Happy Holiday's everyone. Hope everyone is having a safe and wonderful holiday season. I have had some exciting things happening in the last couple of weeks. I am going to be taking part of a design team on creativesoupforthesoul.com. The store will not be up an running until February, but I am getting ready as I am helping launch the community site website on New Years Day. I will also be teaching weekly online technique classes Monday Nights and the occasional Saturday as well as helping oversee swaps as an online administrator on that site. The site is active now but the big kickoff isn't until January 1. I am also going to take a few online crafting workshops starting January as I love to learn new things. I am so excited.

With still work full time during the day, I was worried about time and taking on too much. I have decided that I really love this board and I want to continue to be a part of it. So I have decided to go ahead and host the Short and Sweet starting in January. I think this will be a really fun swap that doesn't require a huge time commitment. However, I am going to step down as hostess of the All Homemade Swap. I have talked with ScrappinGwen as that swap fits well with the swaps that she currently hosts. She has graciously agreed to take the swap over. I think she will do an awesome job and I cannot wait to see all the fun projects. I hope to join in a later round to play once I figure out all my roles and what type of time commitment it really is. It is really hard to give the swap up, but I know ScrappinGwen will do a great job and the swap will be a continued success.

I am going to open the short and Sweet next week for signups but it will not start until January 1. I thought this would be a really fun way to learn new things (without costing a fortune) Each round will be one month. Starts at the first of the month and then you mail by the last day of the month. There will be only one item per month. (On some months there will be multiple groups so you can have an option). The items will be things you find in your stash or are inexpensive. Here is how I have planned the months.

Here is a tentative list:

January: 1 Altered Spool
February: Altered Domino Book or 3 altered dominos
March: 1 Altered mouse trap
April: Dollar Store challenge - only spend $1 and alter it - can be anything.
May: 1 Altered Silverware: Fork or Spoon - seen some really cool creations.
June: 1 Altered Altoid Tin
July: Glass / Transparencies (These are small and beautiful - I have great link for a tutorial)
August: 1 Mini Canvas with Small easel (The really small ones)
September: Small hand-made embellies (will have different groups for types)
October: Thimbles
November: 5 Pearl Flowers or 3 Sprays (The flowers come out really neat - very vintage/shabby chic - from Jennings on You Tube)
December: 1 CD Case Calendar

Any suggestions or input would be welcome. Thanks, Kel

Edited by user Thursday, December 13, 2012 9:06:44 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Great questions Jean.


You only sign up for the months you want to join. There is no requirement to sign up for every month. The last week of each month I will have the signup for the next month so you do not have to sign up to far in advance. I will have some links up for each round at the time of sign ups so you can get some inspiration.

This is the beauty of it of this Short and Sweet - it will be a partner swap just like the homemade swap. It gives you a chance to try new things while cutting down on time requirements and cost. For example - I purchased a set of four of the mouse traps at the Dollar Store. It came out to .25 for each trap. I used scraps to alter and a few embellies. I liked how it turned out and cost me a total of under $1 to make. It took me about a 1/2 hour or less from start to finish. I learned something new without breaking the bank. I have to say I have seen a few people do these now and they can be elegantly simple, cutesy, grunge, or over the top shabby chic. The options are endless. It takes very little supplies and will be inexpensive to ship.

Like the All-Homemade swap, try to use as much out of stash for the Short and Sweet as possible. We want to use what we have. The nice thing is if you do have to buy something such as the mouse traps, they are in expensive then you have three more for other swaps.

I like the idea of saying lets do this and then see 20 different takes on the same item. I can guarantee that they will not all come out the same...it will be awesome.

The All-Homemade will remain a partner swap as well.

Edited by user Monday, October 08, 2012 3:45:02 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

It seemed like less stress on everyone to have the shorter round and only 3 items. With having longer time, it kind of gets put off for a while until it sneaks up on you

I like both ideas. I might not be able to do all the months depending on my schedule for the Short & Sweet so great that I can pick and choose.

I love the Fall All Homemade Round. I'm in for the All Homemade Round in Jan. Thanks Kel

~Rebecca

Yay! I am excited that there is interest. It will all be fun. I just love the idea of the short and sweet. Hopefully we will have a good turn out.

Kel

So glad to hear that Sherrie. January seems so far away, I am coming up with more ideas too. I am excited.

K

The short and sweet certainly has my interest! Looking forward to it!!

So excited to see so much interest. Good to see you Rhonda, Scrappin Momma, and CraftyMommaof2.

you say "3 items"?? Is this 3 of that months items to be shipped to your partner?? Do you have the same partner each month? You also say you will have links available-is this U-Tube or a tuturial for each months items?

So sorry for the crazy questions, but I have never done a swap. This month will be the first time and I am doing one from this board. I am so excited!!

There will be 2 separate swaps. The All Homemade Swap Round 9 will be a partner swap where you will make 3 items for that one person.

The Short & Sweet will be a different swap. I am assuming you will have a different partner each month(not 100% sure on this part) and you just make your version of the 1 item listed.

Hope this helps a little. I am sure Kelley will clarify more or correct me if I am wrong.

Edited by user Tuesday, October 16, 2012 2:36:51 PM(UTC)  | Reason: my spelling!!!!!

Kel you know I'm in, I just thank God it doesn't start until January! But you better send a reminder to this old lady

Here are a couple altered mousetraps I have made.

I would love to sign up for this one. It should be a lot of fun. Can't wait to get started.
The Short and Sweet sounds great too.

Evelyn

Edited by user Tuesday, October 30, 2012 11:55:07 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

you know to just put me down if you have not already..

Kelly, both of these swaps sound amazing and Lord knows I have plenty of "stash" to use

Please send me a "reminder" when to sign up meccc@clarkcountycourts.us

thanks for hosting

Sweets/Cherie