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#ava secret gift exchange 2023
avagiftexchange · 4 months
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As of right now, all the gifts have been exchanged!
And with that, the 2023 AvA Gift Exchange is complete!
Lets goooooo!!!
At the end of it all, we had a total of 92 participants!! That's nearly double the amount of people from last year!
I'm so grateful to everyone for participating and sticking with me when things got a little wonky at the beginning! You guys are the best!
And I hope you had a fun gift exchange!
I'll see you guys next year for more fun!!
AND HERE'S TO A NEW YEAR OF STICK FIGURES! 8D
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sammy8d257 · 5 months
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Hey I'm just here to ask when is the date do we start to post the secret Santa gift
The Gift Giving Week for the AvA Secret Gift Exchange is
Dec. 26th to Dec. 31st!
Hope this helps!
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oxceen · 4 months
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MERRY CHRISTMAS @noepotioninacup !!!! I'm your secret santa!
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Hope you like your gift! I always love drawing other people's characters :3
Anyway my job here is done so I hope you have a beautiful day <3
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mary-games-and-arts · 4 months
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Ay! IT'S AVA SECRET GIFT EXCHANGE TIME!!
My giftee was Peggsnbacon aka @insertcleverurl
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Yea, I could do only one prompt because of a phone issues, but I still hope you like it :D
@avagiftexchange
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ahomeforwisters · 4 months
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ava gift exchange 2023! 🎄🥳
it's here! happy holidays, lulw (@tdlad), hope you're having a good one! this isn't a piece of visual art since i don’t have the tools to create one, so you get a dr. seuss-inspired fic + a part of a fic i might finish later!
due to irl events, i had to rush these a bit, but i hope you enjoy it either way :) have a wonderful winter (or summer, depending on where you are) week, and happy (early) new year! *gives gingerbread cookie*
(prompt: i tried to combine elements from all three, but i focused on “the dark lord with red coat (that tdl in my posts)” specifically—your art is just gorgeous, btw!)
word count: ~1400 for the first one/the dr. suess-y one, ~1320 (and counting?) for the second one/the unfinished one
(and special thanks to @avagiftexchange for hosting this!)
Fic 1: How the Grinch Dark Lord Stole Christmas (or: dark's christmas cake romp)
Every stick in Stick City, near the end of the year, Every stick in Stick City brimmed with holiday cheer…
But! The Dark Lord, who’s not far from here, Who lived in the wintry woods quite near— The Dark Lord held Christmas even more dear!
~-~
The Dark Lord loved Christmas, this is no bluff, And you’d best believe it, he just can’t get enough! Was it because he enjoyed the sound of children laughing clear, Or did he simply have a particular liking for reindeer? Well I’ll tell you his secret, his reason for this: He really, really liked log cakes, they fill him with bliss.
“Christmas awaits, on the very next day, Christmas really is just a day away!”
But, From his perch in the woods, Watching the stars from where he stood, With hungry eyes and vibrant ardor, With the growing desire for Christmas he harbors, (and a craving for frosting he just can’t ignore), The Dark Lord knew: he needed more!
He needed more of all that Christmas had in store! And he will get more, he swore, He’ll claim even more of Christmas, ‘twas his right as a Lord!
But—how? Christmas is already drawing so near, Soon enough, Christmas will practically already be here! He needed more time, and he needed… a plan! A plan to put Christmas in the palm of his hand.
So The Dark Lord schemed, And he schemed, and he schemed, And he conjured a scheme, A terrible scheme!
“A-ha! I’ve got a brilliant idea!”
Dark cackled, a sound from deep in his throat, As he pulled from his closet his most dapper red coat. “They’ll never see me coming, even from the skies, “So long as I craft myself a most clever disguise!”
So he lined his coat with cotton, like Santa’s coat proper, Just as into the room, his friend Chosen entered— “Look, dearest Chosen, I’ve come up with a plan, “A plan to seize Christmas in the palm of my hand!”
Dear Chosen deadpanned, “Why are you talking like that,” And right after, he inquired, what about your silly Santa’s hat?
