Secret Santa exchange?

[XrayAmy]

Taniwolf brought up the idea of a Secret Santa exchange. I'm more than happy to put it together and host it.

1. You would send out one hand stamped holiday card.
2. You would send out one gift worth $15 not including shipping cost. Gift is preferably a white elephant gift which is something (or things totaling $15) that is new and unused. If you have nothing at home to recycle that is new and unused you may go ahead and purchase something new.
3. These would be done separately so that the recipient would get two things coming in the mail at different times.

Participants will fill out a questionnaire and I will match people up. You wouldn't know who your Santa was. This swap closes Monday Nov. 26th. If you are interested in participating please respond to this thread and I'll add your name to the list.

Sign ups:
1. Taniwolf * Tanya
2. alma * Alma
3. Inky Whiskers * Jenna
4. piecesandpom * Karen
5. marstamper * Maralee
6. alsmouse * Ann
7. j3annin3 * Jeannine

[Taniwolf]

Since i bought up the swap exchange.
I will be the first to sign up.
Love to do theses.

[alma]

I'm in, too!

alma

[Inky Whiskers]

How FUN! Sign me up!!! :D

[piecesandpom]

Sounds like fun and I want to join but am wondering about approximate deadlines. . .don't want to overbook my time and disappoint anyone!

How quickly do you need folks to join to make this work?

[XrayAmy]

First we need to get enough interest but if we do this I was looking at ending sign up by Thanksgiving and sending out the questionnaire the day after Thanksgiving. I'd want them back to me by the following Monday. Then you could send out your card and gift anytime after that.

I did get a suggestion for a less expensive gift amount so we have a few days to still toss out ideas.

[piecesandpom]

Timeframe would work for me then. Count me in!

[XrayAmy]

We need more people in the next couple of days to do this. One other thing we could do is recycle stamp stuff that you purchased but never opened/used. Any thoughts?

[piecesandpom]

I can go either way. I have a 50% off coupon for an item at the LSS PLUS they are having a really good sale the two days after Thanksgiving. I don't have so much of items that I don't use, never use. And even though I have some stamps with no ink, no tack-it-over-and-over I don't want to give those up yet!;)

[Inky Whiskers]

We need more people in the next couple of days to do this. One other thing we could do is recycle stamp stuff that you purchased but never opened/used. Any thoughts?

A white elephant craft exchange? What a great idea!!! I know I have stamping supplies that I haven't opened yet & I figure after a few years, they're fair game to pass along. :D

[marstamper]

I'd like the white elephant gift exchange, or the new one....I'm in
Sounds like fun to me.

[XrayAmy]

Okay, I changed it to $15 not including shipping and it's primarily a white elephant exchange. However if you don't have anything to recycle you may purchase new items. I've edited my first post to reflect the swap as it is now and I have included those that have already signed up.

Any other takers? I'm extending the sign up until Monday the 26th. I'll send out the questionnaires Monday night and ask that everyone get them back to me within 24 hours.

[alsmouse]

I'm in. Tucker isn't required to fill out the form too is he? ~C8>

[XrayAmy]

I'm in. Tucker isn't required to fill out the form too is he? ~C8>

Only if you want to gift to be for Tucker!

[Inky Whiskers]

How come your name isn't on the list, Amy? Surely you don't want to pass up the chance to exchange your dingy old elephants for shiny new ones? :D

[XrayAmy]

How come your name isn't on the list, Amy? Surely you don't want to pass up the chance to exchange your dingy old elephants for shiny new ones? :D

I may do it but it's not much of a secret for me now is it?

[Inky Whiskers]

I guess you have a point. :o

If your ever helpful DH pulled the names & pm'd us who we're santa-ing for, you wouldn't know who your Santa is. It's a thought. :D

[j3annin3]

Please count me in Amy, i'm starting to feel a bit of the Christmas spirit. :)

[piecesandpom]

Yippee! I was one of the first 25 folks at the LSS store so I got freebies. They even had a guillotine cutter, used my 50% coupon off. Hopefully this will cure my uneven cuts. I got some potential Secret Santa goodies as well.

