CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!!

 Okay ladies,  as per our vote last December (or early January) we are pushing our Annual 5 for 5 Handmade Ornament swap up to the summer!   This will help a few other swappers be able to join.  It's always such a fun time.  PLUS, since I will have this one out of the way, I may be able to squeeze ONE MORE swap in!  

This year's theme:

  "CHRISTMAS CRITTERS!"

If you need any inspiration, simply go to the kid's section at your local library and check out all the Christmas picture books.   There are some really cute ones!  Other ideas would be to use your state animal.  And yes! A bird, fish, bug, reptile also count as animals...

The info:

Once again, We are doing a "5 for 5" handmade Christmas ornament swap.

What this means is that you will be sending me 5 handmade ornaments and receiving a variety of 5 ornaments back. You may use ANY MEDIUM you want to create these little pieces of art!

You do not have to have a blog to join.  
There is no deadline to sign up, all you have to do is get the ornaments to me in time for me to ship them to their new homes early July.  

That being said, feel free to ship them as soon as you make them.  

To sign up, send me an email at valpowery(at)yahoo(dot)com with your name so I can put it on the sidebar.  I will send you instructions when I get your sign up email.  Don't forget I have moved so I will be sending everyone my updated address!

This will be a USA only swap due to shipping.

Please create something you would love to receive and be sure to package your ornaments in a nice, re-usable box so I can mail your new ornaments back to you in it.   

Be sure to include a self addressed return label for me.  It saves me a lot of time!

Try to keep your ornaments light in weight and please take care when wrapping to make sure they are cushioned, etc.  

We want all our ornaments to arrive in pristine condition!  

All ornaments must be either be in a clear treat bag or some other "holiday" type wrap with a tag from you.   It doesn't have to be fancy, but do take some time to do a good job, no throwing all the ornaments in a box with no gift tags, wrapping or tissue.  Remember, these ornaments represent hard work and all participants want to OPEN them as they would a Christmas gift.  

If ANY of your ornaments reach me broken, they will be returned to you in your return ornament variety.  That being said, if 2 break, you will get 2 of your own back along with 3 different ones for a total of 5.

*New Rule:  Many of us have become dear friends and I even have family members joining now too.  Please understand that in shuffling these ornaments around, your friend or family member may get an ornament you planned on giving them privately.   I ended up giving away my own ornaments from the swap to make sure everyone received a unique assortment.   I am no longer doing this.

May I suggest you either send in extra ornaments to keep this from happening or refrain from giving the ornaments privately until AFTER everyone receives their box.  (Some of you already do that, thank you!)

Return Shipping:  $10.00 is sufficient to cover the cost of sending ornaments back to you unless they are oversized or heavy.  In that case, please send in 2-3 dollars extra.  Again, please include a return address label already filled out.  

Ship in time for me to receive them by the end of June.  That way, I can get them in time to mail them out by the first week of July.  Sadly, I can't guarantee you getting an exchange box if your ornaments do not reach me in time.  (If that happens, I'll gladly return your own ornaments to you using the money you sent for shipping.)  
Shipping funds are important!  If you forget to include shipping, your ornaments can't be sent/returned until you have sent me the funds to send/return them to you.  I do accept venmo if that helps.

If you finish your ornaments early, PLEASE send them to me early so I can start organizing them.  The earlier the better!

If time gets away from you and you need to back out, no big deal, just drop me an email at 

valpowery (at) yahoo(dot) com and I'll remove you from the list.   That will keep me from chasing you down to see if you are still participating.

Invite your artsy/craftsy friends and family!

“I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.” -Ruth Stout

 A heartfelt thank you to Val for completely spoiling me in this swap!

I let out an audible "SQUEE!" with each item I lifted out of the box.

There is something for every aspect of gardening

Tools of the trade....the little striped binder is full of seed packs!

Whimsical garden touches..... a sweet water spike and TURTLES!

Something for curling up & dreaming about and planning my garden and a salsa mix to use with my harvest (the paper bag book made by Val has quotes, tips and recipes from Val - I love it!!) 

And if this isn't the most precious... I may just hang this above my kitchen sink so that I can enjoy them every day - Val is so talented with crochet!

Thank you again, Val - your swaps are always so much fun!!

xoxo

Shelly

Ladybugs galore!

 Thank you Shelly for my amazing swap box!   I am soooo excited to put my cute little ladybugs out!

Everything is perfect!  I’ll be flipping though the magazine today while eating those FROGS!   I’ll be hanging the sign outside🥰

Golfball ladybugs!!!!

"Garden Party"

 Hello my lovelies!  

Time for our second quarter swap!

Signups end March 23 and Ship date is May 3

What we are swapping:

*One handmade garden themed item and 2 garden themed tuck ins for a total of 3 items.*

As always, this is about being creative, not breaking the bank.  I suggest a $30.00 minimum before shipping.  You can create more than the one item, thrift, regift, etc.  HOWEVER, all items must be in good shape.  If it is vintage, please ensure that it is lovely and clean, etc.  Wrap all items to protect during shipping.

Please read your person/partner info before beginning.

This is a USA only swap.  If you want to participate, answer the following questions and email them to me: valpowery(at)yahoo.(com)

1. Small list of garden decorations and goodies you like (plant pokes, fairy houses, gnomes, yard signage, wall art, wind chimes, etc.)

2. Style of decorations (country, classic, shabby chic, whimsical)

3. Is this for a tiered tray? A container garden/patio? A yard garden?  

4. Small list of garden tools you use: twine, plant stakes (to write on), gloves, arm protectors, etc.

5. Ship date is AFTER EASTER but if you'd like it to be Easter themed, let your partner/person know....you can store it away for next year :-)

Thank you Jeanne!

 So sorry for the delay in sending my thank you. I was on vacation :) 

Thank you Jeanne for this amazing swap package. This heart is so beautiful. The picture doesn't do it justice and these gloves are warm and wonderful. The heart is going into my studio so I can enjoy it all the time. 

Thank you!!!

Debbie

Thank you Pat!

Thank you Pat for this great framed heart!  It reminds me of something my

mom made years ago.  I wish she was still here to see it.  

We have a cold, rainy week here and I am determined to still walk 

everyday - so I will be wearing these gloves today . . . along with my rain boots. 

Thank you so much!

 

Thank you Kerry

 Aw!  I loooove my “Cold Hands, Warm Heart” swap box from Kerry!!!  From hand made mittens and heart to socks and “wrapping” made out of fabric, what’s not to love?!  

Thank you Kerry for a lovely package!!!