Street Cred Builder #2 (small package newbie swap)

I really like the idea of this swap - (it's on my watch list) but I'm a bit concerned since it is " international" regarding the food and drinks items and customs. customs tends to confiscate these items - and it'd be unfortunate if packages got stuck at customs and didn't get received intact by their intended. just a thought.

I would love to join if you decide to tweak the food items please let me know!!!! I am not comfortable shipping food items...

they go through packages? i thought if you put gifts/craft trade/no commercial value on the label, things are fine. i am brand new to international mailing myself. this is just suggestions i have gotten from swappers. if it is a problem, i suppose i could just switch it to the way the first swap was. all random items and one handmade. any feedback?

man, actually, if someone could let me know if that is a problem to send food-type things that would be great - i have a package to send to Canada i have to revamp. thanks for any help!

Ive not had much trouble with sending candy or tea to Canada...but Mexico, India and Germany my packages were torn apart!

hmm. good to know. if anybody has had troubles with other places, i would love to know about it for future reference. okay, it looks like it will be a revamp to the old way. all random and one handmade. i will fix it tomorrow though because it is getting late. thanks guys!

thanks for changing this, because I have a lot of food allergies and didn't think I better join. I'll wait and see what it's changed to!

okay guys. edited! basically, this is a small surprise package for you and your partners. pretty fun. reading over that - i don't have anything about the fact this is SENDERS CHOICE but you should read through profiles for tastes. try to make it nice for your partners guys! and remember to check on those allergies!

anyway, have fun with it! oh - and suggestions are ALWAYS welcome. just post them here. if you have questions, post them here too. i try to check back from time to time to see if anyone needs anything. thanks!

i live in canada, and previously lived in the states and just know that all packages (over standard letter size) are scanned for security reasons before being sent to their destination. polymer clay (in it's original packaging can be a problem) to any destination, and packages are often opened for food items, especially if they contain a liquid! you should always be as specific as possible with the contents of your package. I've heard australia has strict rules (don't mail tea to australia, it gets confiscated) you can ask your post office for additional information - or such the web for mailing restrictions for the country you are mailing a package to.

hope this helps.

Australia is strict with any permeable packaging on food items. That is, if it's not vacuum-sealed by the manufacturer, don't send it. No plant items whatsoever which includes tea, pot pourri, seashells, dried fruit, pkts of seeds, etc. Also, re the UK - I once sent a package that was confiscated. Not just the offending item (native bush [Outback] pot pourri) but the entire package. He never got my long, long letter or photo that was packaged with it. I once sent some Smarties (chocolate in a candy shell like m&ms but much nicer!) to Canada and they were all smashed by a hammer at Customs. At least she got them! So it's not just Australia. You can ask at post offices here what each country can legally accept by mail so I'm sure you can in other countries too. Better yet - look on the internet for postage restrictions. Also, do describe items well. I tend to describe them in terms of materials they're made from rather than just saying "a bag", etc. Don't forget that most countries set sniffer dogs in Customs to suss out the suspicious packages. Those noses knows!

Well after all that, and having just signed up for this awesome newbie starter package, I just realised it's Central/North America only. Can we lovely Aussies also take part? We need swap-bot credit too! :)

papercaper, there are a bunch of awesome international newbie swaps that freckleface has set up! if you click on "get rated" swap in the top 10, and then click on the coordinator name (freckleface) you will get to her profile and at the side it will show swaps she is hosting... i forget what the others are. mine is regional because EVERYTIME i do an international swap, i get an overseas partner! haha, and in the regional, i have been getting Canada! with the money i spend on the swaps themselves, (and tags and prizes in the groups) i am trying to limit the cost of shipping for myself when possible... these started out as US only the last round, but i had people from Canada sign up and i am SUCH a softie that i changed it rather than ban them!

i have another swap up. THE UPCYCLED BOOKMARK PROJECT all you artsy/craftsy newbies are welcome to join that, too! PS, i am altering the dates on this swap by 3 days. still 2 weeks to send, though.

Thanks for the detailed response, RainbowSplatter. (You are very kind.) I'll definitely check out freckleface's swaps when my current 5 get moving.

i'm not going to be able to stay awake long enough for swap-bot to allow me to assign partners tonight and i won't be around until quite later tomorrow. if you came here to check out who your partners are and they aren't assigned yet, that's why. it's the weekend anyway, right? ;)

for those of you who have 3s and 1s, but haven't let me know what was up with them (only one of you was kind enough to message) there is a chance i will be banning you. take no offense, please. it's only to protect others from the chance of being flaked upon. but you still have a little less than 24 hours to contact me about it.

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