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Post by OntarioScrapper on Jan 4, 2019 5:18:26 GMT
I got 13 more cards in mail! I love getting Christmas cards even after Christmas.
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Post by roberta on Jan 4, 2019 7:26:24 GMT
canadianscrappergirlWow you have been dealing with so much, what a challenging time for you. Sorry it has been so rough. Others have said it and I agree- getting some cards after Christmas is fun. Please don’t stress over something that should be fun. Many have mentioned and I again agree- international peas are not expected to send to everyone, that would be crazy expensive. Whatever you are able to do is fine. Happy New Year.
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nicolep
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,077
Jan 26, 2016 16:10:43 GMT
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Post by nicolep on Jan 4, 2019 15:38:45 GMT
canadianscrappergirl No worries at all! Your plate has been overflowing for so long and family is definitely way more important! ((hugs))
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mommyv
Shy Member
Posts: 37
Jun 26, 2014 4:08:24 GMT
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Post by mommyv on Jan 4, 2019 21:04:36 GMT
I just want to add my voice to that of the others to say thanks to all for participating in this. I think this in my third year doing it. I love sending and receiving cards in the mail. I don't keep track of who does or does not send me a card. I just look at it as a way to spread holiday cheer! Thanks to those who organize it and make it sooo easy to just print off the labels! Anyone who knowingly takes advantage of the swap should be ashamed of themselves and I hope that receiving holiday greetings in the mail has helped your hearts grow two sizes this year! Happy New Year everyone. Ann
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Post by joblackford on Jan 6, 2019 6:15:05 GMT
Heads-up to those US participants who like planning ahead and saving money - postal rates are going up on January 27th 2019. Forever 1st class stamps cost 50 cents right now, but after Jan 27th they'll cost 55 cents each! OUCH!! There are lots of different holiday stamps available online right now if you want to stock up for the next card swap.
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Post by kimmie75 on Jan 8, 2019 15:36:50 GMT
Taking down my beautiful cards today and reflecting on this special project. I have done this for several years, but missed a year or two. I sent a card to everyone and crossed off names on the list as the cards arrived. This year I did not receive cards back from 64 people. Since this project involves a lot of time, money and effort-and we don't want anyone to feel bad about not getting cards out....I wondered if we should consider splitting the list up into batches of 50? You sign up to send cards to 50 people, or 75 and then it would be more manageable? Is anyone else open to this idea, or something along the lines of a smaller amount of cards, so that the sharing is even? If you wanted, you could sign up for two groups, making 100 cards...etc. Just an idea. Thank you to everyone who sent me cards...love them all. : )
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Post by Ellie on Jan 8, 2019 20:48:36 GMT
Taking down my beautiful cards today and reflecting on this special project. I have done this for several years, but missed a year or two. I sent a card to everyone and crossed off names on the list as the cards arrived. This year I did not receive cards back from 64 people. Since this project involves a lot of time, money and effort-and we don't want anyone to feel bad about not getting cards out....I wondered if we should consider splitting the list up into batches of 50? You sign up to send cards to 50 people, or 75 and then it would be more manageable? Is anyone else open to this idea, or something along the lines of a smaller amount of cards, so that the sharing is even? If you wanted, you could sign up for two groups, making 100 cards...etc. Just an idea. Thank you to everyone who sent me cards...love them all. : ) This is a neat idea and if this ends up happening, I'll sign up again. I don't think I should take part again otherwise. I'm one of the those that hasn't sent out to the whole list. I sent only around 65 this year. I feel bad for not sending more but, honestly, I have been a bit gutted by this thread. With the message that we didn't have to send to the entire list, I admit I thought I was OK sending to less than 100. I never received cards from the rest of the list -- not even close -- so I thought I was fine. But I totally see now how unfair that thinking was to those that make the effort to send to all. I've treasured the cards we've received and they've been a bright light in what for me is often a very sad, down, and stressful season the past few years. Particularly this past couple years as I deal with a terrible illness in the family and a very troubled teen son. I even printed out a map of the US and my 6 year old daughter colored in each state we received cards from and added little boxes with the locations outside the U.S. It is a very special project and I'll always be thankful for the joy it's brought to my family -- thank you all so much! All the best, Ellie
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Post by lisacharlotte on Jan 8, 2019 22:52:24 GMT
I think all this spreadsheet keeping is making us lose sight of the whole point of this project which is to spread pea love around the world. Be it one card or 100, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share the holiday spirit with the peas. I will always believe it’s supposed to be about the giving, not the receiving.
