MEGA Christmas 2009 Ornament Swap for NEWBIES!

I got both your swaps in my watch. I'm still a newbie right now, but shouldn't be when the other swap starts, so we'll see! Sending 5 rather than 10 might be easier for me anyway. Is crocheted ornaments ok?

Thanks Terry I am in the swap, this is going to be such good fun, making the christmas ornaments. Hugs Kristina

critterlove57: Yes, crocheted ornaments are just fine ("Any material/technique/style is acceptable as long as they are handmade by you.")

violin21: You are very welcome!

Do we have to send the Christmas blank in an envelope, so the receiving person can actually use it?

I am not sure what you are asking...this is a swap for 5 Christmas tree ornaments that you make and send, 1 to each of your 5 partners. Are you perhaps confusing this with making Christmas cards?

I'm so excited about this swap it sounds like so much fun. Do we get to know anything about the people in the swap so we can make something special for them?

i am very new (today) can you tell me what you mean by angeling? thanks!!

Angeling is where someone else makes the swap for your partner who didn't complete the swap and sends it to you in your partners place OR for does your part if you don't complete the swap.

Thx ladyfeathers.

cllfdl : If you do not receive any of your swaps here, there is nothing stopping you from looking for angels for yourself. There's a thread in the forums to do this. I just will not personally be doing it for this swap.

BonnieG: When you are assigned your swap partners, you can go to their profile pages for more information about them - or you can contact them directly if you have questions.

is there also a place where people can show what items they received and thank their partners?

redsquirrel:

• Once the swap closes, there will be an option at the top of the swap page called "Launch gallery slideshow" - this is where you can upload photos of your swap (either sent or received) and leave messages.

• You will also be able to leave a message on your partner's profile page when you rate them for the swap they sent to you.

I have also created a flickr group for the other MEGA ornament swap, and I will open that up to the participants here after partners are assigned in May. So check back here then for the link!

I am in. Just joined can someone tell me how to fill in my profile. I think I am missing something...

Thanks

johaha111, I just left the info on your profile page under "Comments".

CONTEST

Everyone who has been satisfactorily rated for all 5 ornaments by July 31, 2009 will have their names entered in a draw to win $25USD! The draw will take place in August as soon as I have been able to check everyone's ratings.

Does that mean we can send our ornies as soon as partners are assigned?

Yes, for all swaps here, you can mail your swaps as soon as you receive your partners' names and mailing info (which is within 7 days following the signup deadline).

Of course, if the swap is to be tailored to your partner's preferences as per their profiles, then you will want to wait until you have your partner's name to put together their swap. But for swaps like sender's choice, you don't have to wait if you don't want to.

I do have one caution though: if you make all of your ornaments ahead of time, and then get banned from the swap for not meeting the host's swap requirements, you will be one unhappy swapper...so the choice is yours. (The latter statement is not necessarily aimed at Sarita but just a caution for all new swappers.)

I know everyone is anxious to get their partners' names, but I just wanted to let you all know that it will be at least Sunday or Monday before I assign partners. I have been checking profiles and pming people all week but it will still take some time to do one final review. Thx!

I have been asked whether, if you are in both this swap and the other MEGA swap and you get the same partner(s) in both, you can send the same ornament to that person twice. (Some people are making 15 of the same ornament to cover both swaps.)

Personally, I would prefer to receive 2 different ornaments, but others may not mind getting 2 of the same.

If this happens to you, to avoid any misunderstanding, please contact your partner to determine what their preference is.

Thx!

Partners have now been assigned!

CONTESTS!

I now have 2 contests going here:

1:
Everyone who has been satisfactorily rated for all 5 ornaments by July 31, 2009 will have their names entered in a draw to win $25USD! The draw will take place in August as soon as I have been able to check everyone's ratings. Good luck!

2:
I have set up a flickr group (see swap homepage url at the top of the swap description) so we can post photos of our ornaments because I would really love to see everyone's work! Everyone who posts by October 19, 2009 at least one photo of the ornaments they have made, will have their name entered in a draw for a Christmas present based on their profile. The draw will take place by October 31. So get snapping!

