2012 REAL Christmas Baby Swap!

So, this baby swap is going to be a bit different! Since my darling hubby tried to put a ban on more *baby swaps* because they’re a bit expensive … specially this time of year … I’m jumping off the deep end and limiting our choices to Bountiful Baby kits. This is in no way an attempt to promote their company over others; it’s simply a way to keep the costs as low as possible. There were some suggestions about opening it up to other places as long as the cost was below a certain amount, but I think it will be a bit simpler to organize and keep track of by just sticking with BB kits.

That being said ... when making the choices for your top 5 babies, the rules will be:
1. No kits over 24”
2. No kits that are not already in production
3. Only first quality kits (ie no seconds!)
4. No critters! (If you’d like to include a critter, try the person to person swap/trade forum! lol)

By joining this swap, you agree not to put the baby you receive in the swap on eBay or any other source that would profit you financially for the reborn you receive. You may, however, give it away or donate it to a charity of your choice if you simply cannot bond with the baby.

There will be a few check points along the way. Anybody who fails to submit information requested at each check point, may be removed from the swap. This is to ensure that everybody who signed up stays on task and will be able to ship their babies out on time. If anybody is removed from the swap for any reason, contingencies will be put into place to ensure their original recipients will get their baby on time.

We realize that life happens and things occur. If at any point during the swap, you have an emergency, contact me by email or phone as soon as possible so we can be aware of any problems that may arise as a result and take steps, if necessary, to assist you in getting your baby delivered on time.

You also agree to do the best you can in making your baby the very best you possibly can. Everybody who joins the swap must include two photos of a current baby they've completed recently. One of the full baby, and one close up that will show the hair/head … whether painted, rooted or left bald. You also acknowledge that not everybody is on the same skill level and should know that your baby has been made with a loving heart! I will, when possible, try to match skill levels as closely as possible.

This swap is really about the baby, and not the layette. Please try to limit your layette to the outfit your baby will arrive in and not more than two extra outfits. You may include a birth certificate, blanket, and any accessories you feel would complete your layette … such as bracelets, booties, hair bows, paci’s, etc.

All babies must be shipped between December 10th and December 14, 2012. You MUST send me via email only the tracking number of the package you send.

Box opening photos are highly encouraged and looked forward to by everyone!! If you’re not able to post pictures, you must post a public thank you in the forum Baby Swap when you receive your baby. If you submit box opening photos to the forum, your name will be entered into a raffle for a great prize package!

Check points are as follows:
*Sign ups begin August 6, 2012 and end August 19, 2012 at noon PDT.
*You'll receive your partner's information by August 22nd.
*First check point September 24th - kit choice
*Second check point October 22nd - first WIP photos
*Third check point November 5th - second WIP photos (failure to submit at this point will result in removal)
*Final check point November 28th - Completed baby pictures
*Shipping starts December 10th and ends December 14th! You MUST email tracking information to me. (International shipping dates will be December 1st to December 5th)

If, after reading and agreeing to all this you still want to join in the swap, email me the following questions and answers entirely filled out to sharonskidsandkritters@gmail.com and put REAL baby swap in the subject line. Don't forget to include the two pictures of a reborn you recently made.

Please be as detailed and specific with your answers as possible to give your partner the best chance of creating your dream baby!
 
*************
1. Forum name (this is your name on this forum)

2. Do you have a nursery name?

3. Complete shipping name and address/country (don't forget zip codes or postal codes/zones)

4. Phone number (some shipping companies require it)

5. Email address

6. Are you able to ship Internationally?

7. Are you able to meet all deadlines?(if an emergency arises, you MUST contact me immediately! Sharon’s contact information in case of an emergency … Sharon Richmond sharonskidsandkritters@gmail.com 916-645-2527)

8. Do you have problems emailing progress pictures to the event coordinators?

10. What are your top 5 sculpts, listed in your order of preference? Remember, under 24”, in production now, and no critters! (Please keep in mind this may not be the baby you get but every effort will be made to pick one of your top choices!)

