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!

Show and tell...and gratitude!

Here is what I sent to Amy, my partner:

A Christmasy apron, a daily devotional, a little sewing kit, a handmade pincushion since she loves them...and 3 crowns.  (I made her 3 ornies because they were small...I used water bottle caps as the base.)

a close up of the crowns...

I wrapped each item in Christmasy paper and then wrapped the whole thing up in the red velvety fabric in the first photo.....I love my fabric scraps!

And THIS is what she sent me!

What do we have here....chocolate, botanical post cards, knitting needles, plant markers, a wee garden book and a tissue holder.  Plus, Amy wrapped two of the gifts in Christmas fabric! 

a close up of the bird

Thank you to Amy for my sweet birdie package!  I love it!  

I am so happy to have hosted this swap.....now I'm eagerly awaiting a change in the weather...I'm ready for Halloween!

Thank you!

Who doesn't like surprises? 

Look at this sweet package I got in the mail from Jill last week........
a t shirt scarf and pen along with a wine glass and snowflake ornament!

here is a close up of the wine glass....this is soooooooooo neat!

Dean and I go to wine tasting events every 6-8 weeks and I cannot wait to use the glass the next time we go!

Thank you SO much Jill!

I hear sleigh bells......

someone is ready to ship!

sneak a peek......

Getting down to business!

I've been vacillating on what to make my partner....she wants something unique.  I hope what I have planned looks like it is supposed to!

"Christmas in July" A Handmade Ornament Swap CLOSED

Things this Spring and Summer have been a bit hectic and a bit sad.  So what does a girl like me do when she needs a little pick me up?  I host a SWAP!

So, if you are interested and have the time to commit, here is the low down:

This is a Christmas Themed  HANDMADE ornament swap.

1.  You will send 1 loving crafted ornament after reviewing profile information.
2.  You will include 3 "tuck ins."  These items can be from your stash, purchased, thrifted, crafted...they just need to be something lovely that you think your person will enjoy and use.  

Some notes:
People always ask what amount to "spend" on a swap.  I tell them my swaps are intended to stretch creativity, not budgets.  If you can create something gorgeous and use stash items or other created items for the tuck-ins, your cost will be nominal before shipping.  If you aren't crafty, you will have to purchase a handmade item off etsy or somewhere else.  Store bought ornaments are simply NOT ALLOWED.

That being said, take care of the items you've pulled together and pack it up in tissue with ribbon and a little note.  If you use thrifted or stash items, make sure they are clean.  Also, don't make packaging an after thought.  When shipping, don't just cram things in a box, loose with no filling.   I have actually received swaps where the items were dirty and shoved into the box with no regard for the person opening it on the other end.   No one wants to get a box like that........no one.

Sign ups end June 30th.  You may ship as soon as you wish but the deadline is August 3rd.  


Once I get your registration, I will send you an invitation to post on the blog if you'd like.  Feel free to post themed items as well as sneak peeks of your creations!