Birthday Swap and Kris Kringle Exchanges Sign-Up

Lody wrote

on May 14, 2010 11:14 AM

RULES WERE EDITED ON MAY 17, 2010... RULES FINALIZED ON MAY 20, 2010

I know that we already have a bunch of great on-going SWAPS but I had been thinking about the above mentioned swaps for a while now, so I thought we can add extra fun! Birthday swap will be on a quarterly basis while Kris Kringle is once a year. Both works (or will work) almost the same. To be considered on the swaps, participants must comply on the following rules:

1. Must be ACTIVE members of BD Forum.

2. Must have at least 200 posts upon sign-up due date.

3. Members with less than 300 posts must post in the forum at least 7 times a week, not only in the Readers Showcase but also on Bead Chat, Non-Beading Discussion, etc. Unless there's an emergency of course... make sure to let the coordinator know what's going on! Members with 500+ posts are considered regulars and don't have to post as much.

4. Must be willing to spend approximately $10 worth of stash or gift for your partner... but if money is tight, stuffs from your own stash should be alright. 

5. Must specify an individual color challenge for the Birthday Swap. Optional on the Kris Kringle.

6. Must have a "Wishlist" in their profile (or blog), preferably not exceeding $10. The "Wishlist" must not be changed in the duration of the swap, just in case your partner decided to buy your stash or gift early.

7. Must make at least one handmade jewelry for your partner. Always refer to your partner's profile for inspiration, i.e. colors, earrings, necklace, bracelet, jewelry set, etc.

8. If you don't want to ship overseas, email me privately so it can be arranged.

9. Important: Must replace a lost package. PERIOD. Meaning, no blaming on the postal service or whatsoever. It will be unfair for your partner if he/she will not receive a package, so make sure you buy insurance or delivery confirmation... unless you're willing to take the risk.

10. Must read updates with regards to this swaps. Changes will be posted once agreed and available.

11. It is encourage that the participants will open their packages on christmas day or on their birthdays!

12. These are secret swaps/exchanges, so do not post a photo of your handmade jewelry and gifts unless your partners received their packages already.

13. Must email me your name and adress.

14. For BD swap, please email me your birthday (no year is needed) and color challenge.

15. Color challenge for Kris Kringle is optional. If you have any, you can put it in your profile.

2010 KRIS KRINGLE: Round 1

Sign-up Due Date: October 1st, 2010

Mailing of Packages Due Date: Last week of November to December 1st, 2010... the package of your partner must arrive before Christmas Day, so mailing it out early is fine!

BIRTHDAY SWAP WITH COLOR CHALLENGE

BD SWAP ROUND 1: July/August/September 2010

Sign-up Due Date: June 1st, 2010

BD SWAP ROUND 2: October/November/December 2010

Sign-up Due Date: September 1st, 2010

BD SWAP ROUND 3: January/February/March 2011

Sign-up Due Date: December 1st, 2010

BD SWAP ROUND 4: April/May/June 2011

Sign-up Due Date: March 1st, 2011

Mailing of Packages Due Date: Every 1st of the month... or make sure your partner will open his/her package on his/her birthday.

This is going to be FUN swaps/exchanges. If your birthday is on the later "rounds", and doesn't wanna commit this soon yet, no worries... I will post a reminder weeks before the due dates.  

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Below are examples of similar swaps on my embroidery group, to give you an idea what (kinda) to expect on this swap... or how it works.

This is one of my fave swap, and I chose purple color (I think my partner for this swap chose green, needless to say, I sent her a lot of green stuffs). My partner is very creative that she even used purple paper in wrapping my gifts. She's also into various crafts so she made me various hand-made items like a crocheted rope bangle, netted cuff bracelet, and a shawl. I think we had about $20 (or $25) spending limit and she got me a bunch of itty-bitty purple stuffs... from candies, gums, pens, beads, fibers, sticky notes, etc.

And here's a package I sent to my partner in Germany last year. She wanted needlework smalls so I made her one of my sewing set designs... she's also into  bright colors like orange, yellow, etc.

LinaG2 wrote

on May 14, 2010 11:22 AM

I'm in.  Soumds like great fun.

yeli wrote

on May 14, 2010 12:05 PM

I also want to participate.

