Greenwoodtree

The complexity of initial application disappears on me and after 20-30 minutes I'm left with a candy-like sweet rose and nothing else. It's too bad because the notes initially make it tempting to me. But Im not into sweet, or this kind of rose. Im not sure if its the musk or the rose or both. Sadly it's going into my sale pile.

Have a new swap idea - it's for a round robin box filled with just ipsy and other subscription box items, new unused, or lightly/cleanly tested. I would start with a box loaded with ipsy items. I guess either Im extremely picky with my makeup and beauty regime (I am), or they dont send me stuff according to my profile (this is also often the case, but I realize they are trying to please a lot of people too)

Who would be into this? It would be makeup, bath and body care items, and several ipsy makeup bags. 90% of it is brand new and never been used. Those who participate could add items from other subscription boxes, doesnt matter to me, just put in the amount you take out. I'd like to start this within the next week or so.

hey everyone - I will take questionnaires until sunday evening if there is anyone else who wants to join the Animal Spirit Guide matchbox shrine. We had some wonderful things made for the last one we did.

Anybody up for another critter swap? I liked last year's semi-themed mythology/fantastical swap. What would be a good theme for this year?

Yes Last year I missed it because I chose to do skyelyrics craftchallenged swap instead...but I ended up making something I hadnt thought possible.

Soooo...way back when I made the very first post in this thread I had suggested a quilt squares swap (stitched by machine) and I had a bunch of interest. Im thinking of it again. I have so many totes of fabric its ridiculous, and trim and ribbons as well. For all you crafters who are jonesing... that might assist in relieving the need However I AM going to post the animal spirit guide matchbox shrine swap right now! Sorry it took so long! These are both low budget/no budget swaps to inspire the creative juices, especially now that we are in the season of Imbolc!

I'd like to gauge interest in a gluten free foods/etc round robin box.

I was going to try this a couple years ago but it didn't happen.

I'm thinking it would be like the tea or bath and body boxes. A box goes round with gluten free supplies for baking, cooking, mixes, recipes, books, etc, and whatever is taken out is replaced with your favorite local items that you may want other people to try.

Also should have the Matchbox shrine swap up soon (spirit animals matchbox shrine.)

I really want to! Any swap I do will not be a quickie - I personally need more time than a month to work on something, and that way people can take their time and not procrastinate til the week of sending. (I hope anyway)

Im a bit overloaded handling responsibilities at the moment, but maybe in a few days?

Post holiday slump and I'm itchy for a crafty swap. Does anyone have one in the works or want to co-run with me? I've never run a swap before.

I still plan on hosting the Animal Spirit guide matchbox shrine swap. I have a bunch of other ideas as well, including a 10 person, BPALista quilt square swap.

I'm working on it! Will try to get it written up and submitted for approval tonight! YAY!

FYI, people, I WILL be starting a Yule/Christmas gift exchange type swap soon.

I am so disappointed I was too sick to remember the deadlines for the questionnaires for the winter swap and 12 Days swap.

So if anyone else feels the same, or just wants another one, be prepared.

I might(big maybe) resurrect a winter solstice swap too. We shall see. Lots of medical stuff going on.

Anybody else miss the winter holiday swaps? Ive been too sick to keep up with signup deadlines and now I missed them.

Im thinking of starting another one of some kind. Anybody interested? My husband HATES the holidays and I have no family so it can be pretty bleak.

I love doing swaps and my kid loves opening all the packages that come in. She is always asking when she can join the forum, can she do a swap too, etc. She's still to young, but it got me thinking, do others out there have kids who want to do a swap too. Kids, grands, cousins, nieces, nephews, etc. I'd love to do a swap for the kids in our lives. Any thoughts?

I don't have any children though I tend to want to treat other people's kids because of it. I think that's a wonderful idea. I was also working on an idea for a less self-centered swap too, that would still be fun. And not involving just contributing to charity. Still working on it.

Just an FYI - I will be finally offering the 2nd matchbox shrine swap after Christmas is over, and the theme will be totem animals/animal spirit guides.

For the winter swap season, I know lots of people can't participate because of finances - it's expensive to buy presents and do a swap! - so is there any interest in a low budget/no budget swap where all you'd have to pay for is shipping (and however much else you'd want to buy)?

 

I have an idea for a winter warmth swap. You could buy or make something cozy like socks or a hat or a scarf, include a burned dvd or second hand book, and make or buy a warm beverage thing (tea/cocoa/cider/etc), and make or buy a small savory snack (popcorn package/crackers/etc).

