If you enjoy any type of graphic or textile design you will love print & pattern , a prolific design blog that “celebrates the world of surface pattern design” and collects all types of printed design images. It is updated multiple times per day with up-close, color images of fun patterns and printed greeting card designs. You can always go to print & pattern to find new inspiration for all types of crafts and design ideas! I visit everyday just to keep up with the trends and to see what is out there in the commercial design world. Many of the posts are organized by a theme (like sausage dogs ), but often new designers or brands are featured. There are so many images and so many posts — the blog was started in March 2006 — that you are sure to find a pattern or design that you love on print & pattern!

imgfave.com is a simple website that I think you may find useful. It is basically a bookmarking site, like delicious or digg, but just for images. You create an imgfave account and then you can easily add any images you find on the web to your imgfave library with a handy web browser button. imgfave links to your favorite images and displays them in a clean and clear way. From the site description:

imgfave is an image bookmarking service that allows you to save all your favorite images from around the web in one convenient place. You can also subscribe to users you like to keep up to date on what they’re adding.

I think of it as something like a scrapbook or inspiration organizer. It is totally easy to use and although I just started using it, I think it will help me remember and keep track of the many beautiful things I come across on the internet each day. Check out my imgfave profile to see a few of my favorite images!

This week’s featured swap is the very unique and creative Your Day Word Search swap coordinated by beckra . For this swap you create an original word search puzzle for each of your two parners based on words from your everyday life. From the swap description:

“In this swap you’ll turn your day into a sweet game for your 2 partners. Choose a particular day and come up with a list of about 15 words which relate to your experiences, emotions, and/or activities on that day. Then create a (typed) word search in which you’ve embedded those words. Include a brief description/explanation for each word on your list so that your partners get a window-via-words into your daily life.”

The Your Day Word Search swap is an international postal mail swap. New users and established swappers with at least 4.95 rating are welcome to join.

Here are some online resources you can use to create your word search:

• Word Search Maker
• Create Your Own Word Search
• Instant Online Word Search Maker

Have fun!

Hi, all. Your friends here at Swap-bot HQ have been traveling a lot lately, and man have we missed you! I am happy to be getting back into my internet routine of blogging and emails. Today I have a short list of cool tutorials and DIY stuff for you to check out. Enjoy! (Also, make sure to enter the January giveaway by commenting on this post! The contest is open through January 23rd.)

• The Mist download

• One Pretty Thing <ul style="display:none">
• Death Wish II movie full

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The Gate II: Trespassers full

posts a roundup of tutorials on their site every day called “Daily DIY.” It is kinda like one-stop shopping for all your craft project needs!</li>

• I like this Coffee Cozy tutorial from Erin Harris of House on Hill Road. The big button makes it extra special.
• These mini, hanging lightbulb vases on Craftershock are very delicate and lovely. They seem easy to make if you have the right tools…
• Many of the box, basket, and bucket tutorials linked on Whip Up look like they may come in handy for all types of swaps.
• I have been reading a lot about the book The Gentle Art of Domesticity, by Jane Brocket. It showcases practical and imaginative projects of needlework, cooking, gardening, and homemaking. Apparently, the photography is very beautiful and inspiring.</ul>

[Family Guy Presents: Stewie Griffin – The Untold Story movie full](http://beautyeveryday.com/?family_guy_presents_stewie_griffin_the_untold_story) Confessions of a Shopaholic full

New World Order buy

Do you like the links featured on the Swap-bot blog? Do you know of a cool website, tutorial, or shop that should be shared with Swap-bot users? Email your ideas to rachel [at] swap-bot.com. Thanks! Have a crafty weekend!

Let’s start 2009 off with another fun giveaway! This month I have an original, pink, We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dial to giveaway to one lucky winner. The Crop-A-Dial is a craft tool which silently punches holes and sets eyelets and snaps. It can punch 1/8″ and 3/16″ holes through all types of material, including fabric, wood, and plastic. Portable and easy to use, the Crop-A-Dial is a favorite tool of serious scrapbookers and crafters.

