Swaps - how to do it

A lot of people ask me about swapping. They want to know how it's arranged and how it works. I have to admit that one of the main reasons I wanted to start a blog was so that I could participate in swaps. It was the last back-tack that put me over the edge - those packages were so amazing!!

There are a few different ways I've arranged swaps. Sometimes people offer something to people who comment on their blog. Then I make a package for them in exchange. I've offered things to people on my blog, the winner of a recent quiz was sent a handmade present (still a secret) recently, and now we are swapping ATCs too. There are official swap groups such as the aforementioned Color-iffic swap-o-rama. That one is based on a colour theme.

This is the package I received today for the Green Color-iffic swap-o-rama. It came from Claudia of chestofdrawers - we had already swapped before! For the previous swap I sent a kid's embroidery book and she sent me lots of fabric and goodies. I love my green package, my favourite thing of course is the beautiful owl she made for me pictured at the top of this post.

Package includes, fabric, ribbon, pencils, apple notebook with apple stickers, bookmarks, letter paper, green window paint, green pencil sharpener (looks like a little can with cute graphic), half circle sticky notes, pretty green fish that goes in the bath and releases flowerlike confetti, turquoise sequins, and last but not least frog magnet. It's all wonderful, thank you Claudia!

Also on Flickr are other swap opportunities. One group is for fabric, you post pictures of fabric or other craft relating things and if someone likes it they will offer to swap with you. I did that recently, and sent the fabric and a few extras and received this pretty package from green kitchen. I love it, thank you Michelle!
Here's a close-up of that adorable animal fabric:I've also had a certain lovely person offer to send me some fabric, just because she saw me comment about it on Flickr. Of course I was so pleased I made her a package in exchange.And recently I received a surprise package from Teresa! She sent me turquoise rick-rack, flowery fabric, pretty liberty card, vintage buttons, lip gloss that looks like a candy, flower beads, and a ring made of amber and copper coloured beads - not in the picture because I am wearing it!! I loved everything, Teresa and I had swapped before and she wanted to send me something extra - it was such a nice surprise!

These aren't even all the swaps I've done or all the kinds of swap opportunities. Generally I think it starts with comments and mutual admiration. Then a bit of emailing. If you have a blog it's great because then the person can see what you like, you know what you have in common and it gives you ideas/inspiration for what to send. If not, the next best thing is Flickr, where you can post pictures and comments and scoot around "meeting" people. I've found that most people like to swap because it's always so nice to get packages in the mail.