There's a website called "Freshly Blended" that, along with another site, hosts a huge ornament swap every year.  Sign-ups start tomorrow, November 1st.  Literally thousands sign-up.  You're put into a swap group of about 10-15 people, given their addresses, and you make an ornament, usually the same for all of them, and mail them out.  They use Flickr for everyone to post pictures of the ornaments they make, or ornaments they receive.  (This part is optional.)

Honestly, I sent out my ornaments to everyone on my list, but only received from roughly 9 of the 13 members in my group.  But it was ok, it was still fun!  And I received some beautiful things.  Here's a link to the website, and the holiday swap post is dated 10/23/08, so you have to scroll down a bit to see the post about it.

It's a fun thing to do at the holidays! 

http://freshlyblended.blogspot.com/

Oh!  And it's including people from all over the world.  You tell them when you sign-up if you're willing to mail out of the country or not.  I didn't last year, as I think it's more expensive to do so, so all my group members had American addresses.

Does anyone have a good pattern or directions for making ornaments from ribbon?  I have some styrofoam balls and some really cool ribbon. I'd like to be able to do something with them but I don't have a good pattern.

Lynn, I used "eyelash" yarn last year and just rolled it around the styrofoam balls; they ended up looking like fluffy snowballs.  Very cute!  Let me see if I can link you to my Flickr page that has the pictures....  See if this works: http://www.flickr.com/photos/19041488@N06/

For this ornament swap, right now the sign-up link is only at this website: http://cakeandpie.typepad.com/

Also, this year they're mixing everyone up and you may end up shipping some to other countries.  They said to keep this in mind as you make your ornament, and that it really doesn't cost a whole lot more if it's able to be sent in a regular mailer.  Last year my ornaments were about the size of baseballs, and they were pretty expensive to mail out.

Lynn, for yours, just wrapping the ball might be a pretty effect, it depends on the ribbon....

Thanks Kim.  I have some eyelash yarn that I didn't know what to do with that is green, white and brown.  I might try that.  Did you use a glue gun to secure it or pins or what?  I am going to play with the other ribbon and see what I can come up with.

Yes, you'll want to glue as you go, bc otherwise the yarn can slide off the ball easily.  And actually, the U-shaped floral pins would probably be better, as long as they're not being hung low on a tree with a little child around.

I'd love to see what you come up with!  Post photos and let me know!!

I just wanted to let everyone know that this is the last day to sign up for the Christmas Ornament swap.  It's so much fun!!  Come join us!!

http://cakeandpie.typepad.com/

There are currently 366 crafters from all over the world!

This is where my ornaments will be going to:

Washington state, California, Quebec, Rhode Island, Illinois, Scotland, South Africa, Utah, New Jersey, and Oregon

Pretty cool!!