Partnered up!

I've sent all partner information out today, please confirm!

Now to get us in the mood....here is something my brother sent LAST YEAR that I've been dying to share!

Enjoy!!!!

A VERY ZOMBIE HOLIDAY...turn on the speakers for this "instructional" video!

Annual Ornament Swap!!!

It is time for my annual Christmas ornament swap!  As always, this swap is for handcrafted ornaments. Any medium is allowed!  You don't have to be an artist to join in!  

This year the theme is "HolidayToadstools." That means that somehow, somewhere, there needs to be a toadstool/mushroom incorporated into your ornaments.

We are doing a "5 for 5"  swap.
What this means is that you will send me 5 of the same handmade ornament.  Then you will receive a variety of 5 ornaments back. 

Once you join, I'll send you an invite so you can post on the swap blog.
You do not have to have a blog or webpage to join.
The deadline to sign up is Oct. 28th. I am limiting participants to 20 this year.

To sign up, send me an email at valpowery(at)yahoo(dot)com with your name and blog or flickr link/info.  

This will be a USA only swap due to shipping.

The do's and don'ts: 

Please DO 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. 

Please DO NOT send any one dimensional tags as ornaments.  If you do paper crafts, you must have layers and glitter and gorgeousness.    Tags are great and I have a few lovely ones on my own tree but they were created as gift tags, not ornaments.  I just chose to USE them as ornaments because they were so nice.

Please DO take care when wrapping to make sure the ornaments are cushioned, etc. please put each ornament in it's own baggie or cellophane wrap so it doesn't get tangled with the others in shipping.   We DO want all our ornaments to arrive in pristine condition!  

Please DO double/triple check your ornaments before shipping to me.  I had several 6-8 that needed fixing or replacing.  Some I replaced with ornaments that were actually sent to me as a gift.  I had to make more ornaments to replace the others with.  

Please DO NOT join if you are unable to commit to making something you would enjoy receiving in return.  

Shipping: Please send in $10.00 to cover the cost of sending ornaments back to you.  This will also cover tracking.   Please include a return address label already filled out.

Ship in time for me to receive them by Thanksgiving.  That way, I can get them in time to organize, repackage and mail them out by the first week of December.  

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.

If you finish your ornaments early, feel free to send them to me early so I can start organizing them.

If time gets away from you and you need to back out, no big deal, just drop me an email and I'll remove you from the list.  

Also, don't forget to grab the badge to put on your own blog to spread the word!

Hear Ye Hear Ye - October's DOOR PRIZE!!

I'm honored to be hosting the Door Prize for October.... my favorite MONTH of them all. Also my birthday month Woot! :)

So... for the door prize - the winner gets 2 charm packs (charms are fabric squares 5"x5") ~ both are 100% cotton. They are both MODA.

"Chic or Treat" has 34 squares and "Spook Tacular" has 40 squares.

Winner also gets a "November" clear acrylic stamp set that's perfect for Autumn (my fave).
Good Luck!
~S~

one more thing....

I need to clarify something for the swappers that are new here.

This swap is 'secret.'

This means 2 things:

1. you won't be contacting one another. (If you need info, please email me and I'll act as the 'go between' to get your questions answered.)

2. the person you send to is NOT the person who is sending to YOU.

Please DO include your name and email address with the package you've created!

That way, the person you send to will know who to thank and what your email address is.

Furthermore, I am hoping at that point, you may make a new friend.

I encourage you ALL to go blog hopping to meet the participants. I have made some good friends this way.

Simply click on the person's name in the sidebar and you should be directed to their blog!

Thank you again for joining!

Val

"The Enchanted Forest" Ornament Swap(NOW CLOSED!)

"The Enchanted Forest Ornament Swap"


For this swap, you will be creating 1 holiday ornament or decoration for your secret swap partner. You will also include a little sweet treat for them.

Although you may use any medium, please remember that ornaments are generally small.
If you choose to make something larger, like a decoration, that is fine but please understand you may not get something like that in return.

Check with me if you have questions.

Gain inspiration from the natural world within a forest.
Things like owls, birds, hedgehogs, trees, flowers and sprites, pixies, elves, gnomes, acorns, mushrooms, toadstools, chipmunks........well, you get the picture, if not....see below for inspiration:










This swap is USA ONLY due to the quick ship date.

Sign ups are through October 31, 2009. If I get a huge turnout (doubt it) I may close the swap sooner.
I will assign partners immediately.
Deadline to ship out is November 21st, 2009 due to Thanksgiving.
Please do not join if you are over committed this holiday season.
It would be awful to leave a holiday swapper empty handed.

If you are interested, please email me at valpowery(aT)yahoo(dOt)com with the following info:

1. your name
2. your address and phone number
3. your blog address
4. your favorite holiday treat if you have one
5. list a few of your favorite forest inhabitants (unicorn, toadstool, fairy, acorn, gnome, etc...) this will give your partner something to choose from.
6. if you have a 'color' theme you decorate with during the holidays, please include that info
7. are you able to angel if needed?

As always, I am trying to keep expense low and let creativity run high!
That being said, expect to spend no more than $5-$10 on this swap before shipping. I'm sure most artisans/crafters will have plenty of supplies in their 'stash' for this!

Please do your very BEST work...something you know your partner will cherish for years to come.