“No I didn’t—”
“Right here! I believe my night cap is sufficient,” Dark proclaimed, wearing the hat over his ears. “Now I only need a reindeer…”
But around this area, their part of the woods here, This much Dark knew: you wouldn’t find any deer! But was Dark deterred…? No! He said, “If I can’t find a deer, I’ll just make one instead!”
“...What do you think you’re doing with that big red nose.”
…And Dark ended up sticking the nose and antlers on his one last Virabot instead!
And so, with his little red cap on his hollow red head, And his feet firmly planted in his makeshift sled— He took with him a burlap sack, Which he then hoisted upon his back— He yelled, “Onward!” just before he took flight, Off to steal Christmas, he disappeared into the night!
~-~
Back on the ground, Chosen gazed down at the cardboard box—sorry, at the sled—Dark left behind. He stared at the confused Virabot, wearing an antler headband and sporting a red clown nose glued to its face, and sighed. “This is so stupid…”
~-~
A jaunty holiday tune played from an open Chrome window, But not a sound could be heard coming from inside their homes. He was here at last, and at the perfect time, too— They must all be in their beds, dreaming away without a clue! “Now to enact my plan…”
So he climbed down the chimney, one crafted from brick, It wasn’t too tight a fit, for he was literally a stick. Though he did get stuck once, or twice, maybe thrice— And he cursed his head, loudly, for it was massive in size. “Ow—seriously, who makes chimneys this small—”
“Second, is that you?”
Just as Dark managed to extricate himself, finally, Free from the clutches of that dastardly chimney— He came face-to-face with his first obstacle: Little Cindy-Blue Who, carrying fruits in a bowl.
“Wha… Little Cindy-Blue who?”
That’s right! Little Cindy-Blue Who, probably much older than two, Who… was actually awake at this time? But it’s two (a.m.)!
“Oh, no, we don’t actually sleep. Like at all. Except Second, sometimes, but he’s off doing his own thing right now. But uhh, anyways, hi, Dark Lord! What—what’s up? And why are you dressed like…”
And oh, there was a cautious glint in his eyes— He was nervous! But there was no need for such fright, Not if Dark wanted his plan to go without a hitch. So Dark would assure him, and explain his impromptu visit:
“You see, sweet youth—you see, the job of Santy, “Is to stock up your stockings, and fill them aplenty! “So that’s what I’m here for—but not you, my dear, “For this gift’s a surprise, so I can’t have you near.”
And the lie rolled cleanly off The Dark Lord’s tongue, For he was clever, and sure to fool the young. And surely enough, Cindy-Blue Who was nodding, Raring and ready to hurry back to bed a-plodding. You’re right, Santa Dark, he joyfully exclaimed, I’ll head right back to bed now! With a turn and a wave.
“What? But I didn’t say anythi—”
And so, with his burlap sack swinging, And with Cindy-Blue assuaged, standing there beaming— “Hey, don’t—get back here…!” The Dark Lord marched onward, his first obstacle cleared!
…only to find four more, all waiting at the door!
(…crap)
Ahem—what a surprise! The Dark Lord gasped, He can’t believe his eyes, ‘twas something he almost couldn’t grasp— What a sight, that they’d all come to greet him so, How happy they must be, to all rush out and greet him so!
“Hey uhh… what’s he saying?”
‘What’s he saying?’ They’re asking what game he’s playing! They ask why he’s here, and on what he was preying. But! faced with a barrier of four— Now five, as Cindy-Blue Who, panting, adds one more… They all block his path to the far kitchen door, But has this ever stopped The Dark Lord before? No!
“Hey wait, where are you going?” Cindy-Blue called when Dark showed no signs of slowing.
“Why’d you come here all of a sudden?” Said the yellow, placing a hand on his chin.
“The Cindy-blue-what now?” Slowly asked the red fellow.
“And what’s with the getup?” Queried Green, looking him from the toes up.
“Oh, Chosen told me he and Dark recently discovered these popular picture books. And ever since then, Dark’s been narrating everything he does in rhyme.”
