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the unusual envelope swap

Launch gallery slideshow

Swap Coordinator:Carotte (contact)
Swap categories: Letters & Writing  Handmade  Mail Art 
Number of people in swap:7
Location:International
Type:Type 2: Flat mail
Last day to signup/drop:September 5, 2009
Date items must be sent by:September 19, 2009
Number of swap partners:2
Description:

Envelope: ( Noun )

  1. a flat covering of paper, that can be sealed, used to enclose a letter, etc.

  2. any covering, wrapper, or enclosing structure.

    So, an envelope is usually rectangular and made of paper. But that’s not what we want here. We want something unusual, plastic, fabric, transparent.. something that could leave the postal worker perplexed.

  • We will be sending one ( 1 ) envelope to two ( 2 ) partner, for a total of two ( 2 ) envelope. This is a swap for the envelope only (with at least a note inside with your user name/name of swap). So if you received an unusual envelope you’ll rate a 5.
  • Remember an envelope means it has to have an inside! We’re not swapping postcard here!
  • It has to be send as such, “naked”, not in another plain envelope, so you have to make sure the stamps and address are readable and to conform to any postal regulation of your country. Use your good sense too.

  • It’s not easy to qualifies what will be unusual or not, but I mean no plain paper. I don’t mean decoration either so it’s not just a matter of sticking a few stickers on it or using colored/magazine paper. Chances are you’ll have to handmade it, you can use flocked paper, you can wave strips of paper, make it transparent, or with plastic, you can sew it, use fabric, felt or oilcloth or make it an extra-weird shape… use your imagination!

  • Your envelope can be a one-time use only or can be reusable. It’s not profile based or anything so you can start making your envelope now, you’ll just have to add the address and a note when partners are assigned. .

  • Due to the hazardous nature of this ( 'free style' mail art ) swap you will have to take a picture of your envelope, addressed and stamped to prove that you have send it in case it does not get delivered. If you don’t your partner might give you a one and you won’t have any proof off your good faith.

Swap requirement:

  • 4.9 rating in good standing ( no recent 1’) [ if you feel an unfair rating is keeping you under 4.9 please PM me and we can talk about it ]

  • Newbies (less than 5 mail-swap sent - that exclude every e-mail swap- ) are welcomed, but have to pm me after joining (to show some commitment).

  • I will go through the list of participant before assigning partners to minimize problems, and reserve the right to ban anyone if I see it fit.. I will assist for any question or concern.

    • If you’re not sure your idea is unusual enough feel free to pm me or leave a comment below. You can also leave ideas for others.

In the end it's your partner who will judge if it's unusual enough

( If problem arise I could act as a judge, but I hope I won't be needed ).

Just remember, this is not about decorating an envelope, this is free-style mail-art.

Discussion

Carotte 08/28/2009 #

I'll comment here on things that do not qualifies for this swap:

colored/magazine paper if it's used for a normal shaped envelope. You can of course use it if it's an unusual shape/or with some twist..

beadladystamps 09/ 2/2009 #

If I were to hand carve a stamp to print on the envelope would this qualify for this swap?

happylilartist 09/ 3/2009 #

carotte, can you explain how to do a pm? (i presume that means private message?)

Carotte 09/ 3/2009 #

happylilartist: To send me (or anyone) a PM click on my/someones's username, it will lead you to the profile page. On the top right hand corner, next to the user name, there is a 'seend message' button. Hope that'll help.

beadladystamps: It's not a matter of just decorating an envelope, even an handmade stamps wouldn't do. You could encorporate this medium with something else. Make the envelope out of light-colored fabric and stamp it for exemple..

Carotte 09/ 3/2009 #

just some ideas

  • little pockets! little pockets on the outside or inside of the 'main' envelope. (but be careful that it won't get caught during the mail transit ).

    • Sew it instead off glue it ( for paper, that add the little +plus needed if you use common/ magazine paper ).Use some colorful thread or make pattern with it.

    • corrugated cardboard ( the thick one, not cardstock) shaped as an oldschool enveloppe would be unusual enough

Carotte 09/ 3/2009 #
  • seal it ( some plastics can be fused together with an iron, be careful with that, don't get burned or melt plastic in your ironing board!)

  • go all origami on that, find a way to make it with one sheet of paper, leave instruction on the outside for your partner to open it without breaking it.

Carotte 09/ 4/2009 #
  • and if it's weird enough in term of shape/functionality you can use plain paper.

I hope I'm not confusing anyone here..

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