Magpie Journal U.S. - Summer 2017

I have done many of these and they are great fun. I am using a 6 X 8 journal. Hope that will be okay.

@cynaemon - that will be just perfect! Thank you for joining!

Is there an international version of this swap?

So, basically, you just glue stuff in the book you find interesting? Does it have to be glued. For example, if I find a nice postcard, I wouldn't want to glue that and ruin it for my partner. Just wondering. Very interested in this swap.

@lilmissme84 yes there is!

@Dessie0416 yes, you can attach things in other ways, too. Not everything has to be glued if it's something that the recipient could use!

HINT for both of my partners.....I for one prefer my journal to be more of an art journal rather then full of writing / journaling. I've done swaps were it's mostly writing and to be honest I have yet to read any I've gotten. I keep them an tell myself I will but never do more then flip through and look at the pictures or what-not but that's all. I know that's not nice of me but since I'm being honest here I'll tell you why I don't get to it. A few years back I had an accident that greatly impaired my ability to move or stand. So I can no longer work and don't get out much beyond going to doctor visits. I miss working and just really living a full life. So in short reading about other peoples lives and what they are doing depresses me. Hench the avoiding reading the journals. Which is also why I no longer write in journals myself. Because these days I don't have a lot to write about.

Anyway this is why the journal I'm making for my partner will be artistic rather then writing. And I hope the partner that sends to me does mine as more of an art journal.

I've already started on the one I'm sending out. Working in it makes me happy so I'm having fun with it.

Lisa

@LunaMoody - That's wonderful but be aware that this is NOT partner specific, so your partner may well have already begun their journal. And this isn't an art journal swap, so there's no requirement for artistic ability. This is more of a glue journal/junk journal/found item journal/smashbook type of swap. Thanks so much!

Hi... I'm excited about making a magpie journal!!! My question though is when you say 30 entries, do you mean 30 items? Surely you don't mean 30 pages. Please clarify. Thanks!

I am pretty sure she means 30 pages. but does that mean a two page 30 page spread? 30 pages isn't too far fetched for a journal swap.

When I've asked the host, she has said this is basically 'anything goes' and based on her description, I don't see why 30 pages would be terribly difficult - I don't get the impression this is an art journal. I guess I don't see how "30 entries" and "30 pages" would be that different.?

I have been making my own journals late :). @chelle523 Would ok to make my own journal from start and continue with per instructions of this. I love make all sort of journals? Just wanted to know if a purchased journal is a requirement? Sincerely Ganell

@Ramya - 30 items can be 30 entries. You don't have to fill an entire page. But definitely, the more the better. I wouldn't want to get a journal with just 30 postage stamps or stickers stuck in it, if that makes sense.

@USAFwife - you're right - this is kind of an "anything goes" swap.

@AZmom875 30 pages = single pages. Not double spread. :)

@Ganell - that would be absolutely fine!

Ladies - I am leaving this kind of open-ended to give you license to get crazy with it! Just make something interesting - something you'd like to receive. And make sure it's clean and not stinky! It should be a sort of window into everyday life - the mundane stuff, the quirky stuff, the stuff you collect for whatever reason - have fun with it! <3

I can never stop at the minimum entries. :)

@lawchick - me neither. I usually challenge myself to fill the whole thing. Lol

My Tracking Number: 9400109699939098643004

I mailed mine. I am hoping the person likes mine if not I am sorry. This was my first magpie journal. Please go easy on me and just private message me. I have tracking info.

I just wanted to say that I LOVED making this journal! This is my first time making a journal of any kind, especially one like this but it's perfect for me because I have so many little pieces of paper, pictures, stickers, etc that I have saved and now I have a use for them! I am packing up the finished journal now so I can send it to my partner and I hope she enjoys it! I went over the 30 page minimum because I kept finding more and more things I wanted to add!! Anyway...I loved this swap. It was a great idea and so much fun :)

I am having so much fun. I have about 20 entries so far. Great Swap!

This was a blast!!!

@thatsjustpenny - I am sure it will be fine. I purposefully leave the requirements very loose because I don't want there to be a lot of pressure. I just want it to be fun! :)

@Jsereg001 - Oh, I"m so glad!!! That's exactly why I love this swap - it's just fun and easy and it puts all those little bits of goodies that I save to good use! Thanks for joining!

@jkendall0023 - Thank you - I'm so glad you're having fun!

@Ramya - I'm so glad you had fun with it!

My journal is going to be a little late! I will let my partner know.

@Ganell - Yes, please be sure to let your partner know. Thanks!

I am so confused on this swap. I thought it was supposed to be something for ourselves? I received a journal that was filled with daily entries of what my person had to eat that day or different events in their life. Was this supposed to be a diary type thing? I was really hoping to have a summer journal that I could fill at the end of the summer with things about my life. So, do I need to redo the journal that I made for my partner? I made one that she could use for herself,filled with things she would like. And, what do you all do with the journals that are all about someone else? Are we supposed to send them back to them? I am really disappointed.

I am really sorry you are disappointed VIckimac. I will be happy to send you something which will be more to your liking. If you just want a blank journal that you can fill yourself, that will be find. I obviously interpreted this differently than you did. I like to read about what other people are doing. That is why I have penpals. Just let me know what you want. Thanks, Cynaemon

Cynaemon, I didn't want to hurt your feelings, I really was asking for others input because I've been in the other magpie swaps and didn't get a diary type thing and I just really need to know if this is what I was supposed to send to my partner because this is not what I made for her. I figured I'd get a journal more magpie style with things I could use, not a blank journal but a book filled with ephemera, tickets, art work , things I might like, etc. I realize this isn't a profile based swap but I was just really confused by what I received.

@Vickimac - this was never intended to be something for the recipient to use afterward, and it's not stated that it needs to be. It's more like a gluebook/junk journal/smashbook for people to record things they've done/found over the last few months - just interesting bits of paper. I deliberately leave this open to wide interpretation so that people won't stress and feel like they have to send their partner some artistic masterpiece.

As long as you or your partner has sent a journal with 30 entries/items, the requirements have been fulfilled, and as long as it was on time, the recipient should get a "5" rating.

"Similarly, people are called "magpies" who collect things, particularly things that seem to have little value. So, for this journal, you're going to collect various items and paste them in a small journal. Try to include things that have visual interest or meaning. Feel free to add a note here or there to explain why you included something if you'd like. Doodles and other decorations are likewise encouraged but not required. If you'd like an extra challenge, see how much of the journal you can fill within the deadline!

Basically anything goes - just make sure you have 30 entries and nothing dirty, smelly or sticky! I've included photos of my own Magpie journal for inspiration as the official swap photo, but if you have any questions about the swap or requirements, feel free to ask!"

Hi, Vicki, You didn't hurt my feelings. I was just really sad about your disappointment. I think you are a great swapper, and I am glad we have worked all of this out. Best Wishes always. Cynaemon

I haven't gotten mine yet? The partner I mailed mine to is the person who sends me one right?

Ok nope it isn't. Ok so who is supposed to mail me one?

I never got mine either and the person has since had their account deleted.... sigh