Swap card follow up and a lucky winner!
Thank you to everyone for such wonderful comments and interest shown in my swap card collection. (I replied to everyone with a picture of a card or two except those who I didn't have an email for. Hopefully the pictures in this post will make up for those who missed out.)
With so many of the images on the cards being American themes I assumed that swap cards must have originated in the US but then I was surprised at how many people hadn't heard of them. I decided to investigate and with a little research I discovered that it was an Australian who came up with the idea of "Swap Cards".
Mr Ernie Colhoun had just returned from WW2 and was looking for a way to make a living. He had the idea after realising "Boys had matchbox cars and Scanlan type football/sports trading cards but girls had nothing."
Ernie Colhoun started by buying large number of playing card decks and making bundles of assorted cards. He sold these onto newsagents and toy shops around Melbourne and then to regional areas. The idea took off and by the 1950's companies started to print swap cards with blank backs.
They continued to be popular until the 80's when schools banned cards due to theft and arguments. What a shame. There were never any fights or theft when I was swapping with my friends. There are still collectors around the world but they are most popular in Australia.
Some people asked where to find swap cards. While you may get lucky and find these cards at a second hand store or garage sale I've found Ebay is a convenient way to purchase them. Sometimes people are selling their collections which is a great way to get a fun mix of random cards. Do a search for "Swap Card Collection" or "Swap card bulk" to buy a few at once and get a head start on your own collection.
So there you go, I've found out new things about swap cards too. I would never have known all this if I hadn't shared the cards on my blog and learned from your comments. I've been thinking it could be fun to incorporate the cards in my blogging in some way.
I'd love to know what you think...
Should I pick some cards to share in my replies to comments?
Maybe finish every blog post with a swap card or two?
A swap card post once a week or month?
Or have you had enough of them and I should leave them be?
Any other ideas?
Scrap Quilt Secrets Giveaway winner!!
A huge thank you to everyone who joined in the Scrap Quilt Secrets Giveaway. It's wonderful to think of lots of versions of Diane Knott's scrappy quilts will be made all around the world. I wish I had hundreds of books to give away but alas there can only be one..and the lucky winner is Karen S of Sunburnt Quilts - Yay!!
For those who didn't win a copy watch out for it at your local quilt shop or here's an easy link to Scrap Quilt Secrets on Amazon. In no time you'll be turning all those scraps into beautiful quilts!
31 Comments
There you go! You learn something every day. Interesting trivia. A swap card at the end of a post would be a nice way to sign off.
ReplyDeleteYeh for Karen and how interesting and I like Janice suggestion to have a card at the end of a post enjoy your evening my friend xx
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Karen! In her email to me this morning she was telling me about how she has been trying to use her stash! Now she has a book to inspire her more! Tell us a story with the postcards Rachael- you are such a great story teller!
ReplyDeleteYes please more cards, they are soooo cute, and would be awesome in story format..... Of which you are THE master (mistress) LOL
ReplyDeleteThe swap cards are delightful. I don't remember swap cards but I did collect the roses from La'Rosa pasta boxes. Scrap Quilters collect everything that takes their fancy.
ReplyDeleteI love the cards and will be looking them up. Congratulations Karen!
ReplyDeleteOh Shoot! Your post reminded me that I forgot to thank you for my adorable card -- that little blue lady is SO me! What fun you must've had swapping cards and picking special ones for special people. I wish we'd had something fun like that when I was a child!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachael. Yes, please keep sharing the card pics. They are lovely and give us an idea of what's may be out there available to look for.
ReplyDeleteAfter taking another look, I am thinking, wouldn't some of the pictures on the cards make wonderful quilt blocks? I wonder how they would hold up if printed on fabric for squares??? HMMM
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful! Somehow I missed your original swap card post. I've just gone back to look at it. Wow! It's an endless source of inspiration, and in such a small space. Lucky you! I had never seen these before.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a couple of swap cards at the end of each post. They're fun! :)
ReplyDeleteI think I see some inspiration for a quilt in that first card of the gal with the polka dot dress holding a daisy. I'd love to see your interpretation of it and several others you shared.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how almost painting or photographic some are and simple design others are Also love the conductor, the weather vane and the zebras.
