As I continue to pack up our Christmas decor I’m trying to be more intentional about what I want to see when I open up all those Rubbermaid bins next year.
I’m embarrassed to admit that half of the 8 bins that I have are still full of stuff that we didn’t even use. I’m going to label those as unused stuff and also start a bin for a Christmas Swap for next Novemberish. My sister went to a Christmas Swap where everyone took stuff they don’t use anymore and brought something home that they loved. It’s basically the same concept of a Swap Meet but it’s all Christmas stuff. You know garland you didn’t use, wreaths, lights, wrapping paper, Christmas dishes.
I’m hoping someone out there will invite me to a Christmas swap so I can make sure some of my hard to part with pretties will go to homes where they will be loved. I’ve got a few things that I’ll donate to the Goodwill and some other junk that I’m not ready to part with yet. I’ll make sure to pack the swap box near the front of the decorations so I can grab it quick at the beginning of the season next year.
Have you ever gone to a Christmas Swap? Would you go to one? Will you have one and invite me to your swap so that I can just show up?
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I would LOVE to go to one! I’d love to go to a regular one, not just Christmas, although either would be nice. I’ll host, if you’ll show up…. lol. That’s a long drive, though!
No I haven’t, but I remember reading Emily’s post about it and thought it sounded like a fantastic idea! Maybe I’ll host one next November, too! Of course, you’d be invited! :)
Never heard of this before but sounds like a great idea. If I can remember I will host one next year!
A Christmas swap sounds like such a lovely idea! Maybe I should organize one for next year. I know I have loads of things that I don’t use anymore!
What a great idea! If I had an invite, I would be there in a second!!
I have so much extra Christmas stuff– I’m like you, tubs of things I don’t even bother to unpack. I am taking all of my decorations down this afternoon, and I plan on doing some purging. BUT heck yes! If you lived anywhere near me, I would love to do a Christmas swap next fall. Maybe I need to plant that idea in some of my friends’ brains in a few months.
What a terrific idea! Gonna have to remember this for next year. Maybe I can talk it up among my friends. If so, I’ll let you know and you’re ALL welcome to come! ; )
Nester,
I am always so proud for you…your transparency and sharing continues to delight us all as you walk this walk with us….thank you for sharing you! I cannot pass our friend in MS without thinking of you as I go through the aisles of his goods….we will make it there together one day!!
hugs
S
I like the idea of a Christmas swap. When I pack up my decorations this year, I’m going to make a box for swap items. And then maybe I’ll organize a swap next year!
i am so excited to be down to one – yes, ONE- bin of Christmas stuff! I think a swap meet of any kind sounds fun, but a Christmas one really great because I really like my home to not look exactly the same each year at this season.
What a great idea! I need to remember that for next year. I think we all have a box or three of stuff we once loved but now never use.
What a great idea! I would love to go to a Christmas swap! I need to keep this in mind when putting away my decor this year. I still have a couple of 1/2 full bins in the garage with decor that I do not put up, though part of that is because our house is too small and I keep it hoping that one day I will have a bigger house!
What a great idea …. I opened boxes and used way less than previously. Then when I took everything down, I packed it in with the all the unused stuff and stored. Your idea is much better.
Just went to a Christmas swap at my MIL’s house. She had all the women on her side of the family over for breakfast, we played games and then we “shopped”. It was a great time for us to just all be together. I scored an item from my MIL that meant the world to my husband when he was a kid and my MIL didn’t even know it meant that much to him. :) He was so excited when I brought it home even though I think it is not my style , I can’t wait to hang it up next year to see the joy in his eyes.
I am planning on having a wrapping paper swap here in a few weeks. What a great idea to include other non-used items. I too wondered what I should do with these things.
A Christmas swap sounds awesome and I would definitely attend one! I actually took all my Christmas stuff down last night and got rid of tons of stuff and actually put some stuff in a bin for a swap meet that I hope to have in March or April. Never thought of hosting just a Christmas swap. Thanks for the idea!
I would love to go to a Christmas Swap. It’s an idea I may implement with our homeschool group next year.
What a great idea! I’m going to put that on my July calendar page as a reminder to start thinking about it then. I have the same thing happening here… boxes of goodies I’m not so enthusiastic about anymore but that someone else might be. Judging by your comments so far, I’ll bet any one of us could create our own fun “swap meet”. Thanks Nester!
Super great idea!
It’s such a great idea. I would particularly like being in a swap with YOU!
It’s an interesting concept. I’d have one but if you came you’d have to come to Kansas.
