Adventures of the Traveling Notebook USA #1

This series of swaps is replacing the 'Traveling Notebook Back at it Again' swaps. The host of those swaps, @cmalaina has not been active on Swap Bot in several months. I contacted her and she claimed she was going to continue hosting the swaps, but still has not posted the next round. @cmalaina didn't give me permission to take over hosting the swaps so I thought I'd create my own version of the swap.

Welcome to Adventures of the Traveling Notebook USA!

Everyone is welcome to join this swap as well as those who participated in the 'Traveling Notebook Back at it Again' swaps.

*NOTE: PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE SWAP DESCRIPTION.

*ALL NOTEBOOKS HAVE TO HAVE TRACKING!!!!!
This will help reduce the risk that notebooks get lost.

Here's how it works:

 - If you participated in previous rounds or already have a journal

If you participated in the 'Traveling Notebook Back at it Again' swaps and still have a notebook from the last round, that's the notebook you'll send to your partner. Just make sure to add a 2-page spread to the journal before you send it to you partner.

If you didn't participate in the 'Traveling Notebook Back at it Again' swaps but have a notebook, you're welcome to use that one. Make sure you add a 2-page spread to the notebook you have and send it to your partner.

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE THE DATE AND THE NAME OF THE SWAP & ROUND # IN YOUR ENTRY. If there's a theme to the journal you have, please try to follow it. Tell a bit about yourself, write about your day, the weather, you're hobbies/interests, or whatever! You can also decorate your pages with paper crafts, designs, doodles, stickers, washi tape, photos, or whatever you would like. You can include stories, poems, quotes, recipes, what your interested in, etc. You can also include gifts for the owner of the notebook. Simply make sure to label it as “For: ‘journal’s owner’” so that anyone else who gets the notebook knows they are not freebies for everyone to take.

*Only use a pen that will not bleed onto the next page.

It's okay to add your entry on the front and back of each page.

Finally, after creating the journal, you will send to your partner. You can also send goodies for your partner if you choose but you don't have to.

 - Starting a new notebook

If you're a new participant, or a returning participant needing to start a new notebook, here's what you'll have to do.

Make sure to choose a non-spiral notebook. Keep in mind the size as you do not want your partners to have to pay a lot for shipping. Medium sized notebooks work well for these swaps. You can buy one or make your own. Try to choose one that is approximately 5 x 7 inches. Larger journals like a composition notebook are too big. The notebook should have a soft cover rather than a hard one. Hard covers are too heavy. Your journal should have around 30 sheets (60 pages, front & back). You don't want it so be too thick.

Decorate the front and back cover if you wish. On the inside of the cover, include the swap name (Adventures of the Traveling Notebook USA #1), your Swap Bot username, your address, and anything else you’d like. Also include your email in the event that you move so the last person to sign your journal can confirm your address.

Next, you may decorate the first few pages as you wish. Tell us a bit about yourself, write about your day, the weather, you're hobbies/interests, or whatever! You can also decorate your pages with paper crafts, designs, doodles, stickers, washi tape, photos, or whatever you would like. You can include stories, poems, quotes, recipes, what your interested in, etc. You can make it an art journal, junk journal, or more of a writing journal. Feel free to add a theme for your journal that you'd like each entrant to follow. You can also list things you enjoy to give everyone an idea of things they could incorporate into their entry. Or you could list a few questions you'd like everyone to answer.

*Only use a pen that will not bleed onto the next page.

It's okay to add your entry on the front and back of each page.

Finally, after creating the journal, you will send to your partner. You can also send goodies for your partner if you choose but you don't have to.

 - After receiving a journal from your partner

When you receive a journal, HOLD ON to it for dear life until the next swap comes around. Join the next round of Adventures of the Traveling Notebook USA, add a 2-page spread to the journal and send it to your partner.

 - Tips:

Make sure the crafts are sturdy and will not come off. Washi tape, for example, tends to after some time. Packaging tape helps with this. In addition, try to use flat embellishments so the journal doesn't become too thick.

 - Important:

JOIN FUTURE SWAPS: This swap will involves commitment to join subsequent swaps in this series. If you don't plan on continuing with later swaps please don't join. To avoid lost journals and keep a consistent flow, it is important that you join future swaps. I understand unforeseen circumstances might arise that might prevent you from continuing to participate. If you can't participate in future rounds, please let me know. Message me or the owner of the journal and try to send their notebook back to them. This swap series is supposed to be fun. It ruins it for other people if you only join a few rounds and then drop out.

Please make sure you can send your package. As mentioned at the beginning of the swap description, TRACKING IS REQUIRED. This helps prevent notebooks from getting lost. It is really upsetting when someone, as well as a group of people, have spent so much time creating and adding to something just to have it never sent back to them. Please ensure you can pay for postage and that you will be able to join future swaps.

If you're the last person to write in the notebook you receive, send it to the owner of the book. This means you will have to start a new notebook for the next round.

Due to the random nature of how partners are assigned, you may receive a journal you have already added to before. Or you may receive your own journal. If that happens, feel free to add another entry to it.

Rate a 5 once you received the swap and a ❤️ If it was extra special.

 - Requirements:

There is no rating requirement. All I ask is that you are a well established user with a well filled out profile and no recent or unresolved 1s or 3s. You must have completed 25 or more Type 3 swaps. No newbies will be allowed to join this swap. I will check profiles and ban anyone who looks sketchy or who does not meet the requirements. If you have any questions about your eligibility in joining this swap, send me a message.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message or comment below!