National Postcard Week

So, did you know that this week is National Postcard Week?  It is True.  You can follow this glorious event on Twitter with #NationalPostcardWeek .  I myself was not aware of the significance of this week until I happened to see a swap listed on Swap-bot.com for this very occasion.  I was so excited when the coordinator agreed to do a private swap with me since I am not a rated swapper. As I mentioned in an earlier post regarding Swap-bot, I am still a Newb with regard to the swapping world.  However, my kind coordinator, druideye, decided to do a private swap with me, AND she is going to provide me with my first rating!  Yes, I will no longer be considered a Newb!

So, the swap consists of sending 1 postcard a day for 5 consecutive days, Monday - Friday to one partner.  How easy is that, right?!  And the best part is my P.O. Box is getting ready to receive 5 postcards!  Super exciting!  I will begin posting photos of cards sent (and received) each day beginning this Thursday.  I want to give my postcards a chance to reach their final destination before I start posting them.  For me, half the fun of receiving postcards and letters is the surprise of what they look like - what type of stationery was used, which postage stamps did the sender  choose, how were they addressed?  Sorry, that's the way paperholics think.  So, I don't want to spoil the surprise by posting too soon should my swap partner visit this blog.  However, if you are curious about my personal choices with regard to postcards sent, be sure to check back this Thursday.  

Until then, purchase some postcards, mail a few in honor of National Postcard Week, and post a photo on Twitter with #NationalPostcardWeek - I would love to see YOUR choices!  If you would like to send me a postcard, my address is listed below.  My P.O. Box and I would appreciate your postal support.

Christy of Christopher Scott
P.O. Box 2251
Forest, VA 24551

SendSomethingGood, Swap-bot and PostCrossing

I received my SendSomethingGood package last Thursday!  It was such a thoughtful package, and I really enjoyed my individually wrapped goodies.  I am not including photos (yet), because I believe all the participants will be posting pictures on the same day near the end of the month.  We will be having a BIG Reveal - Fun! Fun!  Waiting until the end of the month will ensure that everyone's package has had enough time to reach him or her.  The package I sent, for instance, has many miles to travel and could take up to three weeks to reach my Secret Blogger.  It was mailed on April 30 though, so recipient (and no, you don't know who you are) hang in there...it's on its way!

On another note, I have signed up for two mail art exchanges on Swap-bot.com, www.swap-bot.com. No rejections so far, and I received a nice email from one coordinator welcoming me to the swap.  I will be sending out my decorated envelopes later this month for those swaps.  Photos will be included after they are complete.

Also, last week I sent out five postcards for the PostCrossing Project, www.postcrossing.com .  None have been received yet, but I will keep you posted when I receive my own postcards from this project.

PostCrossing Postcards

Flipside - Beautiful Stamps Ready for a Long Journey

#OrphanedPostcardProject, OPP

Today I mailed four adopted postcards back to their original parent - @PostMuse.  I hope anyone that has been adopted or has adopted children does not take offense to this post.  All those involved in the adoption process deserve a round of applause including biological parents, parents/families adopting, and most importantly, children that have been adopted.  How wonderful to know that your biological and adoptive parents/families want the absolute best for you!  

On a lighter note, my orphaned postcards showed up in my P.O. Box with no postal history.  Fortunately, all four of these wonderful postcards were receptive to me writing a piece of history upon their blank slate.  I then promptly returned these four little beauties back to @PostMuse.  I know they will be cherished upon their safe return home! If you would like to see a picture of my four little friends, go to Twitter and follow @CSPaperholic, #OrphanedPostcardProject.

If you would like to adopt your own Orphaned Postcards, please visit www.postmuse.blogspot.com.  It's a really fun project!

I also mailed my Send Something Good package today :)  My US postal worker, Alicia, was kind enough to use stamps for the 12+ dollars in postage rather than the printed postage label!  I was sure to say, "Thank you!"  many times during the transaction.

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!