Handmade Gift Exchange: Holiday 2012 SIGNUPS!

handmade gift exchange

Hey Crafters! Guess what….today is November 1. Which means its time to sign up for the Holiday 2012 Handmade Gift Exchange! YAYY!

Handmade Gift Exchange

This is the 7th Handmade Gift Exchange. And I know there are a couple crafters who have participated in all previous 6 exchanges. You guys rock!!

For those who are new here {welcome, welcome!!} twice a year, I host a Handmade Gift Exchange that is loads of fun!! It gives you the opportunity to meet a fellow crafter AND the perfect excuse to get your craft on! There is no skill or cost requirement, that way everyone can participate! {if you want to see what people have made/received in the past, check out previous gift exchange linky parties: Summer 2012 and Winter 2011.}

Elfster

elfsterAfter the summer exchange, I worked closely with Elfster to make some drastic changes for our exchange. And Elfster has been fantastic in helping implement these changes in time for this exchange!

What is Elfster? Elfster if a social gift giving platform where you can communicate with your partner, ask questions, likes/dislikes, and interact with other members of the gift exchange.

 

Changes

  • You will be paired up instead of the round robin style we experimented with last time. That means you will need to contact and coordinate with ONE person instead of TWO.
  • You can earn badges on Elfster for different things like sending a thank you card or entering in your gift’s shipping info. This will help show what kind of a gift giver you are.
  • Less emails!! Elfster and I went over all the different emails that are sent out and narrowed it down so that you will only receive a few important emails through the exchange.
  • Elfster made some great changes that will help me as the exchange coordinator immensely. They did some custom things for me and I really appreciate their thoughtfulness!
  • After you receive your partner assignment, you will be prompted to contact them.

HOW TO SIGN UP: To sign up, you will use the drop down menu at the bottom of this post and select the gift exchange you want to participate in. There are 5 different exchanges: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and All Countries {these were the most popular countries in previous exchanges. All Countries is open to everyone.} Click “next” and you will be directed to Elfster to finish your sign up.

I will walk you through it below:

Click Yes and then if you’d like, you can choose to answer the Naughty or Nice question. {not required} Then click RSVP.

If you already have an Elfster account, go ahead and login. Otherwise, click Join. You will then see the screen above and can either create an account or login with Facebook. ****PLEASE NOTE: signing up with Facebook will make it so that all emails go to the email address linked to your Facebook account. Please make sure you know what email is linked to your FB account and that you check it regularly. If you do not check this email address, you will need to chance your email address on your Elfster account through the Settings. 

After you have entered in your info, you will then be directed to the home page of the gift exchange on Elfster. Once there, you can send email invites to your friends {more the merrier!}, share something with the group {a crafting tip?}, and add your picture to your profile. You can also put a link to your blog, Facebook, or Pinterest page on your profile, if you’d like. You can also create an Elfster wishlist so that your partner can get an idea of what you like and what your style is. {Etsy would be a good place to find items for this}

***Please note: the Wishlist feature on Elfster is a great tool to show your taste and style. If someone puts non-handmade items on their wishlist, they are simply showing their taste and style. DO NOT BUY your partner a gift from their Wishlist!!! The whole purpose of this exchange is promote HANDMADE gift giving, not buying.

Partner Assignments

Sign ups close on November 7, 2012 at midnight. On November 8, 2012, you will get an email from Elfster informing you of your assignment.You will only be able to view his/her info during the exchange. Once the exchange is over on November 30, your partner will not have access to your information on Elfster.

*Please note, you will be paired up in twos. The person you make and send a gift to will make a gift for you. For example: Jane Crafty will make a gift for Sally Scissors. Sally Scissors will make a gift for Jane Crafty. Just like a crafty pen pal!

THE DETAILS

Reading this entire post BEFORE signing up is Mandatory!

If you have any questions, PLEASE email me at craftaholicsanon@gmail.com before signing up.

