Flat rate box of Christmas surprises?!

[MissDisney]

i forgot to post this here

i cant join any other swaps besides the 12 days and the scrap fabric one i just posted, we are going to WDW in january, so we are taking a spending sabbatical for the next 3 months (no movies after this weekend, and renting occassionally, no shopping randomly, no eating out, etc)

its a bummer, cos i really love this idea, luckily there is always next yr!

[norahkate]

okay, i only read page 1 of 4 because i'm super busy at work, but i will catch up this weekend.  i just wanted to say that i love this idea and i am so in!

[bigfatroses]

Would it be ok to say "Partner- craft me anything you'd like, it's all for my Christmas birthday!"   

I'm hoping to feel refreshed once this starts.  Have been having some postal/swapping issues the past week.  I'm pooped out.

[TheGoddessWithinYou]

I am new to Crafters and I think this is a fantastic idea.  I will be watching for this to start.

[kaymadben]

YAY! I'm so glad to see so many people interested. Can't wait til it starts. I feel like I'm counting down the days til Christmas waiting for the sign ups to begin.

[Yarn or Fabric]

This sounds like such a labor intensive swap - I have filled flat rate boxes for swaps with crafted things and it takes A LOT to fill up a flat rate box.  When I have filled them in the past full of crafted things it was a massive amount of crafted stuff inside them - tons of time invested.
I am stressed about the amount of loot that would actually have to go inside a flat rate box...

[kaymadben]

okay missy, you are discouraging my participants!  There's a 2 month crafting time so once you get done with your minimum amount of points you could either keep crafting and put more crafted things in there or you could add some cute supplies like fabric, yarn, books, christmas decorations, etc. Or store bought things to fill it up. With the 2 month crafting period if you crafted 2 smalls a week that would be 16 smalls you'd have in the box. Unless they are all jewelry I'd have a hard time fitting 16 smalls in the box. So if you did 1 medium every 2 weeks that would be 4 mediums in the box. Really it depends on what you are crafting and how big it is. I mean if you made a sofa pillow, a tote bag or shopping bag, some placemats and an apron, all of which could probably be mediums depending on how much time you put into it, your box would be almost full most likely.

Do you have any suggestions on making it less stressful?

[Yarn or Fabric]

No - that actually doesn't sound as horrific.  I don't mean to discourage anyone - I was just voicing my fear of box stuffing.  I guess I missed that it could include things that were not crafted.  I thought it all had to be crafted.
gotcha and understood...

Sorry bout that guys - ignore the crazy lady(me)  I do tend to fret for no good reason!

[RubyRain]

okay missy, you are discouraging my participants!  There's a 2 month crafting time so once you get done with your minimum amount of points you could either keep crafting and put more crafted things in there or you could add some cute supplies like fabric, yarn, books, christmas decorations, etc. Or store bought things to fill it up. With the 2 month crafting period if you crafted 2 smalls a week that would be 16 smalls you'd have in the box. Unless they are all jewelry I'd have a hard time fitting 16 smalls in the box. So if you did 1 medium every 2 weeks that would be 4 mediums in the box. Really it depends on what you are crafting and how big it is. I mean if you made a sofa pillow, a tote bag or shopping bag, some placemats and an apron, all of which could probably be mediums depending on how much time you put into it, your box would be almost full most likely.

Do you have any suggestions on making it less stressful?

This is exactly how I was thinking too-a couple of smalls and a medium or 2. I'd fill in the rest with supplies-which is how I think this swap kind of started isn't it?

I think people are getting a little freaked thinking they have to craft a ton of things to fill the box and that's not the point-it's a mixture of things-and supposed to be fun!

I've already set aside a few things

[Ma Rut]

I like the idea of crafting the points requirement, then crafting as much as I can in the time I have left, then fill in as needed with supplies