strange mail swap

so... I hope you guys all dig this one! I think it would be great to get wierdly packaged gift in the mail.

so my hobbies are sewing, knitting, rubberstamping, and other papercrafts ...check out my profile if you wanna.

you can either choose one hobby to focus on or send a variety of things for your partners many hobbies.... if you want to focus simply on one, only list that one, so you dont confuse your partner.

oh this is gonna be fun..hmmmm... my hobbies are reading, writing, painting, knitting, surfin the interweb, food....and sketchbooks. that should be good fodder.. can't wait! thanks sarah!

My mom suggested using juice or soda bottles, like half gallon or 2liter ones... how would you empty them???

It's funny that you started this swap. I was just reading and old copy of "Cloth, Paper, Scissors" where they showed a plastic pink piggybank that was mailed without a box! Then my husband and I were just talking yesterday about how the old "Ripley's Believe it or Not" books had stuff like the coconut and someone who literally mailed an arm and a leg (mannequin) to the gas company. Very cool...I'll have to think about what hobbies to list....

From Lisa Vollrath's site:

"Lay the bottle on its side, and use a utility knife to make a slit in the side of the bottle. This will allow you to slide items into the bottle without worrying about whether they're small enough to fit through the top. On my bottles, there was a flat section that was the ideal length for my cut. Try to cut about as long as your address labels will be, or maybe a little shorter. [...] labels large enough to cover the slit in the bottle, sealing it closed. I wrapped the bottle with clear tape to make sure the labels would not come off during their journey. After capping the bottles tightly, I wrapped the caps with metal tape."

Wish I could participate but I'm in Canada. Maybe next time! ;)

i like ephemera stuff like watch parts, charms, keys, hooks, unusual findings, anything with interesting shapes, metal, to be used in collage work or mixed media

dena

I sent out a bottle to my niece today, Isent it priority mail and it cost $6.05, I used a half gallon jug, and it wiegh about a pound and a half...

I did use the automatic postage machine to send it rather that dealing with someone at the counter...

I was just going to start a soda bottle swap for collag-y stuff, and this idea is even more fun sounding! So I'm in!

My passions are: collage, ATCs, altered books, altered CDs and I'd love to get bottons, interesting paper, letters from game pieces, postage stamps, odd pictures, ephemera, funky fibers... or just look at Dena's comment, I'd like anything that she listed.

I think I will look at big lots to see if I can find an interesting container, if not, a soda bottle will have to do!

I have to tell you about the first and only time I sent out mail art... I sent a dollar store small surf like board (about 15" by 15" approx.) and i stamped all over ot, and then my daughter s\poked holes in it with a metal skewer, and tied ribbons thru the holes, it was so cool! you know what i got back though? A paper plate... no fun!

The post office doesn't frown on this? Is it more expensive to mail these odd shaped packages? It sounds TOTALLY fun!!!

My husband and I pored through a store last night looking for ideas. I've got a couple of really good ones...hee hee. As for hobbies, I collect cookbooks, do altered art, collage, take photos etc etc. I love all the stuff people have mentioned above. FUN Fun Fun!

You might want to read this tid bit of information:

http://www.directcreative.com/aaexperiments.html

Postal Experiments by Jeff Van Bueren "Having long been genuine admirers of the United States Postal Service (USPS), which gives amazingly reliable service especially compared with many other countries, our team of investigators decided to test the delivery limits of this immense system."

go to the page to read more, very interesting.

just so you know....

I sent half gallon bottles to my nieces and nephews today and just paid $4.50 to ship them.... that was parcel post gets there in 7-10 days... if you want to send it priority mail it will cost $6.05

this sounds so fun....i have been searching all the discount stores and thrift shops to find something unusal. my hobbies are atc's, collage, i love cats, gardening (seeds would be fun to get), reading.... if you live in a state other than Mass an inexpesive state key chain would be fun to get too.

i can't wait to complete this..... :-)

I did a test mailing yesterday. I took an empty Heinz Ketchup plastic bottle, filled it with a few small items and mailed it off to a friend in Ohio. I got a slight chuckle from the postal clerk but he mailed it with no problem. It only cost 1.35 to mail it first class from MA to OH, but the weight was low. I will post photos on my newly created flickr account of how the item looked before I mailed it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mouseybrat/

you and your ketchup...hee heee

the best mail i have ever recieved was a single moccasin with my address taped to the bottom. inside was a note from my bestfriend saying that he had the other one for me at his house. they were even my size!!

Ketchup bottle arrived in Ohio today a-ok. transit time 5 days.

Currently I am way into making atc\'s and other embelished goodies, especially shoes! I loved my converses, but I love them better after they have been altered....

I am very excited about this swap. I think I know what I am going to use to ship mine out. I am into knitting and reading and I like to make fun greeting cards. I also do collaging. I love little goo gaas, game pieces, little figurines (ala Archie McPhee), and really nice paper. Of course, I love fiber of any kind.

hobbies & interests: Reading, writing letters, photography, scrapbooking, cooking, swiming, eating, sleeping, diy jewlery, decoing, animals, web & graphic design, sewing, writing, journals, kawaii, stationary, odd random cute things, music, night, nature

Mine is packed up and ready to go. Can't wait to hear them laughing at the post office! I'll mail it tomorrow.

