November + December Hosting, 2024 Plans

Hi!

I'll be hosting very few swaps in November or December 2023. Too many "end of the year" commitments, including November's scouting for Xmas cards + postcards. I mail out cards as Mrs. Claus every year. Thanks to joint problems, I start writing around mid-November and mail out by mid-December. 

You might see me in a few, and in ones I already said I'd host a few weeks ago. I have some ideas for art-based swaps coming for next year. I may come back and compile those ideas here; if anyone sees one they like, message me! 

Proposed Swaps + Changes in 2024 

Changes

I don't think I can mail out international mail in 2024. It's just out of my budget. Please be aware that all of my swaps EXCEPT electronic swaps will be USA only. Also, this year, all 1oz swaps should be weighed. I let swaps for nearly 1oz slide on half what was agreed to this year but in 2024, I will specify requirements more closely and leave it up to swappers to make the call on ratings.

In 2024, all 1oz swaps will need to be WEIGHED close to 1oz. 1oz is the cutoff for 1 stamp, which includes the envelope and a note inside saying what swap this is and who it comes from. As such, the minimum weight of the envelope (and all things inside) must be ~.85oz. 

If you sign up for a swap that specifies an envelope must be close to 1oz, and the envelopes people receive are half an ounce including the envelope, that does not meet swap ratings. And... I get a lot of those. I know other people do, too. So this year I am telling people up-front to weigh them.

I have an electronic scale for this. It came from wal-mart, I think. Takes a couple of batteries that were included. It was maybe $20 and it's lasted about a year. You won't need to go to the post office to weigh anything. I used to use a regular, non-digital scale, but even after adjusting it, it was often off by a bit. I suggest getting a digital scale.

Swaps

What Are You Making in 2024? 6oz supply swap

Postage is ~$7-8 (or for ~$11, use Priority Mail with insurance.) Mail 6oz of craft supplies (inc envelope, weighed) that you aren't using. Nothing broken, dirty, damaged, or smelling of perfume or smoke. Profile-based but ultimately sender's choice, since a person might not have items to fit your profile. 

USA Rainbow Swap #3

Postage is 1 stamp. There will be a group one with LSRUS planned and an "open" one. Send any flat mail within the colour scheme. Items can be glitter, confetti, vellum, papers, die-cuts, stickers, etc. Colours: pink / red / orange / yellow / green / pale or bright blue / royal or dark blue / purple / black + grey / white + cream / browns, tans, etc. / rainbow + metallics.

Ephemera, Photos, + Book Pages

Postage is 1 stamp. There will be a group one with LSRUS planned and an "open" one.

Now here's the part to read carefully:

This includes real ephemera, not printouts. Ephemera are things that are typically transient, like old movie stubs (back when theatres used those,) receipts printed with ink instead of carbon (carbon is the kind that disappears with heat,) tea wrappers, facings of greeting cards, etc. You can send photographs. These must be 4x6" or smaller, and must be on actual photo paper, not printed out. Also included are book pages. This is a specific swap for specific items that may be more difficult to get in an era where we print out everything, and everything is a reproduction of everything else. Book pages are included to give some options specifically because those items can be difficult to come by in quantity. 

Autumn in May

Postage is 1 stamp. There will be a group one with LSRUS planned and an "open" one. In the Southern Hemisphere, Autumn is March-June to begin with. In the US, "Halloween-season" is October. I'd love to do Halloween in May the way we do Xmas in July. Why not just go for Autumn? Not everyone celebrates Halloween, and I'd love a more inclusive swap!

Send 2 Items / 6x Washi Samples / Paper swap

These are repeating Newbie-friendly rates booster swaps that count towards tangible mail ratings. These are useful for ratings + stars, and also for swaps that require a physical Type swap.

Playlist / Fave ______ / Accountability or Goals Checkup E-mail swaps

These are repeating Newbie-friendly rates booster swaps that do NOT count towards tangible items ratings. These are great for increasing ratings and stars, but are not useful for swaps that require a Type minimum. 

Make + Mail (Cards or PCs, 1-5 items)

Make + mail a specified number of cards or postcards. Can follow some prompt ideas or just say hello.

Themed Journal Page swaps

An artistic journal page made to fit in a 5x7" agenda. You can take an 8.5x11" piece of paper and cut it so it's 6.5x10" Fold the 10" side in half, so the paper is 5" wide and 6.5" high. 5x6.5" will fit a 5x7" agenda, like a card. Write whatever, decorate however. At least 3 sections of the item must be covered (no sticker-slapping) leaving a blank side for gluing in, if you like. Optionally, you can decorate all 4 sections and the person could tape an edge in with washi or something.

Make Good Art! Practice a Craft challenges

Make an art thing. The whole point is that none of us are pros. Mistakes are normal and are a part of learning and appreciating accomplishment! Make a Thing and include the title of the tutorial to make the thing, too. This swap encourages us to practice a small craft. Postage is often ~$3-4.

Assorted postcards + flat item in a notecard swaps

These are newbie-friendly ratings boosters and are easy to join. Postcards often have a theme like Top 10 or something, and notecards are introductions or jokes with a profile-based surprise in them. 

"Holiday" + penpal letter swaps

These typically require previous Type 2 or 3 swaps because they require a letter or something more involved or themed. National Cat Day, Intl LGBTQ-related days, and other "holidays" are typical themes. Penpal letters usually have a prompt and can be a page or so. These are usually limited to 1 stamp.