11. As an artist, are there certain types of kits you love working on? Are there kits you avoid because you just can't bond with them?

12. Which do you prefer? Boys or girls?

13. Do you have a preference for your baby’s hair? Rooted, painted, left bald? If rooted or painted what color hair do you like?

14. Any size preference? (ex: 18,22 inches)

15. Sleeping or awake?

16. Open/Closed mouth – smiling, yawning, crying?

17. Skin tone

18. Other Likes/Dislikes (such as fairies, ethnic baby, freckles, milk spots, spit bubbles, birthmarks, scratches, etc...)

19. What is your favorite color?

20. When it comes to your baby’s layette do you like simple or foo-foo frilly? Do you like handmade items?

21. Do you have any allergies which would be affected by the baby you receive? Smoke, pets, etc.

22. Do you have pets in your nursery?

23. Are there any other allergens in your nursery which may affect your adoptive mom?

24. Do you smoke/does anyone smoke in your reborn nursery area?

25. Do you mind receiving a baby from a nursery where someone smokes?

26. How long have you been reborning? How many babies (approx) have you made?

27. Have you participated in a previous REAL baby swap? If you have let me know who you’ve received from and I’ll do my best to mix things up!

There are a lot of great kits that retail at $50 or under and its a shame not to be able to include those, IMO.

I tried to send my info to the email but i got a failure to send notice

I am in!!!

Hi sharon, I sent you an email and a pm because my photos wouldn't show up in the email. Let me know if you get them.

I sent the email and got back a message saying the address I entered could not be found.

Both email addesses should work now. It's funny that the one I tried was the 2nd one listed and it worked fine so I was ... hmmm ... wonder why it's not working??? Then I checked the first one you see and *duh* ... I left out a t in kritter.

Ah haaa!!! I just resent it!!! So excited.

Woo Hoo! I cannot wait!!!

Hi, I just found this forum today and I love this idea! I live in a tiny town pretty far from everything and known for it's gloom and rain so reborning has been a great hobby for me and one that thankfully has been paying for itself but I haven't had the chance to see many other's work, in fact I've only seen one other reborn doll in person. I sent an e-mail and am looking forward to being able to participate in this swap! (Plus my birthday is Dec 16th so it will be a double present!)

Kerri
https://www.facebook.com/AngelKissedBabies

AngelKissedBabies wrote:

Hi, I just found this forum today and I love this idea! I live in a tiny town pretty far from everything and known for it's gloom and rain so reborning has been a great hobby for me and one that thankfully has been paying for itself but I haven't had the chance to see many other's work, in fact I've only seen one other reborn doll in person. I sent an e-mail and am looking forward to being able to participate in this swap! (Plus my birthday is Dec 16th so it will be a double present!)

Kerri
https://www.facebook.com/AngelKissedBabies

Wow you live in Forks, WA. That's where Twilight is based. I bet you hear that all the time though ;)

lol Yes, I do hear the Twilight thing a lot! It's calming down now with the Hunger Games taking over though which is kind of nice... sometimes I miss the days when I said Forks and people thought I was talking about silverware. hehehe

I am FULL IN!!~ If you need any more pics...just let me know. But im pretty sure you know my work

sending you a PM...with some of my latest work

Sharon, you might want to mention no seconds kits to be fair. When I hosted bountiful babies Christmas baby swap 2011 I made it a requirement that they use only first quality kits so it would be fair to everyone. Thought I would throw that out there as a suggestion.

Great suggestion, and I agree

Tinabloomfield wrote:

Great suggestion, and I agree

I do too and will edit the rules accordingly!

