Wouldn't this be considered an electronic swap since you're only emailing a picture to your partner, instead of sending the actual pages to your partner's house?

Yes, this most definitely should be type 1. According the the FAQ:
Type 1 - Electronic - All electronic-only swaps fall under this type. Swaps of email letters or surveys, e-cards, blog links, Etsy favorites, Flickr favorites, digital photography, etc. Email swaps are any swaps that are done over the internet and do not require postage.

Type 3 - Crafts and Packages - Any time-intensive craft swaps or swaps that must be mailed in a package. Most swaps will fall under this type. Anything sent in a box, bubble mailer, or large envelope is a Type 3.

I would agree with the hosts initial statement, her swap should count as type 3.

The swap requires you to create actual physical pages, and as pointed out by @blessedtwox the FAQs state that " any time-intensive craft swap" is a type 3.

It just so happens that you then get to keep them and you therefore share the evidence (and inspiration) with your partners by email.

If the swap merely called for emailing a few pictures of your smashbook, then yes, I'm sure Maggie would have made it a type 1 swap BUT in this instance, the crafted element of the swap is the main point of the swap.

I guess you are right. But, it would just be so easy for someone to take a picture of one they've already made or found on the internet just to get a type 3 rating. This one falls in the in-between land because, if done right, then yes, there is a time intensive craft, but you are sharing electronically.

It would be like setting up a swap to send pictures of ATCs you've made in the past, because at some point there was a craft and you did spend time on it, but nothing is being sent besides an email. Which, to my understanding would make it a type 1. But that's just how I understand the categories. To each their own.

I'm excited to work on this - I finish things better/more often within a group. I have a few ideas - I will be making my own journal with loose pages. I like to have one piece of paper in front of me, as opposed to a gaping huge blank book, and then I can add in other stuff as it occurs to me. And if this swap doesn't continue on Swap-bot, I'd love to do it as a Yahoo or Flickr group - with email prompts.

Susan I totally am right there with you!

lol "i am possessive of my work" ha! me too lol i usually make two similar of things one to send one to keep but i do love this!

I do the same as @destiney1 . I make 2 of almost everything I make so I have a copy..! I hate sending stuff that I have worked forever on.. And if I have to make for more than one partner, I make them both identical, and one for me - or I would have to make two of each so I could keep one of each..!

I think this is a GREAT idea!!!! I have some nice smash books that I have received in swaps, but never seem to have time to do anything with. :( This will force me to fill at least one. :D

Nice idea, the prompts will be great for inspiration. I bought a smash book 2 weeks ago and have only put 1 thing in it... so sad. I'm excited to join :)

I created a flickr group for anyone who would like to join and post their pictures there as well:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/2157168@N22/

Thanks so much beadqueene!!!! I encourage everyone to share on Flikr so that we may see the entire groups pages!!!