Disney swaps gone array

[Sandiebean]

I was in some Disney swaps. Here's my dilemma. Some of them I ran. I thought it would be fun to have a Mickey swap (you sign up for border, pp's, tags, etc... all relating to Mickey. Then I had a Minnie swap, Pooh and the gang, and Mickey's gang, and Princesses. Lots of fun. Then I was in other people's swaps. Some of the stuff was just garbage. I can't begin to tell you how awful this stuff was. The swaps that I ran.. I just fixed them up somewhat, and sent them out. The other swaps that I was in, they didn't do that. A lot of the stuff I wouldn't put in my scrapbook. Have any of you experienced that? What have you done? I LOVE swaps... but this experience kind of scared me.

 

[giatocj]

I stopped doing swaps except on one Yahoo group for just this reason. I put so much effort into the pieces I make, as do MOST swappers, but would get absolute garbage back. So, I do about 1 swap every month or so with a very talented group of ladies who I can count on for quality items. Other than that, I don't.

Also, you are very sweet to "fix them up a bit". That is most certainly not a hostesses job. The pieces that are sent in should need no fixing up...they should be quality items. It does get very, very discouraging to get less than you put into something.

I know that everyone has a different level of talent or "skill", and while I may be "advanced" in some techniques, I am "novice" at many more. It' s got nothing to do with skill level when people send in less than quality work, and everything to do with a huge lack of effort.

I'm sorry I missed out on your Disney swaps. They sound like they turned out very, very nicely.

Donna C.

 

[Spinning]

I've only swapped on this board. It was so much fun. The nice thing about it, for most of us this was our first time. So it was fun to see how everyone progressed and improved. I feel our ladies really worked hard!
I think swaps can be very scary. I know for me it was and my first attempts weren't that great but I did put effort into it. Now I know I can find patterns and ideas which has helped!
I also feel with many swaps you may never use what you get. For me it was color/or no pictures to match up with the item. But I still loved everything I got and hold onto it. Plus since it was all Disney I have in the back of my mind for the next trip!
The swaps on this board have been so much fun! I am looking forward to the next ones.
I also belong to another board and I don't think I would ever join in a swap because I would feel very pressured. But the ladies here are very encouraging!

 

[Sandiebean]

I know everyone is at a different level, spinning. I should be more tolerant maybe. I think it's that I also ran swaps for beginners, but most of these people didn't want in on that, because they wanted the much nicer stuff, rather than the other beginner's things.

Frustrated. But I feel much better now that I griped a bit.

 

[grover]

For a long time I was swap crazy!!! I took part in them with several different on-line groups including this one.
I think that where you may run into problems is with some of the larger groups-what was great about the dis is that it is a fairly small group of us and we have been "hanging" out here for quite some time (years in my case!!).
In some of the bigger groups you may not know who you are swapping with and that makes it easy for people to not put any effort in there work.
I have rec'd items that have been glued together all crooked or have glue smeared on them...stuff like that there is no excuse for -that would be a matter of neatness not effort.
So no one likes to get stuff that is just slapped together. Not sure what you could do with it-is the stuff usable at all-could it be someone elses style? I know I have seen posts about people looking for stuff for youth groups and stuff-that could be an idea if it is usable.
Grover in Winnipeg

 

[Sandiebean]

Thankfully I have a son who scrapbooks too. He's happy to use most of it in his books. Although, there have been one or two pieces, even he doesn't want.

 

[Spinning]

Sandiebean
It sounds like you were more than fair with your hosting! If people knew the level of skill you were looking for then you should have rec'd good usuable, quality stuff.
I know on our swaps many people will ask if they can join and state they are new to this. Aas far as I know no one has been turned down.
Maybe you can be in on one of our next swap! This is a great little board! And it is amazing to see how each swap the stuff just improves!

 

[Sandiebean]

Thanks. I don't want everyone to feel as if I think stuff has to be super... I don't. An example of two of the things I received? A Mickey border. Cut slips of paper... uneven... brown... with mickey punches stuck on it.. unevenly. The other? A goofy tag. What was the tag? A cut out, with a goofy sticker on it. Another? A very sad paper piecing, that bears no resemblance to a princess.. with a poorly hand-drawn face, and the parts mis-glued, with glue stains all over it.

Those are just a few that I can think of.

Anyway.. I think I will hold off on these swaps that are filled with a pile of anonymous strangers.

 

[BevS97]

Hi Sandie

I've had a similiar experience, which means that for the most part I have stopped swapping, except with close friends who I know personally.

I have no problems with beginners doing something less complicated, in fact, I tend to choose something simple to make myself so that I can execute it well, but I have also received things I felt were inappropriate. the worst one was a piece of clipart on thin printer paper that had just been cut out - I didn't really think that qualified as a 'paper piecing'

I think if it is obvious that someone has put effort into the item, then even if it's not to your taste, you don't mind, but when you get back something that just looks like time hasn't been taken over it, then you feel a little cheated

Bev

 

[paulinewdw]

The swaps on this board are awesome! Every item was quality! I am also in swps on a yahoo group and in a couple local swaps, but I stay away from the big groups, since I ended up tossing alot of what I received! Really snow white made of circle punces is not a paper piecing! I am not an expert by no means, but I do put a lot of effort into my swaps!

 

[Sandiebean]

Really snow white made of circle punces is not a paper piecing

I'm sorry.. but that just made me laugh and laugh. I think it'll make me laugh the rest of the day.

 

[Pammy jo]

Well I've only done swaps on this board and I always enjoy them. You know you'll never use all of it, it may just not be your style, but just getting the package and looking through all the goodies is fun enough for me! And some of the things have been really nice! It can be nervewracking when making your things for some of us because we want it to look good. I always just hope someone in the swap likes it.

For me it's just the spirit of the swap and the feeling that I'm doing it among friends.

 

[goofymom/pop]

`my LSS offered me a tip on swaps

" Have the hostess be the judge and jury in the swap. Each member sends her one of the items they intend to swap. She decides whether it is up to par or not" No one ever needs know which pieces were selected. And the hostess can offer polite ideas on how to bring the piece be it a border, title, or pp up to par. If your piece is selected then you can make the number needed and send them along to the hostess.

Do you think this would work? I dont know if it would or not. But I do know it would keep alot of people out of the swaps.

Cindy

 

[Jiminy102]

The only swap I have participated in were here and the only things Ihave done are punches you know with the littlepunch thing like mickey heads because that is all i know how to to!!!! Would love to learn how to do some other things!!!