AngelKissedBabies wrote:

lol Yes, I do hear the Twilight thing a lot! It's calming down now with the Hunger Games taking over though which is kind of nice... sometimes I miss the days when I said Forks and people thought I was talking about silverware. hehehe

Do you get sick of the Twilight stuff, or do you like the books/movies? I love them, though I got to admit I don't think I'd like to live in Forks! It seems so cold, dreary, and wet, not to mention too little! I'm glad you have reborning to keep you busy though.

I'd love to do this swap, but I don't really need any more keepers. My 10th anniversary is the 14th of December so it'd be like a anniversary present...but that isn't very fair to my husband. He's been so understanding about this whole hobby as it is.

Orange_Grove_Nursery wrote:

AngelKissedBabies wrote:

lol Yes, I do hear the Twilight thing a lot! It's calming down now with the Hunger Games taking over though which is kind of nice... sometimes I miss the days when I said Forks and people thought I was talking about silverware. hehehe

Do you get sick of the Twilight stuff, or do you like the books/movies? I love them, though I got to admit I don't think I'd like to live in Forks! It seems so cold, dreary, and wet, not to mention too little! I'm glad you have reborning to keep you busy though.

I'd love to do this swap, but I don't really need any more keepers. My 10th anniversary is the 14th of December so it'd be like a anniversary present...but that isn't very fair to my husband. He's been so understanding about this whole hobby as it is.

That makes me sad rachel. I love seeing your character babies. And your nurse baby was awesome. Everytime I see crocs I think about that baby lol

Orange_Grove_Nursery wrote:

AngelKissedBabies wrote:

lol Yes, I do hear the Twilight thing a lot! It's calming down now with the Hunger Games taking over though which is kind of nice... sometimes I miss the days when I said Forks and people thought I was talking about silverware. hehehe

Do you get sick of the Twilight stuff, or do you like the books/movies? I love them, though I got to admit I don't think I'd like to live in Forks! It seems so cold, dreary, and wet, not to mention too little! I'm glad you have reborning to keep you busy though.

I'd love to do this swap, but I don't really need any more keepers. My 10th anniversary is the 14th of December so it'd be like a anniversary present...but that isn't very fair to my husband. He's been so understanding about this whole hobby as it is.

I am a vamp fan but I prefer the kind that spontaneously combust. I think the part that bothers me the most is the grown adults who think that it's real... which is scary, I mean I love a good book but I know it's just a tall tale.

Forks is small and sometimes that does get to me, I'm not originally from here and I have spent a few years living in cities, as well as other small towns but I went through Thyroid cancer the last 2 years and when we were at the beginning and trying to figure out how to get back and forth to appts and treatments that were 4 hours away... I had someone throw a bake sale that made over $1500 in 4 hours and did a dolly raffle and made almost the same. That's when I do love my little town.

The funny part is it really doesn't rain all the time and winter is dreary but the rest of the year isn't like that usually. It really isn't for everyone though.

I was always artistic though and after I broke my arm and had a plate put in it was hard to sit and draw or paint for very long, when I found the dolls and the heat set paints... I was hooked. Plus, I adore kids and work in childcare... it was a natural extension. I've always wanted to do something like a swap so this is great!!!

AngelKissedBabies wrote:

Orange_Grove_Nursery wrote:

AngelKissedBabies wrote:

lol Yes, I do hear the Twilight thing a lot! It's calming down now with the Hunger Games taking over though which is kind of nice... sometimes I miss the days when I said Forks and people thought I was talking about silverware. hehehe

Do you get sick of the Twilight stuff, or do you like the books/movies? I love them, though I got to admit I don't think I'd like to live in Forks! It seems so cold, dreary, and wet, not to mention too little! I'm glad you have reborning to keep you busy though.

I'd love to do this swap, but I don't really need any more keepers. My 10th anniversary is the 14th of December so it'd be like a anniversary present...but that isn't very fair to my husband. He's been so understanding about this whole hobby as it is.

I am a vamp fan but I prefer the kind that spontaneously combust. I think the part that bothers me the most is the grown adults who think that it's real... which is scary, I mean I love a good book but I know it's just a tall tale.