  • If you commit to participate in this exchange, you will be expected to make a thoughtful Handmade Gift for a fellow crafter and have it post marked no later than Friday, November 30, 2012. In return, you will receive a Handmade Gift in the mail.
  • Use the drop down menu below to officially sign up. Please do not email me to sign up. Sign up ends November 7, 2012.
  • Make a gift for your assigned partner. Need ideas? Check out my Craft Tutorials or my Pinterest Board.
  • Take pictures of the gift you make! There will be a linky party and posts featuring YOUR gifts. You can link up both the gift you MADE and the gift you received. The gift  linky party will start on November 15. There will also be a Flickr group for those without blogs to upload their gift pictures.
  • Please have your gift post marked no later than Friday, November 30, 2012. Please put that on your calendar right now. This is crucial to the success of this exchange! If you make and mail your gift early, that would be amazing!
  • Participating in this exchange means you will need to go to the Post Office. Please take this into account with your busy holiday schedule.
  • If you own a handmade shop, DO NOT simply tell your partner to pick out what they want from your shop! I ask that you customize the item for your partner {i.e. color, design, style etc} this exchange is to promote handmade and friendships, not your etsy shop.
  • If at any time you are unable to follow through with the exchange, PLEASE email me ASAP!! I understand life happens and that some things are out of our control. I just ask that you send me an email so that I can make other arrangements.
  • **I have absolutely no way of patrolling everyone’s participation….usually, people are honest and do their part. Those who answered the Summer 2012 survey, 88% said they received a gift.**

Please tell your friends, family, co-workers or that crazy lady in line at the grocery store about the Handmade Gift Exchange! I would love for you to blog, tweet, or Facebook about the Handmade Gift Exchange to help spread the fun! 

Sign up for the Handmade Gift Exchange! hosted by @CraftaholicAnon https://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/?p=8224 #HandmadeGiftExchange

If you tweet, please use the hashtag #HandmadeGiftExchange  so others can join the conversation….. and I’ll totally retweet you :)
*If you’d like the code for the Handmade Gift Exchange button, its on my sidebar!* —————–>

Frequently Asked Questions

  • There is no skill level required. A handmade gift is always wonderful, no matter how technical it is!
  • There is no price minimum on the handmade gift. If shipping costs are an issue, you can make a gift that is light weight and fits inside an envelope.
  • You do not need a blog to participate!
  • How will I know who my partner is? You will get an email on November 8, 2012 with your assigned person’s name and information.
  • There is no official theme for this Gift Exchange. If you feel so inclined to do a Christmas theme, go for it!
  • Can I make a gift from a kit/pattern? YES!! If you made any part of the gift, that’s perfect!
  • Can the gift be in digital form? No. You can create a printable or graphic for your partner, but please PRINT it off and send a physical copy to your partner. Part of the fun is actually physically receiving a gift in the mail.
  • I can’t participate in this exchange, but want to do the next one. Can I sign up for a reminder? Yes! Click here and enter in your email address.

A HUGE Thank You to Elfster for donating their time and efforts to help this gift exchange happen! You can find them Elfster on Facebook here.

SIGN UP

There are 5 different Exchanges: USA, Cananda, UK, Australia, and All Countries. Use the drop down box to make your selection!


happy gifting!
linda

Linda
Hi! I'm Linda, the craft addict behind Craftaholics Anonymous®, a craft blog. Crafting is cheaper than therapy, right? When I'm not DIYing something, I can be found taxiing around our 4 crazy kids or working out. Or shoe shopping... because you can never have too many shoes! Happy crafting! ♥
Linda
Linda

Latest posts by Linda (see all)

Join the Conversation

Comments

    1. 1.1

      yikes! You are correct. Fixing it right now! Thanks for letting me know, Neet!
      happy crafting,
      Linda

  1. 2

    Hello,

    I think I joined the Handmade Gift exchange-I’m so thrilled to be a part of this-however, how do I know if I completed everything on Elfster correctly?

    Thanks,
    sonjadoyle@hotmail.com

  2. 3

    Visiting from SITS. Now following you!

  3. 4

    Sounds like great fun!

    I included my blog, but it is not exciting enough to even have followers!