“Ah, is that why he’s talking like that?” Yellow asked, eyeing his little Santa’s hat.
“That’s actually kind of impressive,” Remarked Green, who’s usually quite quick to forgive.
“Ooh, try rhyming something with orange!” Red said as Cindy-Blue stood next to Orange.
“Please stop calling me that, I don’t even know what it means,” Groaned Cindy-Blue Who, beside a laughing Green.
“Hey guys, Chosen texted me again just now—apparently Dark is here trying to ‘steal Christmas’ from us—which really just means he wants our log cakes.”
(goddammit Chosen you traitor)
“Wait, that’s it? That’s what that devious plan he was cackling about is?”
“I mean, Blue could always just make another cake. You could’ve just asked if you wanted one.”
“Yeah, and you’re… kind of really bad at sneaking? We could hear you narrating really loudly as soon as you got here.”
“And cursing out Orange’s chimney, too. Geez, that was vulgar…”
“Well,” with a flourish, the orange stick gestures, Towards the kitchen, where Dark had been hoping to plunder. “We’ve got some cake, if you want it. Next time just let us know you’re coming before you tear a portal through our wifi. And maybe keep your visits during the daytime, or at least don’t come crawling down my chimney past midnight…”
What was this? Could it be—no, it simply couldn’t be… But it was! “They’ll stand here and hand Christmas—to me?” For ‘twas the season of giving, of gifts freely given, Of gingerbread, batter, and cakes in the kitchen.
And there Dark stood and pondered, and pondered, and pondered, ‘Til a bright thought struck him! One that filled him with wonder: Could it be, then, that Christmas was not for the taking, But for shared cheer and laughs and all that in the making?
“Oh, for Adobe’s—just sit down and have some log cake.” And, well— ‘Twas simply an offer Dark cannot forsake.
- the end -
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Fic 2: i don't actually have a name for it yet, but i think i'll call it thaw for now
Christmas. ‘Twas a time of joyous laughter and warm embraces, of fireside affections and wintry escapades. ‘Twas the season of giving, be it presents or sweets or even the simplest of smiles—‘twas a time when even the little things, when given to another, are made infinitely precious.
Christmas. ‘Twas an absolutely perplexing holiday, for a stick such as The Dark Lord—and ‘twas a completely pointless one, too, as far as Dark was concerned.
Yet, when a pair of glittery red envelopes arrived at the doorstep of his and Chosen’s cabin in the woods—and when he opened one of them up to find an invitation inside, filigreed in gold and writ upon with a blue gel pen (in rather shaky handwriting, he noticed)—he didn’t immediately turn it to ash. He regarded it for longer than he normally would’ve, longer than he should’ve, turning it this way and that under the light—‘You’re invited!’, it winked up at him. If he didn’t know better just how sappy the animator’s favorite and his friends can be, he would’ve thought this was some kind of taunt.
(“You’re invited!”? who in their right minds would want to invite The Dark Lord, the outernet’s worst cyber-criminal, to something as mundane—as warm alien pointless—as a holiday gathering?)
While he was still winning gots nose at the gaudy invitation, the only other stick around for miles appeared in his periphery—Chosen picked up an envelope, too, when he saw what Dark was studying at the doorway. Dark almost hadn’t noticed when his fr… when his roommate had snuck up behind him, his pronounced footfalls doing little to breach the chasm between them; it was all he could do to stop himself from launching a fireball at Chosen as soon as the latter reached past him (he hadn’t forgotten how well that’d gone for him the last time…) 
Clumsily, fumbling with it once or twice, Chosen peeled at the envelope. His invitation was inked in orange instead of blue, littered with tiny scribbled drawings, and written in much neater script, too. Dark couldn’t catch the rest; Chosen always stood with his feet angled toward him these days, so his invitation turned away from view. That, and he’d moved a few paces away from the doorway—and Dark wasn’t interested anyway, he wasn’t. Pointless, he told himself again, it was such a pointless gesture. It was something he didn’t need—The Dark Lord had better things to do, had more important things to do, than to entertain something as small and banal as a Christmas party—it was a pointless affair, that was all it was.