Forks is small and sometimes that does get to me, I'm not originally from here and I have spent a few years living in cities, as well as other small towns but I went through Thyroid cancer the last 2 years and when we were at the beginning and trying to figure out how to get back and forth to appts and treatments that were 4 hours away... I had someone throw a bake sale that made over $1500 in 4 hours and did a dolly raffle and made almost the same. That's when I do love my little town.

The funny part is it really doesn't rain all the time and winter is dreary but the rest of the year isn't like that usually. It really isn't for everyone though.

I was always artistic though and after I broke my arm and had a plate put in it was hard to sit and draw or paint for very long, when I found the dolls and the heat set paints... I was hooked. Plus, I adore kids and work in childcare... it was a natural extension. I've always wanted to do something like a swap so this is great!!!

WOWWWW theres adults that think its real?! Actually Im not surprised there are so many loons out there lol I would love to live in a small town though. Where I live is just so busy. Always sounds of cop sirens and ambulances. I live close to Baltimore City but in the County part. But still its busy. My grandmother lives in West Virginia and its so quiet. You never hear sirens or helicopters. And people are alot nicer lol I always tell my husband that when we move I want to get outta this town. But our family lives here, so I doubt we go far.

With Love Nursery wrote:

WOWWWW theres adults that think its real?! Actually Im not surprised there are so many loons out there lol I would love to live in a small town though. Where I live is just so busy. Always sounds of cop sirens and ambulances. I live close to Baltimore City but in the County part. But still its busy. My grandmother lives in West Virginia and its so quiet. You never hear sirens or helicopters. And people are alot nicer lol I always tell my husband that when we move I want to get outta this town. But our family lives here, so I doubt we go far.

I never thought I liked it here until these last few years and spending time in Seattle again for treatment and Docs appts makes me miss my little town.

With Love Nursery wrote:

That makes me sad rachel. I love seeing your character babies. And your nurse baby was awesome. Everytime I see crocs I think about that baby lol

Aww, thank-you Stephanie! It was so much fun making the fairy/first responder baby for Debbie and I'd LOVE to do it again, but I just don't think I should have another keeper around the house. I am already up to 5 with one more in the works plus the gorilla kit I just got and I had originally told my husband I'd only have two keepers!


That's freakish about adults believing that the whole Twilight vampire thing is real.

Looking forward to the swap! I just sent in my questionnaire.

If I can figure out how to copy the questios so I can answer them LOL

lindarn_64 wrote:

If I can figure out how to copy the questios so I can answer them LOL

Got yours today Linda!

Only a few more days and we get our swap partner info!!! I am so excited to see what kit I will be reborning. It has been awhile

Swaps are so wonderful this time of year, and I think limiting the kits is a great idea. Thanks for organizing this Sharon!!!

Lara wrote:

Swaps are so wonderful this time of year, and I think limiting the kits is a great idea. Thanks for organizing this Sharon!!!

You're welcome! I love them too and the only way darling hubby wouldn't growl at me is if it only cost an arm to do ... not an arm and a leg.

I also had another great idea for the 'questionnaire'. When we list our 5 top sculpts, I think that's where our preferences should go. My love of certain kits is almost totally based on a specific look/skin tone/hair color-style, etc etc. Some of us might like the more detailed list/description and some might like to leave it to the artist.

Either way I think more info is always a great thing!

Sharon, the preferences are on the list.

Karen wrote:

Sharon, the preferences are on the list.

Yes but my preferences change with each kit. lol That was what I was trying to suggest.

I love the Rowan done by Randee Howe ... the others not so much. No disrespect intended but the one by Melissa George wouldn't interest me at all.

Oh I see! Well, you can do that, too. I think on my last swap I specified how I liked each kit to be done and most were different.

