CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,829 
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Post by CeeScraps on Feb 12, 2017 12:00:00 GMT
Ladies, I'd like to participate in this next year. I feel very overwhelmed when it comes up in the Fall. Would someone please explain how it works now so maybe I can get a start on various cards. I know the list grows and grows as time goes on. This is where I get hung up. I'm afraid I wouldn't have time to make cards for those that sign up well into the swap. Do I send cards to all on the list? About how many people usually participate? Thanks for any insight you can give me!  |
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Post by christine58 on Feb 12, 2017 12:16:19 GMT
You can send as many or as little as you want. I did it in 2015 but this year I didn't have the time. That year there were about 100 names. When I did it, I tried to send one to whoever was overseas and then just randomly picked names. There is a cut off date to sign up so once it starts, no one is added. I made some and used some boxed ones when I participated. I plan on joining in 2017.
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,180
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
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Post by lesley on Feb 12, 2017 13:08:17 GMT
You don't need to send to everyone on the list, you send as few or as many as you wish. I would love to send to everyone, but as the majority of the members are not in the UK, the cost of posting is prohibitive, and I just can't afford it. Why not just start making cards now so that you don't have any pressure, and if you make too many - well, they don't go off!  You could also buy some stamps every now and again to spread out the cost. I'm going to try that this year. |
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Post by JoP on Feb 12, 2017 13:13:29 GMT
You don't need to send to everyone on the list, you send as few or as many as you wish. I would love to send to everyone, but as the majority of the members are not in the UK, the cost of posting is prohibitive, and I just can't afford it. Why not just start making cards now so that you don't have any pressure, and if you make too many - well, they don't go off! :  : You could also buy some stamps every now and again to spread out the cost. I'm going to try that this year.  ^^^^^ I did exactly the same as lesley last year. I'm saving £2 per week towards postage stamps so it's not so expensive. I also sent store bought cards as I knew I wouldn't have time to make them. |
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Post by mikklynn on Feb 12, 2017 14:06:53 GMT
Also, the cards do not have to be hand made.
I really wanted to participate this last time, but DH was sick and I just could not add another thing to my list.
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,829
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Post by CeeScraps on Feb 12, 2017 14:48:07 GMT
Thanks ladies! I appreciate the information.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Feb 12, 2017 15:07:10 GMT
You only send what you are able. They can be homemade or store bought. There will be enough for everyone because there are peas who will send to everyone on the list. I sometimes think our families love getting the cards more than we do. 😁
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Post by deshacrafts on Feb 12, 2017 15:31:26 GMT
You don't need to send to everyone on the list, you send as few or as many as you wish. I would love to send to everyone, but as the majority of the members are not in the UK, the cost of posting is prohibitive, and I just can't afford it. Why not just start making cards now so that you don't have any pressure, and if you make too many - well, they don't go off! You could also buy some stamps every now and again to spread out the cost. I'm going to try that this year. ^^^^^ I did exactly the same as lesley last year. I'm saving £2 per week towards postage stamps so it's not so expensive. I also sent store bought cards as I knew I wouldn't have time to make them. I loved getting the store bought ones from international Peas. It's so fun to see what kind of Christmas cards are available to them as compared to what we have. I was wondering, are most of the cards international peas use A2 size or do you have larger cards as well? Silly question, but most of the ones I received from international Peas were the smaller size. |
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Post by JoP on Feb 12, 2017 16:15:37 GMT
deshacrafts we do have different sizes of Christmas cards in the UK - but the Royal Mail charges postage by size and weight which is probably the reason the cards were smaller. If I recall correctly the cheapest rate is £1.05 per stamp then incremental increases up to £3.30 per large card 
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Post by deshacrafts on Feb 12, 2017 18:09:03 GMT
deshacrafts we do have different sizes of Christmas cards in the UK - but the Royal Mail charges postage by size and weight which is probably the reason the cards were smaller. If I recall correctly the cheapest rate is £1.05 per stamp then incremental increases up to £3.30 per large card Thanks for the info. I was wondering if that might be the answer. |
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my3freaks
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,206
Location: NH girl living in Colorado
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Post by my3freaks on Feb 12, 2017 18:26:16 GMT
I think there were about 130 peas signed up last year. I procrastinated, so I didn't have time to make them. Hopefully I will plan better this year, I would like to make them because it's been too long since I've made cards. I gotta try to remember to start adding a book of stamps when I get groceries. I sent to everyone on the list last year, but bought all the postage at once. That was painful! So was the ages spent in line to get the stamps and then putting them on all the envelopes! Much rather do that at home.  |
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Feb 12, 2017 18:53:32 GMT
Great idea getting started early!!
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Post by anniefb on Feb 12, 2017 19:03:52 GMT
Great idea to get started early. I'd like to take part this year.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 15:55:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 19:04:53 GMT
In October the sign up will open for two weeks. We have averaged about 120-130 each year...I think this past year we had 20 international.
