TCH: Pocket Letter

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Group:	The Christian Homestead
Swap Coordinator:	TwinMom (contact)
Swap categories:	Themed Letters & Writing Religious
Number of people in swap:	6
Location:	Regional - USA
Type:	Type 3: Package or craft
Last day to signup/drop:	May 11, 2015
Date items must be sent by:	May 29, 2015
Number of swap partners:	1
Description:
Pocket letters seem like such fun. I haven't made one yet and I am really wanting to give it a try. So this swap will be for all those who also want to make one. For this swap, you will create a pocket letter with a Christian homestead theme. You can use your imagination and do this anyway you wish. Think scripture, vegetables, farm animals, crafts, food... Any thing you would find on a Christian homestead. You will use a clear 9 pocket page. Decorate each of the little pockets in some way. You only have to decorate the front. You do not have to include any decorations on the back. That will be up to the sender. You may decorate the pocket with scrapbook paper, ATC's, scripture cards... This is sender's choice. One pocket should be decorated with who the pocket letter is to, who it is from, the date and if possible, the swap name. Also, two of the pockets should contain a scripture and be decorated. The rest of the decorated pockets are sender's choice. In one pocket, add a letter that tells about you (your family, homestead, garden, crafts, favorite Bible verse...). Fold this to fit in one pocket. To each of the little pockets, add a surprise for your partner. One pocket will be the letter. The rest of the surprises are sender's choice. You may put the surprise in the front or back of the pocket. Some examples of what to send are stickers, washi samples, tea, sticky notes, die cuts, tags, pretty paper, ATC's, pretty paperclips, recipes, stories, poems, songs, stamps, things you think your partner would enjoy... This is a sender's choice swap. I am making it a type 3 since we will be decorating each pocket. Also, I have read in comments on other swaps to be sure and tape your envie very well. We don't want our letters getting lost. Have fun with this! Try to make something wonderful for your partner. And remember when rating your partner that we are all new to pocket letters. If you have any questions, please leave a comment. Also, if you can offer any advice on pocket letters, please comment. This is something I want to try, but am quite clueless. Any help is welcome. :)

Discussion

Swan 04/29/2015 #

Timing doesn't quite work out for me. I would be interested if you do another one later.

TwinMom 04/29/2015 #

I am sorry that you can't join this one. If all goes well, I may make this a monthly swap. These seem like they will be such fun to make.

Swan 05/ 1/2015 #

If it doesn't work out with monthly swaps, we could do a private swap next month.

TwinMom 05/ 2/2015 #

That sounds great to me! :)

KarlaKC 05/ 3/2015 #

I wanted to make a comment about packing and postage for the PLs. I am in the Facebook Group "Pocket Letter Pals" and there have been lots of postage discrepancies swappers have been experiencing. Depending on what you PUT IN your pockets, your PL, once tri-folded, can be thick, and though you put it in a #10 envelope, it is TOO THICK to go as a letter (because they have a 1/4" slot they will slide your envelope through to measure its thickness). If the measurements of your envelope keep it under the Letter rate, but it is too thick for the Letter rate, the PO will charge you the Parcel rate, which is $2.32 up to 3.5 oz.

However! You can take your PL that you stuffed into a #10 envelope and put it in an envelope that is 6-1/2"x9-1/2" and it will be classified as a LARGE ENVELOPE (or FLAT) and cost $1.80, and maybe less. The LARGE ENVELOPE also has a thickness limitation, but it is a more generous 3/4". So you can still tri-fold your PL if you choose, or you can lay it out flat in a 9x12 envelope. (Some swappers had been dealing with their PL contents spilling out in the envelope through transit when they laid them out flat, though. So you might want to consider closing your pockets with little pieces of Washi Tape if you send it flat. Again, depends on what you're sending in your pockets.)

But the bottom line is that if your #10 envelope, that normally would travel as a Letter, exceeds the 1/4" thickness, put it in a larger envelope that is at least 6-1/8" tall and it will go as a Large Envelope, which is cheaper than if you leave it in the #10 envelope and let them classify it as a Parcel.

And for reference sake, the PLs I sent varied from 1.75 oz to 3 oz. They were too thick to travel under the Letter Rate so because they were in a 6x9 envelope (too small to fall under the Large Envelope rate) they were classified as a Parcel. If they had been 6-1/8"x9 they would have been classified as a Large Letter. So be aware of the dimensions of your envelope and the thickness to get the best rate. You don't want them coming back to you for postage due or for your partner to have to pay to receive it. Now I have to go out and get some envies that are at least 6-1/2"x9-1/2" (Large Envelope rate) instead of these 6x9 envies (Letter rate that rolls over into Parcel rate because my PLs are too thick for the Letter rate)! HTH and is clearer than mud. And sorry so long.

TwinMom 05/ 6/2015 #

Thank you so much for the advice on mailing! :) And thank you for joining the swap!

Artistic 05/26/2015 #

I had our swap host! A pocket letter packet went out today. Enjoy!

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