hopemax
Note to Self:
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2000
- Messages
- 7,821
Welcome to the Paper Piecing Swap!
The goal of this swap is so that we can learn or perfect a new technique. Paper piecing can be quite overwhelming at the beginning, but it is one of my favorite elements to make. There will be two types of groups in this swap. Handmade and Cricut/Handmade.
Handmade paper piecings, refer to the type that is made by tracing or printing a pattern, cutting all the pieces out by hand (or with a Wishblade or Craft Robo device) and layering them. These are the most time and skill intensive paper piecing to make, and as such, I want to make sure everyone receives items back equal to the amount of time they put into making their items. Usually, there is some computer work that has to be done, especially to make a pattern for a Wishblade/Craft Robo which can add to the difficulty. I will also try to put together instructions for making handmade paper piecings, tips and tricks, where to get good coloring pages for patterns etc, and post that in a few days.
I dont want to exclude swappers who may not feel confident making handmade paper piecings, so that is while we will also have a Cricut/Handmade group. Frequent paper piecers, like me, have a routine down, and dont mind trading them for Cricut paper piecings (cutting and gluing all those pieces takes time too) so if you want to sign up for a Cricut group and want to make handmade, that is fine. Im sure the Cricuters will be happy with them.
For this swap, I am excluding paper piecings made entirely of clip art that has been pop dotted. In some cases, especially for handmade, you might find it easier to use clip art for a part of your paper piecing, and that is fine. For example, I printed a clip art of the Rusteeze logo for Lightening McQueen, but the majority of the element is not printed clipart.
This will be a SINGLE ELEMENT swap. If you want to use up your scraps and send extra, I wont stop you, but it isnt a requirement. I figure at this point, most of us have a ton of stuff, but may still want the fun of swapping. Plus, it is lighter, so more of you might be able to get away with just an envelope. And its easier to find something in your stash to use for a group, where 2+ elements usually means a shopping trip.
Signups: If you want to sign up for multiple groups but want to make sure you are with a variety of people, you can say, I want to these groups, but I want to try and get different people in my groups. And I will note, your requests, and when I open later groups, slot you in. To avoid duplication, please list your character/topic when you sign up. If you dont know at signup, let me know as soon as you figure it out. You can change your mind, just let me know so I can update the group list.
I am not putting any restrictions on the number of groups you may sign up for, but I plan to be more strict with checking in. If I am worried that you will not be able to finish by the the deadline, I will contact you to see if we need to angel some, or all of your groups. If at any time, you realize you need to cut down on the number of groups, or need an angel for all your groups PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I know its hard to admit when we are in over our heads, and its more fun to receive all the pretty pieces, but there will always be more swaps. If you need to drop out, I will happily arrange a trade for my items so that you dont feel like you excitedly signed up only to get nothing. But I really want to try to get this swap back to everyone in the time frame we agreed upon at signup.
Please PM me with your name, DISname, address, email and phone number (last resort if I cant contact you by other means). I will send you my information when the swap closes.
Check In: First check-in will be February 2, second February 16th, third March 1. If you miss a check-in, I will PM/email you. If I do not hear from you 48 hours after that, your spots will be angeled. If you are going to be away for a check-in, let me know. For the March 1 check-in, please be specific with your progress, and list the groups you still need to finish and an anticipated mailing date (If you have not mailed already). I want to have a good sense that you will be able to accomplish your groups on time, or if we are going to need angels.
Packaging: Place your completed element in a Ziploc with your DISname, name and group number. Take all of your baggies for a group and place them in GALLON size bag, and label with the same. Since I am running both the Paper Piecing and Flocking swaps concurrently, please also list which swap that bag is for [Flock or Paper Piecing (PP) ]
Postage: Here are the prices for Flat Rate Priority Mail Shipping. Envelope - $4.95, Small Box - $4.95 (this is a new item for 2009), Standard box $10.35, Large - $13.95. You may send to me, by any method you choose, but I would prefer to send to you using flat rate boxes/envelopes. However, if you want me to send by a different method, we can work that out. I wont require Delivery Confirmation, UNLESS you are sending to me AFTER the swap due date. If you want your items shipped to you with DC, please include the $.65, and a filled out slip. If you are in the Flocking swap too, I will send everything back in one box, so make sure you send enough to cover postage for both swaps (regular flat rate should be fine, for most people)
DO NOT include clik-it/ship-it postage. I will not be able to use it since it is only good on the day it was printed, and from the location it was printed.
Due Date: This swap is due MARCH 7, 2009. Your package should be in the mail by March 1 if sending first class, March 4 if you are sending Priority. I intend to only wait one week for packages that have been delayed by our lovely postal system, before I swap out. If you mail, March 8 or later, you must send Priority and you must include DC so I can verify the shipment and keep tabs on its status. I know emergencies can happen, and those will be handled on a case by case basis. However, Murphys Law seems to go into effect quite regularly around here. It seems like the longer we wait to start our groups the greater the chances of something bad happening. I will have a hard time holding up the return for someone who has a majority of their work still to do, at a time when they should be focusing on whatever issue is causing the delay in the first place.
Element list:
This is a paper piecing swap, so there is no element list. However, if you are doing a simple paper piecing, made up of only a few pieces, consider mounting the paper piecing on a tag or box. Your paper piecing should be a minimum of 4" in one direction. You can make them as big as you want, as long as they would fit into an 8x8 book. Paper Piecings are easier to create the larger they are. You don't have to use the shadow feature for the Cricut paper piecings, but you can if you want.
