The Blog Friendship Box - It Starts Here
Posted By Teeni on November 4, 2008
Have you ever heard of a friendship ball? Have you ever even seen one? Well, I don’t believe in reinventing the wheel, so you can certainly see some pretty friendship balls here and check out the legend behind the friendship ball in this short little blurb here.
Now that you are all educated about friendship balls, let’s discuss them. They are pretty aren’t they? Also, they are kind of expensive. And you are expected to put something in it before you send it to a friend. It could get costly. You know what else? They are kind of small. I mean really, what can you possibly put in there that your friend would need? Three magic beans? A tablespoon of coffee? A pinch of potpourri? A handkerchief folded up really, really, small? A hundred dollar bill? HAHAHA! If you have to pay your friends, they aren’t really your friends! So yeah, let’s just agree that it doesn’t allow for much creativity.
But lately I’ve been thinking about what great friends I have in the blogosphere. And when I received a sentimental card from CuriousC that started off with “Because of you,” I knew I wanted to share those sentiments with my blog buddies. So when I saw this little box, it’s pretty little cutouts reminded me of a friendship ball, and I thought, “Hey, this would make a good Friendship Box!” It was affordable, larger than a friendship ball, lighter than a friendship ball because it is made of cardboard, and because it was unfinished, it would allow the creativity of my blog buddies to shine. So this is now a cross between a meme and a Pay It Forward kind of thing.
Here are the rules to follow if you receive The Blog Friendship Box.
- You have three weeks from when you receive The Blog Friendship Box to pass it on to one other blog buddy. You can choose a blog buddy by having a contest on your blog or just by picking someone who you think really could use it. I will attempt to keep a running tally and link to the blog of the person who is in possession of the Blog Friendship Box at my site and I will occasionally update everyone in a post.
- Before you pass on The Blog Friendship Box, you must alter it in some creative way - like painting, adding a ribbon or button or sequins, but only one application can be applied at one time by any blogger. So you can’t paint it AND add buttons, etc.
- Before you pass on The Blog Friendship Box, you must place a small gift inside. This may be a joke gift, a handmade item, a nonperishable good, a poem of your own, or something of the sort.
- Before you pass on The Blog Friendship Box, you must take a photo of it if you have a camera. Then you must post it on your blog so we can see the way it changes in appearance. You must also include the links of all the past blogs that the box has visited, including mine so we can all follow along. If you do not have a camera, then you must post about it, including the links, and describe what you have done to the box. Maybe the next person will have a camera and we will see the changes then. I don’t want to keep anyone from receiving the box because they don’t have a camera. Enough of us do have them that I think this will still be interesting. Oh and by all means gush about the gift you received inside if you like. We wont mind.
- The Blog Friendship Box MAY be sent to the same person more than once. However, it cannot go back and forth between the same people. So, there must be at least a total of five different people on the list of links before sending it to someone who has already had it.
Since I am starting this whole thing off, I am not going to alter the box. I would like everyone to see what it started out looking like before it begins it’s journey (and I am so NOT as talented as my crafty blog buddies).
The person I am sending it to is Hannah at Blair’s Boys because she has been my blog buddy since about when I first started blogging and has put up with me for a long time. I want her to know how much her friendship means to me even though she is on the other side of the planet. Lots of hugs to you Hannah! I wanted to send you some love and a smile.
I just found out that Hannah already received The Blog Friendship Box before I got a chance to post this so the journey has already begun!
Hannah, here is a list of links that you can copy and paste to your blog. I can’t wait to see it grow!
Teeni at The Vaguetarian Tea Room
Update: After some discussion, it has been decided to include the generic location of each recipient on the list too so we can see where the box has travelled. If you are in possession of the box and need a list of the links to use to do your post, please visit my Blog Friendship Box tab at the top of the page, where I am keeping a running list.
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What a great idea! Hopefully every now and again, we’ll get a post about what the box is up to now.
That’s what I’m hoping. It will be fun to see it change on it’s journey.
Hmm - maybe I should keep a little tally of it somewhere on my blog! Thanks for the idea, Honeywine!
You are really all kinds of the awesome, Teeni!
Great idea.
Thanks, Witchypoo! I wish I could send one to everyone! But it will be nice to see how this goes, how the box changes, and how far through the blogosphere it gets.
I hope it comes back someday. 
Yea, I think peeps need to keep you updated so we can see it progress from here.
I’ve seen something like this done before and it was really kewel. I forget what it was, a long time ago, but it ended going around the world.
Oh, that is awesome! I will add a provision to the rules saying that I will keep a tally of who is holding it and a link to their blog up at my site. That way people can keep a watch for it and it will send some hits to blogs. That’s always good, right?
Very cool idea, I hope it comes my way!
Me too! I would love to see what you do with it!
yes, i’d love to hear updates on whats inside it…!
I will try and keep everyone updated - it is kind of exciting! I can’t wait until Hannah sees this post but she is in NZ so there is a bit of a time difference!
thats a great idea!! I cant wait to see all the changes!
Me either! I feel like a little kid at Christmas!
This is such a wonderful idea, Teeni! I received this beautiful box yesterday, with some very cute & lovely gifts inside. I hope to post about that and show pictures on my blog later this week.
I have already decided who I am going to send the box to. But I won’t tell that person, I will let it be a surprise
Now I just have to decide how to alter it before I take pictures (I will do “before” and “after” shots).
YAY! This is so exciting!
I can’t wait to see what you do with it!
wow great idea teeni!
Thanks Kaylee! Which of your mail addresses should I send those screenshots to so you can fix your time on your posts?
Very cool indeed.
