This will be open to Bloggers and to my Facebook Pals so here are the Details and the Rules.
Most of you have participated in Bottle Swaps. Right? Some have not so please bear with me while I explain just how it is done. Then we'll get into the nitty gritty.
First of all the Vessel - the Container - What you mail your stuff in. Yes it is in a bottle and Yes it will go right through the US Mail just like an envelope. Take a clean 2 litre pop bottle and Keep the cap. look at the center of the bottle lying down so the cap is at the right and the end of the bottle is at your left and picture in your mind cutting a shape with a knife of a tab abour 4 or 5 inches wide (just a slice) and on either side of the slice cut UP about three inches or so on each side so you have a tab from which you can gently lift up and stuff your things in. OK...are you with me so far? Then after all is stuffed inside you take that magic packing tape and just tape it back down. Then you take a piece of paper or a mailing label you have already addressed to where you're sending it and stick it on that place with some more tape. Then up at the left side where you would put your return address if it were an envelope do the same thing with taping down your return address. Then just take it to the post office and present it to the clerk and mail it! They've seen them many times and will weigh it and put the postage on. They travel well if you have taped the slot well and they do not cost much to mail. Then when your partner receives it or when YOU receive yours it is simple to cut the slot back open and remove your treasures. Questions?..........
Now here are some suggestions of things to put inside. First of all you want to kinda conceal your gifties with either wadded up tissue paper or the pretty and colorful shreds like pink or red or even glittery ones and your gifts will be somewhat padded to not break or smush and it will keep them from all being seen or rattling around. Then an idea of some of the stuff should include maybe something you've made if you're an artist or crafty. Maybe something to reflect your partners likes or something to surely reflect the occasion which is Valentine's Day. You could also add a bit of sweets, something pretty, something useful, or something funny................it is all left up to your imagination and most people try to stuff as much as is humanly possible into their bottle they're sending. There is nothing quite as much fun as receiving a bottle in the mail and discovering that someone has taken the time and attention to "spoil you" and delight you with little things they've found for you. Questions?....................
Now the time frame: Today is January 4 (Friday) and Valentine's Day, February 14 (Thursday) gives us roughly 5 1/2 weeks so all bottles should be mailed out NO LATER than Friday Feb. 8 which is exactly one week before V. Day and they should reach any state in a week. Sorry but on this one we will have to limit to the US only. You may of course mail it out before that date. When you RECEIVE your bottle...OPEN it! but just do not post about it until Valentine's Day. If you have a blog you post about it on your blog (with pictures) and send it to your Facebook page too so we all can see it and if you only have a Facebook Page post there and everyone of us will get to see it too. Now the way we get our partners is very simple. I must give you a deadline to tell me who is playing. So I am giving you exactly ONE WEEK to decide. Tell me through a comment either here on my blog or here on my Facebook page. Then each of you will by private message send me your name, address and blog address or Facebook name. I will take all the names and mix them up and on January 12 (Saturday) the following day will match you up with someone. I'll try to keep the bloggers together and the Facebookers only together. I will send to you privately the name of your partner and the way for you to "sneak" in on her to find out a bit about her so you can really knock her socks off with your choices. Questions?..............
Now we really must set a limit on spending. So Please everyone..........do not spend OVER $10.00 on the total contents of your bottle. That does NOT include the postage. If you're crafty you will probably spend less than that amount and if you're not you do not have to spend that amount just do not go over. The object of the swap is not the money spent but the thought you've put into it to make it special. It's all about making a new friend and spreading the sisterly girlfriend love. Right? So c'mon and join in and play bottle swap with us. It is a hoot!
Shoot me an email at dixiegardenself@yahoo.com or by facebook message if you have questions. Thanks and let's play Bottle Swap.
