Organize an In-Home Swap

by Nicole Humphrey | More from this Blogger

18 Dec 2008 07:08 AM

Most scrapbookers have heard of a swap, and connect it with pages and page elements that are swapped between a group of scrapbookers of a designated swap. But there are other types of swaps that are beneficial and loads of fun. Consider organizing an in-home swap to eliminate some of your stash, and perhaps get some items that you might actually use.

You know what they say, "One man's trash, is another man's treasure", and selling or swapping unwanted items, really does work. Especially with scrapbooking items, because a theme you might have leftovers from, someone else might just be starting with. Same with supplies. You might have purchased three die cutters before finding the one that works best for you. Someone else might just be starting and might find a use for one of the two that you don't use.

Here is how to organize an in-home swap party.

Create invitations. Don't purchase store bought cards, actually make them which will only increase the anticipation of new supplies and seeing what someone has done with scraps, is a great way to get them excited about the whole thing.

Include a rule sheet that details specifics that you would like everyone to follow. Perhaps you might want everyone to categorize their items by a theme, or maybe you want to follow a theme for the whole swap party. Birthdays, Holidays, Children, Vacations and Travel are all great themes to work with. You might want everyone to already price their items. This makes it easy if a swap isn't possible but someone still wants to purchase the item. If you don't want any selling to go on, make that clear. If you want everything dropped off a day early so you can set it up, put that on there too. The rules are up to you.

Decorate your home according to the theme, if you choose a theme. If you do birthdays, decorate as if it is someone's birthday. Purchase cupcakes and ice cream to eat. If it is a holiday swap, decorate as if it is Halloween, or Christmas. Include specialized food from those holidays.

Once you have all that done, your participants should show up and have fun. Even if you don't know a lot of scrapbookers, you can advertise at the library or community center, or make it a craft supply swap, which broadens the group more - and we all know that we use other art mediums for our scrapbooks anyway!

Most of all, don't forget to have fun as the hostess either.

Learn more about Nicole Humphrey

Nicole Humphrey is a freelance writer, consultant for CTMH and a Sr. Blogger for families.com. She resides in St. Charles, Missouri with Mike and their five children and two furbabies.

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