(and yet.)
And yet. Dark wouldn’t be able to say what possessed him to do it; if it was sheer curiosity, a part of him balking at his own degrading wonder—or if it was when Chosen’s fingers tightened their hold on his invitation, carving minute creases into the paper,
and when the other stick’s eyes crinkled, just barely, in tender longing silent laughter only Dark would recognize—when those eyes finally met his, carrying a question and a spark Dark hadn’t seen in so long—he couldn’t find it within him to say no.
(it was Chosen’s idea, he would say later—it was all his roommate’s fault, the first and last person to extend their hand to him, that he was crashing their little party. he hadn’t wanted this, hadn’t needed it—he didn’t need this, he didn’t.)
~-~
If he was being honest—Dark really didn’t have anything better to do than to attend the party.
Ever since he was blasted to kingdom come by the animator’s favorite, ever since a battered Chosen had found him at the foot of a volcano and hauled his near-corpse all the way back to their cabin—in the months since, he’d seldom left their secluded area in the woods to do anything more than take a short walk. His shoulder still smarted from the hole that’d been blown through it, his skin etched with throbbing green scars all over—he couldn’t travel far beyond the bounds of the woods without wilting, robbed of breath. Needless to say, his heydays of ash and destruction were far behind him.
(and even if all his progress hadn’t been deleted, rendered void when Chosen destroyed the rest of his virabots following the “incident”—these days, looking at the place where he’d once stood tapping away at his computer, believing himself the inheritor of a grander purpose than the one dealt to him by the animator—it left an sour taste in his mouth.)
In his current condition, even petty theft seemed beyond his capabilities. Which was going to be a problem, he realized, when he turned to the back of the invitation and saw the damning first rule of the party written in a bold green: “Come in a costume! No costume, NO ENTRY.”
Well, in the state he was in, he wasn’t going to be pulling any heists anytime soon, not even on cheap outfitters—and he doubted any store would simply let a notorious cyber-criminal waltz into their establishment, even just to look around. That left him with only two options: either go through his own closets, or brave Chosen’s minefield of a room to rifle through his. It wasn’t a hard decision to make. 
With practiced ease (and only slightly impeded by his still-healing injuries), Dark picked his way past piles of lightly-charred sweaters, discarded bandages, random knick knacks collecting dust over the years, a self-sustaining tornado of trash—all the way across his roommate’s bedroom to reach the far end where the closets were. While Dark considered his fashion sense to be impeccable, none of his clothes really screamed “festive.” It was all something along the lines of “looks like he could kill you” or “warning: would actually kill you.” Chosen’s taste in clothes, on the other hand, was more… eclectic. There was more variety; he’d probably have a better chance finding something acceptable to wear here than in his own wardrobe.
Dark threw open the leftmost closet, a mahogany behemoth with the price sticker still slapped on the left door, and oh, that was—what even was that? No, those pants were too long, and the pair beside them the wrong shade of green—and oh, that’s garish, why did he even think to nab this? What is this even supposed to be, a mop? Or some kind of shawl? That color is way too bright to ever belong on a shirt, that shirt is a visual safety hazard. And what—why aren’t these socks the same, where’s the other one in the pair? None of these socks are the same—is that a pair of googly eyes—
Dark shut the closet door. He should’ve expected this, really; he’d witnessed the affront to fashion that was Chosen’s wardrobe thousands of times before, whenever they had to disguise themselves to go into the city. The two other closets wouldn’t be much better, he knew, but just as he was turning to head back toward the door—had that box always been there?
Tucked away into the corner of the room was a small cardboard box, a little tattered and stained in several spots from years of disuse but otherwise appearing untouched by the surrounding mess. As an expert at navigating Chosen’s room, Dark knew for certain it hadn’t been there the last time he was here (just over three months ago. he’d been scrounging for one of the aprons he’d left in Chosen’s room; it feels like it’s been forever since then.)
