Low Stress Holiday Pocket Letter - USA

I don't know about you, but I really want to do a holiday pocket letter... thing is, most of them are VERY restrictive. "Fill all the pockets with gifts" or "you must include tea and a letter" or "must have at least one Santa, one reindeer, a snowman, and a Grinch." WHAT??? Pocket letters should be fun, not stressful, do ya agree?

If so, then welcome to the low-pressure pocket letter swaparoo. What does low pressure mean? It means this holiday-themed pocket letter is sender's choice. Don't wanna include tea? Don't feel like writing a two-page letter? Don't feel like you need to stuff every pocket with gifts? Then don't! Remember - this is a no stress swap. Get 'er done and get 'er sent.

So what are you going to do? Let's break it down:

1) Use a 9-pocket card page (the kind used to protect trading cards - see image for reference). I heard tell that some people try to make these babies - in this swap, please use a commercial pocket letter holder.

2) Decorate each pocket with the Christmas holiday theme in some form or fashion - in other words, no pockets should be without a decoration of some kind. Basically, colorful paper as a background, and then decorate them in any way you see fit or matches your crafting ability.

Need to get an idea or two or three? Just Google "pocket letters" and you'll see tons of them out there. Don't let the fancy ones hold you back - remember, this is low pressure. No need to be ultra fancy, but if that's your style, then fancy on!

3) Send the darn thing! So far, almost all of mine have only cost about 71 cents to send. Be sure to tape the sucker up well, and you may want to venture to the post office counter to be sure of the price, etc.

Things important enough to mention:

A) A letter/note is NOT required, but would be nice of you to include, if you feel so inclined. Raters - do not mark down if you did not receive a letter!

B) Ideas for things to put in the pockets, if you are so inclined: tags, stickers, ephemera, tea, trading cards, etc. Every pocket should contain something, but remember: art is something. Each pocket doesn't have to have a gift inside - but it should be decorated nicely if there is no gift.

C) No promises for angeling the swap. If I can, I will. If I can't, I'm sorry. Do let me know if you need an angel, though - I will definitely do my best!

D) Remember, this is a low pressure swap and art is subjective. If you are a picky person, this is not the swap for you. Keep in mind this is sender's choice - not yours.

E) Be sure to include your name and the name of the swap on the pocket letter... somewhere.

The Pesky Rules:

• No recent 1's or 3's. In fact, probably no 1's at all - but if you had a retaliatory 1 or an unfair 1 from a few years ago, we'll talk. I'm an understanding gal... to a point! :)

• No newbies. Sorry, but the holiday time period is rife with holiday scammers on Swap-bot, and homie already got stiffed on the Sugar Skull swap - not ready to get stiffed again by another noob so soon after Halloween!

• No APO/FPO addresses.

• Just want to reiterate - even though this is Sender's Choice, this must be holiday themed. Get it? Think Santa and Christmas Trees and whatever means Christmas to you. In other words, keep your beachy, sunflowery, heart-shaped decos for another PL swap, okay?

WORTH MENTIONING

If you have an issue with someone, please do private message me. I'm not always up-to-date on the latest flakers and fakers, so if you have a concern, I will definitely "listen"!

PLEASE NOTE You can start on this now - there is a quick turnaround once partners are assigned - this is so people will have this in their hot little mailbox before Christmas.