Send Something Good - Ready for Take Off

Today is the deadline for all Send Something Good participants to photograph their packages ready to be mailed on Monday.

Send Something Good Package

My Secret Blogger's (SB) package is ready for take off or at least a fabulous send off.  Since it will have to travel quite a long way, the expected postage is a little pricey.  However, I am sure my SB is worth it.  So, I was wondering if anyone has mailed a package of this size which will require approximately $15 in postage with just stamps alone?  Since it is over 13 ounces, I will have to take it to the post office, and I am concerned that I may be strongly encouraged to use the printed postage label.  Being a collector of canceled stamps myself, I would love to use many different postage stamps on my SB's package just to "doll it up" a little more.  Any words of advice with regard to winning over my US postal worker?

Rejected by Swap-Bot

After securing a P.O. Box last week, I was excited to sign up for my first mail swap on Swap-Bot.com.  I searched through the available swaps and found one for mail art that looked fun.  I had been thinking about how I wanted to decorate my envelope and, planned to work on it this week.  However, this morning I checked email and discovered that I have been removed from the swap because I am a "Newb" .  That's right, I do not have a rating yet since I am new to Swap-Bot, and the coordinator has apparently been burned by Newbs in the past.  I was encouraged to get five or six swaps under my belt, build a positive rating, and then check back with the coordinator.  I was very disappointed.  So glad the Send Something Good Project did not exclude me due to Newb-ness.

Creating Something Good for my Secret Blogger (SB)

Today I sat down and thought through what items I plan to include in my Secret Blogger's package.  I have a definite game plan now!   I am really enjoying getting to know my blogger through this secretive process.  Rather than just going out and buying items on his/her "Like List", I spent some time this afternoon handcrafting a few items to include.  Wonder what I will receive in my own package?!

Christy's Likes and Dislikes for the Send Something Good Project

I am so envious of Kaitlyn's beautiful display of her likes...see yesterday's post for more information. It is such a beautiful graphic display.  One day I hope my blog will be so visually appealing.  However, being new to this arena, it is going to take some time to acquire those graphic skills.

With that said here are my likes....and dislikes.

Christy Likes:

• Architecture
• Art
• Paper Transformations - Origami, Pop-Up Books, Paper Sculptures, Mobiles
• Postage Stamps - New or Canceled
• Typography
• Artists' Books
• Mail Art
• Postcards
• Letterpress Anything
• Artisan Papers
• Unusual Gift Wrap
• Stationery
• Notebooks
• Pencil Bags
• Small Containers
• Handmade Envelopes and Liners
• Rubber Stamps
• Journals
• Washi Tape
• Twine
• Labels

Christy Dislikes:

• Unicorns  - creepy
• Clowns  - creepier 
• Really "Cute" Items - including items that spell Cute or Country with a "K"
• Fairies - too Cute
• Japanese Animation - I just don't get it!
• Altered Objects/Images that are dark, violent, or vulgar in nature - Architects are dark enough. Please don't drag me down that path any farther.

I am loving this project to date.  I have so many package ideas for my Secret Blogger (SB). T.G.I.F....now I can start pulling together my SB's Package!

Send Something Good Link Up

Interested in viewing participants' blogs for the Send Something Good Project?  See the link below to Kaitlyn Patience's blog isavirtue .  Kaitlyn, Gentri Lee and Kristy organized a wonderful Link Up for those bloggers busily gathering packages to send to their Secret Package Pals later this month.  This is so exciting!
isavirtue: snapshot | send something good notes: project

P. O. Box

Today I treated myself to a P.O. Box, and signed up for my first mail swap through Swap-bot.com! I have been wanting my own P.O. Box for sometime now. That is now the address where I will retrieve Fun Mail - swaps, pen pals, and paperholic rated mail. No bills allowed! This feels almost decadent to have my very own P. O. Box. Being a mother and wife, it has been quite awhile since anything of mine has not been fair game for all to plunder. When I received the keys to my Box, I was immediately reminded of my college P.O. Box. I checked that box daily and generally received something that made me smile. I wrote many letters during college and received many in return. However, my biggest surprise was how often my Dad sent me cards and notes while I was away at college. Dad must have sent me at least two cards every week. And prior to leaving for college I was not really a "Daddy's Girl.". My Dad was just so genuinely excited for me to go to college that he wanted to ensure I remained happy during that first year away. That is what parents do for their children...everything in their power to make them happy. And trust
me, my Mom has done more than her fair share in that department too. So, I am not in college anymore, but I am still looking forward to checking MY P.O. Box for goodies in the future. Let the snail mail begin!

Send Something Good Begins!

I was so excited to wake up and see the name and address of my Secret Blogger (SB) ! I already have several ideas about items to include in my SB's package.

As I was reading through Kaitlyn's mailing tips, I was excited to see she encouraged everyone to use postage stamps and not printed postage labels. See, I collect canceled postage stamps! No, they are not in albums, but they are sorted and organized in boxes. Years ago, my in- laws asked my husband if he wanted boxes of canceled stamps they had collected while working for a company that received oodles of postcards. He was less than excited, but my eyes lit up! It immediately brought back memories of my stamp book as a kid. Besides, stamps are like little works of art, and architects love that kind of thing! So, I then took on the daunting task of organizing the stamps and sorting out individual collections for all of my in-laws's grandchildren, including my own two boys. The boys aren't currently that interested in their collections, but I keep adding to them. We can't all be scrapbookers...some of us are stamp people.

So, to my Secret Blogger, please place real postage stamps on my package! That counts as a special gift to me : )