This is the latest site I’ve been trying out. It is called Swap Tree. You list the item you have (movies, cds, and books) and the site arranges for you to trade. This is similar to another site where I swap books. (http://www.bookmooch.com) I love Bookmooch, but I can’t swap other media there. If you want to check out Swap Tree, please click on the link below so I can be your referrer. The I will get free shipping on one item. Usually, you just pay to ship the items you send. I can’t really give a full review until I receive a few items. I just joined this week and have already participated in two trades. I expect to get a couple new CDs in the next week or so. (Well, new to me anyway.)
————From the Website————— Swaptree.com is an innovative new website where you can instantly trade the books, CDs, DVDs, and video games you are finished with for the ones you want, all for free. Simply list the books, DVDs, CDs, and video games you are done with and swaptree’s trade algorithms will instantly find everyone who wants those items and show you everything they are willing to trade. Best part is, you only pay for shipping, which using swaptree’s label service means you never have to go to the post office. Visit swaptree.com and see what you can get for your media collection now! http://www.swaptree.com/WebFrmNewUserHomePage.aspx?ReferralUserName=shauna ————
To make sure you receive emails from swaptree, add “DoNotReply@swaptree.com” to your address book or trusted sender list.
I ordered some swap cards from Vistaprint. They came today and I really like them. I ordered my regular business cards from Giggleprint, and they are semi-gloss. They are very pretty, but I wanted a matte finish so I could write on the cards. So I went with vistaprint this time. Here is the cost:
Item Name Quantity Price
==============================================================================
064-001 Business Cards 250 FREE
833-001 Matte Finish – INCLUDED
902-001 Business Cards – Blank Backside – $ 2.99
——————————————————————————
Subtotal: $ 2.99
Shipping & Processing: $ 5.68
Tax: $ 0.00
Total: $ 8.67
If I would have left the printing on the back I could have saved $2.99. But I don’t like to advertise for others. I got 250 cards. Wow! That is a lot of cards! I like the fact that I can advertise my Etsy shop and my blog on my swap cards. I also included my email in case someone has a question for me.
I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking Christmas. I always say I’ll get a head start on crafts and shopping, do you?
Well, to help eachother out, let’s create 3 stocking stuffers for 3 people.
Each stocking stuffer should be worth $5-$10 retail. So, you could knit a pair of socks, crochet a set of coasters, or collage a mini journal for your partner. Post more ideas below, even if you don’t join the swap. Make nice things that you would love to find in your stocking. (Remember if people want to give away junk, they can just go to the dollar store.)
Post the ages/gender of your stocking people below. You can be general like “teenage girl.” Don’t be too specific like, “yellow bib for 6 m. old baby boy.” Part of the fun of crafting is being creative!
I’m going to make this swap North America only. If you want to post an international swap, go ahead.
And…no flakers…have a rating of 4.5 or above…no newbies (sorry). Ok! We’ll give it a go! Have fun and earn hearts, people!
PS: Don’t wrap the gift unless it is easily unwrapped. Everyone will want to check out your handywork before they give it away again. Maybe you could include a little gift wrap and ribbon for hearts, or an organza drawstring bag, or a fabric gift bag….I digress. Smiles!
A blessed mommy of 3 busy boys, wife to my best friend, and child of the King. I discovered my love of sewing after I had my first baby. My favorite things to sew are diaper bags, purses, quilts. I love sewing all things related to babies: maternity skirts, baby carriers, burp cloths, bibs, etc. I also enjoy baking, reading, and I’m trying to enjoy gardening. My blog at: http://seemommysew.wordpress.com/ shows some of my sewing and also has care instructions for the longies I sell.
Now…before I go into this mini interview, please DO NOT go running to my mother and telling her about this blog post. Next, she’ll wonder if I’m pregnant or when I’m due–which I’m not, so I’m not. But it doesn’t hurt to know about the different things that are sold on Etsy for when the time comes, now does it?
What do you sell on Etsy?
Maternity Skirts, Diaper bags, Recycled Wool Longies, Purses
What else do you do to make money?
I’m a stay-at-home-mom….so no money there
Recently, I hosted a swap where you were supposed to try out three recipes. I am going to share my attempts with my swap partners, and also with you, my readers.
I am not the best cook because I don’t do much of it. So, I thought the practice would be good for me. I tried three different things–a bowtie pasta, some peanut butter cookies, and a bacon dip.
Did you notice these required no flour?
I should have taken them out sooner. Tsk. Tsk.
I baked them too long. I was distracted by the computer. Surprise, surprise!
Click on picture for recipe.
By reducing the ingredients, I could see if I liked it before making a whole batch.
My favorite section of any cookbook!
I had most of the ingredients on hand which made this recipe more appealing to me.
Pg. 526 of Betty Crocker Cookbook (New Edition 2005)
Yummy! We liked it. I think the stir-fry steak did it for us.
Here is the first recipe I tried: Bow-Tie Pasta with Beef and Tomatoes
Quick, Easy -N- Fast Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
1 C. peanut butter
1 C. sugar
1 egg
1 t. baking soda
Cream the peanut butter with the sugar. Stir in the egg and baking soda. Roll into balls. If the dough is
initially too thin to roll let it sit 10 minutes and it will thicken. Bake at 350°F. until the edges of the cookies turn golden brown (do not overbake or they will turn hard and crumbly). –Mine did! Oh, they weren’t that bad. They are gone today!
My report: All of these recipes were easy. The pasta was the best. The cookies were next, and the jury is still out on the dip. I’m going to let it sit over night. On the dip, I forgot that dried onions expand and so I used way too much. With the Miracle whip I used, it tastes a lot like tarter sauce to me. I’d recommend the cookies and the pasta. Yum!
This is one I sent out a while ago. She is made from a shirt sleeve and some ric-rac. I stuffed her with a grocery sack instead of polyfil. Her hair is made out of embroidery floss.
This Etsy Seller seems to have a great product, and an excellent marketing strategy as well. I found this video on YouYube while I was looking around. Her name is Gywnn, and her shop is called Gywnn’s Gifts.
Her products are greeting cards and earrings sold together as shown. What a great idea!
The white fabric was part of some curtains I used in my classroom a few years ago. Somehow they were stained with orange marker, and so I felt fine about cutting them up and reusing the cotton fabric for this new project. I’m sure the fabric will find its way into several other projects as well. The blue fabric was part of a shirt that was way too big for me. I am also planning on using that blue fabric for a couple of dotee dolls in the future. The blue buttons were also from the shirt.
I talked about the embroidery in a previous blog entry. The pattern was copied from some clipart, and I transferred it onto the white fabric before embroidering. I’m sure the whole thing could have used a little more embellishment, but really, I’m glad to be done with it, so I can be done with this swap!
Being the grammar nerd that I am, I must find out if it is better to spell the word Quilty or Quiltie.
This Etsy Seller seems to have a great product, and an excellent marketing strategy as well. I found this video on YouYube while I was looking around. Her name is Gywnn, and her shop is called Gywnn’s Gifts.
