January Card Swap

[Merry]

Hi everyone, time to start thinking of the very first swap for the New Year. I thought as everyone is busy, away on holidays, having family time that we would not worry about a poll for this months theme. A lady who used to visit in here Annmaree (EmuUpaGumTree) reminded me the other day of a fun swap we had once done. Two cards recycling something from around the house. Thought this was a very good time as I am sure we all have some lovely ribbon from presents, papers, ribbons off clothes, spare buttons, cardboard from boxes, etc. The whole card does not have to be recycled but as long as some of the embellishing is. It will be fun to see what people can come up with.


So what do you think or would you prefer to do something else????

[Mandy]

Oh I remember the recycling swap, I think I used old postage stamps - do you know that was in 2006?? Time goes so quickly - I'd be up for that, I love recycling.

[Merry]

You were so close Mandy. January 2007 it was.... here is the link.

Just went delving back into my past and found some hmmmmm interesting cards. Here are the cards I made for that swap back in January 2007. The blue has used an empty chocolate wrapper. The leaf came from Canada, and I had made the textured paper and the ribbon from a present I was given. The third one was made by my daughter and she would have been 11yo. Bit of old glass from the beach, empty chocolate money wrappers, coloured sands stuck on jac paper and a whole heap of sewing thread used for the clouds.

[eyak48]

I also remember that one well, not the date just the cards. One was a card with a flower made from recycled false fingernails ( well I hope they weere false) and I think earrings or a necklace for beer bottle tops. Very inventive.

[schnookle]

What a great idea, please count me in! I have this week off so I will get cracking soon!

[Mandy]

I think this was mine - its the only card I could find in my old pictures from 2007

[Merry]

Hi everyone, I have started up a group for the January Card Swap if you would like to join on in. This swap we are swapping two cards with embellishments made by recycling something around the house or from all those Christmas present wrappings. Your cards should reach your partner by 31st January. I will post partners Monday, 2nd January. The group is here.

[HuggiesCrafts]

In response to Wendy's asking for suggestions as to how we can get more people to join in our swaps, my immediate thought was to advertise ourselves more. We have a small and select group and generally, those members do participate, I did think that as some of us are doing more and more with our own blogs now, maybe we should make sure that we advertise the fact that any particular cards were made for a swap at CraftMad. I've seen other blogs where people have listed what challenges and swaps their posted cards were being entered into, so if we do the same we might get an increase in membership plus an increase in swappers.
Sorry if that seems rambling, I'm thinking as I'm typing. lol

[eyak48]

Thats right Beth, if all our members who have a blog could link their cards back to Craft Mad and any applicable products used to Blue Edge Crafts I am sure it would help. I have been doing this since I started my blog and also promote and upload our Create and Chat nights and projects. Maybe we start asking around in our like minded friends as well. I have a sister in law who makes beautiful cards and I have been working on her for a while lol. Think she is a bit shy. Hard to believe in my family ROFL.

[Merry]

I totally agree. I have been linking the swaps I send and the swaps I receive on my blog. And when my memory is good I do try to promote the Create and Chat nights.

[Mandy]

Maybe we should promote it in our next newsletter too, I think Craft Mad always gets a mention anyhow. I also wonder about doing a post re how the swaps work, although Merry has really good instructions on all the swaps. I was just wondering how Split Coast Stampers work with their swaps, do they upload pictures in the gallery or simply link to a blog? I was only thinking as it might be too much to load the picture onto your blog, then on here, just a thought.

[Merry]

I find it easier to post on my blog and then upload to the gallery and just copy the details of the card from my blog post.

[schnookle]

What about the CraftMad Facebook page? I just found it again this morning because I setup a Fbook page for my blog and came across the CM page. You could use that to post links to the swaps or whatever you like and us girls can "share" on our profiles to get the word out there.

[Mandy]

Good idea Alex, I have to admit I concentrate more on the Blue Edge FB page than the CM one. Maybe a few people could be admins on there to monitor and promote - I know the Cat Rescue site have more than one admin to keep an eye out for posters etc.

[schnookle]

I dont mind helping out on the Facebook page, I am on there most days as it is