Melinda
I would love to do this also, I never seem to use all my stuff but hate to send it to the thrift stores.
I would invite you to a Christmas swap! I think that’s a great idea! I have some of my Rubbermaid bins that still have stuff in them {and there is at least one I never found} and I really want to organize them and label what is in them. I’d really like to put all my snowmen in one, Santa’s in another, ornaments, etc. Some things I can donate, because there is no emotional attachment to them, and some things I just wasn’t feeling this year.
I’d gladly come to one at your house. Or if God miraculously blesses me with my dream house, or at least a different house, by next Christmas I’ll have one and invite you.
I would most definately go to a Christmas Swap. I will have to check to see if there is one in my area – MS.
I would also invite you if you were close enough.
I have not heard of a Christmas decor’ swap before but it sounds like a wonderful idea. I hope you find one. I threw a lot out this year as well.
Happy New Year! ~Melissa :)
This year I asked my girlfriends to bring Christmas decorations that they no longer wanted or needed to our cookie exchange. I didn’t have any sort of plan, but we ended up putting things out on the coffee table and just took whatever–at first no one took anything because everyone was being too polite! I ended up getting a beautiful metal star ornament and a container (unopened!) of small cream and gold ornaments.
Love this idea! Maybe we will do it on http://www.seekthetriad.com next November!
MJ
I missed your summer swap and your garage sale, so that sounds like a grand idea – I’ll even offer up my house for it. However, I reserve the right to freak out and back out the closer it gets to swap time! I’m so not an entertainer of any sort. Speaking of Christmas decorations, I haven’t properly thanked you for adding my house to your highlights Tumblr tour. I knew something was up the first day because my page hits went through the roof. What fun that was! And you’re welcome to come see my house, imperfect as it is, anytime you’d like.
What a fun idea. My wheels are spinning. Thanks for the suggestion. ;)
XO*Tricia
I give first dibs of my unwanteds to my two adult, single daughters. After they choose what they want, the rest of the unwanteds go to the curb. Merry Christmas to the curb surfers!
I’d love to go to/have either or both of those swaps! I think I’ll borrow your idea when I put my decorations away. I think Oct. would be a good time because Nov. gets busy & some are already putting out theirs or planning/buying what they will use. We always go away for Thanksgiving, & I think next year I really am going to decorate for Christmas before I go so I don’t feel rushed when I get back. Love your idea!
What a great idea!! I think I’ll do that, too! Maybe I’ll host one! I live in TN, though, so you probably wouldn’t want to drive that far!!
Never been to any kind of swap except the world’s best–at your house. When would you do a Christmas swap, though? Best to do one now, when we’re all putting things away, or in the fall, when we’re all getting things out again?
I’d go to one, no doubt about it. I’d host one, too. But when?
Excuse me while I go eat some more peppermint bark and ponder this.
I’ve never been to one, but I am certainly going to host one next year! That is a fantastic idea! My #1 item to donate to charity is holiday decor. I can’t wait!!
Great idea! Too bad shipping would be involved- us bloggy girls could have a great time!
I love the idea of doing a Christmas swap because I, too, have several boxes of things I’ve never used. Awesome idea. I’m sort of an organizer of events within my group, so this will totally happen. I hope!
I definitely have enough stuff to fill up my part of a Christmas swap, but instead I am packing up all our (nice!) unused Christmas items and boxing them to send over to the Middle East where my brother and his wife live. They are newlywed Christians (not military) who live there and it’s not too easy for them to get Christmas decorations. I thought sending over a nice assortment of items would be a great way for them to start their own Christmas decorating tradition! Shipping costs will keep me from sending more than about 1 bin full (will wait for the next person who flies over to take it), but it should still be plenty to begin with.
Rather than just swapping for more stuff to keep, what about intentionally finding a family who either 1) doesn’t have the luxury of many decorations for the holidays or 2) donating to a missionary family in a part of the world where decorations are not easy to come-by? I’m not sure of the logistics of that but I bet if everyone looks around their community or church congreation there are plenty of families who would be thrilled by some “new” holiday lovelies!
My friends and I are getting ready to have a “Holiday Swap Party”. In February we’ll all get together and bring all of our unwanted holiday items to trade with each other. We will include all holidays and occasions. Easter, Valentine’s Day, birthday party, 4th of July, you name the celebration and we’ll trade our decorations. My friends who is hosting the party sent out e-mails several months ago so we could all start to collect items that we want to get rid of. I have two large shopping bags full and ready to go.