Hmmmm....I see I debated about joining too long...I thought the dead line was at the end of the month....too late to join, huh?
Hugs, Barb

SharonR wrote:

Karen wrote:

Sharon, the preferences are on the list.

Yes but my preferences change with each kit. lol That was what I was trying to suggest.

I love the Rowan done by Randee Howe ... the others not so much. No disrespect intended but the one by Melissa George wouldn't interest me at all.

That's funny because I like the one by Melissa George, though I would prefer less pink around the eyes. The way she did her though makes her look a lot like one of Romie's babies... which I adore. lol In fact it made me wish I'd put Rowan in my top 5... it's one of those kits I've been torn on because I like some versions of it and others do nothing for me. It's funny how tastes run so different, but that's what makes it so much fun too.

EEEEEEEEEK!!~ Got my partner....and I so sooooo over the moon!!~ I cant wait till Christmas gets here LOL

Whooo Hooo! Got my kit in the mail today! I hope to start painting tonight. I can't wait

Got my kit today too!!!
That's next in line. I just started one today before it came so hopefully by the end of next week I'll be able to jump right in and get to work! WHOOP WHOOP

Wow, i am tired! I have painted my swap baby for 12 hours today! I'm beat lol

With Love Nursery wrote:

Wow, i am tired! I have painted my swap baby for 12 hours today! I'm beat lol

YOU GO GIRL!!!

WHOOO HOOOOO!!~ Just ordered my partners baby, and everything I need to make him/her beautiful!!! I am so excited I can't stand it. EEEEEEK!!~

Julita wrote:

With Love Nursery wrote:

Wow, i am tired! I have painted my swap baby for 12 hours today! I'm beat lol

YOU GO GIRL!!!

Baby's not finished, still needs fine details, nails and hair But.... I'm hoping to take my first work in progress photos tomorrow if it's sunny enough. Today was a rainy day. Taking pictures is my favorite part

Can you all tell how excited I was to finally paint lol

With Love Nursery wrote:

Julita wrote:

With Love Nursery wrote:

Wow, i am tired! I have painted my swap baby for 12 hours today! I'm beat lol

YOU GO GIRL!!!

Baby's not finished, still needs fine details, nails and hair But.... I'm hoping to take my first work in progress photos tomorrow if it's sunny enough. Today was a rainy day. Taking pictures is my favorite part

I am still waiting for the paycheck to buy my swap baby. It is all picked out and ready to order though!!!

kthoelen wrote:

With Love Nursery wrote:

Julita wrote:

With Love Nursery wrote:

Wow, i am tired! I have painted my swap baby for 12 hours today! I'm beat lol

YOU GO GIRL!!!

Baby's not finished, still needs fine details, nails and hair But.... I'm hoping to take my first work in progress photos tomorrow if it's sunny enough. Today was a rainy day. Taking pictures is my favorite part

I am still waiting for the paycheck to buy my swap baby. It is all picked out and ready to order though!!!

Hopefully you will still be able to take part in the sale :)

I got my paycheck today......thats why I was able to order yayayaya

The kit I am planning on getting hasn't been on sale. I have been checking every day!!! LOL

kthoelen wrote:

The kit I am planning on getting hasn't been on sale. I have been checking every day!!! LOL

You have until Sept 24th to let me know so fingers crossed!

I will be ordering next weekend weather the kit is on sale or not! I am very excited about the swap!!!!

kthoelen wrote:

The kit I am planning on getting hasn't been on sale. I have been checking every day!!! LOL

the kit I ordered wasnt on sale either but I was too excited to care. Hopefully you will get lucky and get yours on sale

No sale here either....but who cares??? LOL I should have mine by Wednsday whoot

I seem to follow the no sale crowd! Mine wasn't on sale either! But I definitely cannot wait to get to work on it! I'm hoping to have it painted by the end of this week because school here starts next week so that means back to work I go!
I am so excited about this! But I am having a hard time finding ONE of the outfits that I want...