From Me To You-USA ONLY

Anyone have an idea about using each section of the notebook for something different....or any suggestions on how you might be thinking of doing your notebook?

sectioning the notebook sounds like an interesting idea. I was kind of thinking of making mine along the lines of a collection of thoughts and everything that goes on in my life and recipes and that sort of thing but it'll all be kind of scrapbooked so to speak.

Here is how I am going to do mine. I am a writer and am nearing completion of my MFA degree. My thesis is a book-collection of short stories-that I have to have roughly 200 pages written by August. My notebook will be everything in my life-as a writer-from now until Christmas. I will send my "finished" notebook out on January 2nd. Whomever will be my partner, (Manda, can't be you...you know me too well)will receive something truly unique and extremely intimate from my life. I usually don't share my writing life, but I think this is perfect for it.

Cindy

i would take part in an international version, if there is one going :)!

Hannah, Check your swap-bot email.

this is an amazing idea...thank you for it :)

Anyone joining Amanda's Swap-please realize it is USA only. I am doing a similar swap that will allow international journalers to participate.

msteacher.

OMG - I love this idea and I'm so glad I was surfing swaps this morning. I can't wait to start! I'm off to Walmart to get my 5 subject really fat and big notebook. If I fill it b-4 the date can I send it earlier?

And when I check the list of who was in the swap I was so glad to see swappers with such great ratings. I've been flaked on 2 journal swaps, and those are the WORST because you put so much time and effort in and get nothing in return.

I know. It is hard when someone flakes on you. I am doing an international version of this one for someone from England. Amanda can't do it right now...just a bit expensive. Amanda, what do we do if we fill up our notebook way before the turn date? Start another one?!!!

you can do as many notebooks as you want and yes if you fill it up before the send date as long as its not more than a month out you can send it.

I can not wait to start!! I have my notebook and am ready to start....do we wait to find out who we are sending to or can we start today???

lol you can start whenever you like

This is really fun! I'm so glad I've joined!

well i'm glad too

so how are you all doing on your journal projects?

Mine is coming along really good..I may be done b4 Jan... :)

well just be sure not to send it out to early before the deadline and you can always do more than one notebook :)

just wanted to see how everybody is doing.....

Mine is AWESOME!!!! My sis in law saw it and said she would love to receive a journal from me :)

On a sad note....I see the person who is suppose to send to me has not signed on since June 13th and has a comment about not sending....think I am going to be flaked on :(

well when the time gets closer and they haven't been on in awhile, i'll talk to them. nobody is going to get flaked.

Actually I do not see how I will not get flaked...this is a long tern swap with a lot involved....and there is no way to angel this. I will just chalk it up to another bad experience with public swaps and stick to my private swaps...not upset with you....just upset over all of this in general.

well i'm sorry you feel that way. it sucks that people are like that sometimes. everyone should do their part in a swap.

well....maybe things will work out....now the person I send to has not been on since June.......so maybe I can send to her partner and her partner can send to me!!! Yay!!!!

my bad....my partner signed in today LOL

Mine is going really well so far. It's lots of fun! What did everybody do for their 5 different subjects? I did:

Daily life journal Life experiences poems and quotes recipes and reflections on them Meditations

Also, are you guys including little "stuff" in your journal? Like, little gifts?

i'm including anything that has gone on in my life. FYI for my partner, there has been a bit of sadness in my life so I did write about it. I am decorating my pages with little things like quotes and stickers and sometimes just coloring them or doodling them in addition to writing. I thought about including some little gifts as I see some.

