Quiver and Card Swap

My husband took up archery last year and even when it is cold outside or he's not feeling well, he is still inspired to go outside for a few minutes and practice.  Did you know that arrows of any decent quality can cost a minimum of $8 each??  He definitely needed something to hold/protect his fancy arrows, and it was recently his birthday, so I dreamed this thing up as a gift (known by the pros as a quiver)!

We have these cardboard tubes lying around which have a slit running up one side. I don't remember why we have them, but they're all over our garage!  So I stole one, duct-taped it together, customized it for a strap to run through it, and put some fluff in the bottom of it, so his arrow tips wouldn't get blunted by being dropped into the quiver.

Then I wanted to line it, inside and out.  Getting the dimensions just right was a little challenging (I made one that was probably ¼-inch too tight, which made it impossible to pull onto the tube).  The lining was even more challenging in that I needed it to align with the dip I'd cut out of the tube (for easier arrow removal).  I even asked a lady at the fabric store how I should do it, but ultimately I had to problem-solve for myself, and it turned out nearly spot-on!

The photo above is just to show you how handy duct-tape can be.  And below, you can see my bad-ass husband preparing to shoot!

On another note, I would like to officially invite you to participate in this year's 6 Degrees of HLM card swap!  Here is how it works:

1. After I hear from everyone who wants to participate and I give you the signal, you'll have 8 weeks to make ten (10) greeting cards, most often somewhat identical in design (although this is not required).  These cards can be any shape or size, blank on the inside, themed (Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, Thinking of you, etc), wherever your whimsy takes you. Every medium is welcome: fabric, stamping, painting, beads, collage, photography, papercraft.... Most important is that whatever you make fits into an envelope that can be mailed either domestically or abroad.

2. On the given postmark deadline, you'll send all the cards you make to me with enough envelopes for each card and a couple of dollars (international folks exempt from having to send me money).

3. Once I receive everyone's cards, I'll divvy them up so that every person receives ten cards from other swap participants. Using the couple bucks, I'll send them back to you.

4. You'll receive a set of handmade greeting cards to use over the next year in the mail for just the cost it took to make yours and ship them to and from me.

Here are the dates you need to know:

·   RSVP to participate in the card swap by next Saturday, February 24, either by leaving a comment below or writing me at the email address to the right.

·   Start thinking about/making your design as soon as you can.  You'll be surprised how quickly that deadline will be here.

·   I'll host a Work Party at my studio in Fort Collins, CO on Saturday afternoon, April 6th--anyone who participates in the swap is welcome to join us.

·   Monday, April 15 is the postmark date for getting those cards, enough corresponding envelopes, and cash in the mail to me. (If you're local, you obviously don't have to bother with the sending business--we'll just rendezvous!)  

·   I'll send out a reminder about 4 weeks through.

·   Around May 1 is when I will hopefully send your cards back to you.  This is a fuzzy deadline, as the nature of having an international card swap greatly affects postal travel.

Please DO forward this invitation to any of your crafty friends and have them RSVP directly to me if they'd like to participate.  Anyone is welcome (even if card-making is not their main means of artistic expression!).  My only request is that everyone who signs up follows through to make/swap their cards.

Below is a picture of everyone's cards from last year, laid out on my living room floor!  For inspiring close-up images from last year, click here.