Thank you for this awesome suggestion!!! I do have stuff I didn’t use this year… I will definitely cull through my goodies and set aside some to give away or swap. Brilliant, you are!!! And I would definitely love to attend or host a swap of any sort. I loved attending yours and meeting wonderful ladies in person!!! I think October does sound like a good time to have/attend a Christmas swap. Blessings!
What a fantastic idea!!!!! I’m going to have to jot that one down in the ol’ memory bank and apply it next Christmas!!!!
I keep daydreaming about hosting a swap. I had never even thought about a Christmas swap! I think I’m more inclined toward the run-of-the-mill swap. I fear my Christmas style is too different that that of most?
Oooh- I like this idea! :) I’d definitely attend one…I wouldn’t mind hosting either, but then I’d get all nervous about whether people would be mad if they ended up with junk and yell at me and then I’d have to find new, less crazy friends. ;)
I would LOVE this!!!! Tennessee anyone?
I’ll host if you all come to BC Canada. :) Never been to one but it sounds great!
My version of a local swap is to bring my stuff to a thrift and go find more to replace it. I figure I’m supporting a good cause either way. :)
Good idea! I’m ready to ditch all my fake garland I didn’t put up this year. And go shop for more vintagey type stuff! Thanks for the idea!
Donna
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
I was just setting aside a bunch of stuff today for this exact purpose next year. Wish we lived near each other! I’d invite you to mine!
I’d love to have or go to a Christmas swap. Do you live in or near VA? Ha. I did donate an artificial tree and ornaments to GW right after Thanksgiving – hoping some young college student might be looking for one. My girls used it while they were in college.
Sign me UP! I would love that!!!!
And I would totally help organize if you decided to do it online!
I am doing the EXACT same thing this year! I’m finding a lot of Christmas decorations that didn’t get taken out of the box because they didn’t fit me. I’m so glad that you mentioned this! It’s because of you that I’m doing this – I couldn’t believe you had your tree down so quickly! That is IMPRESSIVE girl! Would love to hear how you keep everything so neat, tidy and organized! Especially with three boys.
ok, so now I know what kind of party to have next year if I don’t get around to a cookie exchange (really wanted to do one of those this year but a conference in NOLA got in my way early december!). ANyway, thanks for the idea!
I have to say that I would go to one but it would be to give away stuff and not really take anything. I have enough. I would love to do a regular swap. We just moved and I have a huge stack going for a yardsale. You live too far or I would plan a swap with you and it would be fun.
Yes! I’m hosting one in just a couple of days. I polled my friends to see who was interested and most are…so all my extra Christmas cookies, spiced tea (mmmm) and candy canes will be our munchies while we scope out other people’s stuff for next year. And anything unclaimed gets donated to a worthy cause!
Yay for reusing!!
I would so do a Christmas swap. I had loads of decorations that I didn’t use this year. Of course, we move so often that what I can’t use in one house I sometimes can in the next. I have a hard time deciding what to part with.
A swap focused on Christmas is a great idea! But right now we’re working on a mid-winter “regular” one! Can’t wait!
Hey Nester! Merry Christmas to your family!!!
Please come to Minneapolis and take our tree down while we’re away. Thanks! hah.
What a great idea!
I LOVED your regular swap, and would LOVE the Christmas one as well!! Hope I get to go to one.
The swap is such a great idea. And I’m just like you…I have a lot of stuff that I didn’t even use this year. So it’s going to take me awhile to get organized!
I have been planning one since reading your sisters post. I like you even have a tote set aside of things I am done with. So if you think you can make it to Georgia next November let me know, we’ll have a blast.
I have never been to a swap, I would definitely go to one, have never even considered hosting one…until now! And of course I would invite you. Would driving to Virginia really be easier than hosting? For me driving to NC would probably be easier than hosting, so we’re on, you go ahead and host and I will drive down :)
Why don’t YOU hold the Christmas Swap you want to attend? I held a swap meet at my house, invited 12 friends, and served small cookies/brownies and coffee. Very easy, SO much fun! Just hold it. Then hold another for your jewelry. That’s the next one we’re going to do! See, everyone who comes gets to draw a number from a hat and you go in that order, letting each person pick one item at a time. Everyone gets the same number of chances to pick something as the number of items they brought (we limited it to 5), then it’s a free-for-all after that. The host then takes all the unwanted stuff to Goodwill. BTW, right now TONS of people are donating stuff to Goodwill to take advantage of the tax deduction – you might want to check your local one out for great stuff!
Sounds like a good idea and a fun way to have something new for the holidays without spending money!
Wow – I wanna come to the party! What a fabulous idea! Now the wheels are spinning…thanks for posting! Happy New Year!
