A Taste of Home Gift Swap

Hey everyone! I haven't done a gift swap in a while as a host or a swapper, I usually do a mug swap but I think I'll host that later in the year as I have a lovely swap idea that I think will be a great pick me up for these summer months which have felt a little more autumnal than I expected: A Taste of Home Gift Swap!

All you have to do is sign up by mailing me: cupcakemumma(at)yahoo.co.uk or tweeting me (@cupcakemumma11) or leave a comment and I'll pop your name down. Make sure I have your email and in a weeks time I'll ping you a swap partner! All gifts should be posted by October 10th 2015. I'll do direct swaps because I like that people can get to know each other and you can discuss any allergies which is always handy! This swap is UK only due to postage, if you are from abroad and I have someone willing to swap internationally I will of course happily pair you up but please don't be too disappointed if I can't find a suitable swap partner.

What's The Swap About?

Simply purchase, craft or do a bit of both with your home county in mind. For example, as I'm in Cornwall I'd have to send some postcards and something pasty related wouldn't I?! You can set a budget with your partner but in general I like the gift and postage to come to no more than £10 so its affordable for all. So, if you love your home county and want to share it with someone else, somewhere else, why not sign up to the Taste of Home Gift Swap?

Look forward to hearing from you!

Cupcake Mumma

*Note* Please only sign up if you intend to send a gift at the beginning of October. Too many times I have hosted swaps and have sadly had people not recieve anything. It's very disappointing! If you have any trouble, please do contact me!

Craft Swap ~ A-Z Challenge C

I'm late posting my challenge post today, I hope to be organised next week but life is hectic on school holidays and I'm still plodding along nicely so I'm not going to pressure myself! I want to share my latest swap gift which was from Gemma as part of Dainty & Ivory's #DICraftSwap. The theme was love which was so nice!

Here are the lovely gifts I received in my mail box last month (sorry for poor lighting and photo quality) :

And my partner turned out to be one of my rather wonderful penpals Sarah who blogs here. Here's the package I put together for her:

My Springtime Surprise Gift Swap

I had such a wonderful time joining in with Lucy's swap which was a huge spring time exchange between people from all over the place. For the first time ever my swap partner wasn't to be found on social media or blogging. I had a small amount of information and I really enjoyed just letting myself go for a spring themed box.

Here's what I sent to my swap partner:

My parcel was just beautiful, the photos are all below.

2 postcards for my collection

I adore this exercise book and gel pen- so me!

Postcard! Plus a glass candle holder

Cupcake cases that are wonderfully spring like and this fab sign that's in my room

Lovely cake wraps, flags and decorations

Thank you so much to Sarah and thank you to Lucy for running this rather big swap and cheering a lot of people up with happy mail this month!

Cupcake Mumma

#Dicraftswap Book Swap!

Julys theme for the Dainty and Ivory craft swap with Hannah was books! I love books. Novels, notepads, notebooks all kinds of books! My partner was Claire who took a lot of time and effort in thinking of the perfect swap gift for me. Here's all the beautiful goodies together:

I was sent this lovely notebook which has been hand decorated by Claire. Inside I can record all the books I read and leave some notes about them. I love this idea. Inside I had some pink note pages with envelopes to add to my collection.

Claire remembered I loved anything to do with the Second World War and sent me these reproduced items. A numbered ticket, junior ration booklet and Identity card.

I was sent this very sweet mouse which will be re homed with little trouble! She's so cute!

Here's what I sent to my partner:

I took the book swap quite literally and sent my partner a book I had finished reading. I like to pass books around and hopefully this one will be read and enjoyed. I made the cards myself, added a gratitude angel which I am loving making at the moment. I thought I'd a little vintage mirror with nail files for something special and some toffees, well, just because! I loved the woodland embellishments and felt they fitted the theme really well. I'm so pleased with both what I sent and what I received this month just like I have been since this project started! 

This month I'll be blogging about the Disney swap which has caused me no end of trouble! Buying was fine, making has been different!

Cupcake Mumma

Geek Swap! #dicraftswap

Last month over at Dainty and Ivory was Geek swap month. We were paired up and exchanged all the things that we get a bit geeky about! I get my geek on over Tudor history, stationery and books (to a name a few) my partner Sally described herself pretty much as being a bit geeky about sewing which I thought was quite a good thing to be geeky about!

I sent Sally (who blogs at Sally Bee Makes) a couple of fat quarters, one was a black lace type fabric and the other was a piece of oil cloth that I was sure Sally could make something with. I included some chocolates, a mini chalk board, some ribbon and some buttons that I thought were pretty funky.

