Creative Collective Snail Mail Swap

What seems like a lifetime ago I took part in the Creative Collective Snail Mail Swap and I'm so glad I did because I got some really wonderful goodies!  A bit late but here's a little peak at the packages that made their way to Seoul.

First up, from the always amazing 74 Lime Lane a gorgeous collection of prints and other papery goodness.  I'd actually spied Kellie's post about her snail pail packages, and had left a comment saying I really hoped I was one of her swap partners, turns out I was!  So yes, I was pretty excited to pick this envelope out of the mail box.

And then there was this package of perfection from the mysterious Nancy.  A gorgeous hand written note, the best little notebook ever, cute envelope decorations, plus polka-dots - I adore every bit of it!  

Being part of this swap and soaking in the wonder of Saylor Made's Mail Art Monday posts has made me greedy for more!  There is so much thought and care taken with all of these wonderful packages, and I am absolutely brimming with ideas for more snail mail goodness, so please - if you are keen to start a mail art 'conversation' do get in touch.

ps. This month the Creative Collective project is all about photography - are you joining in?  I am rapidly running out of time but I do have a little something to contribute, if I can pull it together by the end of the month that is...

ps. I'd also like to say a great big heartfelt thanks for all your kind and thoughtful words over the past few weeks.  I've truly appreciated each and every one of them.  It really makes all this blogging and tweeting and on-line connecting mean so much more, so thank you.

Creative Collective June Project: Snail Mail Swap

This month I joined in on another Creative Collective project.  It was involved something that is very close to my heart - snail mail!  And it also involved another subject close to my heart - swaps!  An irresistible combination.  So I just had to take part in the Snail Mail Swap, which involved sending a package of goodies to three partners (though one of my poor partners is based in Canada, and due to the strike the posties in Korea still aren't accepting post bound for maple leaf country.  I really hope they let me post it today, because we fly out on our great European adventure on Friday. Speaking of which, I could be wrong but I get the feeling the Greeks somehow get their hands on our travel itinerary each year and plan street riots to celebrate our arrival...we won't be getting off the boat in that port, I don't think!  Also, is itinerary the most awkward word to spell ever?  I think so.)

Right, where was I?  Papery maily goodness, that's where.  Here's some pics of the package I put together - I wanted them to have a bit of Asia in them, to reflect both Hong Kong and Korea.  And they also combine some of my current obsessions (like label makers, bright stamps, paper embroidery and of course dot stickers!). I do hope my swap partners like them!

ps. If you'd like to do a mail swap I am always keen (but not for two weeks or so, because for the next two weeks I'll be lazing about in my swimmers, sipping martinis and thinking about the four course Italian feast I'm about to inhale visiting important archaeological sites in Turkey and pondering the central role Venice played in the history of that part of the world.  But once I'm back - swap-dee-do indeed!  I'm happy to tailor to your tastes too...you can email me at jorpins_blog@yahoo.com.au if you're interested.

Creative Collective: Handmade Christmas Card Swap

Have you heard of Creative Collective?  It's a group of crafty bloggers who have joined together to host monthly craft challenges, fund raising events, swaps and more.  

You may recall a few months ago I joined in on their Spring craft project?   Well, this month I signed up for the handmade Christmas card swap.  I decided to try my hand at some slightly more traditional paper crafts (as opposed to my usual make-it-up-as-you-go-along paper embroidery adventures).  So it was out with the scissors, paper punches and glue, and this is what I came up with.  I was pretty darn pleased with the results, I do hope my swap partners like them too...

And today I got the first cards from my swap partners in the post and they are gorgeous - each one is so unique and beautifully made, it's quite inspiring to see the different ideas and interpretations.  I can't wait to get the next three!  (I'll be posting about them once I have all five.)

Oh, and you could (and should!) get more information about Creative Collective here.

Super Stationery Swap Surprise!

A little while ago I signed up for the Calico & Co Stationery swap.  It was organised by the fabulous (I think I use that word way too much, but I always mean it, I do!) Amanda Fuller who, by the way, has just launched her own fresh stationery line (you can have a look at her Etsy shop here).  Amanda has got to be the best swap host I have ever encountered, seriously - she gives great information and clearly cares about every participant and wants them to have a fabulous swap.

So the other day I was a wee bit excited when my swap package from the wonderfully talented (I'd say fabulously talented, but I'm rationing myself here...) Melinda arrived.  Melinda has her own line of fabric greeting cards (under the lovely name 'Here We Go Loopy Lou') and I am now the lucky owner of some!  I adore them!

Handmade #tweetswap - join us!

With much encouragement from some crafty Twitter friends, I've set up a handmade #tweetswap on swap-bot.

So, if you tweet and you craft and you want to join a quality handmade swap then have a look here.  Sign up ends June 21.

Happy crafty swapping!

Swaps

A year or so ago a friend introduced me to the wonderful world of swap-bot and although I've been a bit absent over the past 6 months (the fun of moving countries tends to curtail extracurricular activities) I do love it so.

I especially love the handcrafted swaps - it's a little bit special getting a package in the mail with something a total stranger has made, just for you.  Sometimes there's a bit of drama, a bit of angst, over at swap-bot but on the whole it's full of lovely caring-sharing people from all over the globe.  Nice.

These little dachshund puppies are for a 'crafty doxie' swap I'm about to post.  I'm sending it late (which is one of the swap-bot seven deadly sins) but I'm making the package extra special to make up for it (I hope...).

I made them using this pattern from Audrey and Maude - so cute!

Do you swap?  Do you love getting surprises in the mail?