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EDIT:
Sorry all, this is quite an old thread - the idea never really took off and it was abandoned. I'd like to take another shot at it eventually but want to rethink the rules and let new members settle in for a bit before trying again. Thanks for your patience!

EDIT:
Okay, here's some suggestions for details so far:
- budget (not inc. postage): US$10-$15 ?
- size: still researching the options here, was thinking of a parcel envelope type thing, something like 200x200mm or so
- post requirement: at least 5 posts in the guild
- time limit: a month from the announcement of the pairing to the time you send the parcel (and post a photo of it in the guild)?

Please give feedback on these requirements! Once the details have been 100% confirmed and everyone is relatively happy, I'll do a roll call for the first round. Looks like we'll be able to pair most people within their country, apart from me sweatdrop

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I came across this matchbox swap today and keep seeing similar things around, and they look so fun! Would anyone be interested in doing a swap within this guild?

Just a few issues:

- We've got people from all around the world here, so posting costs might vary. I was thinking if everyone interested could post their country we could try match up people who are geographically close to start with

- to participate you'd have to be comfortable giving out your address to the person you are swapping with sweatdrop If you're young ask your parents first!

- we'd have to decide on what kind of limits to put on what's being swapped so its all nice and even and no one feels like they didn't get enough in return for what they've done. In the linked group they've gone pretty all out in some of them, but I think starting small would be good initially (and be easier on postage too).

Anyway, if there's enough interest I'll do a quick survey to make it easier to match up people and we can work out all the details ^_^

Even if there's only one other person interested, I'll swap with ya xd

Interested
Chisa
Maimy
kiersin
omitto
` C l a i r e y
Kattikawn
Faustuas
Nonee_Face
H ippie P anda

Survey
If you're interested in participating, please fill out this quick survey. This is just to work out details so don't worry if you're not completely sure yet - it's just for information gathering, no obligations ^_^

• What country do you live in?
  
  
• Are you able to send items overseas (I'll do some research on postage prices and will post them here)?
  
  
• What kind of craft materials would you be interested in?
  
  
• What kind of craft pieces (made by the person you're swapping with) would you be interested in?
  
  
• What kind of things do you like (eg. cats, mushrooms, punk style, anime, the colour red, etc)?

How it could work?

• Participants will be paired up by me or other organisers, based on location and interests to start with at least
  
  
• Both participants will have to take and post a photo of what they are sending before sending it, as well as of the package they receive
  
  
• Packages will be of a size/weight/price limit to be figured out later
  
  
• Package should include at least one handmade or decorated item by the sender, and a hand written letter (just cos I love getting letters >_>)
  
  
• Participants must have a reasonable number of posts (to be figured out later...) in the guild before joining in swaps
  
  
• Anyone who doesn't follow the rules or doesn't participate properly won't be able to participate in future swaps, and depending on severity may be banned from the guild

Yeah, that's the issue - how to decide if a person is dependable enough to participate, and what to do if things actually do get lost in the mail sweatdrop

One thing that group that I linked do is ask participants to take a photo before they send their package, and one of the package they receive so it's clear to the organisers that they've done their part.

If anyone has participated in a swap before, I'd really like your opinion!

Yeah, that's why I think it would be best to start quite small so if something does screw up no one loses tooo much, and postage will be cheaper. Plus I like small cute things xd If I was doing it I could fit in things like clay charms/mini sculpts and little felt plush badges easily... I'm not sure how well it would translate to everyone's crafts though.

EDIT: okay, posted up a quick survey and how this could work in the first post. Let me know any further ideas or things that should change whee I'm going to research other craft swaps and postage prices for different countries, so hopefully that should help a bit.

* What country do you live in? USA

* Are you able to send items overseas (I'll do some research on postage prices and will post them here)? I think so

* What kind of craft materials would you be interested in? not sure yet, I'll have to think of something and edit this later, right?

* What kind of craft pieces (made by the person you're swapping with) would you be interested in? cute, practical or dragons, or plushies

* What kind of things do you like (eg. cats, mushrooms, punk style, anime, the colour red, etc)? green, dragons, beads, fabric, yarn, weird animes (ask for a list if you really care), dragons, books, did I mention dragons? any crafty thing I can get my paws on (except knitting, it cramps my hands)

Swaps seem like fun :0

* What country do you live in? USA

* Are you able to send items overseas (I'll do some research on postage prices and will post them here)? I think so.

* What kind of craft materials would you be interested in? Fabrics, yarn, clay stuff..

* What kind of craft pieces (made by the person you're swapping with) would you be interested in? Anything.

* What kind of things do you like (eg. cats, mushrooms, punk style, anime, the colour red, etc)? Gothic lolita, pandas, cats, dragons, anime, blue, grey, black, yarn

Yay! Thanks for the interest guys ^_^

What country do you live in? USA


Are you able to send items overseas? currently not at the moment but later yes.

What kind of craft materials would you be interested in? any and all kinds, i like challenging myself with working with new materials.


What kind of craft pieces (made by the person you're swapping with) would you be interested in? anythingy really


What kind of things do you like? anime, fantasy, pretty much mythololgy and such

Oh man, I'm the odd one out geographically gonk No one from the Pacific-Asia region?

Anyway, I guess it's time to start thinking price ranges and other such details. The important thing is to make sure no one is feeling unhappy that they gave more than they're getting, or vice-versa. I know some of you are students and most of us probably don't have plenty of cash to burn, so let's keep this fairly small for now.

Just to start out with in throwing in ideas - how does a package about the size that you send cd's in (sorry that's a bit vague, still need to get around to that research...) and a price range of US$10-$15 sound? Too much? Too little? Very much open to suggestions here biggrin Once these details are figured out I'll do a call for participants, then start matching up people.

I'm going to set the post requirement at 5 posts for the moment, so if you'd like to participate please be sure to have at least that many. This is just to make sure people are serious enough about the guild and crafting before assigning them a partner ^_^