Off to check a few of the vendor enablers on this site. Time for me to get Xmas shopping for moi - hubby just thinks practical so I started buying my 'own' gifts a long time ago.:laugh:

[XrayAmy]

I'm closing this tomorrow (Monday) morning.....any more takers?

[XrayAmy]

:laugh: We have a bunch of comedians here! Love the "dislikes" that some of you put down!

[Taniwolf]

Hi Santa.
I got my card from you Friday.
Thank you so much.
I can't wait to see my prezzie.

[j3annin3]

I got a card too! Thank you very much Santa, it's wonderful- a lovely elegant card! :lovie: O Boy, does Santa know how to stamp a card or what!!

[XrayAmy]

I got some cards too and I'm not even in on this!:laugh:

[alma]

I got my card today from my Secret Santa! I just love my Santa's choice of colors and the little bits of bling.

[XrayAmy]

I got even more cards today! You guys crack me up and best of all...made me smile today! Thanks "Santa"!

[piecesandpom]

Got my card from my Secret Santa. Can't believe the really fine cutting job around the reindeer; I'm jealous! ! !

[Inky Whiskers]

My Santa card came Saturday & how darling it looks sitting right up front on my table of holiday wishes! How many days until Christmas? :D

[piecesandpom]

Any one else's Secret Santa being tricky? I have received two cards, ho and ho ho. . .guess ho ho ho is what's still coming!:)) Even my husband is a little intrigued now.

[marstamper]

I got my Secret Santa card today ,too. It even came with a hot cocoa packet. Perfect timing! It was only 25 degrees at 8:30am and the hot cocoa tasted sooo good!! Thank you, thank you!

[XrayAmy]

Well my p.o. box was full of cards! I noticed that Santa spends a lot of time in Seattle. :laugh: And I even got a card from "Elf #867"....what a sweet little elf to think of me! :noway: You all are crazy dontcha know?

[alsmouse]

I noticed that Santa spends a lot of time in Seattle. :laugh: Amy, Seattle is the first major city outside of Alaska that can give a postmark, so if Santa and the Elves are sending you anything from the North Pole it would have a Seattle post mark or an Anchorage, Alaska post mark. Looks like all the mail from the North Pole must go straight to Seattle. :D
You all are crazy dontcha know? Isn't that a minor requirement of being a stamper??~C8>

[alma]

Do we let our SS know who we are in the final gift? Or is there a special "reveal" day?

[XrayAmy]

Do we let our SS know who we are in the final gift? Or is there a special "reveal" day?

Heck if I know!

[Inky Whiskers]

Do we let our SS know who we are in the final gift? Or is there a special "reveal" day?

When my mom's old office group (she doesn't work their anymore) did SSs they found out who their Santa was at the office holiday party, if they hadn't figured it out before then.

I didn't sign my card sent out earlier this month or put my name on the outside of the box, but I did sign the card inside the box figuring they'd want to know. All I know is that I had way mondo holiday fun playing Santa this year! :D

[alsmouse]

I didn't sign my card sent out earlier this month or put my name on the outside of the box, but I did sign the card inside the box figuring they'd want to know. All I know is that I had way mondo holiday fun playing Santa this year! :DThis is how it usually done. And I had a ball doing the SS shopping too. ~C8>

[alma]

I got a wonderful box of goodies in the mail yesterday.

Wonderful stickers and buttons of all types. Ribbon, color cutter and a Color Duster! AND Paper galore. Super cute patterned paper, Origami and even a fabulous collage sheet. And a Foil Transfer Kit, that I am itching to use.

Thank you Secret Santa!:wave:

[j3annin3]

I didn't sign anything.....then again, maybe it really was from Santa!

This exchange really has been great. :laugh: I had been feeling a bit
HA-Bumbug-ish.

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thank you all, and especially you Santa!
jeannine

[XrayAmy]

Santa sent me some cocoa too and I think Elf #867 has a "thing" for me! :laugh:

[piecesandpom]

I now count four, 4, Secret Santa cards. And the stamping/stamps are beautiful. The suspense is getting to me.

And, anything addressed to my eldest, there were two today, may be acceptance letters to colleges so I'm sitting on pins and needles! Or is it twigs and ornaments? Stars and tinsel? Chocolate crackle top cookies and pecan pie?