Great contests - thanks! I've already got my materials ready so I'm set!

you have a lot going on with all us newbies asking you the ears off your head (engrish dutch expression) thank you very much for setting up this swap. Look at all the newbies swarming happily around here, chirping and crafting! So thank you. :)

You are all very welcome!

I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

i just bought my fabric to work with. it is funny that in the states the stores start putting out christmas decorations and sale items before halloween and i always get upset. now, i am frantic because i want to buy christmas candies and cards in may! haha. thanks for spreading the holiday cheer, terry.

Oooh, lucky you, mommy2000! Mind you, I think I have enough Christmas stuff in my craft room to open a store of my own!

All 5 of my partners have received their ornaments!

WOOT! WOOT! YarnTails!

I have submitted a picture of the ornaments. I am still waiting to be rated by four people...

Pic is on the Flickr group, that is.

Very cute mommy200 - thx for getting them out early!

My five ornaments were mailed today to:

• priscillabrunson
• starmumplus
• geekgrrrl
• pgschaar
• Marjan

okay terryf, i have received all my ratings. now i'm crossing my fingers. haha.

Congrats mommy2000!

As you may have noted, a number of our swap participants have either disappeared and/or been suspended since the swap closed.

I expected some of these situations to come up over time because of the long period between sign up and send out dates. I will explain my personal position on this (recognizing it is not every swap host's) but it is really up to you to make the final decision on how you want to handle it.

IMHO: Whenever I sign up for a swap, I am making a promise to send that swap to my assigned partner, regardless of their situation by the time I am ready to send. I have made a committment and I honour it. If my partners don't, then that is on them, not me. My conscience is clear.

I also don't believe in re-assigning partners in swaps. Apart from it getting messy from an admin perspective (and REALLY messy with so many participants! lol), your SB-assigned partner can always come back and rate you a 1. I think sending a swap to a "flaker" is a small price to pay to keep my good rating and reputation (plus it makes me feel righteous! lol). So I would never recommend that another swapper not send either.

BUT the bottom line is that it is really up to you which way you wish to go if you have a partner who has now disappeared or been suspended. It is your decision whether or not to send.

just so everyone knows Mine are being done and will be mailed out sometime by the end of aug. I have not been on much because of work and family problems. Right now I am hopeing that my grandfather makes it for awhile longer, however at this point it dont look like he will be with us much longer. I will be sending so my partners hold tight. Have gotten two in the mail so far...a cute little sweter one and another one. i have to get them rated but i will asap. thanks for the understanding.

All of the 5 items I sent have been received, and I've been rated for all 5. I suppose I just have to wait and see how many I get in return (one so far).

The following have qualified for the $25US draw:

mommy2000
dyedinthewool
YarnTails
Sewingbea
Jazza
cllfdl
violin21

Thank you ladies for getting your ornaments out early!

I will use the random generrator to draw a name and will be back shortly to announce the winner...

The winner of $25US is Sewingbea - congrats dear!

I will be mailing it to you this week.

I am really excited, I have finished my ornaments and brought them to the post office today!! Life had gotten a bit crazy back in June and I made the decision to not swap until life calmed down and I could get this swap done as I really love the idea of this swap. Thank you TerryF for hosting!

Oh I meant to say in the comment above that I will post pictures in the flickr link once my ornaments have been received by all 5 of my partners.

My ornaments have been received and rated so they are now in the flickr file for the swap.

Sent reminder email to everyone today.

I've only received one item so far, and I'm not holding out much hope, but I was glad that the response to my items was so positive.

My ornaments have been sent out to:

• RPittman
• Sarita
• cllfdl
• suz615
• mamaof2

mine are finished. I'll be sending them out tomorrow.

My ornaments were shipped today. To my partners- please pm me if you have questions. My ornaments are somewhat interactive and might have you scratching your head a bit :-)

Hope you all like them,

chappykat

I've received all five of my ornaments! Thanks for a great swap.

Please see the Flickr group ("Swap Homepage" link above) for the the winner of the photo posting contest.

I note that about 15% of participants here have not marked "sent". In the regular MEGA swap, 20% have not marked "sent". Good for you, newbies!