Hold a Craft Swap

Craft swaps are becoming quite a popular thing to do these days, made easy with internet. You can find a group of crafters to do the swap with easily by doing a few searches online or setting up a fun swap club on Facebook.

Basically, in order to do a craft swap, you have to have a group of two or more people who are willing to do something crafty and send it off. You decide if it will be a direct swap (you send something to someone who sends you something as well), or an intergroup exchange (each person draws a name and sends something to that person, but receives from someone else).

Each swap will need a specific theme. You can use holidays or seasons and you may specify the medium as well. For example, in April, the craft swap theme might be "Spring Felt Stuffies". Everyone would make felt stuffed animals or creatures to send to their craft swap partner. This can be done within the US or internationally, depending on the limits you specify.

Craft swaps are a great way to get to know other crafters around the world and it can be a good method of learning new techniques and ideas. When not swapping, groups can be posting photos of their latest works on Flickr or another photo site and letting fellow crafters know where to look to get inspired by new ideas. Many crafters are quite open about sharing patterns and ideas.

This is also a good way to get rid of some of the crafts that you have been making without anywhere to use them. For example, you might have always wanted to create a fully elegant, embroidered, beaded, textured purse, but would never use it. However, it is just possible that you will find someone is more than interested in using such a bag and is willing to send you something a bit more practical.

You can also find craft swaps already in motion on many crafting blogs. Feel free to leave notice in the comments that you are interested in becoming a fellow swapper and you will probably be included in the very next swap! This is a good way to get started in the crafting blogosphere, as well.

Craft swaps are fun and interesting. If you haven't tried one, then why not do a quick search online for crafting blogs and get started in your very own crafting switcheroo!