 

It would be a very small swap just to get people who want to swap a chance to spoil someone with all the fixins for a little cozy night in! I was thinking maybe mailing out beginning of December so it doesn't conflict with the holidays or other holiday themed swaps.

 

Thoughts?

yup! This has definitely been done in previous year's during winter. And yes it's a great idea and a much appreciated swap. If you look in Dead Swaps Cemetery, you might see from the past two winters some you could go by if you wanted

What's the Mummer's Swap? How do I not know what this is?

 

Also, I support dear Twilight Eyes' approach- SW doesn't have to be about spending tons of money. This is about whatever resources you have! Some folks have a little more money but perhaps a little less time, others have time to craft things instead of money to buy stuff. Most of us have BPALs that don't get enough love that we'll happily gift to another person in a swap. In the past, the SW questionnaire was so comprehensive that it was fairly easy to tailor it to what each person could give.

 

That all said, I've never done a 13 Days swap and that sounds pretty fun, too!

 

Autumnal swaps forever!!!

Okay, so Mummer's swap was created to be like the old American Halloweens...and also the Dumb Supper. If you search for Mummers swap under Dead Swap Cemetery you will find it

As for Switch Witch, I know Im not the only one who is intimidated by it because of all the questions/'I wants' that begins right away in the thread. It's intimidating to see what everyone wants, how particular...and what if someone cant buy any of it? *shrug* I always have put out more than I could or should for Switch Witch, to please my Witchee, and as much as I'd love to do that again, I cant buy stuff. All the things I would send would either be re-gifted things, art or craft things, or food items.

It's true that Witches can also swap with people for their witchee...and I have done that liberally as well. Many people have had me make fudge for their witchees in exchange for DISO oils, and also astrology birth charts. But again...that only goes so far in SW.

This is why I wanted to revive ih8perfume's Broke Witch swap...but looks like it will be Mummers swap instead

The othern swap I thought I could do is Dark Alice's Dollar store halloween swap. $10 limit. With the 13 Nights swap, I loved that one too - but again...thats going to be more money than I can do, and then the flat rate box postage.

And like Twilighteyes says, I could REALLY use some spoiling too!

Okay...heads-up - The Mummer's Swap is being reincarnated and will be posted in the next day or two! It will be slightly edited from when I first introduced it in 2010.

I'd love to do some kind of fall and/or winter swap but I would probably do more homemade things since I am currently unemployed. Knitted/crocheted, pickles, bpal from my stash, etc. (Let's not talk about the two motors that we have blown in the past two months... I could really use some spoiling.)

Keep your eyes out for the swap Ih8perfume and I will be hosting...emphasis will be on not spending a bunch of money. We are working on editing the old questionnaire now.

Is no one interested in a Broke Witch Halloween swap then?

IH8perfume has run it in the past, and there has been discussion of bringing it back.

Another idea for a Halloween, extremely limited budget swap is for swappers to use their talents and on-hand resources to craft, bake/cook, re-gift things.

And another one that DarkAlice ran was a Dollar Store Halloween swap, budget $10, I believe.

We were thinking of the people who have very limited money to spend. It's possible to get creative that way.

Input, feedback please...

There is discussion of a Broke Witch swap again..

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.

I've just tested 3 apple scents, and this is the first one that doesn't turn candy-sweet and unpleasant.

For some reason apple amps on my skin extremely, and hides everything else, but I'm hoping that changes(maybe) because the other notes sound wonderful.

This scent is sweet and delicious and goes through many stages before it settles to a gingery, aquatic floral.

I generally do AWFUL with BPAL florals, but for some reason this works, and is delightful.

Re-testing lots of things since my skin chemistry has massively changed since I discovered BPAL 6 years ago.

So, This one is complex...I love the woody note, as well as the musk and clove. So glad the patch is not amping. Too bad it seems to be fading fast. I do like this one - it's very odd.

A floral that doesnt hate me or amp just one or two notes. I do detect something trying to kill it, but it's not making it bad. I would love this as a candle or room spray.

VERY strong on me.

This is a perfect leather scent...nothing overpowers another, and although the leather amped initially, on drydown, the sweet rum/caramel notes are blending wonderfully. At first it was like leather dipped in butterscotch...but now the patch is also peeking through.

After 5 minutes, the leather has taken control again. Although I adore this leather note, I wish it wouldnt take over the other notes like this.

I'm getting all the notes! YAY! It started out a VERY green, fresh evergreen/herbal scent...and now it has mellowed to green, but with tinges of tobacco and a slight touch of patchouli. This is great because usually BPAL's patchouli amps on me and turns to something unpleasant when the essential oil is one of my favorites to wear.

This is the scent I should wear hiking or camping. It's earthy and comforting.