Anyone up for a third round? :-) Here goes! Even if you've participated in my non-theme embellishment box, please read through the entire instructions/details. I know there's a lot of info, but there's a few new details that I've added. It won't take you but a minute or two to read through, so take the time to read this entire post before you sign up. By signing up, I assume you've read the instructions and know what to do and not do. For those of you new to this round robin swap, I use a Cropper Hopper double sided embellishment organizer box. One side is for flat pieces, the other for smaller pieces. Knowing that will hopefully make some of the details make sense. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Embellishment Box Information Round 3
Hostess: Deb (bsrdjr AT sbcglobal DOT net) Eligibility: Must be a "regular" member for 3 months to sign up. Registration Period Ends: Jan. 26, 2007 (see below for info to send me) Submission Date: Feb. 11, 2007 (please email me when you mail your contribution) Re-Mail Date: NLT Feb. 16, 2007
Materials/Details
This box will be filled with various embellishments.
Initial Contribution Required to Participate: Participants may either mail me $5 worth of relatively new embellishments or send me $5 to go buy embellishments. For this round, please (if at all possible) make them small embellishments, like buttons, brads, eyelets, fiber, ribbon, etc. The sticker side of the plastic box is full, full, full, FULL.
Embellishments may include: Buttons, eyelets, brads, snaps, charms, beads, fibers/ribbon/lace (1 yard pieces in individual baggies), label holders, safety pins, handmade tags and paper piecings, clips, 3D stickers, letter tiles/charms/beads/etc, and FULL sticker sheets.
Items NOT allowed:
Tools of any kind - this isn't a tool swap, it's an embellishment swap Stamps - not because I'm partial, but because they take up too much space in the plastic box Punches - again, they take up too much space in the plastic box. Punchies (the pieces you get when you use a punch) are allowed, just not the actual punch tool themselves. Spools of ribbon - ALL ribbon/fiber/lace MUST be cut into 1 yard pieces and placed in plastic baggies, or better yet, wrapped on a fiber card. Large, bulky items - they simply take up too much space in the plastic box. If things are loose in the shipping box, they can be easily crushed, wrinkled, smashed, or worse yet, broken. If it won't fit in the plastic box, don't put it in.
NOTE: The embellishments allowed and not allowed go for your initial contribution AND when the box reaches you.
To join, please e-mail me the following information:
- Screen Name:
- Real Name:
- E-Mail address:
- Snail Mail address:
- Phone Number:
- Any dates you can not receive the box (i.e., vacation, out-of-town, moving, etc):
The box will leave my house within three days of receiving the last contribution or February 16th (whichever comes first). I will try to work out the route so that the box will be sent from you to the next closest person to save postage. It might not always work out that way, but I will try my best.
When the box reaches you: Take out what you want, but replace the items one-for-one. You do not have to replace an item with an identical item, but let's please try to be fair to the participants at the halfway point and beyond. It doesn't have to be buttons for buttons, just the same number of items. If you take out 10 things (5 brads and 5 eyelets for instance), simply add 10 items to the box, even if it's 10 buttons. If you see there are lots of a particular item such as stickers or buttons, please do not replace what you take out with that type of item. The last person will not be happy with an entire box of stickers or of buttons. Items should be relatively new to the market. Please do not add "old" CM stickers to the box, you would not believe how many of those ended up in the scrapbox, no one wanted them! This is as much about pleasing yourself as it is about making sure that the person that gets the box after you is thrilled that they got it too.
Newgroup Posting Requirements: When you receive the box and take out what you want, please post a note to the newsgroup letting everyone know you have the box. Once you have had a chance to look at it, let the group know what you took out and put in and at the end of that email, let us know who is getting it next. You should also email that person privately. If you don't get an answer to the email within
2 days, you should email the hostess so that she can try calling the person to see what is going on. For all we know her computer might have crashed. The box will need to leave your hands within 3 days of receiving it.
The individual receiving the box next should, if at all possible, answer both the email and the post to say that she is or isn't ready to receive the box. A person that is not ready to receive the box will either be put after the person immediately following them on the list or at the end of the list at the hostesses discretion.
Your Honor and Reputation are at Stake! A swapbox is sent out based upon the honor system. If you do not think you can send it on in a timely manner, please consider sitting it out. You can only keep the box for a maximum of 3 days! Realistically the box should travel from person to person every week - giving 4 days in transit and 3 days in hand.
Mailing Instructions: I will e-mail my snail-mail address out to all participants after the sign-up deadline. If you join and want to send items sooner, my address in also on the RCS snail-mail list.
The box will leave my house within three days of receiving the last contribution or February 16th (whichever comes first). I will try to work out the route so that the box will be sent from you to the next closest person to save postage. It might not always work out that way, but I will try my best. After I ship the box to the first person, I will email all participants letting them know exactly how much the shipping costs will be, that way no one is surprised when they get the box. I will use a USPS Flat Rate Priority box, USPS Click-n-Ship, and insuring for $100. You are required to insure the package for $100 and get a tracking number. Priority shipping is not required, but is suggested. By using Click-n-Ship, you get a free tracking number, but Click-n-Ship is not required. I use it for the free tracking number and the fact that my postman will pick up my package. You may still use Click-n-Ship, get the free tracking, and pay for your package at the post office yourself. It's up to you. All I require is the $100 insurance, and tracking number. Any other questions, just ask!
THE FOLLOWING IS "EXPECTED" OF "ALL" RCS ROUND ROBIN SWAPS: There is quite a bit of money invested into our swap boxes, so please do not forget to insure the box and get a tracking number. Should the box be lost in the mail between your house and the next recipient, it will be your responsibility to get the money back through the insurance claim and start a new box.
It is suggested to our hostesses, that the actual swap box used, be sturdy and be able to fit in one of the $8.10 Priority boxes (you can put up to 70 lbs in it and we know how quickly an embellishment box can get heavy). If you use the USPS Click-n-Ship service to create the label online, you can get free tracking. Besides the boxes are free (you can even ask for them to be delivered to you by ordering them online) and you can get free pick up of your package by the post office. You have the choice to pay for postage online with your credit card or to simply print out the label without postage and then go to the post office and have them weight the parcel. Either way, as long as you do it online at