Vanesa

16 hours ago, Greenwoodtree said:

 

I like this. Its simple. The Spring Cleaning swap almost always backfires on me...and I get a box of things I need to giveaway, but this sounds like it could be doable.

 

I also am planning on making a creative swap for January - I have a lot of bottled up creative energy.  Im thinking a matchbox shrine or a very special decorated box.

Yeah, I'm kind of contemplating doing it as a mini-travelling box set up (start it with 4 wrapped re-gifts with labels giving a hint to what they are, e.g. "Lucchesa's World's ugliest sweater." and then it's a choose one/add one system from there on out) instead of matches so that people have a higher chance of getting something they'll at least be amused by.  Not sure, though.  That may be too slow. 

I always envy the creative ones since I have zero skills in that regards.  Have fun with it!

I've been toying with the idea of a post-holiday regifting swap.  Would anyone be interested in such a thing?  Idea is to be very simple and fun, maybe even a shade towards white elephant.  Essentially, each person would send one item that's either a.) a regift from the holiday season or b.) made with a gift (so if you got baking pans, for example, you could send cookies; craft supplies, make something simple; etc.).  

Is anyone thinking of running something for New Years/early January?

5 hours ago, meaganola said:

I’ve been thinking about a Fresh Start exchange. Matches would be made in early December, but the shipping deadline would be in January. That’s as far as I’ve gotten, though. 

I love this!!! New Years is my favorite holiday

I'm not the best participant for these swaps (though I've enjoyed a few of the winter solstice rounds) so grain of salt....

These appeal to me because of timing:

Beltane (~May 1)

Litha (~June 21)

Lughnasadh/Lammas (~August 1)

I love summer and summer festivities and we don't do much in terms of forum swaps around that time. I think it would be useful, though, to get your short (couple of words) impression of each like you did for Beltane and Lughnasadh. The holidays you listed are used in so many slightly different traditions that it would be good to know what direction you would take each round in.

For the pet swap, let me know if anyone is up for co-hosting. I prefer to work with someone else since my schedule is a little odd.

Would anyone be interested in joining or co-hosting a pet spoiling swap? My dog could use some spoiling, and I know there are other pet lovers on the forum. I'm thinking something short, fairly cheap, and possibly with a combo of both items *for* pets and items *about* pets (e.g. cute cat socks).

I would love a book swap!

On that note, is anyone doing spring cleaning?

Sign ups for the Mardi Gras swap end tomorrow, if anyone else would like to jump in. It should be quick and fun.

 

Mardi Gras is on February 28th this year, and I'm feeling the spirit. Anyone up for a small swap?

Perhaps, it's a fun thing to celebrate....

 

Well, I went for it. Should be quick and hopefully fun. Come play!

Mardi Gras is on February 28th this year, and I'm feeling the spirit. Anyone up for a small swap?

I love New Years! And I'd probably be in. Thematically that's kind of like the solstice swap I just posted. :-)

Oooh, that sounds like a good one. Now to decide if I can afford it so close to Switch Witch...

I know it's a bit early, but is there any interest in a New Years swap? It's my favorite holiday, and it might be nice to have something that happens after all the December holiday furor has died down.

I haven't quite worked out the details in my head, but maybe something like: 1 item for good luck in the new year, 1 item to wash away the past year, 1 item to help your partner keep their new years resolutions, and 1 item to help them break their new years resolutions?

Hooray, neptuneanblues, glad you signed up! And thanks for promoting it as well , I was just coming by to do the same. It should be a fun and simple one.

Ah, I remember that one now (and thank you for linking it!). I tend to avoid the dollar store swaps because I can only do personal shopping online or in walking distance, but that looked like a cute one. Plus, I'm always in favor of low cost swap to balance out some of the more intense ones. If you do it, I'm sure it will be great. Hope your health is on the upswing!

 

Anybody planning to run with any of the summer swap ideas? I'm super excited about the concept and happy to help.

 

I was thinking of running some kind of "beat the heat" swap like we did a few years back but I'd like to be (more or less) done with the virtual vacation one first.

 

I don't remember that one. What was the gist?

This Neil Diamond fan over here kinda wants to do a Seven Hot August Nights exchange.

That's hilari-awesome.

Anybody planning to run with any of the summer swap ideas? I'm super excited about the concept and happy to help.

A combo of the two would be fun - Summer Survival Kit.

The questionnaire could ask your favorite way to spend the summer, favorite summer vacation as a kid, and other questions of that nature. If your partner is a beach person, you could send them beach stuff; if they loved camp, you could send them adult summer camp in a box; if they like to spend summer hiding in the a/c at the movie theater, you could send them items to keep them cool; etc.

We still have a package outstanding on the Spring Cleaning Swap (boo customs!), but I could be convinced to lend a hand as soon as that one is done if anyone wants a helper for running a summer swap.

A low key summer swap would be nice. It's my favorite season, and there aren't that many themed swaps this time of year. I'm trying not to join new swaps, but I'd break my rules for that.

 

 

 

 

I'd love one too, I've been decluttering and have plenty of nice things I could send.

I don't think my health will allow me to run it, though, pity.

 

When is the Spring Cleaning swap usually? I'm really looking forward to that one!

 

I...could do it with some help? Might have to be a bit later than usual.

 

I am extremely interested in this too!

 

 

keltiejean and I are thinking we'll co-run the Spring Cleaning Swap. It'll be a late spring time frame, but it is happening

 

Come sign up! http://www.bpal.org/topic/88882-annual-spring-cleaning-swap

 

 

 

I'd love one too, I've been decluttering and have plenty of nice things I could send.

I don't think my health will allow me to run it, though, pity.

 

When is the Spring Cleaning swap usually? I'm really looking forward to that one!

 

I...could do it with some help? Might have to be a bit later than usual.

 

I am extremely interested in this too!

 

keltiejean and I are thinking we'll co-run the Spring Cleaning Swap. It'll be a late spring time frame, but it is happening

Is there any interest in a pets swap? Like goods for your fuzzy/scaly/feathered friend, especially if they're locally made or super helpful/adorable/special treats?

I'm currently taking a break from swapping, but I'm sad to see this one pass by without a wholehearted YES! I think this is an awesome idea, and I'm definitely in if you decide to run it in the future.

It's called Media Mail - and from my experience it's not always cheaper. Especially with the rates in general always climbing higher.

 

Media Mail can include CDs, magazines, and DVDs too.

Just be careful mixing media. It's supposed to be on, but I've had boxes turned down because the person at the counter heard the plastic DVD case rattling around with books and assumed I'd snuck something else in.

 

 

Oh god. I just had a thought... How about a traveling library circular swap with nothing but BOOKs in the box?

 

Granted, it would be expensive. We'd have to use a large priority flat rate box, the first person would need to have enough books to start it out full, and everyone would need to commit to being able to pay to ship it on... But it would be like our own little free library!

There is a special cheap "book rate" when you mail books.

really? How do you get the rate?

 

You just ask for the library or media rate. Caveats are that it can only be books (stick in one imp with 30 books, and you no longer qualify for the rate) and that it's incredibly slow.