First of all... How exciting is it to be in Round 7 of our Smashbooks!?!?! Welcome to the Original swappers and the new ones who joined us along the way!!!

This swap is to help us use the blank storebought and handmade Smashbooks that we have accumulated. I know that many of the Smashbook swaps require you to create a layout and then send it to your partner, but I get a little possesive of my own personal work and would like to hang on to it. I am one of those people who think my future grandchildren will one day stumble upon my journals (scrapbooks and Smashbooks) and be be able to better know what kind of person I was by reading them.

Here's the The Scoop...........

*Each round has THREE topics (see BELOW), BUT YOU ONLY CHOOSE TWO FOR YOUR BOOK to interpret as you wish- with art, photos, journaling, or smash in some ephemera or other scraps to tell your story. You will create the TWO layouts in any Smashbook you wish. For those of us who already did Rounds 1-6just continue in the same book.

*You may get to work immediately on your pages. At least ONE decorated/embellished page per topic is required... though more is fine.

After partners are assigned: You will photograph your 2 layouts and send them in an email as an attachment to your 4 partners.

The Nitty Gritty: Your partners will rate you a 5 for sending it and it would be great if they could comment on what they thought about your layouts/interpretations of the theme. As long as you did something in your book you should get a 5. Hearts may be given as you see fit. All participants much be rated at least a 4.9. No recent 1's or 3's. Please folks, let's be responsible and carry through with what we commit to do. This swap is a Type 3 because there is work involved EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOT MAILING YOUR SMASHBOOK TO YOUR PARTNER!!!!!

The ULTIMATE goal is to have a beautiful completed full fat Smashbook by late Spring! Are you ready for the fun? Then sign up and join us!

Round 7 (Thanks to everyone for submitting a lot of great topic ideas. I am going to include some of them here)

Topic 1: Something my Mother did that I swore I would never do! (topic idea from grammag)

Topic 2: "Branded" - page(s) that include your favorite brands of things you use. Everything from gum wrappers, household products names to cologne labels. (topic idea from Josh Coop)

Topic 3: I BELIEVE (about your religious beliefs, political views, secular beliefs, moral views)

Topic 4: All The Places I have lived

(use words, art, photos... magazine cut outs... whatever you want!)

This is similiar to the "Currently" page from Round 4. (topic idea from http://inspirationeverywhere.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-red-smashbook-is-complete.html )

NOW THE TOUGH PART... WHICH 2 OF THOSE 4 TOPICS DO YOU CHOOSE?

@beadqueene created a Flickr group for us to share our Smashbook pages with everyone. The link is: http://www.flickr.com/groups/2157168@N22/