Have a question: will they both have themes or colors?  I like the idea of choosing a color and have someone send me things of that color or send them things of one color.

And, another question.  Can someona sign up only for one of them?

Lody wrote

on May 14, 2010 12:19 PM

Thanks Lina and Yeli!:)

Yes Yeli, both can have color themes. For example, if you want BLUE for the birthday swap, then your partner must send you stuffs in blue. If you don't want a specific color, simply say "multi-color" or "surprise" so I can advise your partner about your preference.

And yes again, you can just sign-up in one swap.

I know christmastime is hectic to everybody, so I'm not surprise at all if nobody will sign-up on it. I had a swap experience before wherein only 2 of us signed-up. LOL It was still fun though! We pampered each other. LOL

MysticP wrote

on May 14, 2010 1:00 PM

oooh, this sounds like fun!! I'm definitely in!!!

I was worried about the number of posts, but apparently I'm chatty enough :)

lostaloha wrote

on May 14, 2010 1:59 PM

Not only am I posting to say I want to do it, but to see how many posts I have total. And also to remind myself that I should really keep track of how much posting I do around here (:

I think the birthday swap would be tons of fun!!

LinaG2 wrote

on May 14, 2010 2:03 PM

Moira, you are way over and Sydney...you don't have that far to go...lol

lostaloha wrote

on May 14, 2010 2:08 PM

Lina, I figured so.. our summer just started so I have TONS of time to check in and keep up with everyone!

Lody wrote

on May 14, 2010 2:23 PM

If you feel that the rules are too tight or strict, voice out your suggestions.:) Sydney, we can of course lower the posts counts... :) 200 posts should be fine, right?:)

Birthday swaps are REALLY soooooooo much fun. LOL One thing that each participant has to consider is that, if you plan to send more than required, please do not expect to get as much as you send. Not everybody has extra $$$ to spare... it's the thought that counts.:)

In my embroidery group swaps/exchanges, we always make sure to add $20-$25 worth of assorted goodies (some even give gift cards, because they can afford it!)... but to those who can't do such, they usually make extra hand-made pieces. Our wishlist in the said groups are usually books/patterns, linens, threads, scissors (many embroiderers collects scissors LOL) and embellishments. The swaps I'm into are from private groups, and we've known each others for many years... though most of us never met in person yet. 

I've also experienced a lot of swaps wherein I had to re-send a package, specially the ones in Malaysia... LOL I think the said country has the worst postal service, coz PO staffs open/steal the packages sometimes (no offense meant). I heard that Italian PO is very strict but so far, I've never had problem mailing packages there.

yeli wrote

on May 14, 2010 3:59 PM

I hope to make the 300 posts by September LOL!!!

ChristinaMarieH wrote

on May 14, 2010 9:47 PM

I like the idea of both swaps....but it will be September 2011 until I get a birthday package.....that's a super long time from now...

So I would say yes to the Kris Kringle swap....are we supposed to make something AND add $10.00 worth of goodies?

Lody wrote

on May 15, 2010 6:48 AM

I understand your dillema Christina.:) In my case, as my birthday is in the first week of January - and knowing how busy everybody is during christmastime -  I always use my hubby's birthday (April)  for my exchanges. LOL That way, I have a gift to open on his birthday too!

Thanks for joining the KK, I will add you in the list.:) And yes, a hand-made and some goodies.

13tamara wrote

on May 15, 2010 7:59 AM

Lody...sounds like sooooooo much fun.....I'm with Christina and would have to wait almost a year in the birthday swap....by then I'd forget about it and it would be a nice surprise....soooo....

I'm in for both

edit to add.....holy crow didn't think I had that many posts.....guess I love it here........I was rather quiet on my old card board......

Zerenity by Inca wrote

on May 15, 2010 9:36 AM

Sounds cool - but I dont seem to manage allways 7 posts a week - so I guess Im out ... =(

Lody wrote

on May 15, 2010 4:40 PM

I guess we have to edit the rules so more people can participate.

Inca, would be glad if you could join us. What if the 7 days posting in a week is for members with less than 300 posts?