You send to as many as you want. I save 10 a month from January to November...actually I have a change jar and throw my change into it. By November I have well over 100$ score.
I get my cards from hobby lobby at 40% off amd start making them in early September- November a couple here and there. They can be homemade, store bought, computer desgined, scrapbook inspired, stamp amd so on...
I enjoy it and it's a highlight from Thanksgiving to Christmas. My youngest loves it.
Have fun and hope you join this year!
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janeinbama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,174
Location: Alabama
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Post by janeinbama on Feb 12, 2017 21:22:22 GMT
I have participated the last two years and it makes the month of December so much fun. You get Christmas mail everyday from all over the world! The outside envelopes are as pretty as the cards.
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Post by jennoconnell on Feb 12, 2017 22:43:02 GMT
This was my first year participating, and it brought so much joy to my mom to receive so many beautiful notes and cards from the Peas. I agree with the tip mentioned earlier about starting to buy stamps now.
Whether you buy or make your cards, try to make sure they are standard size and as flat as possible to avoid the need for additional postage. My cards were very dimensional, and that was an issue when I mailed them.
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,829
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Post by CeeScraps on Feb 12, 2017 22:45:06 GMT
Thanks so much for all of the tips! I guess I'll start with stamps!
How much is international postage?
Thanks again...
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 15:55:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 22:47:58 GMT
Thanks so much for all of the tips! I guess I'll start with stamps! How much is international postage? Thanks again... I think I spent about 20-25 to mail to Canda, Australia, japan, Sweden and such. |
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
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Post by scrappington on Feb 12, 2017 23:14:23 GMT
Very interesting. I may consider this for this year.
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Post by Restless Spirit on Feb 13, 2017 0:22:01 GMT
In the US, you can purchase a Global Forever stamp. It is currently $1.15. The Global Forever stamp can be used to mail a one-ounce letter to any country to which First-Class Mail International mail service is available. I've participated for several years. Sometime I purchase my cards, sometimes I make, or it's a mix of both. I really want to make mine this year. I always send to everyone, and receive from about 2/3 of the participants. I enjoy sending the cards. Getting cards in return is a happy bonus. I agree with trying to make them as flat as possible. One year I had put some little gems on my cards one year and they tore through the envelopes, even though I had handmade my envelopes with heavy card stock. I also agree with everyone that said not to worry about whether you make or buy cards. That's part of the fun of receiving the cards - the surprise of what the card will look like. I don't recall ever receiving a duplicate card and that is truly amazing! |
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Post by peasapie on Feb 13, 2017 0:30:53 GMT
Gee - i'm glad you brought this up. I might start gearing up for it this year myself. I've never done it.
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Post by justkat on Feb 13, 2017 0:40:22 GMT
I've participated for several years. I love the exchange!
It's pretty simple. No written rules, so far as I know. The only rules are common sense: nothing lewd, nothing offensive, post cards so they arrive before Christmas etc.
You may send cards of any type: store-bought, hand-made, postcards, photocards etc.
You may send to as many or as few as you wish.. Usually I'll figure out a card budget. Using that budget I'll send cards to the peas I interact with, then I'll send a card to anyone who sends me one.
Some years I've sent to everyone on the list and others I've only sent a couple dozen.It's entirely up to you.
It's a lot of fun. Please don't stress about it. Seriously nobody participating is going to show up on your doorstep upset cause they didn't receive a card from you. :-)
Sign up when it's time. Send as many cards as you want. Enjoy knowing those who receive them will have a smile on their face. Enjoy the ones you receive, it's great getting a fun surprise in the mail.
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Post by christine58 on Feb 13, 2017 0:42:29 GMT
Thanks so much for all of the tips! I guess I'll start with stamps! How much is international postage? Thanks again... You can buy "forever" international stamps. That's what I did. They were under $1.50 |
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Post by birukitty on Feb 13, 2017 0:53:29 GMT
I've participated for the past 3-4 years and I have to say it is the highlight of my Christmas season. It is such fun to check the mail everyday and get cards from the Peas from all over the country and around the world.
So far I've bought my cards but this year I am really hoping to make them. I try to send to as many international Peas as I can thinking they probably don't get as many cards, and this year I was able to send to them all which made me feel good. There turned out to be only 19 which really wasn't that many. Having the Global Forever Stamp makes it much easier too since it is all the same cost no matter what the destination is-saves time at the post office. I do send a card to everyone who sends me one, and then see how much I can budget for. Every year I try to send more. I think this year I sent out 100, somewhere around that number.
I save the cards every year and tie a ribbon around them with the year noted. No way am I going to throw away such beautiful homemade cards! It is amazing the creativity and beauty the Peas come up with!
The rules are easy. Homemade or store bought. Religious or secular. As many or as few as you are able.
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