![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Swap-bot Swaps
Feb. 16th, 2025 08:01 pmIf you've never heard of Swap-bot.com , you aren't alone. It's a Ye Olde Anciente Website done in Markup forever ago... and it shows. It's long been abandoned by the creators although it's paid for every month via all the ads that pop up. Usually on my phone, since adblockers are necessary for internet security these days. I really wish SB had like, a CashApp or something I could just toss $5 to now and then. But it is what it is.
Swap-Bot allows people to send each other postcards, penpal letters, happy mail, any kind of art or book swaps, etc. I mostly do stickers, washi tape, and small paper or collage supply swaps. I used to do ATCs, sketches, scavenger hunts, and all sorts of things. It's a great way to use up the craft supplies you have *for a purpose* and meet people who share some of your same hobbies. It's also a great excuse to try new things in small, manageable amounts. Break out those pens + pencils and make a sketch the size of a business card! Paint some cardstock you hate. Decorate it. Cut it to under a certain size. Now it's a postcard! Try out those new stamps and stencils. Be silly. Have no "point," make mistakes, get messy!
I have a Livejournal where I host information about swaps and etiquette, post about my own upcoming swaps, announce winners, etc. I used to do Blogspot but Spectrum, one of the largest ISPs here in the South, decided to start blocking google-owned Blogspot as a 'security risk' and people would have to configure their security settings to be allowed access. Ridiculous but okay. So I switched to Livejournal. It's very easy.
Slowly, I would like to start populating a Dreamwidth group as well (![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
swapbot_notes ) which could also have it's own circle. Anyone who has a name on Swap-bot already is welcome to join. Once I have enough members, probably 20+, I can start doing the Fun Things in the group such as host bonus swaps, surprise gift swaps, things like that.
In the meantime, if you'd like to join Swap-bot.com, be sure to read the rules, check the Help! section, learn to spot bots, and meet some new people.
I also run a group to help new people get into starter swaps. All a group member has to do is read the rules listed in each individual swap before joining. I curate the group once every few months to ensure that members still adhere to group requirements (like no bad ratings recently, "double profiles" where people sign up twice to get more stuff, things like that.)
Last year, I often ran a full rack of 20 swaps at a time. This is 20 swaps across 3-4 groups plus my public swaps, so I pretty much had things scheduled every few days. I haven't been able to do that this year but I hope to get back to it.
Swap-Bot allows people to send each other postcards, penpal letters, happy mail, any kind of art or book swaps, etc. I mostly do stickers, washi tape, and small paper or collage supply swaps. I used to do ATCs, sketches, scavenger hunts, and all sorts of things. It's a great way to use up the craft supplies you have *for a purpose* and meet people who share some of your same hobbies. It's also a great excuse to try new things in small, manageable amounts. Break out those pens + pencils and make a sketch the size of a business card! Paint some cardstock you hate. Decorate it. Cut it to under a certain size. Now it's a postcard! Try out those new stamps and stencils. Be silly. Have no "point," make mistakes, get messy!
I have a Livejournal where I host information about swaps and etiquette, post about my own upcoming swaps, announce winners, etc. I used to do Blogspot but Spectrum, one of the largest ISPs here in the South, decided to start blocking google-owned Blogspot as a 'security risk' and people would have to configure their security settings to be allowed access. Ridiculous but okay. So I switched to Livejournal. It's very easy.Slowly, I would like to start populating a Dreamwidth group as well (
swapbot_notes ) which could also have it's own circle. Anyone who has a name on Swap-bot already is welcome to join. Once I have enough members, probably 20+, I can start doing the Fun Things in the group such as host bonus swaps, surprise gift swaps, things like that.In the meantime, if you'd like to join Swap-bot.com, be sure to read the rules, check the Help! section, learn to spot bots, and meet some new people.
I also run a group to help new people get into starter swaps. All a group member has to do is read the rules listed in each individual swap before joining. I curate the group once every few months to ensure that members still adhere to group requirements (like no bad ratings recently, "double profiles" where people sign up twice to get more stuff, things like that.)
Last year, I often ran a full rack of 20 swaps at a time. This is 20 swaps across 3-4 groups plus my public swaps, so I pretty much had things scheduled every few days. I haven't been able to do that this year but I hope to get back to it.
