I think the 2 big problems with Journal swaps (after observing trends for the last few years) is that people are concerned with postage cost and the mail is so unreliable lately. And personally, getting flaked on in a journal swap is a concern as well. I was in a journal round robin swap here on SB a few months ago and the journal being sent to me seems to have gotten lost in the mail - not only does that prevent me from continuing with the RR, but now that person's journal is lost. Just my thoughts, though.

I agree with @USAFwife that swapping journals often doesn't work out in public swaps due to postage costs, everybody having different standards for what they consider a good hand made Journal, and lots of flakers daunted by the idea and really just in it to get a free journal sadly. Therefore, I think that journal COMPONENT swaps are a great idea. Two I can think of right now are:

'THREE HANDMADE JOURNALING CARDS IN DIFFERENT THEMES' you could have one theme set by the host that everyone uses to make one, one theme secret sender's choice, and one theme where each participant comments a theme that they want to receive and you look for your partner's comment to make that third card! Optional extra that could be really fun if the host gas a blog or pinterest or something is off each swapper needs to email the host photos of each card and those photos go up on a blog/pinterest board/google drive which everyone can look at and see all the different interpretations!!

Secondly, 'JOURNAL PAGE PAPERS FOR CRAFTERS' where the host sets the size (for example if we're making a5 journals then papers should be roughly a4 size) and you have a number of partners (6+) and you send 5 NICE pieces of paper that can be used in making a journal, and include a set of requirements like 'at least one pocket, at least two stamped images, 3 pieces of ephemera, 1 piece of string' etc. There could even be a sister swap with all the same participants but only one partner each where you need to send a journal cover! And again, if you have a way to post images online, you could have a final type 1 swap where everyone has to email you photos of the journals they made and you share those photos and everyone comments!!

These are just my fun little thoughts :)

Great points and ideas!! Maybe an electronic swap.. Where there is an assigned theme and the swapper have to create a spread or page following the theme. A picture of your completed spread/page can be sent to your partner via email? That way you can work on your journal in a community setting without worrying about losing it. What do you think?

Maybe a journaling prompt swap. Where you send your partner 5 possible journaling prompts to try on their own?

It doesn’t have to be a physical journal swap. Just related to the journaling craft!

Maybe you should post this on the forum?

Some people get excited and join the first or second and then drop out and those journals get lost forever. Is there a way to set up a round Robin circle with just a few commited swappers and make sure it’s the same swappers over and over ?

Oh add; I like prompt pages and wreck journals.

I love JOURNALING! I do all sorts - from simple Photo only journals to hand writing on every single inch of the page journals! The round robin or circle journals don't generally work on a forum like this. I have been in SO MANY of them and have yet to receive any of mine back. I always use small, light-weight traveler's notebook inserts in which I REMOVE a lot of pages to make it even thinner and lighter and nope.. still have yet to receive one back and I've been on this site for years! LOL Some IDEAS Might be:

Three Ring Binder (In a hostess decided size, of course) Page Swap You'd create your page in the swap specific size and simply mail the page(s) to your parther. This is excellent for low postage as well as not getting your heart broken because you not sending your entire journal, just the page. (I LOVE THIS!)

I love handmade pockets and flat embellishments - that is another fun one that always seems to be a hit!

I hope to see some of these implemented in the future and I'm so excited!

Ive been doing the monthly one were you make a in insert. To send in a theme. And you build your journal s. Cheaper postage and You get a variety

i've done recipe journals (themed and general). song lyrics journals and lists journals in the past. usually a little easier for those who are a little nervous about doing journals

I would love a prompt a day journal. I am always wanting to do more journal swaps. It's been a while since I've done one! Or a page a day journal swap with a different theme each day to decorate or discuss that theme in any interpretation the individual sees!

These are all so interesting to read and I appreciate the sharing so much because I’ve wondered what happened to all the journalling friends lately!

Thanks! @becait For posting the idea here (for those of us avoiding public forums)

My “two-cent” suggestion is to form a group for reliability, then swap “deconstructed” journal pages with a theme and/or prompt. That I would definitely be interested in!

Again, thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts too!

I like the idea of the binder and just swapping pages. I'd also be in on just swapping pages that we can tape in (or otherwise attach) to an existing journal. I also enjoy the themes/ prompts. I have lost a journal that I loved very much in a (what i thought was) trusted circle of swappers.... Things happen, I guess, and I wouldn't take.the chance again.

I think the issue with journal swaps are the postage cost. I joined one recently which was electronic, I made a themed journal page and send the picture via email. It was fun and people can actually see the details and rate each other easily. But I also joined one where you had to send journal supplies and I am yet to receive mine. So like I said anything postage heavy in case of journals doesn’t do well on SB.

Can’t wait to see what journal swaps are created and happy to join them.

I really the idea from @FeetInTheSoil about a pages swap, but instead of doing one big swap with a lot of partners, maybe it can be done as a series? You would have 1-3 partners per swap that you should send pages to in a swap specified size, and you can join as many or as few as you would like! And they could potentially have some different themes, like "pages with tuck spots", "bright colours" or "flower themed pages". I'd love a swap series like this.

Would love to do a traveling journal!! I am in one now and I absolutely love it!!

I do understand some concerns about postage and size. I think ensuring that size constraints are followed especially for international shipping is helpful!!

Very excited to participate!!

Instead of doing a spread in a traveling journal what if the swap had multiple partners and each person did a very small signature (two-3 pieces of paper folded) for each partner. Then we can all bind our own journals when everything arrives. Similar to what @Foxears said.

Another option: A swap where you send to multiple partners, and do a series.

1 - Journal card

2 - Tag

3 - Tuck spot

4 - Paper flowers

etc.... So you'd send out x number of journal cards. That's potentially a small envelope and maybe one stamp.

I really like the suggestion by @thefairyoflostthings I’m also a fan of using postcards for this kind of swap — I feel like the small space provides enough room for a snapshot of someone’s life, but without requiring a ton of postage, etc. I’m excited to see what you come up with!

I like simple things like decorated envelopes, handmade tags, cards, or maybe a decorated page that suits their swapper.

I love the idea of exchanging embellished journaling pages..

I've not yet swapped in a junk journal swap before (i think), but i have made lots of junk journals that I gave as presents to people that I know.. I Love to make them.. and it is always so nice to get imput from other peoples creativity. I make what comes from my brain.. but how cool is a junk journal made from many creative brains combined!?! And it doesnt always have to be something very fancy.. just a pretty page with some napkin decoupaging and stenceling or stamping can already be so awesome..

Also I love tuck spots, photo-cards, tiny journaling booklets that I include in the big journal.. tabs.. tags.. embelished envelopes that I use as tuckspots.. etc..

What is the best group to join for swaps like these?

I like just sending one page to your partner. I think this works out well. You can always say what size journal you use. I am also doing a virtual journal here on Swapbot. We make our own page according to the prompt, then just email a picture of the page to our partner. This seems to be working out really well.