You always have something cool going on here. You’re taking one the coolest aspects of the internet and kickin’ it up ten notches. The social aspect, the reaching out and touching others, and the kindness of others, captured in a box to be shared around the world. Oh you are good. 
Thanks, Peter! I do try to keep the Tea Room a happening place. LOL.
You leave the best comments!
what a great idea!!! i love this! i hope it comes my way one of these days!
I hope so too. But I bet it WILL!
Oh good choice in Hannah, she is a creative genius! What a cool game
I can’t wait to see what she does with that little box - I know it will be cool!
What a sweet touching idea! I love it and would be honored to get and give it. Awe…
Thanks, Talina! I do hope to get to see it travel to all of my blog buddies.
That’s such a great idea. I love doing stuff like this.
Me too! Don’t be surprised if it ends up with you sometime!
[...] November 5, 2008 My wonderful friend Teeni at The Vaguetarian Tea Room came up with the idea of a Blog Friendship Box. You can read her post here. [...]
My post is up!! Check it out to see how I altered the box, and who I chose to pass it on to
Oh, and of course I have mentioned the lovely gifts from you as well
Awesome! I just checked. I think we passed each other while commenting. LOL. It looks great! I am going to post an update in the next day so people can check it at your site! Thanks so much, Hannah!
That’s very cool… reminds of the traveling bra. I don’t know that I want to be a size 2 but send some instant weight loss my way…
LOL. I had heard of Olga but never really knew the whole story. I just found the website and started reading. Very cute. The weight loss kit was a fun find.
This is SOOOO you. cool. I’m looking forward to seeing its transformation and where it travels.
Me too! It’s very exciting!
Plus I know so many of my bloggy buddies are crafty and creative - it will be neat to see the transformations of the box!
It’s a lovely idea. I only hope that none of the participants are clumsy oafs like me. If anyone sent it to me I would probably accidentally sit or stand on it and squash it and then spend hours rechecking all the old photos on people’s blogs to try and reconstruct it. I am shaking at the very thought of the stress of it all!
LOL. You are a Nervous Nellie! Don’t worry - it is only cardboard after all. If you receive the box, then you should enjoy it and not stress about it. If it gets broken then you are just the lucky person to start it all up again with a new box of your choice. That’s not so terrible.
this is such a great idea… i hope it comes my way some day!
Thanks! I bet it will make its way to you!
Lovely post, and great idea! This reminds me that I do have a friendship ball, and that it’s about time to pass it on…
Thanks, MJ! You have a friendship ball? I wonder what you will put in yours.
this one!
Okay, sending it.
Leave it to you to come up with this genius idea. How absolutely lovely! Can I be counted in? FANTASTIC!
LOL. Glad you like it JQ! It’s out of my hands now but knowing how much you are loved, I’m sure it will make it’s way to you!
That’s such a cool idea! I totally want to do it. If I don’t get the box, can I maybe borrow your idea and start another one? Or even if I do get yours; I think we should get a bunch of these things floating around blogland, don’t you think?
I’m sure I’m not the first person to try something like this - so sure, why not get a bunch of them going! Maybe we should number them though so we can keep track of them easier.
Wow…I had never head of friendship balls or friendship boxes…maybe I need to get more friends…lol…anyway that is such a cute and fun idea; I can’t wait to see the pictures as it gets passed around and “personalized”
LOL. I doubt you need more friends, Missy. You are Miss Popularity! We all love you! I had never seen a friendship ball in real life either - just pictures and stories. But they originated in England so that may be why!
It will be fun to watch this thing change.
Where do I sign up?!!
LOL. Red is that you?
You don’t have to sign up for it. Whoever has it gets to send it to the blogger of their choice. But I bet it will find its way to you!
That is soooo cool, Teeni. It’s such a great idea. I’m kind of paranoid to do things like that on-line. Giving out my address. Maybe I just have ‘issues.” LOL!
But seriously, that is neat.
I hear you, Bead Den. I’m sure you can opt out if someone chooses you and you don’t feel right about it. I would only give my address to those I felt comfortable with. Hopefully, each person is going to choose a blogger they are comfortable with anyway.
I am so behind on blog reading and I am missing out! This is a fantastic idea Teeni, I look forward to following it around and seeing what you blog buddies add to it
I have missed you Kami but we all get busy with real life at times. I’m just glad you are busy and not sick.
Hey I wouldn’t be surprised to see it in your neck of the woods soon. 
what a very neat idea! I had never heard of such a thing. how fun!
I am just full of ideas. Just wish I could get paid for them. LOL. I just started following you on Twitter!
hehehe.. yeah, java queen gave me this name
i hope it comes my way!!
I definitely won’t be surprised to see it at your place. JQ is too sweet and funny. I love that she can be both and be so good at each.
I can’t wait to see where it goes and how it changes.
wow, great idea teeni, i hope to be part of this friendship box making history! i am now hopping on to hannah’s to see how it goes!
Odette, I would love to see it get to you! I know you would alter the box in some cool fashion!
Hi there, thought I’d stop by and take a peek at your blog. Thanks for stopping by mine and congratulating me on getting on Peter Parkour’s blogroll.
I have never heard of a friendship ball. This friendship box is such a neat idea! It sounds like so much fun! I can’t wait to look at the other blogs to see what it looks like.
It’s nice to meet you! Have a good day.
Hi Spatulahandle, and welcome to the Vaguetarian Tea Room. The blog friendship box seems to be making people happy - even the ones who are just watching it travel and change (like ME)! LOL. I can’t believe how much it has changed already since it first left my home. I hope it continues to bring happiness to bloggers throughout 2009!
Oh, and forgive my manners - very nice to meet you too!