ME AND MY TEDDY BEAR

I thought this would be a fun swap and different from the norm.

This is round one. We will make this a three round swap, so that everyone's teddy bear can have a fabulous holiday.

After the third round, please send whichever teddy bear you have, home with all it's photos, outfits, letters, journal entries, etc.

IF there is sufficient interest, I am happy to set up further swaps for our teddies after they have all returned home safely and had a good sleep!

Please read ALL of the requirement for this swap, as there is quite a lot to take in. Actually, I can see me ending up prinitng out a copy of it so I can keep track of what each visiting teddy needs.

You will make a paper doll type teddy bear and send him (or her) with one outfit of your choosing, and a short introduction maybe outlining it's allergies, favourite hobbies, ambitions (be creative) to your partner. You will need to send the teddy bear in a lightweight card folder, or a roomy envelope with room for extra outfits etc that will be collected on it's holiday.

IMPORTANT You'll need to have your home address somewhere on or in the folder so that teddy can come home after his or her exciting and adventurous holiday.

Once you receive the paper teddy bear, please take it on a few outings and take photos of it enjoying it's holiday with you. You will need to make a few outfits to suit the occasion - we can't have teddy going to the movies in pyjamas or sleeping in it's best dress! Get the idea?

Perhaps you could take it out to dinner, or hiking at your local park/beach/public gardens. Maybe it should visit your local museum, or meet your Great Aunt Martha. Will the teddy bear chat with a Police Officer or kiss a Doctor? The ideas for photo opportunities are endless.

Please have the teddy bear keep a short journal of activities enjoyed while holidaying with you.

You will need to make the teddy bear at least one outfit to suit your outings - swimsuit for the pool, smart casual for a restaurant, etc.

Take the teddy bear on at least three outings while it is visiting you, with at least one photo per outing. Don't forget the journal entries.

Please send each teddy bear on to it's next holiday destination with at least one little souvenir. It could be a toothpick flag, a postcard, a souvenir sticker, a pretty button. No restrictions on what the souvenir is, but think of what you hope your teddy bear might might come home with.

Now to keep postage as low as possible, please only use flat items for the outfits (paper is fine) and feel free to photocopy photos onto normal paper - colour copy please. The teddy bear needs to be somewhat sturdy to last the distance, so you might use light card, or cover it with contact paper (self adhesive paper).

Here is a pattern of a teddy and a selection of outfits that I found. You don't have to use this one, it might be a bouncing board for your creativity, but feel free to use it if you like. Please copy and paste http://www.colorcutandcreate.com/printables/pd_teddybear.pdf

If anyone would like me to do an international version, please let me know. But remember you will need to commit to the full three rounds and postage can be costly.

Now the necessary bits:

. No unexplained low ratings please.

. If you can't commit to the time required and the various elements of this swap, please don't join. I don't like my swappers to be disappointed.

. Please have fun and don't take it all too seriously. You know, no picky business about wonky cutouts, boring photos, lack of artistic creativity, blah blah blah. Drama is a genre for movies, not a forum on swapping fun.

. I usually open all my swaps to unrated newbies, but this one is time consuming and has several elements to it, so maybe next time. I'm open to private swaps to help you get ratings.

Any questions, comments, suggestions, etc - please let me know.

I am hosting a similar international version (reptile instead of teddy bear) but it only has one round. So any overseas swappers reading this, you haven't been left out.

Last but not least: Please invite friends, members in your various groups, etc to join. The more the merrier.