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Destash Pocket Letter - USA Only

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Destash Pocket Letter - USA Only
Swap Coordinator:LMeowkin (contact)
Swap categories: Challenges  Crafts  Handmade 
Number of people in swap:71
Location:Regional - USA
Type:Type 3: Package or craft
Last day to signup/drop:July 6, 2015
Date items must be sent by:July 15, 2015
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

Look, I love pocket letters. I really do. I'm starting to feel like I'm a little too obsessed... mostly with (cough, cough) buying stuff for pocket letters.

Are you like that, too? If so, this swap is for you!

This is the challenge: use your stash - and only your stash - to make this pocket letter.

No buying stuff! Use your paper. Use your pens. Your paints. Your stamps. Your stickers. Your chipboard. Your die-cuts. Don't even THINK about buying anything for this pocket letter. Rest assured, you have what you need right there in your stash.

Unlike the other pocket letter swaps I've hosted, this one is different in that you will also include a letter in which you'll tell your partner about some of the stuff you used. Maybe you finally broke out that cool feather you'd been saving for... well, something. Or maybe you decided to use that stamp your grandma gave you for Christmas. Or maybe you bought a stack of paper the last time Michael's had a sale, and it's just been sitting in your craft space, waiting for you to cut it up into pocket letter pieces...

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.

Try to stuff the pockets with items from your stash. No, you don't have to make them bulge - but the challenge is to use your stash... share your stash... destash your stash!

3) Send the darn thing! So far, almost all of mine have only cost about 70 cents to send - the super bulky ones about 92 cents. 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 is required. It doesn't have to be lengthy, but it should cover a couple of items you included in the pocket letter, if only to say how long you've waited to use that particular item or whatnot or whatever.

B) Ideas for things to put in the pockets: tags, stickers, ephemera, tea, trading cards, feathers, sequins, washi tape, twine, love. 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 with items from your stash 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, 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:

As I'm not sure newbies would have much of a stash, I will say no newbies, unless their profile shows that they clearly have some papercraft swaps under their belts and the good ratings to match.

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/FPO addresses.

Rating:

If your partner sent you a pocket letter and sent it in time, that's a five. It doesn't matter if you like it - it's a five.

Now... get started! Yes, you can start now... no need to look at your partner's profile. You can even write a generic letter, you know, "Dear you...". (But if you want to personalize it, good on you!)

Discussion

Bybruton 06/23/2015 #

Since I've reached my "craft supply" budget for the YEAR already, this is the perfect swap for me. Can't wait to create and DESTASH! Happy Swapping!

cindycake 06/30/2015 #

I'm so excited! I've already made my letter haha. It was super fun going through my stash and finding things that matched :)

tammielynn1969 07/ 1/2015 #

Does this one have a theme

Zimtquark 07/ 2/2015 #

An international version of this swap would be great ;)

thebragal 07/ 3/2015 #

You might want to consider allowing handmade pockets as long as they look professionally done. This allows for greater creativity for participants but maintains quality at the same time. I just ordered a Fuse tool from WRMK and once I get the hang of it, I am dying to use it on pocket letters to seal in contents like glitter, seed beads or sequins. Or make custom sizes to include things I don't want to cut down. Just a suggestion!

tammielynn1969 07/ 4/2015 #

This is my first pocket swap I hope someone will help if I have questions? ??? Also I asked if it has a theme or is it destash theme?

urocyonfox 07/ 4/2015 #

I think I want to try this one out, I've never made a pocket letter before and since this one is a destash one I think there would be less stree to have a certain theme to it

Jk 07/ 4/2015 #

I'm a newb on swap bot but I'm not new to craft and I have loads of stuff I could de stash. Could I join?

sassafrass 07/ 4/2015 #

For anyone not in the U.S., I've set up an International version:

Destash Swap - Int'l

Thanks much @LMeowkin !

SuZignomeMoM 07/ 4/2015 #

I read this and had to laugh. So far after swapping something like a dozen pocket letters the only thing I bought was the pockets themselves. I am thinking I have waaaaaaaaay too big a stash to start with. Even have the varieties of tea to fill that pocket.

KarenLaneWV 07/ 5/2015 #

I barely made it in time to sign up for this...life has been very busy lately and I haven't been in any swaps for a while. This should be fun!!

PurpleButterfly 07/ 5/2015 #

I will angel if you need for me too, but hopefully you won't.

starrycat 07/ 8/2015 #

Just a note for everyone to consider- I have made and received several PL now on the Bot, and never have I once seen a PL mailed for less than a package rate; if you fold your pocket letter to place in a business sized envelope and the envelope is more than 1/4 inch thick after doing so, you will need to send this as a package rate, which is usually $2.52ish depending on the ounces. I recommend taking this to the PO to mail over the counter to ensure the swap is mailed with the correct postage :)

ArtsOnFire 07/11/2015 #

Starrycat is right. I received a PL from another site with 1.56 in postage due. Get that sucker weighed!

pbcquiltlover 07/16/2015 #

This one went into the mail yesterday but I forgot to update the register after I got back - it's on its way!

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