The idea of finishing off the post with a card is a great idea Rachael.
They are all so fun--I think one at the end of each post would be a great "signature"!
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of them before so thank you for that information and Id love to see one in or at the end of your posts too please!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they were the original idea behind the ATC swapping of a few years ago.
I know ATCs started off via artists who shared their art on the cards as they gave their details out to other artists. These morphed into ATCs, but maybe the idea behind that was this delightful Swapping Card idea!
Fascinating reading the history of the Swap Cards!
ReplyDeleteLove the Swap Card story RAchael...,who ever would've thought! To finish off a blog post with a Card sounds so cool! Congratulations to Karen and thank you for hosting this lovely Giveaway!
ReplyDeleteWell there you go, swap cards are as Aussie as! Gosh they bring back memories every time I look at them. That heart racing jolt when I saw a card in a someone else deck and wanted it so desperately.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see them featured in your posts, a lovely way to sign off I agree.
Just to clarify, I was swapping in the seventies, um #cough# early seventies, it was all peace and love and flares and crochet granny square ponchos and boleros, no time for arguing and petty theft. Well I am sure there was a bit but not enough to get closed down. I blame advertising myself. And now I better go because if I hop on that soapbox you might need to hose me...I mean close me down!
Those cards are charming, they are all so different.
ReplyDeleteI will google them.
Love the girl on the first card, interesting about the Swap Cards originating in Australia, I think you should do a Swap Card post once a week.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of them or have and forgot about them. I'm with the comment above (or below) I thought of ATC swapping.
ReplyDeleteJust popping in to say HI and this was a fun read!
Early 50s I'd get my allowance on Saturday morning and run down to the dime store to get my trading cards. Ten cents for a pack of ten plus a piece of bubble gum. Bargains like that don't exist anymore.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the fascinating history behind swap cards. I had also thought that this was a craze from overseas, so it was lovely to read that it started here. What an enterprising man.
ReplyDeleteI am delighted to have won the lovely quilting book and am looking forward to playing with the patterns. Thank you so much for organising this lovely give-away.
I love the cards so keep them coming ;)
ReplyDeleteYou may have said, but how many do you have?
Do you still get new ones?
Very interesting indeed. A weekly or monthly swap card post would be brilliant
ReplyDeleteThat's so interesting to hear about the history of the swap cards and I've enjoyed seeing some of your collection. Well, I don't have any to swap, but I wonder if others who do would really enjoy having swap days? And maybe you could share photos of the cards with us? I'd like that!
ReplyDeletehi Cutie!! I think you should just show a few at the end of your blog posts: they are fun to see, but you should make it easy on yourself!! Hugs, H
ReplyDeleteI love this post. I had heard of trading cards but not about the swap cards. Then again, there are many things about my country I still don't know, I may never know, so thank you for writing this post. The ones you have posted are fun to look at and may even start a quilt or two for some of us who are seeing it for the first time.
ReplyDeletexoxo
I love the gal in the top picture - wouldn't she make a sweet quilt! Do keep posting them girl, maybe you could have a Swap Card Day once a month or something. I just love them. Congrats to Karen!!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! Now I know why I've never heard of them! I'd love to see one on the bottom of each blog post.
ReplyDeleteVery fun!!! Intriguing ..xxoo
ReplyDeleteW'ell, you learn something new every day! How interesting...thank you for sharing about this, something I otherwise would never have known! Love the cards you've shown!
ReplyDeleteIt would be fun to have you post some once a month or so. Whatever would be easy for you to do.
BTW, I still have some playing cards from my parents from the '60's. They're fun to see too.
Thank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.