I love that idea. I am going to mention it to a few people and maybe have a chili night/swap meet.
umm…YES & YES! if you had one I would love to drive up or if you were willing to drive to Gville, SC…we’d love to have you at one here! a friend is getting ready to host one {regular, not Christmas} in Jan/Feb and I can’t wait to go!
I have to admit, I didn’t use half of my decorations. I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with it all and I’m tiring of some of it. A Christmas swap sounds great. I recently saw the idea about swaps in a magazine. Better Homes and Gardens I think or Good Housekeeping. I want to throw that one out to my friends and see what they think. I am putting many things to the yard sale pile too.
My friend – forget about the Christmas swap, I’m counting on another fun decor one way before that :)
Ok if you are putting that so cute white furry wreath in your Christmas Swap box I will take it off of your hands right now! It was on my list of Christmas crafts but who was I kidding I had NO time to do Christmas crafts this year…
Good luck packing up…I’m starting today but I only have 3 boxes so not as dawnting as 8!
i think the swap is a good idea. I always pick out a few things I don’t think I will use again and goodwill it. This year I was determined to clean out my wrapping paper stash. I used up all the old half roles and so, next year I can pick all new paper! it’s the little things that bring me joy! ha ha!
Some ladies from church just organized the same kind of swap here. It sounds like a smart idea to me. Last year was the first year I was intentional about what decorations I kept and which ones I didn’t. Let’s just say I didn’t have much to open this year…that’s OK. It finally forced me to invest in some decent stuff. :)
It was so funny to read your post because YOU inspired me to have a Christmas Swap and it was fabulous!
I just modified your regular swap tutorial and decided it would be fun to have new decorations without spending any $$ this Christmas.
I posted about it here (along with my confession to being a big fan of yours)-
http://lettucebeglad.blogspot.com/2009/12/when-in-doubtswap-it-out.html
You absolutely need to do one next year!!!
Happy New Year-
Carolyn
I have participated in a clothing and purse swap but not a Christmas Swap. What a great idea! -Peyton
This sounds like a GREAT idea! Better than a cookie swap!
Sooo, if I have one, will you travel to Alaska to attend? =]
Do you not use ornaments etc. that are sentimental and have been handed down generation after generation? There is a lot of “junk” that I clean out each year but I can’t imagine not decorating my tree with things that were my grandmother’s or mother’s and remind me of my childhood. I have a tradition (that my mom also did with her children) of going and buying one special ornament for each child that reminds them of something that happened that year, then when they are married with their own tree I will give them the ornaments so they will have something special to fill their very first tree. ;) It is easy to change the colors of ribbons, bows, poinesttias, berries or other tree fillers to make it all work with the theme. =) Hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I just adore your blog, and if I lived closer I would go to a swap with ya. =)
Christmas swap–good idea. I’d also take a house swap, a wardrobe swap, a body swap and a kid swap. Not necessarily in that order. Oh–how about a brain swap? Mine is deteriorating, I think. Maybe it’s because I’m blogging at 1 in the AM and have to feed an infant in a few hours.
If I went to a swap, my stuff would all be in the box for the thrift store, sad, but true. I’m not good at giving away the good stuff–I want to keep it for myself! ;)
For the last two years I’ve been boxing up my Christmas decor that I don’t want anymore and taking it over to my neighbor’s home across the street. She is totally into Christmas decorations indoor and out. It’s fun to visit her and see my decor up in her home and not tossed into the garbage that Goodwill tends to do if seasonal items aren’t sold.
I just called her this morning to let her know I have my box ready for her and she mentioned that a friend of hers was expressing how she’d love to decorate more in her home but can’t afford it, so she’s going to share my box with her friend as a treat.
I hosted a decor swap this year as part of my Ladies Christmas Party. We brought items that could be used any season. Played a few goofy games and drew numbers to see who would choose their gift first. So fun! Oh, and had lots of yummy Christmas goodies to munch on, of course!
oooooh! (squeeling!) I love that idea. No, I’ve never been invited to one. My friends usually wait for me to come up with an idea LOL. But I’d go to one in a heart beat! I like what Tracy@Comfort and luxury (above) said… putting it on your JULY calendar so you’ll be preparing (and not forget!).
I was in a mail round robin once that was a hoot but the box got really, really big! The concept was, put in the box something , or somethingS, you’re going to get rid of, but it’s too nice to just pitch out with the morning trash. (Oh, you have to sign up for this one) and ship the box to the next person in line. They put something in, and take something out. It goes full circle, back to the starter person. One way to do it “virtually” LOL
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