Okay, everyone! Since there does seem to be some interest in this kind of box, let's get it started! I'd like to set a signup deadline of July 5th, with a contribution deadline of July 15th. Hopefully that will allow everyone enough time.
Sign up deadline: July 5th Sign up instructions: Please send me an email to kristara at comcast dot net. To join, please e-mail me the following information:
- Screen Name:
- Real Name:
- E-Mail address:
- Snail Mail address:
- Phone Number:
Deadline to have your donations to me: July 15th (if I get all donations sooner, the box will go out sooner)
Eligibility: You must be a regular member of RCS for 3 months. Regular member means posting 2 times per week or thereabouts for 3 months consecutively.
Initial Contribution Required to Participate: Participants may either mail me $5 worth of embellishments or send me $5 to go buy embellishments. Anyone who desires to send more than the minimum amount is more than welcome to. All items will need to be sorted into baggies. Items may be removed from packaging (Packaging adds a LOT of bulk), but please make them new items. If you're sending fiber or ribbon, having it on a fiber/embroidery floss card would help tremendously!
Items allowed: Remember that this is a Holiday box. All items should be theme related, something that can be used on a holiday scrapbook page or greeting card for the fall season, Halloween through New Year's. Autumn and Winter themed items can also be accepted. Below are the types of embellishments most commonly used. If I've missed any embellishments that you think should be included, please ask about them. buttons eyelets brads snaps charms beads fibers/ribbon/lace (all trimmed to 1 yard and put in baggies) tags clips stickers 3D stickers (i.e. Jolee's, etc) letter tiles/charms/beads/etc Homemade embellishments with a holiday theme such as paper piecing, clay charms, etc can also be accepted.
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 is also on the RCS snail-mail list.The box will leave my house within three days of receiving the last contribution or July 15th (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.
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. 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.
Newsgroup 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 should 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. Realistically the box should travel from person to person every week - giving 4 days in transit and roughly 3 days in hand.
Most of the above was pirated from Deb's embellishment box signup, since it all applies here, too. I hope she doesn't mind. All the standard RCS swap rules also apply here. Let me hear from you soon, and let's have fun with this!
Mel K