Groups to Follow in next post...
The goal of this swap is so that we can learn or perfect a new technique. Paper piecing can be quite overwhelming at the beginning, but it is one of my favorite elements to make. There will be two types of groups in this swap. Handmade and Cricut/Handmade.
Handmade paper piecings, refer to the type that is made by tracing or printing a pattern, cutting all the pieces out by hand (or with a Wishblade or Craft Robo device) and layering them. These are the most time and skill intensive paper piecing to make, and as such, I want to make sure everyone receives items back equal to the amount of time they put into making their items. Usually, there is some computer work that has to be done, especially to make a pattern for a Wishblade/Craft Robo which can add to the difficulty. I will also try to put together instructions for making handmade paper piecings, tips and tricks, where to get good coloring pages for patterns etc, and post that in a few days.
I dont want to exclude swappers who may not feel confident making handmade paper piecings, so that is while we will also have a Cricut/Handmade group. Frequent paper piecers, like me, have a routine down, and dont mind trading them for Cricut paper piecings (cutting and gluing all those pieces takes time too) so if you want to sign up for a Cricut group and want to make handmade, that is fine. Im sure the Cricuters will be happy with them.
For this swap, I am excluding paper piecings made entirely of clip art that has been pop dotted. In some cases, especially for handmade, you might find it easier to use clip art for a part of your paper piecing, and that is fine. For example, I printed a clip art of the Rusteeze logo for Lightening McQueen, but the majority of the element is not printed clipart.
This will be a SINGLE ELEMENT swap. If you want to use up your scraps and send extra, I wont stop you, but it isnt a requirement. I figure at this point, most of us have a ton of stuff, but may still want the fun of swapping. Plus, it is lighter, so more of you might be able to get away with just an envelope. And its easier to find something in your stash to use for a group, where 2+ elements usually means a shopping trip.
Signups: If you want to sign up for multiple groups but want to make sure you are with a variety of people, you can say, I want to these groups, but I want to try and get different people in my groups. And I will note, your requests, and when I open later groups, slot you in. To avoid duplication, please list your character/topic when you sign up. If you dont know at signup, let me know as soon as you figure it out. You can change your mind, just let me know so I can update the group list.
I am not putting any restrictions on the number of groups you may sign up for, but I plan to be more strict with checking in. If I am worried that you will not be able to finish by the the deadline, I will contact you to see if we need to angel some, or all of your groups. If at any time, you realize you need to cut down on the number of groups, or need an angel for all your groups PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I know its hard to admit when we are in over our heads, and its more fun to receive all the pretty pieces, but there will always be more swaps. If you need to drop out, I will happily arrange a trade for my items so that you dont feel like you excitedly signed up only to get nothing. But I really want to try to get this swap back to everyone in the time frame we agreed upon at signup.
Please PM me with your name, DISname, address, email and phone number (last resort if I cant contact you by other means). I will send you my information when the swap closes.
Check In: First check-in will be February 2, second February 16th, third March 1. If you miss a check-in, I will PM/email you. If I do not hear from you 48 hours after that, your spots will be angeled. If you are going to be away for a check-in, let me know. For the March 1 check-in, please be specific with your progress, and list the groups you still need to finish and an anticipated mailing date (If you have not mailed already). I want to have a good sense that you will be able to accomplish your groups on time, or if we are going to need angels.
Packaging: Place your completed element in a Ziploc with your DISname, name and group number. Take all of your baggies for a group and place them in GALLON size bag, and label with the same. Since I am running both the Paper Piecing and Flocking swaps concurrently, please also list which swap that bag is for [Flock or Paper Piecing (PP) ]
Postage: Here are the prices for Flat Rate Priority Mail Shipping. Envelope - $4.95, Small Box - $4.95 (this is a new item for 2009), Standard box $10.35, Large - $13.95. You may send to me, by any method you choose, but I would prefer to send to you using flat rate boxes/envelopes. However, if you want me to send by a different method, we can work that out. I wont require Delivery Confirmation, UNLESS you are sending to me AFTER the swap due date. If you want your items shipped to you with DC, please include the $.65, and a filled out slip. If you are in the Flocking swap too, I will send everything back in one box, so make sure you send enough to cover postage for both swaps (regular flat rate should be fine, for most people)
DO NOT include clik-it/ship-it postage. I will not be able to use it since it is only good on the day it was printed, and from the location it was printed.
Due Date: This swap is due MARCH 7, 2009. Your package should be in the mail by March 1 if sending first class, March 4 if you are sending Priority. I intend to only wait one week for packages that have been delayed by our lovely postal system, before I swap out. If you mail, March 8 or later, you must send Priority and you must include DC so I can verify the shipment and keep tabs on its status. I know emergencies can happen, and those will be handled on a case by case basis. However, Murphys Law seems to go into effect quite regularly around here. It seems like the longer we wait to start our groups the greater the chances of something bad happening. I will have a hard time holding up the return for someone who has a majority of their work still to do, at a time when they should be focusing on whatever issue is causing the delay in the first place.
Element list:
This is a paper piecing swap, so there is no element list. However, if you are doing a simple paper piecing, made up of only a few pieces, consider mounting the paper piecing on a tag or box. Your paper piecing should be a minimum of 4" in one direction. You can make them as big as you want, as long as they would fit into an 8x8 book. Paper Piecings are easier to create the larger they are. You don't have to use the shadow feature for the Cricut paper piecings, but you can if you want.
Groups to Follow in next post...