I was sent a geeky gift from Jenny who blogs at Pretty Column (swaps aren't direct) I got a gorgeous notepad for my letter writing, beautiful, handmade Tudor rose bunting which is so unique I love it. I was also sent some stars for my card making and they are fab I love them. Jenny also put in a bookmark which I think is very Tudor like, so naturally I was really happy to receive that.

This month the theme is Books which I've just sent off. Next months is Disney which may be harder than we think! To sign up for swaps, head over to Dainty and Ivory and follow Hannah, you won't be disappointed.

Cupcake Mumma

Cupcake Mumma's Mug Swap Time!! (UK Only)

If you've followed from the beginning then you'll know Cupcake Mumma hosts a yearly Mug Swap and now it's time for 2014's! I absolutely love mugs and have quite a growing collection in my cupboard. My children seem to be picking up on my love and my daughter in particular adores adding to her collection as well. (We'll need new cupboards soon!)


If you fancy joining in with my Mug Swap, then all I ask is that you are absolutely sure you can commit to the swap. There is nothing more disappointing than sending off a swap to someone and getting nothing in return, not even an e-mail. So please, please only sign up if you are sure you can send by the deadline (no ones going to mind a bit of give or take though!)

If you'd like to join the swap, please mail me: cupcakemumma@yahoo.co.uk you can also leave me a comment with your e-mail address, which ever you prefer!

I'll be keeping the list of joining participants open until the 28th March, which means I will be able to spend the weekend partnering you all up before mailing you on March 31st with your swap partner's details! Unlike previous years, I will simply pair everyone up with just their name and e-mail address, you can then exchange likes/dislikes and addresses (It's hard work hosting a swap!)

Swaps should be made by 25th April (a nice after Easter gift) and feel free to add an extra something if you wish. As it's a mug swap, the only requirement to the swap is that there is an actual mug somewhere in the parcel, any extras are entirely up to you! If you blog, I'd love to see your mug swaps and will be placing a link up on my blog when my own post goes live, so do join in. Please note, you do not have to be a blogger at all, this swap is open to everyone as long as I have a way of contacting you, swap away!

I really hope you'll all enjoy my swap and fingers crossed it'll be as successful as the previous 2 years!

Cupcake Mumma

Happing Birthday Paddington Bear!

A few weeks ago we had a visitor in the Cupcake House. He was a very, very important visitor. He was none other than Paddington Bear.

Paddington came all the way from his more permanent home at Lucy's to stay here in Cornwall with Midge, Little A and myself. He had a great time and was sad to leave. I thought I'd share this today, on his birthday.

When Paddington arrived he was all wrapped up in his little blue coat and most excited to be shown around (which Midge saw to straight away) He came on the school runs with us for 3 days and hung out with Little A when Midge wasn't around. (He wasn't too keen to hang out with the pupils at primary and I can't say I blame him)

Paddington proved pretty useful during his stay by entertaining the children, helping with the baking and even with my blogging! Here he is helping with the Walkers Crisps review:

 He said they were okay, but not his favourite...He also met other members of the Cupcake Family too. Namely our adorable pet hamster Crunchie. Paddington wasn't too fond of Crunchie because his nose may have been sought after for nibbling..

 Of course when the children went to bed it was just Paddington and myself. What did we do? We indulged in marmalade sandwiches *Yum Yum*

Greedy Old Bear

We were sad to see Paddington go home but he had a very important job to do in keeping an eye on the mug I was sending to Lucy. I'm told he didn't eat too much of the Cornish fudge and had a pleasant trip. Thank-you Lucy and Harry for letting Paddington stay with us for a week. If you'd like to look after Paddington,

Cupcake Mumma 

UK Mug Swap 2013!

If you were a follower of my blog last year then you may have seen a gift swap I set up. I've been going to and fro with my decisions on hosting another swap but after a quick Twitter check it seems another mug swap would be just the thing to cheer up some peoples month.

So, if you like mugs, have a collection you enjoy adding to or maybe you have had a clear out recently and fancy adding some new ones to your cupboard, you may be interested in my 2013 Mug Swap.

If you fancy taking part there's only one thing I ask of you:

*That if at any time you feel you cannot complete your swap you kindly let me know so your swap partner doesn't miss out on a great swapping opportunity. Either myself or one of my fab blogging friends will come through for you and take over your swap. Please don't worry If you have to pull out, things happen, that's life.*

Mugs can be handmade if you're super talented, they can be ordered online, from local stores or heck, even my local pound store have wonderful looking mugs. If you would like to, adding little extras is absolutely fine but not a requirement. Last year I received a fabulous mug and some extra goodies and I sent out tea bags to go with my theme, the only required item in this swap is well, the mug!