To enter the drawing for this giveaway simply comment on this blog post with your answer to the following question:

What is one way you preserve special memories?

Each person can only enter this giveaway once. You must have a Swap-bot account in good standing (not suspended) with a valid mailing address to enter. You must include your Swap-bot username somewhere in your comment. You must comment on or before Friday, January 23rd, to be entered in the drawing. The winner will be randomly drawn on Saturday, January 24th. If you have trouble commenting on the blog, you can send me an email at rachel [at] swap-bot.com. Good luck!

Happy second day of 2009! I think this year is going to be a good one. One of my resolutions is to be more crafty in 2009. Here are some links that I think will help with that goal:

• Interesting article: Despite the recession, Craft sales are actually up!
• This podcast is two years old, but it is still relevant: Crafty New Year’s Resolutions from CraftyPod.
• Also, 10 New Year’s Resolutions for a Crafty Person.
• Want to try making something new this year? Try this tutorial for how to make your own rub-on transfers.
• Are resolutions not really your thing? CraftStylish suggests keeping track of your “I dids” instead of your “To dos.” </em> </ul>

What a busy time of year! Or, maybe a busy beginning of a new year… 2009, wow! Anyhoo, Travis and I were traveling over the holidays visiting our families and eating lots of yummy treats. We had planned on working on Swap-bot more consistently over the trip, but not all plans work out. We got back late Wednesday night and have been trying to get things back in order since then. Today I am really getting down to business answering lots of emails (and doing all of our travel laundry). If you wrote, please be patient. I promise to try to fix any problems. Don’t panic. I have a feeling 2009 is going to be a great year! xoxo

I am sure that many of you are busy celebrating holidays this week with your families, so I have chosen a less intensive, quick, and easy swap to feature this week: FIRSTS of the New Year Letter/Postcard swap. The requirements of the swap, hosted by iamjenii, are to send a letter or postcard to your partner describing your “firsts of the year.” From the swap description:

“In Japan, the firsts of the new year are important! So let’s share with each other what the firsts of our new years are. Your first movie, outing, detail somethings (positive please!) of your new year to share! Please write your firsts in the form of a letter OR a postcard. Also, you can include ticket stubs. photos or whatever you want. This is a simple swap to share with each other some of each others’ lives 😀 I know, so cheezy.”

The swap is international and you must have over a 4.7 rating to join. Each participant only sends to one partner (which makes this swap super quick and easy). A great simple swap to tackle in the new year after all the holiday craziness is done! </div>

Swap-bot HQ is somewhat closed for the holidays (Travis, Rachel & Crusher are in Kansas City for a long trip), but we still found some fun links for you to visit in between your holiday preparations. Happy holidays! Have fun!

• Do you like making things out of paper? You must check out cubeecraft . The site has tons of free templates for paper “action figures” that you simply print and fold to construct. If you have fun with cubees, check out the more intricate <a href=http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global/entertainment/papercraft/”>Yamaha paper crafts</a> .
• Super Naturale – A website “dedicated to the Do It Yourself culture in all its glorious forms.”
• The Anti Craft is an online zine about the darker– less perky–side of craft. The current issue is dedicated to Samhain 2008.
• This is a pretty cool tutorial for silk screening a t-shirts with simple craft materials you probably have at home.

Hello Craft is a blog about craftiness and so much more!

“Hello Craft is dedicated to the advancement of independent crafters and the handmade movement, as well as empowering small business owners and educating the public to the benefits of buying handmade and teaching the joys of making.”

On the Hello Craft site you will find essays, indie shop reviews, tips for starting and running an indie craft business, crafter interviews, a craft event list, and most importantly, a Hello Craft podcast. They are currently looking for phone-in submission for the holiday podcast. But if you are interested you must get your phone call in today (December 18th)!

Keep Hello Craft on your link list because they have plans to host a summit all about supporting crafting and buying handmade in Washington DC in 2009.