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peasquared
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,395
Jul 6, 2014 23:59:59 GMT
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Post by peasquared on Jan 8, 2019 23:25:02 GMT
I am sad that feelings have been hurt here. We ALL signed up for this knowing that it wasn't mandatory to send to everyone on the list. As lisacharlotte said, it was intended to spread pea love around the world.
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Post by christine58 on Jan 9, 2019 0:08:05 GMT
I think all this spreadsheet keeping is making us lose sight of the whole point of this project which is to spread pea love around the world. Be it one card or 100, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share the holiday spirit with the peas. I will always believe it’s supposed to be about the giving, not the receiving. Thank you and the more responses I see about people who kept track etc...truly TRULY makes me not want to do this. In fact...I've made up my mind after reading these last couple of posts...not participating next year. Some of the attitudes here have ruined it for me. Did I want to send more..Yes...I did NOT because my dad was very ill and he and my mom were and are my priority. I am OUT
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Post by melanieg on Jan 9, 2019 0:28:54 GMT
I bought 4 packages - 80 cards in total for next year. I am going to start buying stamps for next year. I figured out a budget for how many I can afford each month. I still wont be able to send to every single person, but more than this year! What I saved in the handmade will buy more stamps
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Post by Miss Lerins Momma on Jan 9, 2019 2:10:12 GMT
I think all this spreadsheet keeping is making us lose sight of the whole point of this project which is to spread pea love around the world. Be it one card or 100, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share the holiday spirit with the peas. I will always believe it’s supposed to be about the giving, not the receiving. THIS ☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼
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rodeomom
Pearl Clutcher
Refupee # 380 "I don't have to run fast, I just have to run faster than you."
Posts: 3,656
Location: Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma
Jun 25, 2014 23:34:38 GMT
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Post by rodeomom on Jan 9, 2019 7:26:46 GMT
I think all this spreadsheet keeping is making us lose sight of the whole point of this project which is to spread pea love around the world. Be it one card or 100, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share the holiday spirit with the peas. I will always believe it’s supposed to be about the giving, not the receiving. I'm really sad by all this counting! This was not the idea behind this when it was started back on the old board. The good thing about this was there were no rules. Send one, to 10, 20 or to all, there were no rules.
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Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,431
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Jan 9, 2019 9:02:15 GMT
I've loved all the cards I have received, especially since it was international postage for almost everyone who sent them to me. I'm still receiving them, I got another one in today's mail. And even though I've already packed up all my Christmas decorations I have left every one of those cards on my mantlepiece so I can enjoy them for a little bit longer.
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Post by mom on Jan 9, 2019 9:10:10 GMT
I am going to jump on this thread - I haven't participated in this swap in a few years (mainly because I stink at making cards) but I would love to help an International Pea get their cards mailed. If I can help anyone next year, hit me up. For real.
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nicolep
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,077
Jan 26, 2016 16:10:43 GMT
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Post by nicolep on Jan 9, 2019 17:29:39 GMT
This was my first time joining the swap and I loved it. I joined for the holiday spirit of giving and receiving! I loved sending to everyone and I loved receiving from those who sent them to me.
I didn't keep track of who did or didn't send me a card and I never will. I participated out of pure enjoyment and pure enjoyment is exactly what I received from it.
I loved the whole experience and will choose to enjoy it and look forward to it again next year! 🎄
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jan 9, 2019 18:27:10 GMT
I've loved all the cards I have received, especially since it was international postage for almost everyone who sent them to me. I'm still receiving them, I got another one in today's mail. And even though I've already packed up all my Christmas decorations I have left every one of those cards on my mantlepiece so I can enjoy them for a little bit longer. Our cards are the last thing to come down too
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scrappert
Prolific Pea
RefuPea #2956
Posts: 7,655
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Jul 11, 2014 21:20:09 GMT
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Post by scrappert on Jan 9, 2019 20:54:14 GMT
lisacharlotte and nicolep have said what I feel. I have been in this swap for years. In the first couple of years I sent to who I could, even when you are on a budget and you anticipate this swap, you still have to choose how you will cut down the list. I am sad that people felt owed that all of us should send to everyone. Sometimes, you just can't. I enjoy sending out cards and I send out to all, it seems the ones that feel slighted need more Christmas cheer then the rest of us. I will continue to send out cards every year, it's up to me if I can manage the whole list or part. You can either feel joy with the cards you do get or disgust for the ones you didn't. I will choose joy for what I get. And I will be thankful.
