ornaments i received in a sweat shoppe ornaments swap
Swap name: 12 Days Of Christmas Swap 2012
Craftster member who is organizing this swap: Koalascout
Co organizer: TBD
Sign-up date range: from 08/14/12 until 09/6/12 or until full
Partners posted no earlier than: 09/11/12
TENTATIVE DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Date to send items by:
First send out date: Days 12-7 are due by Nov 26th
Second send out date: Days 6-1 are due by Dec 6th
If you are sending the entire 12 Days all at once, then your send out date is on or before Dec 1st
Please know that this info and questionnaire are taken from previous rounds.
If you would like to send out more than 2 packages to your partner that is fine as well; as long as
everything is sent no later than Dec. 14thLimited to a certain number of people: no
Restricted to people who all live in the same country? No
All ages allowed? Or 18+? 18 and over
I reserve the right to deny any craftster's entrance into this swap for any reason including the following...
ANY "negative" feedback comments
poor communication in past swaps
consistently sending late in past swaps
Being a NEWBIE swapper (you must have successfully completed 1 swap prior to signing up for this one)
Swap Organizer herself meets these conditions:
- Has fully read the Swap Info Guide: YES
- Has successfully completed two swaps as a participant: YES
- Is not organizing more than three swaps right now: YES
- Will recruit a co-organizer or give all details to a Swap Moderator if this swap has more than 25 participants: YES
- Is at least 18 years old: YES
Swap Organizer will check each participant to make sure they meet these conditions:
- Has been a member for at least one month: YES
- Has posted at least 15 times: YES
- Has completed one swap successfully before signing up for multiple swaps at a time: YES
- Is not currently signed up for more than five swaps: YES
- Does not have any negative feedback: YES
- Participant has agreed that he/she is at least 16 years old: YES
Details of swap:
12 Days of Christmas 2007 original thread:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=195682.012 Days of Christmas 2007 Gallery:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=195684.012 Days of Christmas 2008:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=265354.012 Days of Christmas 2008 Gallery:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=277365.012 Days of Christmas 2009:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=319693.012 Days of Christmas 2009 Gallery:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=330911.012 Days of Christmas 2010:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=357808.msg4190741#msg419074112 Days of Christmas 2010 Gallery:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=366426.012 Days of Christmas 2011:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=390197.012 Days of Christmas 2011 Gallery:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=397124.0The idea of this swap is to craft for your partner 12 groups of items (78 items in total!!) based on their interests, going along with the idea of the 12 Days Of Christmas song. The items that you make DO NOT have to be the items IN the 12 days of Christmas song. The items sent/received can be BOTH everyday items and chtistmas/Winter themed goodies. I promise you won't receive 78 knitted christmas sweaters, mittens and scarves, unless you and your partner agree to do this! HAHA!
You will label the gift individually with the numbers 12-1, so that your partner knows which day is in which package(s). We will start opening the packages on December 14th with the #12 package. Inside would be 12 things. On December 15th you would open the #11 package and inside there should be 11 things. And on and on until on December 25th when you will open the #1 package.
Each day can have a "theme" if you want, but this is not mandatory. You could have day 5 be 5 crocheted granny squares, while day 6 could be a pair of earrings + a set of gift tags + a fabric headband + a tea towel + embossing powder and some handmade paper
I would like to see that the 78 items you send have the following stipulation: 75% handmade 25% store bought
This is approximately 60 handmade and 18 store bought or 59/19. which ever works for you.
If you buy an item from etsy.com, a craft fair, or any other handmade site that is handmade it is considered handmade and may go into the 75% handmade list. Store bought implies COMMERCIALLY manufactured, mass produced and/or supplies.
This is a pretty big swap commitment so if you are not sure that you can fulfill the obligations please do not sign up. This swap will end up taking a lot of time/money/resources, so please plan accordingly. Some of last years participants said they spent a large amount of $$ in shipping alone! Also, it is VERY IMPORTANT that the packages get sent ON TIME so please make sure that you can get to the post office.
The RULES:
1. You must send ALL PM's to Koalascout and all PM's must have the subject line: 12 Days of Christmas Swap 2012
2. You must post in the original thread at least once a week! This starts once partners are assigned. That is only about 14 posts.
3. PM's must be sent to Koalascout (and the co organizer) and your partner when you send and receive. If you are sending within the USA you must get a DC# and send it to Koalascout, co organizer and your partner. They cost an extra $.75 in addition to the postage price. If you are sending outside of your country, you must keep your receipt as proof of shipping and send a picture/scan of it to Koalascout!!! This is mandatory!
5. When you open each days package, you will then need to post in your mini gallery. More info on this will be given after your questionnaire is approved. I ask that you post pictures within a reasonable amount of time. I know that they Holiday season can be quite hectic, but please get them posted within 3 days of opening. All of your pictures will be posted in your mini gallery. Posting pictures is a requirement for this swap! No feedback will be give unless your mini gallery is filled with pictures of your 12 packages. If you don't have a digital camera and cannot get access to one, please ask your partner to take pictures before they send.
6. There will be a “halfway” check in point and a “one week to go” check in point as well. I will send each of you a PM and you must reply back.
7. The following items are NOT allowed in swap packages:
- Anything that is illegal in the U.S. or wherever you are sending your package to or from.
