Christmas in July Box

It´s warm and summery out now, but it will be the holiday season once again before we know it. Let´s have some fun celebrating a mini Christmas in July!

For this swap, you will be sending one partner a medium-sized Priority Mail box (the one that costs $16.10 to mail) stuffed with Christmas-related items.

Once you have signed up, get a medium flat-rate priority box from your post office and fill it with miscellaneous Christmas items. Most of it will probably need to be taken from what you already have, since winter holiday items are not generally in stores right now. Items can be new or gently used, purchased or nicely handmade. Thrift store finds, if in good shape, are fine.

Examples of things to include: those Christmas tree ornaments that just don´t fit in with your own décor, a stack of leftover unused Christmas cards, holiday-colored or –patterned craft supplies, plush toys in Christmas garb, a Christmas-themed scarf or piece of jewelery, a little Nativity set, a book or magazine about holiday stuff, a gingerbread scented candle, a string of holiday lights, an ugly (or lovely) Christmas sweater, silk poinsettia flowers, a holiday mug or plate, to-from tags, Christmas stickers, a festive snow globe, etc.

Secular and/or religious Christmas items are acceptable—please don´t join if you are picky about one or the other. You may even throw in a New Year´s, Hanukkah, Solstice, or other winter holiday-themed or just winter-themed (for example, a snowman not wearing festive garb) item, though most of what you send should be related to Christmas. Factory-sealed holiday candy or treats are also acceptable as long as they are still in good condition and not expired.

There must be at least 5 different types of items in the box (so if you send 6 unused Christmas cards, that counts as only one item), but send many more if that is what it takes to completely FILL that box. Pad any breakable items adequately, but don´t use wadded up paper or bubble wrap just to fill empty spaces in the box. Items do no need to be giftwrapped.

Be thoughtful as to what you put into the package. Remember, you will be spending a good 16 bucks to mail it, so strive to make the contents worth the postage. Send a nice mix of items that you would be happy to receive. (Items are sender´s choice, but please check your partner´s profile for any strong dislikes, allergies, etc.) Aim to make the opening of your box a delightful Christmassy experience in the middle of summer.

Also plan on being a gracious, fairly-rating recipient, and to re-gift any items you receive that you may not particularly care for or are unable to use.

Partners will be assigned on July 10th and packages should be mailed soon after that, by July 18th.

A minimum rating average of 4.99 is required to participate, and you should have at least ten completed and rated (as 5s) type-3 swaps under your belt. (If your rating is slightly below that and you still want to participate, pm me and we can talk.) I do check profiles, and I reserve the right to ban anyone for any reason.