THIS SWAP IS NOW CLOSED AND IN PROGRESS
THIS SWAP WILL BE SECRET SISTER PARTNERS FOR NEWBIES ONLY.
NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!
THEME BASED ON SPRING CATCH PHRASES
MAILING DUE DATE: TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013
I would like this swap to be an opportunity for swappers who have been swapping on the Cricut Message Board but have not had the required experience or self-confidence to join a partner swap. Long-time experienced swappers will not be able to join this thread. Consider this Partner Swapping 101 and Partner Swapping for Newbies.
This swap will consist of both homemade crafting and “buying” directives. I will list several spring catch phrase directives and you will select 10 to craft or buy and mail to your assigned secret partner by the Due Date (DD). However, at least 2 out of the 10 choices must be handmade. You can craft all 10 choices to be homemade if you so desire. Or, if you run out of time or run behind, or need this partner experience to be simpler for you, then you can buy 8 and make 2. It’s whatever works best for you – your available crafting time and your budget. Though I will admit that I hope participants will make more then they buy! It's a great way to learn some new techniques or craft outside of your comfort zone.
I personally prefer to craft more and buy less. I'd rather buy the products for myself and then use those products to craft homemade items for my partner.
However, should you choose to buy more and craft less, then please be aware that buying for 8 directives could very well cost you close to $50 (8 items at $5 each = $40), plus shipping expense. Of course, making good use of your coupons will help defray this cost! The more you are able to home craft, the easier on your budget. So it really does make more sense to opt to craft more and buy less and use some of that stash or use some of your products that you've been slowly collecting this past year.
I will be offering ideas or crafting projects to each of the directives to help out those that are having mental crafting blocks. So please don’t be afraid to ask me if you need more specifics on any of the directives or don’t be afraid to PM to ask if your idea sounds like a good idea for your partner. I’ll do my best to be helpful and give fair critique, if needed.
RULES and ADVICE FOR NEW SWAPPERS:
1. Newbies are allowed, swappers with little experience are allowed, and those that like to Flake or scam are not allowed and are not welcome.
2. Even though you may be new to crafting and swapping, I still want you to strive to craft and send projects that are neat and clean and of decent workmanship. This swap is meant to be a learning experience for you as well as gain experience in participating in a partner swap. The fun of partner swapping is learning about your partner, her likes and dislikes. Your goal is to come up with ideas that she will truly enjoy receiving. It’s fun to spy on her and see where else she posts and what she may offer about herself.
For instance, If she dislikes a red/black combo, then don’t send her a red/black project. Common sense…
Please have respect for her crafting interests.
3. Please be aware that it is important to check in at least every 10 days but especially more often in the beginning of the swap (may need to answer questions) and toward the end of the swap so that we are assured you are still around and involved and completing the swap.
Please be aware that if you go MIA for days and days, especially if you are not that familiar to me or you are new to swapping here on this MB, then we go into panic mode and think you’ve walked away and have dropped us with no explanation. And no one wants to discover the week after the DD that a swap box is not arriving to them after all. It is such a downer! It’s just so unfair and such a cruel trick to play on any fellow crafter/swapper.
So, if life events happen that keep you away from the MB for days, please find time to PM me and keep me updated. It saves on a lot of stress for all hostesses and those participating in the swap.
But also remember, we all have events in our lives that take us away from crafting and mess with our schedules – so accept that fact and deal with it and acknowledge that you will make an honest effort to follow the rules of this swap accordingly.
I can’t stress enough that it is by far easier to work on the 10 directives weekly and not wait until the last minute to fill your box. If you procrastinate and rush at the last minute, your workmanship will show that you put little thought or love into the swap box. Or, if you are the unlucky one that has a major upset the week before the DD, you are screwed if you’ve waited until the last minute to complete your swap. So, again, my best advice is to work weekly on this so that you are prepared for anything that goes wrong the last week of this swap.
Hopefully, the swap will be successful and all swap boxes will be mailed on time. But if by chance this idea of mine backfires, then I will do my best to ask for angels to step in and help out. Just be aware that if that happens, it may take extra weeks to rectify the situation – but you will receive a swap box.
Again, these swaps are meant to be fun and meant to be great learning experiences for each of us but there also is a high level of responsibility that goes hand in hand with the fun part of the swap. Please be considerate of that and show respect to your partner, to the entire group of swappers and to your hostess.
Please remember that there are so many helpful people on this Message Board and in this swap forum who will gladly offer ideas, suggestions, links, etc. when asked. That is half the fun of swapping – showing each other new ideas, new techniques, new discoveries!
4. There may be questions posted that will need to be answered. The first couple of weeks it is important that you check in more often to make sure no new questions need answering by you.
And it’s always helpful to your partner if you keep a running list of the questions and answers all in the same post.
Also, if you have a specific question for your partner, you may PM me with the question and I will, in turn, PM your partner and ask her to answer the question. Once she answers, I will PM you back.
5. There is a thread containing a Master Questionnaire that most of us have filled out and posted on that thread. If you have not filled out a MQ, it would be wise to do so now. Most of us also have listed the page info under our avatar so that our partner may find it quickly.
Link to MQ thread:
http://www.cricut.com/fo...ster-Questionnaires.aspx6. Please PM me your mailing address as well as an alternative way to contact you – ie: email addy or cell phone number for texting you. Thanks! This way, if you can’t get on the MB, or if your computer blows up, I have alternative ways to contact you to see why you are not posting.
7. Please PM me the DC# (Delivery Confirmation No.) once your box has been mailed so that I’ll have confirmation that you have mailed and so that I can keep everyone informed of when swap boxes will start to be delivered.
A Due Date of April 30th means that I must have a Delivery Confirmation Number (DC#) showing that the box has been accepted at the Post Office no later than April 30th. Mailing can start as early as April 1st. Our goal is for every participant to have received their swap box BEFORE Mother’s Day (May 12th)
8. Once you receive your items, please acknowledge receipt on this swap thread and say thank you and post pictures in a timely manner. If you do not know how to post pictures, then please ask so that we can help you learn how to now. Everyone likes to see pictures of swap boxes as it gives us ideas for future swapping and scraplifting!
9. Please remember that communication is key in swaps and really helps your hostess to do a better job and be less stressful.
10. Last but not least – please take this opportunity to gain some partner swapping experience and have a wonderful time coming up with ideas using the catch phrases listed below! You will be amazed at yourself on how much fun it is to try thinking outside the box or to try a new technique. It will give you a great feeling of accomplishment.
Edited by user Tuesday, May 07, 2013 4:12:14 PM(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified