Greenwoodtree

Let me tell y'all, I just spent an hour typing out and submitting a Yule Elf swap and it was deleted by the new improved forum because it says "You are not authorized to do that." I have some choice and nasty words for the amount of trouble Ive had just getting on this site since it was improved. And yes Ive left several posts in the appropriate thread.

Suffice to say, I have a swap ready to go and the forces are against me.

I was planning on hosting a Broke Elf swap similar to the one Shari just did for Samhain. Meaning not necessarily needing to be a high-spend swap, so mixture of crafted, purchased, and regifted things.  Im happy to have a helper!

I am seriously thinking about reviving the BrokeWitch Swap this year.

For those who dont remember, its an alternative for all of us poor folk who cant buy a bunch of stuff, is way less stressful, still fun, and includes used, handmade, and other low-no cost ways of thrilling your witchee.

I would love one person to help me run it since - health problems rear their ugly heads at times and its hard to keep track of it all alone.

Even the times for Switch Witch when Ive specified I can only afford to send mostly handmade/homemade or 2nd hand things, have traded a lot with others, the cost has gotten WAY out of control, and the stress is too much, and it seems sometimes the witchee is not spoiled adequately.

IMO it doesnt take having hundreds of dollars of disposable income to make a happy, fun swap..

llamadolly,

those are nice plans...I personally wouldnt mind if there was an option for grownup themes in the Ostara, Beltane, and Litha exchanges. Those are of course celebrations of fertility and sexuality too...if people so desired. But I cant guarantee I will be able to afford or be healthy enough to participate in much until I get a better grip on my out of control health issues.

For me, Beltane and Mabon have always been important. The only thing is, I dont feel comfortable with all the swaps having the sacrifice aspect. I see that being part of Autumn and Winter celebrations. But not Imbolc to Litha

Its really about making the item for ourselves, required to post good photos of final item. No sending back to anyone. Using the creativity we've been gestating (in the spirit of this time of year), bringing it out and using it. Im hoping for wildly creative things, even those of us who usually get stuck in the OCD land of perfectionism.

For those who enjoy this or have done it before, I would REALLY like to get a permanent forum thread going for ongoing timed, themed art/craft challenges, for both those who are needing to make money from their Etsy stores, and those who just want to be inspired.

Hi all,

I would like to start the Mystery Creative Craft Challenge swap very soon. This is in the spirit of Imbolc on a real life level.

I have been battling worsening health and more bad news from the doctor, but Ive had a small bit of anxiety relief which seems to have freed up just enough motivation to get this started.

Id appreciate feedback from anyone interested.

I've done this sort of swap on two other mail swap websites. Basically people are matched, and one person sends the other a package of art or craft materials (that the sender already owns!) and the receiver is challenged to create from all the items received. Packages can be themed based on color, medium, theme, etc. Obviously no one will send crap. Theres about a 6 week time for the crafting, about a 2 week period for gathering the items to send together. Questionnaires will ask the necessary questions.

This is a swap for those who are self motivated and who want to expand their creativity during these cold months. I do not have the energy to try to track down flakers or those who will drag things out for weeks and weeks.

So...for example I say in my questionnaire I love trees, animals and colors green, blue, black, silver. My sender could create a package based on the color green with natural elements thrown in: scraps of green yarn or ribbon, paper with leaves illustrated, green glitter or paint, maybe fabric scraps with same elements, beads, etc. Or maybe sender decides to send a themed package based on night time and stars because I love black and silver. Get it?

I want to submit this very soon.

Would anyone be interested in a traveling washi tape box? I've got tons of rolls I purchased when I thought I would be using them on elaborate no-white-space spreads in Erin Condren planners, but it turns out I'm a pretty utilitarian bullet journal person who only uses an inch or so to mark the start of each new month. I only need *maybe* a foot or two of most of these, and I don't need *any* of a lot of others. My concept would be that you could take however much you wanted: Maybe a foot or two (business cards and embroidery floss bobbins cards are great ways to store small amounts of washi), .

I have been wanting to create a traveling art and craft supply box for awhile. No junk, just new or like new condition supplies just like this.

FYI anyone who is a crafter/maker/artist type - I am planning on finally pulling together a mystery 2-part craft swap for those cave-bear days of January when our creative pools and cauldrons are incubating ideas. This one will be quite different from anything thats been done in this forum before, but it is something I've done on the ETSY forum and swap-bot.com many years ago.

Participants will have to be crafty and will be challenged to use a themed package of supplies sent to them by their partner to create something within a several week period. There will be short questionnaires, and the final things everyone makes must be shared via pictures in thread.

Im still deciding on theme, but my swaps usually are either spiritually/pagan or nature/animals inclined.

 

Curious, is anyone thinking about hosting the Winter Solstice/Yule swap?

