Swaps, Swaps, & More Swaps

I love, love, love swaps, the good ones that is; every so often there is the "one bad apple" that really does spoil the whole bunch, girl--LOL!  Bad Apples show themselves two ways.  The first bad apple jumps in with both feet, quick to add her likes and dislikes, and then just when you think you are getting to know her, she disappears.  We call these gals "flakers".  You've spent hours or days even creating the special items you are sure she will be delighted with.  You've shopped or found the "perfect items" she wanted--the envy of all her fellow shoppers.  And now what?

Your "hostess" is left in a "lurch"!  She either has to "angel" the flaker's spot, or adjust the recipients to exclude them.  Neither way is very fair, puts undo stress on the hostess, and leaves everyone with a bad taste in their mouth.

The other type of bad apple makes a mockery of your hard work.  Their goal is to get done using the least amount of effort possible.  One participant asked "just how long should a card take to make anyway?!"  This comment shocked me to say the least, as I know it did some of my fellow swappers.  One card can sometimes take all day or hours upon hours until it is "just right".  This is ART, people, not a quick sprint to the finish line.  You can only imagine the kind of shoddy workmanship you receive from the "sprinters"!

 

So, moral to the story, don't waste your time and effort unless you can be fairly sure of the outcome and the participants.  And more importantly, don't sign up if you aren't giving 110% effort.  Many of us ladies are like "elephants", we never forget and maintain that "flakers" list!

These are two items I made for a recent swap hosted by Martica, the true hostess with the "most est"!  And by no means am I trying to say my items are better than someone else' items......just sayin, hours of love and creativity go into everything that comes out of "Smart Art" creations!  In closing, I have a great quote from my favorite inspirational author, Maya Angelou, "You can't use up Creativity, the more you use, the more you have." 

HAPPY SCRAPPING, MY FRIENDS!