Response: Try filling the can with water and freezing it. I've heard that's how to keep the curved pieces from deforming. The craft comes from Europe several hundred years ago. Mine was with a throwaway lid, but most of the actual lanterns used to be made from sheet tin and soldered together after the parts were punched and shaped. I simply did my hammering with the lid held firmly to a block of wood. I want to try a lantern, though. I just don't have the time right now. I hope it looks great on your tree!

Response: I'm glad you liked it. I bought the basic pattern, then changed up the lettering and added the sparkle bits. I just assumed people had seen the movie. I'm glad I guessed correctly! I hope that you enjoy it!

Response: I was SO WORRIED about how long the package was going to take to get there since the hurricane/flooding was right in time with the swap. I'm so glad that you liked it. I had tried really hard to find a "wow" item from your profile or wish list. I was so lucky to find just the right thing. Enjoy! (I'd love to see a painting you've done. I know the style, but I've never tried it. And, trust me, I've tried SO MANY art forms!)

Response: So very sorry to hear that. It is something that you DON'T want to have in common with others! I'm glad, though, that you have come to terms with it.

Response: The tooth is a fossil shark tooth. It is around 10 million years old, from the miocene era when the Atlantic Ocean was smaller and shallower since there was less distance between the continents. The area along this side of the Atlantic (in the USA states of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware) was a mostly underwater. The Chesapeake Bay, which is the world's largest estuary system now cuts through that area, exposing cliffs rich with marine fossils. I search the beaches for these treasures as they are only about 2 hour's drive from my home in Baltimore. I'm glad that you liked it and to hear that your package arrived!

Response: Kathy, I'm so happy that it brought a smile to your face! That's what all of my swaps are about, seeing other people's creativity/artwork, hearing their stories, and (hopefully) making someone smile or think... I love bee images and I was actually kinda rusty on my lettering since I haven't done much penpal/swap stuff for literally 20+ years. I was tempted to print the message on the computer, but then I thought it would have looked cheesy. Anyway, no, I still love bees because I know that what stung me were hornets, not true bees. Well, that and I guess I'm just stupid when it comes to something like that. I don't blame them, they were defending their nest! I admit, though, I probably should have gone to the ER, but what were they going to do for me that I didn't already know how to do for myself? I would have gone if I'd have gotten a constricted airway or anything. Apparently though, now I am at least mildly allergic because my only bee sting since then was very painful and swelled like crazy. (My ankle was twice its normal size.) Well, remember that a true bee only stings in defense of the hive, and it dies after because it tears out the rear of it's abdomen, leaving the stinger and poison gland in your skin. So, anytime a "bee" stings you and flies off, it is most likely not a bee at all. And, God knows, we need them as pollinators!

Response: Sarah, My garden will arise like a phoenix next year, I am certain. I love that quote, too, since it really says that if you are simply true to yourself, you can do things that people tell you can't be done.

Response: *blushing* Umm, you're welcome? I was hoping to send something pretty and floral, since your profile says you like flowers. The picture was drawn from looking at a real antique tea cup. I'm just disappointed that my drawing still seems so flat and 2 dimensional. I've never taken an art class, though, so I guess it is good for a newbie. I have to admit, though, I blew it. I had a tea packet out to send with it and forgot until it was all sealed up and ready to go! Glad you liked it, though!

Response: I've never swapped for a chunk o' cardboard before, but it was fun trying to find a way to make it more decorative. I think my other 2 were weak in comparison to yours. The root beer one was my fav. I'm so glad that you liked it!

Response: Thank you so much for your patience waiting for the wayward card to make its way to you. I hope to hear more from you in the future. Happy Swapping!

Response: I'm dying to try out the gingerbread. I love ginger anything and the recipe sounds so simple!

Response: I've never made envelopes before, but the We R Memory Keepers board made it easy. As you can see, they still were not perfect, but the more that I made, the better they looked. I hope that you get a lot of use from them!

Response: Confession... I made the stickers from a flower catalog that we mailed out from my job. There were extra copies and they didn't want them back!

Response: I wasn't certain that the artwork was too amateurish or not. It was a little bit of a challenge, as I've never drawn a manatee before!

Response: This really makes me feel good as you were my very first swap through this site. I had no idea what was acceptable, expected, etc. I'm thrilled that you liked it!