- Any items that have a legal age requirement to consume in the U.S. such as tobacco, alcohol, pornography etc.
- Mixed CDs containing copyrighted music or similar, including copied software, CDs, DVDs, etc.
DAYS BREAKDOWN:
Days 12, 11, 10, 9 are EXTRA SMALL DAYS
Days 8, 7, 6 are SMALL DAYS
Days 5, 4 are MEDIUM DAYS
Days 3, 2 are LARGE DAYS
Day 1 (Christmas Day) is an EXTRA LARGE SUPER WONDERFUL WISH DAY
Our guidelines are going to be a little different from craftsters guidelines and are:
By Time (hours)
-Extra Large item= 5+
-Large groups = 3-4 PER ITEM
-Medium groups = 1.5-3 PER ITEM
-Small groups = 30 to 1 hour PER ITEM
-Extra Small groups = under 30 minutes PER ITEM
By Size
Suggestions for size guidelines that came directly from YOU, the wonderful 12 days 2009 swappers Notice that some things can be moved into the next highest category. Please use your swapping knowledge when it comes to deciding according to your crafting abilities where something fits in.
extra small:
marble magnets, basic earrings, address labels, basic hair jewelry, origami, needlebook, basic pin cushion, basic pendants, shrinky charms, tags, stickers, bookmarks, cat toys, simple note cards, sachets, basic magnets, cookies, small supplies, recipes, fingerpuppets
small:
small handcarved stamps, coasters, decorated frames, bibs, felt food, journals, notebooks, ornaments, earrings, bar of soap, zipper pouch, resin pendants, coffee cozy, drawstring bag, potholders, grocery bags, embellished towels with a strip of fabric, simple stitch markers, hair notions, key chains, crochet dishcloths, small amigurumi, ATC's, DIY kit with enough supplies to make 1 item
medium:
scarf, pajamas, baby quilts, bracelets, necklaces, t-shirts with iron ons or stencils, paintings, altered altoids tins, basic knitting stuff, thread catcher, set of notecards, poly clay trinkets, medium amigurumi, wrist warmers, hats, eye masks, candles, soap, intricate jewelry, basic purse, embellished jewelry box
large:
blankets, quilts, ceramics, DIY kits with all the supplies needed to make 3-5 items, handspun yarn, sewn clothing, artwork, mosaics, intricate sewn or crocheted purse, intricate jewelry set, treeskirt, painted wineglasses, embroidered pillow cases or clothing, magic yarn ball, apron, weekender bag, day of the week undies, inchies collage, clock, anything knitted with cable
2. If you are sending BAKED GOODS, please only send them if you live in the USA and your partner does too. I don't want anyone's package to go MIA with the lovely customs officials. Also, if you are sending baked goods, you may leave them out of your 1st send out package and include them in the 2nd or send them in a completely separate package so they arrive in a timely manner and don't spoil or go stale.
3. I highly recommend that you wrap your items in a plastic bag/trash bag/ or some other protective wrapping INSIDE the box you are sending. There were a handful of swappers in previous years that received boxes from their swap partners that were WET due to the post office/ups/etc. leaving them on the doorstep and a winter rain/snow came through AND some swappers have suggested that you also do this with anything you might send to a hot climate that might melt on your swap goodies. Wouldn't it suck to have worked so hard on a crocheted lap blanket just to send it with some delicious chocolate that melts all over it!! EEP! Sad
4. Also, if you will be shipping TO a partner that is in a HOT climate during the swap send outs, please do not include anything that might melt on their swap goodies. Think about wrapping them in a plastic baggie or something similar.
5. Here is some info from the USPS on the Flat Rate Boxes: these can be used for Domestic and International but the rates differ for International shipments. And if you purchase your postage online at usps.com or by paypal, com you get a small discount on the postage price. Flat Rate boxes themselves are FREE (you still have to pay for postage) from your local post office and also FREE if you get them online from the website usps.com, they will deliver them to you free of charge too!!
Flat Rate Boxes are available in multiple sizes and shapes to accommodate a variety of contents and shipping needs.
Both Flat Rate Boxes, the shirt box size (11" x 8.5" x 5.5") and the shoe box size (13.625" x 11.875" x 3.375"), can be used for domestic and international shipping. Please check out the post office website usps.com for rates and other necessary info. The Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box, (12" x 12" x 5.5") is 50% larger than the original Flat Rate Boxes. The contents of the flat rate box must be neatly contained inside the box with adhesive packaging tape. The box must close securely and retain its shape when taped with adhesive. The shape of the box may not be changed or enlarged to fit its contents.
Some swappers last year did say that they had sent HUGE boxes to their partner and used UPS and got some good prices on shipping.
Flat Rate Boxes can be ordered free of charge from the usps here:
https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10001&categoryId=10000036And if you are curious about the other shipping prices for regular priority/1st class/international you can calculate postage here:
http://postcalc.usps.gov/6. I highly recommend that each of you put together a WIST &/or Pinterest. Either is a huge help for your swap partner. They get to look through all the things you have put into it to get a feel for what you like. Visit WISTS.com for more info.
Also remember to read the Swap Info Guide to find out how to ship your packages and other details about participating in a swap.
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