Saturday 13 December 2014

Christmas Cracker swap

I have been taking part in Tracy's from Mad About Bags Christmas Cracker swap for the past three years and it is a lovely one to do as you are limited to what can be fitted inside a kitchen roll, which gives you a real challenge.  This year, I was paired up with the lovely Alison from  fatdormouse and View from the Teapot.  We emailed and I discovered that she didn't sew, so she asked whether I could wrap the cracker in paper, for paper crafting, rather than material. Of course I could!  We found out about likes and dislikes and then got on with the making and buying.  We swapped our crackers and here's what I received:
 A cracker with an added extra of the most beautiful rich purple coloured felting wool...
 ...and when I opened it up...well!  What a lot of goodies!  Alison had even drawn a zentangle picture featuring a cat, which was also ingeniously wrapped around the cracker.
 Lovely buttons, a necklace, a key ring, two corn dolly decorations (which will be going on the tree), chocolate coins...
lollipops, ribbons, mints, toiletries - how lucky I was!  A HUGE thank you to Alison for her generosity
Here's what I sent (although, rather foolishly, I forgot to take a photo of the wrapped cracker): hot chocolate, Lindt bears, a felt heart, star decoration, quartz earrings, ribbons and cosmos seeds.
I found this rather gorgeous hand made paper so wrapped that around the kitchen roll before wrapping in paper and adding ribbon.  It was a lovely swap, so thank you to Tracy for organising and many thanks to Alison.  

10 comments:

  1. BOTH crackers look brilliant. A time when it is a toss-up whether it is better to give or receive. I hope that both of you smile broadly every time you got past your loot.

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    1. Thanks, EC. I love taking part in swaps and would be happy just to give! To receive is an added bonus.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. What a fantastic swap!!
    Twiggy

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    1. Thanks, Twiggy. It was another lovely swap which I really enjoyed being part of.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. You sent and received lovely things! What a great idea to be restricted to the size, it means that you have to be really creative doesn't it!! xx

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    1. Thanks, Amy. I really like the size restriction too and luckily, lots of things will fit in! I really enjoyed this swap.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. One can fit more in a kitchen roll then I thought!!
    What a lovely swap Ellie; you both packed so much lovely things for each other...
    Love from Mirjam.

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    1. Thanks, Mirjam. You can fit a lot of little things in a kitchen roll! Luckily, there are many small things in the shops now too, which helps. It was a lovely swap to be part of.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. Is it really three years, wow! Another fab swap Ellie, thank you for taking part x

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    1. Thanks, Tracy. Yes, this is my third Christmas cracker swap and I really enjoy taking part. Here's to next year's!
      Best wishes
      Elliw

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