    (*If you’d like the code for the Handmade Gift Exchange button, its on my sidebar!* —————–>)
    I see a Fall Frenzy button… did I miss the HGE button?

      1. no worries! Thanks for having me!

    1. 4.2

      I think I’m blind as well because I can’t find the Holiday Exchange Button… :(

  4. Pingback: Craftaholics Anonymous® | JUMBO Giveaway! iPad, iPhone, more.

  5. 5

    So excited to do this again!!

  6. 6

    Hey! Super excited, thank you for hosting! I have blogged and tweeted and fb’d and pin’d the giveaway because I think this sounds like so much fun! Yay!

  7. 7
    Christina

    Do you know what Hte Elf points are and what they do/mean? I can’t seem to figure it out.

  8. 8
    Laura

    I’ve signed up!!! So excited—this is my first gift exchange!! woohoot!

    1. 8.1

      Yay!! so glad you’re in, Laura! You’re going to have so much fun!
      happy crafting,
      Linda

  9. 9

    So excited to be taking part in my first gift exchange, and to be making something for someone I don’t know! I love my crafting and love meeting new people. What a genius you are for organising this, Linda!

  10. Pingback: Craftaholics Anonymous® | Craft Room TOUR with Scrap This, Save That

  11. 10

    I’m signed up! I really, really enjoyed the last one. I was sad, however, that my recipient never even acknowledged the gift…and didn’t respond to repeated requests to see if she even got it! I hope I get paired with someone really great this time!

  12. 11
    Tiffany

    I’m trying to join the US exchange, for the first time :-D, and the RSVP button is processing, but it hasn’t moved for 5 minutes. Going to try again but wanted to let you know.

    1. 11.1
      Tiffany

      Okay, it worked the first time but didn’t look like it had until I refreshed the page. I can’t wait!!!

  13. 12

    HI Linda..I thought I signed up last week, but now when I try to click on the gift exchange on Elfster, it says I’m not allowed. :(
    Can you check to see if I’m on your list?

    Thanks~~~~

  14. Pingback: Handmade Gift Exchange Winter 2012

  15. Pingback: Craftaholics Anonymous® | Craft Room TOUR - Amanda at The Ivy Cottage Blog

  16. 13

    Can’t wait to start something for a new friend.

  17. 14

    Awwww sad I missed it by one day

  18. 15
    Ginger

    So bummed that I am a day too late!

    1. 15.1

      Hi Ginger, I actually have a couple people that still need partners, so if you’d like to join, shoot me an email asap!
      thanks,
      Linda

  19. 16
    Andrea

    didn’t see this post until today, darn! I wouldve loved to participate, next year for sure!

  20. 18
    Jessica B.

    Hi! I participated in the last gift exchange and had a ton of fun. However, I did not sign up for this one (sadly, I didn’t know it was on), but I just received a welcome email. Was that a mistake? I would love to participate if I somehow did sign up and would hate to leave someone in the lurch, but I am just confused at this point. :)

    1. 18.1

      Hi Jessica,
      That email was sent out in error. I accidentally sent it to the Summer exchange list instead of the Winter list. But if you’d like to join, shoot me an email and I can add you :)
      thanks,
      Linda

  21. 19

    My gift for this year is done and shipped! My mom and I are already planning next year’s craft for the exchange! This is so much fun, Linda! Thanks for hosting!

    1. 20.1

      Hi Jessi,
      Yay for getting your gift mailed out early! you rock! The Handmade Gift Exchange link party starts on Friday {11/30}. Can’t wait to see what you made!!
      Linda

  22. Pingback: Craftaholics Anonymous® | Holiday 2012 Handmade Gift Exchange Link Party

  23. Pingback: Craftaholics Anonymous® | Handmade Gift Exchange Linky Party

  24. 21

    Hi Linda.. I am ready to write my post and link up.. but cannot find the linky for this or the flickr my swap went awesome this time and I so love my partner.. thanks so much..

    Look forward to the next one.. :D

  25. Pingback: Handmade Gift Exchange - Create and Babble