brenda21

Hi Kathy,
The swap is a lot of fun and there are great ways to put together your box. Not sure if Canada has a Michaels or not, but, if they do, Michaels has dollar isles with great goodies and they change them up all the time. Stuff like notecards, pens, journals, picture frames, emery boards, buttons, little seasonal items, etc. Walmart is always good for pins, needles, buttons, etc. Walmart also has the section near the pharmacy with travel size items that are usually only a dollar-hand sanitizer, tissues, etc. You can find neat stuff at garage sales, second hand stores, dollar stores, etc. Then there is the your own stash if you have the fabric color the person likes, etc. or if you have patterns or quilt books that you are finished with, pass them on! Some people also will send items that they may have previously received but know that they won't use, so they can send to someone else who will. People also make things and it doesn't have to be something quilted. People make jewelry, scarves, book marks, hand totes/bags, knitted or crocheted items, etc. You can also buy something large and split it up among your pals. For instance, if you purchase a more expensive type of tea than usual that costs $12 or $15, you just put three or four of the tea bags in each persons package, not the whole container all to one person. I have also found some great deals here on the board from members who are selling fabrics or patterns or books very inexpensively...I stock up on them throughout the year...I think that many of us do that and have a "stash" that we just add to when we find something, especially on sale! haha...the swappers on here are a great group and appreciate just about anything you do for them....it's all to have fun and get a surprise in your mailbox! Hope you join us