I thought I would check in...in case my partner sees that I haven't been real active in swapbot for a little bit (as a matter of fact this is my only swap at the moment). With kids home (all 4) for the summer and working out of the home all the time, I decided to take a little break from heavy duty swaping...until the kids go back to school. But I am working on my journal and there will be a few little goodies in it....I am no where near done with it...but I am plugging away at it. I add things as i find them, or journal as I have time...its really a eclectic mix of things i hope my partner will like (kinda like me)!

that's great. I thought i would also check in. things are a bit hectic around here but i'm still on my journal too and i'm far from done but I think things will come together before the close. what does everyone think of a swap like this next year? If I do host it again are there any suggestions as to what could be added or anything like that?

my journal is going well.....life has been pretty hectic for me for the last 6 weeks and I did not write as much as usual, but I am still at it. My journal is just a journal....I put an info/intro sheet on the inside of the front cover and all the pages are decorated with stickers or stationary or both....I am including a photo album with mine.....with pics of "my life" and "my things" that will go with the journal....

on a sad note I see that there are not many of us that signed up that are still active......sooooo sad

i know. i've not been as active because I just lost my daughter a couple of months ago but i'm still working on my journal. I hope my partner will like it.

would anyone join a second version of this swap if I created it. maybe doing a whole year instead of just some of it...? Maybe we can add a few twists to the next one?? Any ideas or suggestions...?

would anyone join a second version of this swap if I created it. maybe doing a whole year instead of just some of it...? Maybe we can add a few twists to the next one?? Any ideas or suggestions...?

amandawintersteen....I am very sorry for the loss of your daughter....I am not sure if I would join another "public" journal swap, but I would be more than happy to do a year long journal private swap with a reputable swapper :)

well when the new year comes and you still want to do one, IM me and i'd be more than happy to do a private one with a public one. I'd do a private one with anyone that would like to.

Just touching base. Is everyone doing okay this year.

Just touching base. Is everyone doing okay this year.

I'd join another round or do it as a small private swap. Maybe we could include keeping up with our partners.

Or putting little surprises in our journal. That would be fun!!! For a year do they make 500 page notebooks? LOL, JK!

Just thought i'd let ya'll know that i've started round 2 and its international. Come take a look if you're interested.

BUT I WILL be screening harder this time.

How is everyone doing? My journal is coming along.

How is everyone doing? My journal is coming along.

mine has been very neglected this last month as my hubby has been sick and in the hospital for the last 3 weeks and it is sitting at home while I am here :( WILL get it caught up when I get home though!

Mine is coming along just fine!!

that's is ok ProudNana. Take your time. I hope your hubby feels better soon.

Thank you amanda :) As of yesterday we are home and I am sitting right now trying to get my journal caught up :) Hope everyone is doing well with their journals!

:D that's great

I've started taking my journal to school with me to work on while the kids are doing their work. I don't know if I'll finish in time - 200 pages is a lot of work! I must say that I love it, but can't do an international. I did one international journal ( a small composition notebook) and it cost $11 to send to my partner. If anyone starts a USA only, please let me know - even if private. This was a very valuable experience.

i'll be able to do a couple of private swaps in addition to the international one i'm hosting. remember that not all the pages have to be filled only 75% of the notebook need be filled.

if there are a couple of USA people that would like to do a private swap of this, message me and i'll set something up. I would love to be able to do more than one overseas but i think that would push the budget. so just let me know.

just to remind you all, there a couple of ppl who haven't checked it for a few months, if they don't check in by dec. 10th, i will be rerouting partners.

I received an email from someone and answered back that I am still working on my journal, just not doing any other swaps at the moment.
Today I received a message on swapbot that sounded kinda nasty, even though I answered the email before the deadline.
I am a busy mother of 4 kids running my husbands business, and working as a volunteer with Girl Scouts, I dont have enough hours in the day to do a whole lot of things i enjoy and this had been something that i have enjoyed, it just has been sounding like that I am not wanted to participate just because other things have been going on in my life. I have worked on my journal and it will be finished by the deadline, someone just needs to let me know if I should still send it or not.

yes you should still send it out but even though you are busy, it is necessary to sign on to swap-bot every now and then to let people know that you are still working on your swaps.

Hope everyone is having a safe holiday season.

come on everyone its about time to get those journals out.

Mine is being sent early next week (like Monday or Tuesday). I've already contacted my partner about the delay. I'm sorry I had to have a bit more time! It won't happen with the next one (#2) though as I will remember that the holidays are just too hectic to do any writing and I will have it done before then....live and learn... :)

oh its ok.. I just want to make sure everyone is getting ready.

ok everyone let's get the ball rolling and get those journals out. thanks..