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Low Stress, No Pressure Pocket Letter Swap - US On

Launch gallery slideshow

Low Stress, No Pressure Pocket Letter Swap - US On
Swap Coordinator:LMeowkin (contact)
Swap categories: Challenges  Crafts  Art 
Number of people in swap:58
Location:Regional - USA
Type:Type 3: Package or craft
Last day to signup/drop:June 30, 2015
Date items must be sent by:July 7, 2015
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

Let's run this again - I just can't get enough of pocket letters!

Want to get into pocket letters, but are having trouble with the themes? Well, then this swap is for you!

Welcome to the low-pressure pocket letter swaparoo. What does low pressure mean? It means the pocket letter design is sender's choice. Don't feel like looking at your partner's page for ideas? Then don't! Remember - this is a no stress swap. Get 'er done and get 'er sent.

So what are you going to do? Let's break it down:

1) Use a 9-pocket card page (the kind used to protect trading cards - see image for reference). I heard tell that some people try to make these babies - in this swap, please use a commercial pocket letter holder.

2) Decorate each pocket - in other words, no pockets should be without a filling of some kind. Basically, colorful paper as a background, and then decorate them in any way you see fit or matches your crafting ability.

Need to get an idea or two or three? Just Google "pocket letters" and you'll see tons of them out there. Don't let the fancy ones hold you back - remember, this is low pressure. No need to be ultra fancy, but if that's your style, then fancy on!

3) Send the darn thing! So far, almost all of mine have only cost about 70 cents to send. Be sure to tape the sucker up well, and you may want to venture to the post office counter to be sure of the price, etc.

Things important enough to mention:

A) A letter/note is NOT required, but would be nice of you to include, if you feel so inclined.

B) Ideas for things to put in the pockets: tags, stickers, ephemera, tea, trading cards, etc. Every pocket should contain something, but remember: art is something. Each pocket doesn't have to have a gift inside - but it should be decorated nicely if there is no gift.

C) No promises for angeling the swap. If I can, I will. If I can't, I'm sorry. Do let me know if you need an angel, though - I will definitely do my best!

D) Remember, this is a low pressure swap and art is subjective. If you are a picky person, this is not the swap for you. Keep in mind this is sender's choice - not yours.

Requirements:

I would like to make this newbie-friendly, so rated newbies with a completed profile are welcome to join. And by "completed" profile, that means filled out - not just a sentence or two or three.

Other than that, I am not going to give this a minimum rating, however will review each profile and ban where appropriate. (Recent 1s and 3s are more than likely going to get banned.) If you have an issue with someone, private message me. Nasty comments below the swap are not welcome.

No APO addresses.

Discussion

amathyst7 06/14/2015 #

would it be okay if I use some of your information to host a future pocket letter swap?

user2637 06/15/2015 #

For the #2 above, does "decorate them in any way you see fit or matches your crafting ability" mean that the "colorful background paper" needs to have at least some decoration on it? I like mine decorated!

MamaD 06/15/2015 #

I really want to join, but will be on vacation those dates. Hopefully you'll host more!! :D

Elysandrra 06/16/2015 #

Do you mail it folded up in a standard envelope or in a large manila envelope so it's flat?

LMeowkin 06/19/2015 #

@amathyst7 I would probably prefer you use your own verbiage - no cutting and pasting, please!

@user2637 - Not sure what you mean by that. Some people might put a sticker on it, or leave it blank. The front most definitely needs to be decorated and/or filled with something.

@Elysandrra - However you want to send it is the right way.

LMeowkin 06/19/2015 #

@user2637 - in rereading your question, I think I see your concern. In this swap, the front pockets are to be decorated. " Decorate them in any way you see fit or matches your crafting ability" means that some people aren't very skilled, so they may be using quotes, stickers, brads, die cuts, etc. Others might actually draw on the cards or paint or... whatever their artsy way is.

The back of the pockets could be decorated or could just be colorful slips of paper or filled with goodies. This is Low Stress, No Pressure - so I don't want to force people to decorate the backs. This is the kind of swap for people interested in pocket letters to join in order to get their feet wet.

user2637 06/19/2015 #

Thanks!

Noona 06/19/2015 #

I'm already working hard on this!

emwall24 06/23/2015 #

Just wondering why APOs are not allowed. It doesn't cost any more to mail to an APO than to a regular U.S. address. It might take a 3-5 more days to receive your letter, but that's the only difference.

ladydy5 06/23/2015 #

Never thought about APO addresses. This would mean emwall that you are not in the USA but it can be mailed to your APO. Are you listed on swapbot with that APO?

LMeowkin 06/23/2015 #

@emwall24 - I used to be in the Army, and had an APO address for many, many years. Mail tends to get lost more often in the APO/FPO system. I'm attempting to reduce risk for the swappers.

I'm sorry if this offends you - and I get it, being as I used to have an APO address myself. However, on the other hand. so many mail pieces go missing in the regular mail system - let alone the APO/FPO system. As I said, I'm just trying to reduce risk - which is also why I never make my swaps international as well.

slamophile 06/23/2015 #

Hi @LMeowkin

This is my very first pocket swap - and - I need a little clarification about this statement you made - "the front pockets are to be decorated"

Does this mean the outside of the plastic pockets are to be decorated, too? -

Not just decorations in the inside of the pockets, so that the decorations show thru the pocket?

But, the outside of the plastic is to be decorated, too?

Sorry - As I say - I'm really new at this ...

And one more thing -- I don't know if I have tons of embellishments, here, - but - I'll really do the best I can...

Because of that (not too many embellishments, to decorate the outside of pockets) do you think I can still sign up? -- I mean - I'll try my best - I wouldn't ever want to send a junky swap - but - I'm not sure my swap will be as pretty as everyone else's might be ..

emwall24 06/23/2015 #

@LMeowkin - I understand your concern. Thanks for explaining...my personal experience has been more delays than anything lost, provided the address is used exactly as given, but I do understand trying to reduce the risk and frustration level.

LMeowkin 06/23/2015 #

@slamophile - have you looked at any of the pocket letter pictures via Google images, or any of the Youtube tutorials? If you haven't yet had a chance, please do take a look and you'll see what I mean by decorating the front pockets.

Here's a great template - although not set in stone (you can put what you want in whatever pocket you want) - but it's a good starting place:

What are pocket letters?

Pocket Letter Q&A

Pocket Letter Guide

user2637 06/25/2015 #

@slamophile - The "front" means when you are looking at the front of the PL. Typically, you can decorate cardstock, et. al, and put that in the pockets. Some people put a few decorations on the outside too!

slamophile 06/28/2015 #

Thanks @user2637 -- That's what I was wondering about - If we were required to decorate the front of the pockets, too. Thanks for the info.

Momskii 06/30/2015 #

Was just looking at all the videos & I am so hooked on this. But....I'm not home so I'll have to wait till the next.

btmwest 07/ 2/2015 #

I'm laughing.. we got you again LMeowkin!

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