Project: Secret Pen-Pal Scavenger Hunt

This may feel a little like a deja vu moment as I did take part in this already this year and blogged about it here. You may also notice that the package sent to me wasn't exactly what it was meant to be (it didn't really fit the swap rules!).

 

The host of this swap wreckthisgirl decided to take it upon herself to send me the swap as it should be which was really nice of her.

 

I'm sure you're curious to know what I got so here is goes...

Something that Represents me

These gorgeous postcards are made by the lovely Fab and if you'd like to own a set you can purchase them here 

 

Something Quirky

I love un-usual funky things so it will be fun to use this.

Something to Read

I loved this whole plaque, that I am going to have to try and make some myself one day. The quote is from Norwegian Woods which I haven't read so I've saved it on my wish list to purchase if the price comes down a little. Its such a great quote and has pride of place on my desk too.

Something old fashioned

I don't know yet whether I'll use this postcard or if I'll use it in my crafts some how as its such a lovely postcard that it would be nice for it to be used or seen in some way. I'll have to wait and see.

Something for You

A notebook. I've written a couple of notebook letters to friends the last couple of months and this will be perfect for another opportunity to write one again.

Such a great package wouldn't you say!

 

Well things didn't stop there as I had offered to angel a swap for someone who didn't receive theirs when signing up. I honestly can't understand as adults why we can't commit to something we've promised to do especially when you've received yours. Its something that really makes my blood boil.

 

Anyway I ended up sending to madamenosenoselovesmail

I had planned on doing individually fancy packages like in the past but I read on madamenosenoselovesmail that she has a weakness for tissue paper so I couldn't use anything else could I? It was fun but also such a hard choice in which one to choose to wrap with in the shops but in the end I went for this one as I loved the colour and design of it. The doodles represent me a little as I quite enjoy drawing.

 

My items revolve around Vintage, Snail Mail and Handmade (where possible)

 

Something made of Fabric

I went shopping in my holidays and I came across a fan. It reminded me so much of my childhood when a friend bought me one back from Spain and I really loved it. I decided to get one for this swap and I hope that my partner will like it.

 

Something Traditional or old Fashioned

I had to have traditional British red post box, bus and phone box but the last two are becoming such a rare thing here with being replaced by something more 'modern'. Also some people see giving cards as old fashioned. I know my partner will use them though so I kept them flat in case she wants to use them to post.

 

Something to Read

I used one of my postal moleskin notebooks to create a snail mail dictionary/fact book. The cover I did end up decorating but not photographing.

The Happy Day Kit

Some chocolate as who doesn't love it,  some cheerful tape, make your own bunting/garland and a take some love sheet.

A Mail Kit

On the day I came across the fan, I bought some sea themed washi tape. I really wanted to use it so what better then making some writing paper. I also choose some water themed postcards, stamped some extra seahorses and shells on dictionary paper and ribbon to tie your letters with. I live no where near the sea, I've hardly seen it (I can probably count on one hand the amount of times I've been to the seaside) but I just have such a love or everything related to it.

 

A gift for you!

Locally in my city there is a store that I just love to visit and could end up buying half the shop. Each time I have been I have admired these pocket mirrors that I thought it would be the perfect thing to buy as every classical book character must have had something like it in their purse to admire themselves. The problem I had was which one to choose as all of them look so nice. The photo just doesn't do it justice but I hope my partner does like it.

 

This one I had even more fun putting it together and hopefully enjoyed looking.

Project: Valentine

I ended up taking part in quite a few swaps to begin my year. The first was my secret pen-pal scavenger hunt, then handmade val which I took part in last year but as I'm still waiting for a card I decided to blog  about that later and lastly at the last minute I took part in a Post a Parcel Valentine.

 

Post a Parcel is organised by Nia over at lifeandco. I came across a photo on Instagram for it and decided I may as well stay busy and take part in another swap but also its fun to be creative. I don't know about your part of the world but in mine, Valentine's Day is for lovers rather then friends and family. All the cards and items sold are so mushy as well as inappropriate to send to people you don't know so I tried to make as much of everything that I could. For my parcel I had to create or buy 5 items, wrap them up and send them on there way to .... Australia where my partner lives. I have to admit due to the distance and the postage I decided to stay light with this one but I hope my items were still nice and liked by my partner.

I had to firstly of course make some lucky stars with hearts on as they are meant to represent love so I may as well  use them for once for their purpose.