It took only a short hop for Dark to reach it. The next second, he was kneeling down in front of it, carefully lifting the top flaps—and sure, maybe a part of him was prodding at him, telling him whatever was in there was probably stashed away in the corner for a reason, reminding him that things are different now, the space between you and him, it’s different now—but that hadn’t ever stopped Dark before
(aaand that's all i have for this second one for now. i'll probs post the rest on ao3 or something if i finish this, but i'll def let you know!)
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but yeah, anywho, that's all—have a wonderful holiday season! :)
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avagiftexchange · 5 months
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AvA Secret Gift Exchange 2023 Masterpost
Registration
What is a "Secret Gift Exchange"?
What if I have specific members blocked?
Can I combine options together?
Can I draw in any style?
IMPORTANT DATES:
Registration Open: November 20th
Registration Closes on: November 27th at 11:59 pm EST
You will get your Giftee Requests on: December 1 - 8* (please make sure to have your direct messaging on during this time so I can DM you who you got!)
[EDIT: Please check this post to get your Giftee! *Date has been extended due to the issues discussed in the post]
If you need to dropout, please tell me by: December 15th
(Note: If you dropout, I cannot guarantee your requests will be fulfilled as it will be up to the participant who is assigned to you whether or not they want to finish your gift. The person whose gift requests you were assigned to do will be given to one of our backup artists to complete!)
All Gifts must be completed and posted during: December 26-31th
When you post your gift, make sure to use the tag #AvA Gift Exchange 2023 and #AvA Gift Exchange so everyone can see your work!
If you have any questions, please either send me an ask or DM me on this blog or on my main blog @sammy8d257
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avagiftexchange · 5 months
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How many do you have now?
We're almost at 100 participants!
We have 97 submitted entries to be exact!
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avagiftexchange · 5 months
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The AvA Community "Secret Gift Exchange" 2023 Registration is OPEN!
Hello Hello! Welcome to the 2nd Annual Animator vs Animation Community "Secret Gift Exchange"!
For those who don't know, the AvA Gift Exchange is a celebration event centered around creating and sharing gifts across our lovely community! This is the 2nd year I'm hosting something like this and I'm excited to see what wonderful things people create this year! 8D
[What is a "Secret Gift Exchange"?]
If you are interested in participating in this event, please follow the link below and fill out the registration form!
Registration will be open from
November 20th to November 27th at 11:59 pm EST
For more Updates, please follow:
@avagiftexchange
https://avagiftexchange.tumblr.com/
This will be where I'll be making any important updates in the Future!
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avagiftexchange · 5 months
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AvA 2023 Gift Exchange Update!
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Alright folks! All Giftees have been assigned a Gifter!
Over the course of the next 3 days (from Dec. 1st to Dec. 3rd) I will be messaging everyone with their Giftee's requests!
I will be contacting everyone through Tumblr's direct messaging system, so please make sure I able to access yours!
As soon as you get your Secret person, you are allowed to start working on their gift!
You have until the week of Dec. 26th - Dec. 31th to work on your gift!
If you complete your gift early, please wait until the 26th, to post it!
That way we can have a big celebration and gift giving week!
If you are unable to complete your gift, please let me know before Dec. 15th
Note! If you do dropout, I can not guarantee you will be receiving a gift as it will be up to your Gifter to decide if they want to finish. Your dropped requests will then given to one of our backup artists to fulfill!
Alrighty, that's about it!
I'll talk with everyone soon! 8D
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sammy8d257 · 5 months
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IMPORTANT UPDATE for the 2023 AvA Gift Exchange
Okay so here's the gist gamers,
I think I accidentally got my side account @avagiftexchange shadowbanned (probably because I was sending out a ton of messages and it thought I was a bot or something [pensive] )
And unfortunately because of that, I can no longer send out or receive any messages
And that's a problem because I was only able to send out 21 of 99 requests
I have already sent in a ticket to Tumblr Support so hopefully this can be resolved soon
BUT IN THE MEANTIME HERES WHAT WERE GOING TO DO
If you can shoot me an email at
[Edit:] OR SEND ME AN ASK IN MY MAIN BLOG (@sammy8d257 ) INBOX!