I've been mulling one, but I was thinking it would be one of those where you send one item for each of four categories. The problem I'm struggling with is that I'm trying to come up with the four categories. I've got this image of a pine tree in the snow against the night sky in my mind, so my brain keeps circling around something evergreen (could be the color, could be the scent), something dark blue, and something white, but I can't figure out the fourth. Something sparkly like the stars? Wild card?

 

Well...the Solstice is a celebration of the sun.....

Curious, is anyone thinking about hosting the Winter Solstice/Yule swap?

 

Trading with other BPALers is another low cost way to spoil the witchee. Theres a special database for that as well. Sometimes mutual nacho (Not Your) witches end up sending to each other's witchees too when a good trade is agreed upon.

 

 

ETA: I'm glad you can participate too greenwoodtree. You're a great Witch.

 

Thank you yeah the locally available goodies is definitely another plus!

Another thing about Switch Witch for newbies...

You dont have to have a bunch of money to spend. For example, I am an artsy craftsy type with many things I can make (jewelry, artful dyed things, tie dye tapestries, baked goods, sewn things, canned goods and jams, homemade candy & fudge) and I also have access to a substantial discount at Natural Grocers, making it much easier to spoil my witchee with organic things and high quality health and beauty products.

Trading with other BPALers is another low cost way to spoil the witchee. Theres a special database for that as well. Sometimes mutual nacho (Not Your) witches end up sending to each other's witchees too when a good trade is agreed upon.

Im glad for these things so I can still participate.

 

Any news of a proper Hallowmas Switch Witch? I'll be graduated from Grad School by then and will be able to devote all my attention to it!

 

I was just coming to ask if there is any interest in an Autumn/Halloween Switch Witch Round. Any interest?

 

Yes

Anyone want to co-host a new critter swap?

I bet me or skyelyric will...and I realize Im taking liberty saying she will...just a hunch

ALSO...I have a new craft challenge mystery package swap in the works...Its something that those of us who enjoy a little mystery and adventure in our crafting and art will enjoy

Good lord, this is a keeper.

There are just a handful of BPAL scents that I know immediately are keepers...this has such a complex scent - I really dont smell any of the individual notes, thank god for that - and funny, I never would have chosen this scent based on listed notes.

I think what is REALLY appealing to me is the orange blossom and patchouli - and then that bitter lemon scent that reminds me of the old lemon perfume from when I was a kid...and somehow the touch of licorice root holds it together.

It smells sophisticated, feminine, calming...something I will try wearing several days in a row to see how it goes. An amazing blend.

Oh lovely strange perfume! I was gifted this in a forum swap. Ive been jonesing to get any of these Song of Nature scents since they came out, and at the time had no money to get decants.

This is so up my alley. At first I was dismayed at the strong mint scent - I dont wear mint. I eat mint, and I generally dont like wearing my food.

However...as I continually huff my wrist, it has mellowed to a sweet earthy herbal mint, and its unique and herbal enough that its something I can honestly consider wearing in the warmer months. I do wish the khus was just a teensy bit stronger.

.

 

On that note, is anyone doing spring cleaning?

I've been waiting for it. Maybe some questions can be added to make matching a teeny bit more accurate

I would love a Spring-y, Pagan-bunny day swap too. Hopefully that would not be too expensive to participate in.

I just submitted a new art challenge swap -skyelyric said she will cohost.

ALSO - I REALLY want to start a gluten free food round-robin box. I think gluten free food items have evolved hugely in the past few years and I'd like to both share my favorite discoveries and see what other gluten free people love. Im thinking it will be a box filled with samples and snacks, mixes, and recipes with ingredients that seem miraculous or really good..I may start the box out with a couple cookbooks as well.

When I mentioned this awhile back, there were a few interested - gauging interest now??

Okay!! An art swap it shall be! skyelyric told me she'll be cohost...

Its going to be a bit different....

Im feeling the need for an art swap.

Venus will be moving into Pisces shortly and the creative juices are starting to move again. I have a theme in mind.

Finally got to test this! Im shocked to not smell ANY of the listed notes - all I smell is a sweet floral. What in the world?? Is this the tea leaf amping?

Sheesh - how disappointing. I hope it does something better when I retest in a couple days. I had such high hopes for this. Most of the other RPG scents are great on me.

Darn it. I hope the patchouli settles down. As usual BPAL patchoulis seem to smell like sawdust on me and not pleasant. It amps badly.

I cant even smell the vetiver, and I am a vetiver lover!

I will update if it changes into something better...for now it is doing exactly what Sara Pezzini did. sweaty woodchips. Boo - I waited for a long time to try this.

Testing things I dont wear...

In the bottle its very sweet - the amber sticks out as the main note. Sprayed in my hair it went from a dirty kind of sweaty note to a white ginger predominance. It is kind of bright and clean. Although it's nice, I dont see myself using this one.