps, I met a ton of new people at the Craft Night, like , , Colette, Rachel, Elaine, and so many more. I wish I had taken more time to remember everyone’s names and ask them more about themselves. Alas, I was caught up in trying to explain the matchbox procedure clearly and pushing treats and Swap-bot swag on everyone! I hope they forgive me. Above is a photo of me and , the super-cool organizer of Etsy Craft Nights. She does a great job and she really made the night go smoothly. Travis and our friend, , also came by at the end of the evening and helped me close up shop. Everyone was so helpful, friendly, and supportive. It was a great night.

If you want to know more about the event, some of the attendees have already posted about it , , and . You can also watch the full video of the Virtual Labs tutorial – it is about 15 minutes long. (I didn’t think it was going to be available after the fact, so I am excited.) You can see my photos from the event . That is me and Lisa below…

And, I know I have linked to these a million times, but if you want to make a few Matchbox Valentines like the ones we made last night you can use my free and . Have fun crafting!

Since Swap-bot is hosting the tonight and we are making Valentine-themed matchboxes, I thought it would be handy to feature some of the matchbox swaps that are currently open for sign up on the ‘bot.

If you are visiting the Swap-bot blog via Etsy, hello & welcome! You can find the free matchbox templates we will be using at the Etsy Craft Night available for download . There is also a free matchbox enclosure card download available . Have fun making your matchboxes and be sure to check out these international matchbox swaps:

• – sign up before February 4th.
• – sign up before February 10th.
• – sign up before February 14th.
• – sign up before February 15th.

You can always find more matchbox swaps on Swap-bot by going to the page and searching under the “Boxes” category. Happy swapping!

</a>Another inspired/inspirational assortment just for you… * Look at those cheerful cookies above! They were made by Heather Baird of and they make me happy. I think I will make some this weekend. You can find the full recipe on . (Via ) * I know that a bunch of Swap-bot users are participating in the . Basically, you commit to creating one new thing a day for a month and post it on the collective . I think I am going to join in! * If you need more inspiration to get your creative juices flowing, check out next week’s created by and . They will provide a word prompt for each day to get your thinking and you can post your creations to the . Monday’s word is WANDER. * Are you still having trouble using Markdown to format text and add links and pictures on Swap-bot? Check out this interactive on Slekx.com. It lets you play around with code and see how it will be displayed – very cool. (Thanks for the tip, Jim!) * I am really liking about authenticity and being your true self by on the very inspirational blog, . Great food for thought. * Speaking of good articles, my former grad school colleague and friend, Reed Davas McGowan, just published an enlightening in Culture Work, a periodical for arts and culture workers. * Hilarious: by fadedlines6 on Flickr. (via ) * I love Swap-bot members! Check out this cool created by user, . * Ok, gotta do one more plug, but it probably won’t be the last… sorry. I () will be hosting the here, in Brooklyn, next Monday, February 1st! I will be representing Swap-bot and showing everyone how to make Matchbox Valentines, like the ones seen above. I will be bringing all of the supplies needed to make the cute boxes (and some tasty treats) to the free, in-person event at Etsy’s offices (), but you can also follow along with the event via Etsy’s online . Everyone is welcome! The in-person event goes from 4-8 pm EST and you can stop by anytime.

With Valentine’s Day coming up, I wanted to create some little cards that can be slipped into pretty, decorated matchboxes. Matchboxes make a sweet and inexpensive handmade gift – fill them with some candy and a little note and you are sure to put a smile on your loved one’s face!

I came up with three very easy card types that fit perfectly into the boxes created using either of my Matchbox Templates. On my free, downloadable Matchbox Enclosure Cards PDF (seen below) you will find a simple folded card, an accordion-style card/booklet, and a more complicated 8-page folded booklet. Follow the steps below to create the folded booklet.

Download Matchbox Enclosure Cards PDF

1. Download the PDF using the link above. Then, print out the sheet at 100% (not “fit to paper size”). You may want to print it on scratch paper first to try out the booklet fold or to trace the enclosure card shapes onto patterned paper. Or, you can print directly on a light card stock that matches the theme of your matchboxes. The folded and accordion cards are self-explanatory; simply cut along the black lines and score and fold at the grey lines. Do the same for the booklet template. Notice the cut line through part of the center of the booklet.

2. Fold booklet in half lengthwise, as seen in the first image below.

3. This gets tricky: Pull out the two center pages (on each side of the cut center area) at their folds to create two pages. The “spines”of page 6/5 and cover/2 will end up touching. See image below for clarification.

4. Fold the cover and back page around the other pages to create the booklet.

5. Press the folds using a bone folder or other tool.

6. Decorate your pages or write a little zine. Then, place your booklet inside your matchbox and give it to someone you love!

This week’s featured swap, , is part of an ongoing, monthly series of postcard poetry swaps hosted by . This week’s swap is in honor of Valentine’s Day (or Singles Awareness Day, if you prefer). For the international swap, you send one postcard to each of your three partners. The postcards must each contain a poem (or excerpt) that has to do with love or Valentine’s Day in some way. for this swap before February 3rd, and send your postcards before the 9th so that they reach their recipients in time for the holiday.

For a little inspiration, here is a classic love poem:

How Do I Love Thee?

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.