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PLurker
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,730
Location: Behind the Cheddar Curtain
Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Jan 10, 2019 2:04:47 GMT
go in with no expectations but just for the spreading joy and you will not be disappointed. ETA I hope those being discouraged by the counters and keeping-trackers will ignore that and keep the original idea as stated well by lisacharlotte in mind and continue to participate. (never even occurred to me to count or keep track) Looking forward to next year already!
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Post by OntarioScrapper on Jan 10, 2019 7:01:13 GMT
go in with no expectations but just for the spreading joy and you will not be disappointed. ETA I hope those being discouraged by the counters and keeping-trackers will ignore that and keep the original idea as stated well by lisacharlotte in mind and continue to participate. (never even occurred to me to count or keep track) Looking forward to next year already! i already have my card planned.
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Post by mikklynn on Jan 10, 2019 13:55:53 GMT
I'm hoping to participate this year. I've already started making a few cards!
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jan 10, 2019 18:34:51 GMT
I love seeing all the peas that want to join next year!!
I'm in a six week dog race that is run by volunteers and based on the honor system. Reading the last rule of the race made me think of our card swap. The very last rule is about complaints and the last sentence is - When planning your strategy and before submitting a complaint, please consider that the biggest tangible prize we offer is a finishers medal.
In our card swap the biggest prize is a card. Is it really worth risking ill will, losing participants or losing the swap itself when the biggest prize is a card.
Thank you to everyone that has participated and sent cards to however many you could. I have enjoyed each year and look forward to next year
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Post by kikitwo on Jan 11, 2019 1:45:07 GMT
I’ve started working on mine.
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rodeomom
Pearl Clutcher
Refupee # 380 "I don't have to run fast, I just have to run faster than you."
Posts: 3,656
Location: Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma
Jun 25, 2014 23:34:38 GMT
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Post by rodeomom on Jan 18, 2019 18:15:07 GMT
canadianscrappergirlWow you have been dealing with so much, what a challenging time for you. Sorry it has been so rough. Others have said it and I agree- getting some cards after Christmas is fun. Please don’t stress over something that should be fun. Many have mentioned and I again agree- international peas are not expected to send to everyone, that would be crazy expensive. Whatever you are able to do is fine. Happy New Year. No pea is expected to send to everyone! You send as many as you can or want too. There should be no exception that you will get as many as you send. This is the way it was set up back on the old board. You really can't call it a "swap". That was not the purpose of the list. If it has changed someone should let me know.
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,396
Jun 26, 2014 12:50:12 GMT
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Post by theshyone on Jan 19, 2019 8:43:50 GMT
I feel like I contributed to the dust up by saying I'd noticed, but it's quite innocent actually and it seems to be causing hard feelings, so I'll explain in case it helps. The "group" is largely non US cards. I got 2 from Canada. I noticed because, like the last time I participated several years ago, I was looking forward to the envelopes and cancelled postage/postmarks that I like to use for decoupaged crap I gift to my friends. But a bit unfortunately, like the last swap, nada except from a couple Canadian friends - thank you! That's why they are a "group", and that's why it's fairly conspicuous to me. Like I said, they may show up this week and then I shall be back to say I suck and I was wrong. I got so many beautiful cards, I am not and did not complain, but I don't think I am an evil scorekeeper for noticing when I was kind of looking forward to them. I wouldn't have even remembered until I saw the note in the edited OP today. I hope that helps and makes sense. No judgement or recriminations for anyone; sending them and this thread are the best part. I’m canadian but I mailed from the USA this year, I’d be noticeably absent if you were checking for Canadian stamps. So much cheaper. thankyou to the organizers. My kids enjoy the swap as much as I do. Having no extended family makes the cards extra special.
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