[marstamper]

I got my ss package today too. I put it under the tree.

About the pkg I sent, whoever gets it will just have to wait for me to reveal myself. lol

[XrayAmy]

I like the last one Karen! Mmmmmcookies!

[piecesandpom]

Got three more cards and a box today - yup, opened it up and I'm loving the contents. Lots of snowflake and other embellishments, stamps, paper, stickers, gel pen, scrabble letters. . .I have an idea for a thank you project for my Secret Santa!

Does my Secret Santa want to be revealed or not? ? ? What a merry chase!

[Taniwolf]

Hi Thanks Santa.
I got your package.
I love the wolf stamp.
All the other things are really cool. I can't wait to
use the Diamond glaze.

To my Santa Person. My nephew was ill so your package was delayed.
I am getting a package together and sending after the Christmas holidays.
Sorry about that but family comes first.

[j3annin3]

:lol: I got a package from Santa today!! I looked at it 2 or 3 times for quite awhile, i shook it gently, i listened intently, and now i just wave to it on the shelf as i walk by. Thank you so very much Secret Santa, you've made my day and i haven't even openned it! Can't hardly wait till Christmas :lol:

[Inky Whiskers]

YIPPEE! My Santa package arrived today!!! I opened the mailing envie & lovingly placed my wrapped goodies under the tree. We're opening some of our presents tonight & the rest tomorrow night when my mom gets here.

Merry Christmas Santa & Thanks for everything!!! :D

[marstamper]

My Secret Santa sent a fantastic box full of goodies!

First, I opened up a pencil case that had 2 Reeces Christmas Trees in it. Then, my hubby and I sat and enjoyed every last morsel of them. ;)
With that case was a set of metallic brush pens. So cool! Love them! :noway:

Next I opened up some 2" letters made of chipboard. Then came a large wooden "M", and a giant sized clothespin to stamp on and then hang art work with. :applause:

Then, I found my kitties trying hard to open up a small pkg on the floor. I retrieved it and found European glass beads in red, and varying sizes and shapes. NICE!
(I think they liked it best because it rattled.) :laugh:

I was quite surprised to see more packages in this box. So, I opened up some brads...baby ones in gold, and large copper colored ones. Great timing, as I will need some for a project I have already started.

Then, I found a Opalite stamp pad and refiller in Artic Emerald! So pretty!! And just in time to start my March cards!!

But, that wasn't all! I also got a new Black Colorbox stamp pad and refiller. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I needed one sooooo bad!!!

There was some finishing accents....yarns of different types and colors. Very cool!

Then, in the bottom of the box were some open window speciality cards to decorate, with matching envys. AND a pack of the clear envelopes that I dearly love to use!!

Thanks so much for the wonderful Secret Santa package!! And WHO was my SS??? Jeannine...j3annin3. You did a terrific job of shopping and packaging everything up!

Wish I could stay home and play with everything I got, but have to head off to work in a few mins.

Hope you had a great Christmas!

[j3annin3]

Wow! there was so much in my Secret Santa box! :lol:

I love the felt pouch with button pin! It's lovely and wonderfull. Did you make it yourself Santa? The colors are faboulous, soft and bright.

I've been wanting to see what the Castaway ink actually does....i'm looking forward to playing with it. Thank you too for all the excellent embellishments! I have lots of happy ideas about how i will use them.

and the nuggets! well, i haven't openned that container since i know i'll eat them and i've enjoyed looking at the cute penguins too much for them to be gone. What stamp did you use to get the nice dot/circle arrays? It's a great stamp, it really works well for as a sort of snow/star effect. It's been much admired by those who think i should give over looking at the tin and start sharing them. There is a gracious plenty of them, enough to share, but i think they will have to wait.

I like the 'Carrying Gifts' stamp very much too, a new Christmas stamp is a joy.
You've given me a happy box of different than my same old stuff and so much fun. Thank you so much!

[Inky Whiskers]

My South Carolina Santa ROCKS!!!