Hi Dena, Sorry I didn't post my interests before this. I really like yarn arts and stickers, papers for origami, or anything that strikes you as funny.

Oops, I didn\'t post my interests either, but my profile rambles on and on anyhow. (grins) You can prolly come up with stuff from there- though right now my obsession is getting more of the \'micro fine\' (.03 or .05) coloured art pens (ZIG/Micron/Sakura) to do more ATC\'s with... I especially have my eyes on those glaze and souffle pens they have out... they\'re just wierd enough to attract my eye. I\'m experimenting with adding things to ATC\'s, so anything like that would work for me, if you can\'t think of something. A pen, A few brads/etc, or a few embellishment items that seem doable. I can find something to do with almost anything. O:)

Kim and Kayden, Your strange mail is on it's way. I did take the cheap route so it may take a while...but it will be worth it!

FarStarr, I am mailing your package tomorrow. Sorry it's a day late I forgot to bring it to work with me today. Hope you enjoy it.

Clayshaper, I mailed your package out Saturday 3/3, hope you like it.

It seems a few people havent sent yet.. if they dont get sent out I will ban from future swaps... sorry!

also please post and tell us what you got...

i wanna know what else i can send out...

I recd my strange mail from Joy today! It is a cleaning wipe container full of stickers...neat! Thank you!

seems we have a few slackers and flakes....

anybody wanna be an angel???

contact me please....

searight.... your partner was ashley duval? she has deleted her profile.... if you havent sent yet, please dont!!!!

i can be an angel if need be... let me know

I haven't recieved any strange packages yet myself...and have you received your wholesome breakfast from me yet Rachel?

got the butter dish yet???

let me know when ya get it k?

enjoy!

rachel and just say smith still havent marked sent... serenityrae22 ditched. please mark sent if you actually did! otherwise I need a few angels... Im also hosting the secret pal swap for this month and I have to angel over there so I cant afford to angel these out... anybody? I know that a few people sent late and really depending on what you sent it may take a few extra days. as patient as we all are, please post that ya sent, so we know its on the way... enjoy!

Hey Clayshaper.... did you get my package?

for everyone else... i sent mine in a round, long wine bottle carrier that i found at a local discount store.

i wish i could have thought of something more creative but wanted to get it in the mail on time.

NOw I can say what I sent. It was a bunch of fun things (stuffed animal, candy bar, memo pad, beads, fibers, pens, lotion,lip gloss etc) put in a foodsaver bag with blue (my partner's favorite color) Easter grass. I then sucked all the air out and shipped it as is...I thought it was cool. I'll put pics up in the gallery in a couple of minutes. This was a fun swap to put together!

I got an email from clayshaper letting me know that he wouldnt be around the bot for a few days.... and that he's my partner... so when I get it I'll let ya know what I get... He was my partner in a scavenger hunt swap and I got nice stuff for that one....

and yeah.... I really did send a butter dish full of little stuff... I was gonna send something bigger, but it was just screaming from the shelf at the store "Pick me! Pick me!"... I had to send it!

farstarr... kimworm is my little sis, shes sick this week and I havent seen her online too much, but her little boy is sure gonna love that frog and getting this package is sure gonna cheer her up too!!!

simply sarah.... you mentioned that you heard from Clayshaper...I sent to him... did he mention if he received?

angel package sent out to pinkdonutsrock yesterday...

I talked to him last friday 3/9... he was going to the hospital for a few days I think... but not sure on details, I hope that everything is alright, maybe I'll go email him... I'll let ya know.

thanks for being an angel... yours should be there soon, let me know whatcha get k?

hope he is ok, thanks for letting me know. and thanks for angeling me, that was sweet.

I will angel Dena...and will try to get my package out for her at the beginning of the week!

miss k ... I emailed dena tonite/this am to let her know you would angel for her... thanks a bunch!

it really blows me away that people dont swap intentionally. lately I have been hosting swaps and am super disappointed that many people with super ratings have been flaking out!

I greatly appreciate everyone who has angeled for this swap and a few others!!!!

dena miss k said she sent so keep your eyes open!

angel package arrived with pinkdonutsrock per usps delivery confirmation. hope she likes it.

HUGE THANKS to Pam in CA for sending me an angel package. It was full of tons of neat things... i can't wait to start my garden with all the seeds she sent and my hubby will appreciate the booklite, now i won't bug him if i read in bed. thanks again

wow - i am humbled by the angel (miss kp) that 'angeled' to me - what treasures! i'm in collage heaven! thank you so much - it's sad that we even need angels - too bad everyone isn't as good as their word - in the end, that's all we really have

thanks again miss kp - someday someone will repay the good deed - and thanks swap mom for all you did!

dena

dena--glad you liked the "stuff!" I'm into metals, as you might be able to tell, and find little "treasures" everywhere. Glad to share with you!

karen