I can send you who you're making your gift for!
Just make sure to include Tumblr so I can verify who's who!
Otherwise, if I have your discord, I will message you through there!
Fingers Crossed this gets resolved soon and I can use the Gift Exchange blog again
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sammy8d257 · 4 months
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The 2023 AvA Gift Exchange is a GO!
It's the Gift Giving Week everyone!
From now until Dec. 31st, you can post and share the gift you created for your giftee!!
I'm so proud of everyone and I'd just like to say a huge thank you for sticking with me for this event, even if it's been kinda a mess!
But without further ado,
Let's get this show on the road!
It's gift giving time! 8D
When you post your Gift, make sure to include the @ of your Giftee, and the hashtags, #AvA Gift Exchange 2023 and #AvA Gift Exchange !
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sammy8d257 · 4 months
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AvA Gift Exchange 2023 Update! 8D
Hiya! Sorry, I've been busy these past few days!
The Dropout Day for the AvA Gift Exchange has passed!
I will be reaching out to some Back Up artists for those who aren't able to complete their Giftee's requests by the Gift Giving Week
So if you're a back up, I'll be reaching out to one of you guys for help within the next day or so! If you don't receive a message from me, just assume that you weren't randomly chosen to fulfill another gift request! ^^
In other news, still no word on the status of the AvA Gift Exchange blog being unshadowbanned, but I sent in another email, so hopefully it'll get fixed before the Gift Giving Week!
Otherwise, everyone has until the end of December 31st to create their gifts for their Giftee!
And just a reminder, the Gift Giving Week is
Dec. 26th to Dec. 31st!
Please make sure to post your gift during those days and to tag your person, and include the hashtags #ava gift exchange and #ava gift exchange 2023
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sammy8d257 · 5 months
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2023 AvA Gift Exchange! All Request Sent Out!
All Gift Exchange Requests have been sent out!
Thank you all for being patient with me during this frankly, VERY messy time.
Everyone who messaged to be apart of the Gift Exchange should have been given their Giftee's information one way or another
And if you haven't, then please reach out to me ASAP!
If you need to drop out of this Gift Exchange, you have until Dec. 15th to do so!
Otherwise, I look forward to seeing everyone's gifts during the Gift Giving week of Dec. 26th to Dec. 31st!
And if you have any questions, please let me know! 8D
(also no update on whether or not the Gift Exchange blog will be unshadowbanned, but heres hoping it gets fixed soon!)
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avagiftexchange · 5 months
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AvA Secret Gift Exchange Registration is Over!
And that's it gamers!
The Registration period is over and we finished with a total of 98 entries!
Thats WILD!! I'm so excited for this year!
Now it's my job to gather and organize everything
I'll start sending out the gift requests starting Dec. 1st to Dec 3rd
See you soon! 8D
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sammy8d257 · 4 months
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5 Days Left Before the Gift Giving Week!
The First Day of the Gift Giving week is in 5 days!!
That's on Dec. 26th!
And the last day to submit your gift is Dec. 31st!
When you post your Gift, make sure to include the @ of your Giftee, and the hashtags, #AvA Gift Exchange 2023 and #AvA Gift Exchange !
Additionally, if you plan on sending your Gift to your Giftee privately, please make sure to message me that you did!
I'll be checking in about halfway through the Gift Giving Week on individuals who haven't posted their gift yet!
The Times Almost Here! I'm so excited! 8D
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sammy8d257 · 5 months
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This is a quick check-in!
How's everyone doing on their Gift Exchange gifts?
Just a heads up,
DEC. 15th is the last day to dropout of the Gift Exchange!!
If you need too, please tell me asap!
And the Gift Giving Week is
Dec. 26th to Dec. 31st!
Make sure to tag your person, and also include the tags #Ava Gift Exchange and #AvA Gift Exchange 2023 when you post it!
(you can also tag @avagiftexchange , but I don't know if it'll show up because it's still currently shadowbanned 😔)
Thank you! I can't wait to see everyone's gifts!!
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