Studio Musings

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Join me for a Handmade Ornament Exchange and 'Swap Hop'

This week's cold, foggy mornings have me in the mood for holiday crafting.  Too many ideas running through my head, but this morning, I'm focusing on Ornaments.  More specifically - a Holiday Ornament Exchange where participants create a handmade ornament, and then exchange them with a trading partner.  One of my favorite holiday activities, it's been several years since I felt capable of participating.  This year; this year I'm totally up for the fun!  Want to join in?

Since seeing what everyone made is half the fun, we're going to celebrate with a Swap Hop Reveal Party - a blog hop - at the end.  You don't even have to have a blog.  As long as you can email me photos and text, I'll make sure you're included in the hop.  And if you do have a blog - make sure to include its address, so we can all visit!



How to Join
Sign ups are open through Halloween, October 31st.  Once I know who's participating, I'll send out emails on Friday, November 2nd letting you know who your trading partner is.  You'll then be responsible for trading emails and exchanging postal addresses.  Then it's time to make your ornament!

I've created a nifty form to use for signups (Signups now closed for 2018). If that doesn't work for some reason, email me, including your name, email address and blog URL, if you have one.  Also let me know if you're from outside the US, and if you're inside the US, if you'd be willing to ship internationally.

The Ornaments
The ornaments must be handmade by you.  That's the only requirement.  They could be beaded, stitched, painted, made of glass, cloth, wood, paper - whatever medium you love.  They don't need to include seed beads, though they certainly could.   Most simply, they should be something you'd love to receive.

Blog Hop and Reveal, Sunday, December 16th
On the reveal day, post a photo (or photos) of what you made and the ornament you received.  Include a paragraph or two about both pieces. 

Associated Dates:
Signups through Halloween, October 31st
     Swap Partners assigned Friday, November 2nd
Mailing Deadline:  All packages must be mailed by Friday, November 30th
Swap Hop Reveal Party, Sunday, December 16th

If you're a guest blogger - to be featured on my blog - I will need your photos by Thursday, December 13th so that I'll have time to put together your post.  Make sure to take pictures of what you make and what you receive, and include a paragraph or two (or more).  It's fun the learn about why you chose to make that particular ornament, your process, the swap, your swap partner - whatever you'd like to share.  Don't worry, I'll remind you as the time grows nearer.

Hope to hear from you!




6 comments:

  1. Thank you for your email. It was a welcome surprise. I’m so glad you have your health some what in order. You have been missed! I look forward to your blogs, whatever the topic is��

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    1. Thank you! I am so glad the email was a -welcome- surprise! I've been doing some Halloween crafting this week, so my next blog post is likely to be about that.

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  2. I want to do this so bad but I'm not sure I could have something done in time! :(

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    1. JoJo - I totally understand! You are very definitely welcome, should you decide to join in!

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  3. Hi Karen,
    This looks like loads of fun. Although I can't participate, I will check back to see what folks have made. I hope you have more blog hops coming in 2019!
    Liz

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  4. I would have loved to have done this...unfortunately...Canada has been in the middle of a postal strike for months now. Looking forward to participating in the blog reveal though! So good to see you back, Karen!

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