The only thing I came across in the card shop that was neutral enough for me to buy. I did almost buy some chocolates but Australia is so strict with their rules that I didn't want to risk my whole package disappearing. In reality though you get such a small amount of chocolate for such an expensive price.

What all snail mailers need! Handmade stationery to write on and some washi/deco tape.

Of course the tape didn't stop there as I sent this one too...

with all my love... a lovely way to seal your envelopes!

and many pieces of love! Someone sent me a plain white jig-saw many years ago. Its been waiting around for me to do something with it and now was the perfect time to have fun with it. Its filled with words of love and friendship.

Spread the love around the world even though this is my A-Z of Bradford that I used.

I finished it off with all 'love' themed stamps in so many different ways... partners, friendship, mother and daughter and any other way you want to interpret it.

 

Now on to my partners

I received a garland which I love, cookie cutters which hopefully my niece and I will be able to use, due to my partner not bubble wrapping them they are a little squashed out of shape, some jokes, a craft project and a postcard.  I also receive a handmade card.

She spoilt me with many stamps.

I just love putting things together like this and the scavenger hunt as it gets my brain working. I also surprise myself in the idea that come up with even though I can't always get them quite how I imagined like with the jig-saw (I imagined it to be completely different to how it ended up).

Project: Secret Penpal Scavenger Hunt

This time last year I signed up for the Secret Penpal Scavenger Hunt. I had to wait patiently for my partner and when it was all done and dusted this is what it looked like... here...! It is organised by the lovely Fab over at Wreck This Journal

 

I loved putting my package together last year that I wondered if there would be another as I needed a challenge. I was happy to then go on Instagram and see the logo for a photo and a discussion going on about it. It started a couple of weeks earlier this year compared to last year but I preferred it as I could make a small start in my holidays. Saying that though it was in my February holidays last year but I waited until the last minute to do it all.

I managed to get all my items together but then lost my steam when it came to packaging them all as I wanted to do something different but with being back at work and starting another cleanse I didn't feel at all motivated but I'm happy with the way everything turned out in the end and I hope that you like looking through what I came up with.

I sent to the lovely elkedagechtepost

City Explorers Kit

As I mentioned the sign up for this swap came at the right time as I had holidays and had started collecting bits and pieces that I thought I may need. Its a good thing I did as I was happy to see the city explorers kit. I've included receipts from various shopping sprees, the one I actually needed to take part in the survey I had thrown away as I didn't want my partner knowing how much I spent on all her goodies... it wouldn't be nice. There are bus and parking tickets, the various lottery tickets that were next to me when paying for a phone top up, some jelly beans and the postcards. I couldn't pick up bits and pieces off the street as even though we haven't had snow this winter we have had far too much rain so my partner would have been disgusted by the soggy mess I would have picked up. Hopefully she can use these things in a collage or journal. I wore my shoe out exploring so much that I never noticed I'd lost the bottom of my heal and had to go out and buy some more shoes.

Something Quirky

I just loved the little ornaments in the shop I got this from and since we are likely to get snow in 3 seasons of the year there was nothing better then this quirky little snowman that can make an appearance at those times.

 



Something to Read

My first thoughts of course were books. I went to Waterstones and then to WHSmiths. I honestly could have come home with half of WHSmiths as they had many titles on sale for £1 that were all to my taste but nothing that felt right for my partner so I came away with nothing. Its just by chance that these came together and I love it.

 

Something Traditional

I write to a few ladies in Holland and we have often discussed 'high tea' so when I saw these items I just knew that I had to get them for this theme. When this range came out I absolutely loved it but I don't think I ever bought anything from it until now. Also you have a solider whose a must see when visiting London.

 

The Writing Kit

I handmade 3 envelopes, included 2/3 postcards, buttons, washi tape, stickers and a diddl pen that I bought but never used so has been sat on my desk and only appears in photos.

Something for You

Two of the requests were something gold and something glittery and this fits in perfectly.

Last of all

A little note and the packaging had to have these owls on as its something my secret person liked.

My partner was dragonflykeep, she didn't tell me what was for which theme so I've split it up as I've thought. I can only work out 4 of 6 themes. Here's what I received...
 

A little note and Something Traditional

Something Old Fashioned and A Mail Kit

Something For Me

Some Mini Gel Pens worth $4! My niece absolutely loves them and keeps asking me what will happen when they run out.

Thank you so much Fab for organising this swap!