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in then do email me at cupcakemumma at yahoo.co.uk. You can also DM me on Twitter where you'll find me as @Cupcakemumma11

Ill need your name, your blog URL so your swap partner can do a bit of stalking (in the best possible way honest!) your postal address and mail address for your partner if you wish to chat and i'll mail you all the first week of May the details of your swap partner. If all mugs could be exchanged by the end of May that would be fab but make sure you keep in contact with your partner to let them know if you'll be late posting.

I'll post a linky so we can all share the Mug Love at the beginning of June!

Happy Swapping!

CupcakeMumma

My Wonderful Spring Swap

I recently took part in a spring swap hosted by the lovely Joy from Welcome to Daisy Row (it's a lovely blog, do check it out) As most of you will know by now I love a good gift swap so I got my friend Kat to pop my name in the comments whilst I was away from the laptop (so desperate I was to not miss it!)

I was partnered with Margaret  who blogs here and is such a nice lady. We exchanged a few emails, got a general idea of each others tastes and then all went quiet as we made (or bought in my case as I have been so busy studying anything crafty has escaped me- sorry Margaret!) our parcels for each other.

My parcel arrived on Friday in a butter tub (which was a requirement in the swap) wrapped inside a really rather nice pink bag (which Midge and I are already fighting over!)

I had some chocolate Easter bunnies and a couple of cute little fluffy chicks just to add to the whole theme of the swap. The children swooped on the bunnies very quickly, even Husband had a fight on his hands!

I received the most perfect cupcake bag which I have already used today to post my parcels and visit the library (so it works very well!) How perfect is this bag though seriously? I adore it. I only just noticed that Margret has sewn an angel into it too which is so thoughtful, I love angels and fairies.

Margaret had also made me a small bag which will be used for all my essentials in my bedroom (I don't want it to get ruined by putting mascara in it. I might store my nail polishes in there?) I also had 4 fabric coasters made for me which again are pink and cupcake themed. Happy CupcakeMumma.

Thank-you so much Margaret for these truly lovely and thoughtful gifts. Thank-you also to Joy for hosting the Spring Swap. I hadn't participated in one for a while so I'm pleased to have got back into them.

CupcakeMumma

The 2012 Handmade Winter Craft Swap!

Here is the second craft swap I've participated in this winter. It took me a long time to make something for my swap partner Tamsin. I just wasn't sure what to make. Unfortunately this made me a bit late for posting but luckily Tamsin was in the same boat so I didn't feel too bad!

I made Tamsin a simple Christmas card then started making her a lovely cushion to pop on a chair or on her sofa/bed. I like cushions so I can't help but make them for others too.

I purchased this very festive yet not 'in your face festive' fabric online and sewed it by hand (damn sewing machine) resembling a Christmas present. I used ribbon and a charm to finish off the cushion as I felt it was 'missing' something. I used some tinsel to give it a bit of festive cheer!

Tamsin sent me some lovely items including this very well made fabric bag. As I collect notebooks, Tamsin thought I could use it to store them all in which I think is a superb idea. At the moment though I've been using it as my daughters' ballet uniform bag! The uniform is light and needs to be kept clean so this bag is ideal. Besides, I get to show it off by taking it outside!

Tamsin also made me this gorgeous heart and twine card hanger- perfect for this year! There are a few cards already up and I'm sure more to follow! The thing I really love about this make is the lovely wooden hearts and animals stuck to craft pegs. So cute and unique.

I really enjoyed this swap and hope Tamsin liked her gifts as much as I like mine.

CupcakeMumma

Popular Crafts Letter Swap

I recently took part in a few swaps with 2 still on going. The first swap I took part in was a Letter Swap with the craft magazine Popular Crafts.

I really wanted to think outside of the box with this swap so it took me a while to think of something good enough to send my partner.

Eventually I had a brainwave and reused an old box to pop in some lovely note paper with matching envelopes, a handful of pencils and a nice new pen to write with. I also used some scrap fabric, ribbon and some fabric paint to make a cute heart with an 'S' on for my partner Samantha. To go with this letter theme, I purchased a lovely ring from Claire of Claireabellemakes

I really hope Samantha liked her gifts. I personally love writing letters and feel its a dying art so I like to encourage it where possible.

Now to show you what Samantha made for me!

I got this adorable pink bunny wrapped in some tissue paper. I love the colour pink and love cute little crafts like this. I've hung her up on the bunting in my front room.

Samantha also made me this lovely purse with a crochet flower and the letter 'H' pinned to the front. I've been using this to carry my vouchers and stamps so my purse isn't full of random bits and pieces!

Thank you to Samantha for my wonderful gifts and thanks again to Popular crafts for another Craft Swap. I hope I can join in some more next year.

CupcakeMumma