Craft Swaps

For well over a decade (in fact, probably at least 15 years) I have participated in and hosted craft swaps. There's a lot to love about them, as well as a few things to be aware of. I covered all of my experiences and thoughts on craft swaps on The Craft Room Podcast (episode 17), and if you haven't listened to that one yet, you can find it on your favourite podcast app, iTunes & Spotify. Or you can read and listen on the blog ...

https://dawnlewis.com.au/podcast17/

I took a break from hosting card swaps for a while, but brought them back last year. Right now, there's no better time to be sending and receiving happy mail ... so I booked in 5 swaps for 2020! Right now, I'm hosting a colour inspiration swap. Technically it's closed, but if you find yourself with a little time on your hands and can make the due date of 22 May, head over to the blog post to read up on the details. If you decide "This looks awesome, I'm in!", just shoot me an email and I'll add you to the list! So far we have 22 people, and I always say, the more, the merrier when it comes to swaps!

https://dawnlewis.com.au/card-front-swap-colour-inspiration/

On the blog post you'll find a printable checklist as well as links to videos about how to make a card front, and packing & posting tutorial.

If you're wondering what on earth a card front is ... well ... it's a piece of A6 cardstock or paper that has been decorated, just like you would create a handmade greeting card. BUT ... it's not a whole card, just a panel to go on the card. The reason for this is postage. Once Australia Post put stamp prices up to $1 (and now $1.10), making and sending an entire card + envelope became really expensive to post. So ... I figured out a way around it, and the card front swap was born! The beauty of the card front is that you can just put some adhesive on the back, add it to a folded card base (made from half a sheet of A4 cardstock), and you have an instant card, all while keeping postage costs for the swap down as low as possible.

Swaps are a free activity ... as in, there is no cost to be part of the group. You do, however, pay for postage both ways (plus I encourage everyone to put in an extra postage stamp, although if I don't need to use it, it will be returned with your happy mail). It's so easy to make 8 identical card fronts in an assembly line fashion from your stash, so you don't need to go out and buy anything new. And if you run out of one colour cardstock or pattern paper, you can substitute in another! When I say identical, I'm talking about design.

Each swap has a theme. Our last swap had a Rainbow theme, and this one is a colour inspiration swap. It was inspired by a photo of tri-coloured macarons ... pink, green, yellow. I'm excited to see how people interpret the colour scheme. As a little sneak peek, I can tell you that the next swap is a Christmas theme (because it's due in July ... Christmas in July!). There are very few limitations, pretty much just stick to the theme, and use stamping somewhere on your card.

People at all different experience and skill levels join these swaps, beginners to advanced. The swap items are always SO different, and it's a joy to receive so much beauty in the post, and even more-so to send out a lot of happy mail. You might send 8 identical pieces to me, but you're going to receive 8 completely different card fronts in return!

So ... if you find yourself with a little time on your hands, you're an Australian card maker, and you'd like to send and receive a little happy mail, why not join a swap?