She sent me a whole sheet of scenic images and a darling coffee themed brass template!!! (How did Santa know I'm a coffee-holic? :lol: )

My only questions is what company is the rubber from? One must give credit where it's due. :D

Thanks, Maralee!!! :clap:

How soon can we do this again? :p

[alma]

Oh Secret Santa...Oh Secret Santa of mine. Who, oh who could you possibly be? You never told me and I get very sad when secrets are not divulged. Won't you please tell me so that I can thank you properly for all the great gifties?:lovie:

alma

[piecesandpom]

Well, Alma, maybe it's because your Secret Santa wants to share New Year's surprises as well. . .if I can stop the ceiling from leaking so I can get a mini-package together!

[Inky Whiskers]

Well, Alma, maybe it's because your Secret Santa wants to share New Year's surprises as well. . .if I can stop the ceiling from leaking so I can get a mini-package together!

Somebody throw the postal snail in MA a floatation device so it can get to CA! :))

[piecesandpom]

HUm, wonder if icicles will float the package there? ? ? Don't think so. I'm wondering if the 'warming' trend this weekend will regenerate the leaks in the ceiling. . .that would really upset my weekend crafting plans!

I do have my internet going up and down - it's via the phone lines so we sometimes lose service during thunderboomers, etc. Branches must be affecting the lines because it's been pretty discouraging the last three days. I'm having to log off and then back on and pray. Almost as bad as trying to do my last minute online Christmas shopping and I knew those servers were being pummeled.

[Inky Whiskers]

HUm, wonder if icicles will float the package there? ? ? Don't think so. I'm wondering if the 'warming' trend this weekend will regenerate the leaks in the ceiling. . .that would really upset my weekend crafting plans!

I do have my internet going up and down - it's via the phone lines so we sometimes lose service during thunderboomers, etc. Branches must be affecting the lines because it's been pretty discouraging the last three days. I'm having to log off and then back on and pray. Almost as bad as trying to do my last minute online Christmas shopping and I knew those servers were being pummeled.

Maybe DH could climb up there this weekend and at least tarp the leaking area? This would buy you some time to find a roofer with bad weather ins. :D

[marstamper]

Instead of tarps...after the hurricanes in FL in 2004, we "painted" tar over all missing tiles on our roof, and we never had 1 leak! Of course, that is also why all the roofers put us to the bottom of the lists for a new roof.....hummmmm

[alma]

Does that mean that you are my Secret Santa? Thank you Thank you SS for all the great goodies!

HUm, wonder if icicles will float the package there? ? ? Don't think so. I'm wondering if the 'warming' trend this weekend will regenerate the leaks in the ceiling. . .that would really upset my weekend crafting plans!


Hmm...With the way the weather has been on the west coast I think you could just hold up the mail and let the wind take it. It will most certainly find it's way to me. And with the cold we've been having the icicles won't even melt a bit.

[Inky Whiskers]

Hmm...With the way the weather has been on the west coast I think you could just hold up the mail and let the wind take it. It will most certainly find it's way to me. And with the cold we've been having the icicles won't even melt a bit.

Oh yeah! You're in the big red zone over CA this weekend too. Batten down those hatches and take care, Alma!!! My mom heard on the news that I-5 outside of Sacremento has been closed due to 100 mph winds that are flipping big rigs over. :shock:

[piecesandpom]

Crossing fingers, no leaking today but we are supposed to get real warm Monday and Tuesday. Yes, it is leaking from the nail holes through the shingles, so we need to tar around them (on the attic side).

Nothing out in the mail yet. I'm going to have to make a trip Monday AM before I start working.

[alma]

Well, Alma, maybe it's because your Secret Santa wants to share New Year's surprises as well. . .if I can stop the ceiling from leaking so I can get a mini-package together!

I got ANOTHER bunch of gifties in the mail today from my Secret Santa. Stickers and a lovely notepad featuring one of my favorite stamps!

This time my Santa revealed herself.

Thank you Piecesandpom aka Karen!

alma

[piecesandpom]

Alma, that was one of the first non-SUp stamps I bought because youngest nephew was into skiing and he just got his first kitten. Then his older brother got into snowboarding and, well, you can get the picture.

Design idea: Kitty snowboarding? ? ? My nephew in L.A. would just love cards from his aunt hounding him for leaving the East Coast for the West Coast, especially 'cause he's a broke college student.:)) At least he can't retaliate in a snowball fight!