BOOK of letters && envelope goodies swap! ♥

This has got me interested in reading those books! I have never heard of them before! But I love letters and my children have a daily ritual of going out to meet the mailman and receive the mail from him. I will have to check our library and find these titles.

I have not ever heard of the concept of books of envelopes, but I'd love to try it if you'll consider me. I do not have a 5 rating anymore, but close! :) I'm a good swapper and don't renege on my obligations. In fact, I was suddenly away from Swap-bot and many of my other activities since May this year, but when I was able to come back online recently, I sought out the 4 swaps from May that I had stalled on and fulfilled them all. One of the recipients has not updated her rating of me on my profile, but I notice that she hasn't signed on since September 20th either.

I won't be offended if you are unable to allow me, but I thought I'd ask as it sounds like a fun swap. I can appreciate your requirement of the 5 rating. Whatever you decide is fine with me. I'll go ahead and sign up, but you can drop me if you need to stick to the 5 rating requirement.

Great swap idea! Hope you get lots of swappers!...Karla

Hi Karla! First off, thank you for your interest :) This is all very-exciting! It's the first swap i've hosted. Second, YOU MUST GET THIS BOOK FOR YOUR KIDS! the jolly postman at amazon! Check it out. They are all WONDERFUL books. Thirdly, You know what, I think I will edit this swap to something like 4.75 or higher for ratings.. I mean, you're .7 away from a 5-rating! hehe. I can see you are a honest swapper. You replied to every person who didn't receive anything and I can see that they then later changed their ratings. and completely understandable, I love swap-bot but it does take up SO much of my time sometimes! like right now when i should be sleeping because i have work tomorrow morning, hehe ;) ANYWAY, bottom line: you are definitely in! Also - I looked at your website and it is so weird, but i think the concept of the envelope/letter thing is somewhat like your project in this picture: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/karlakc/Swap-bot/EnvelopeBookIMade-Natural-Opened.jpg !! you made that, didn't you? It looks like you've 'tucked' some things in your card and they can be taken out! That is the same idea, except with envelopes pasted to whatever, papers, cards, etc! Well, this is getting long but THANK YOU FOR JOINING and for being interested and if it's just us, then I will be very excited to make a book for you and your kids ;) Take care dear!

This sounds interesting! But I don't really get how it works. Does that mean that for every page in the book, it is actually an envelope? That is, I stick an envelope to every piece of paper, and bind it together, and stuff the envelope full of goodies?

Hi Do the envelopes have to be stuck on the pages or can the envelopes be the actual pages - stuffed with goodies and decorated of course Does that make sense - I hope so as I can not think of another way to try and explain it Have signed up anyway

I like making envelope books, but I punch holes in the envelopes and make the book out of them instead of gluing them to paper. I use different sized and colored envelope and they turn out really cute; I fill the envelopes with surprises. I'm not familiar with the book you mentioned.

Halfway there has proberly decribed the envelope book I was thinking better than I did lol

Thank you, iheartswap! Yes, I did make the Envelope Book pictured on my website. That was fun! I realize that your project is similar so I'm sure I can do it. You explained it well in your swap description. Envelopes glued to paper "pages", flaps facing "reader" so that the envelope can be opened and the tuck-in pulled out and loved is the picture in my mind.

Thanks so much for editing your 5 rating requirement. I look forward to playing!

My kids had the Jolly Postman book (first one) when they were little. They're now 22 and 26! My thought is that you MAY NOT find these books at your library: there are too many tiny parts to keep track of -- and they would surely get lost and damaged along the way -- and that would be sad for the kids who checked the book out! I know the library where I work doesn't buy any sorts of puzzle books or books with multiple pieces for kids. But the book is well worth the money to buy for your kids. It would be a great holiday gift. If they take good care of it, it'll be something they'll want to keep forever (or maybe give to a younger kid to enjoy if and when they feel they've outgrown it). This is an exciting swap and one of the best ideas I've heard of! Thanks.

I should add that both of my kids now work in libraries, too. My older daughter is a newly-minted MLS who works in an academic library and my younger daughter works in a public library's children's department. Such is the power of The Jolly Postman. Ha-ha!

I discovered the Jolly Postman books through my grand-children and loved them so I would like to do this one.

So much fun and to be able to send things in your swapper's bio. Glory, I better update my profile.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SIGNED UP SO FAR!

shopinc pretty much described this swap exactly how it is. Put some pages together, and sticking envelopes to the pages with letters/goodies/surprises filled in the envelopes. I wish I had one to show for example. But I mean, if you're using 8.5 x 11" papers, you could switch it up by adding maybe 2 envelopes on 1 page .. GET THINKING ALL YOU CREATIVES! ;) You are all so crafty!

Dalwil + halfwaythere I've never seen a book made out of envelopes but I guess that works as well! I don't want to be closed off to other options. But check out The Jolly Postman (if you can, haha) There is something really special about turning the pages and being able to interact with the book, opening the letters and finding a surprise, or whatnot.

and YES, please have your profile updated so your swap partner can get a good idea of what sort of things to include in the envelopes. There should also by a 'note' or 'letter' included in the envelopes, with the surprise. So fill the letter with whatever content you would like, a story, some interesting facts about yourself, why you are including this goody in the envelope, whatever!

and on a different note, I wanted to add a comment to szreader, the book is DEFINITELY worth purchasing. I would purchase all 3, they are equally strong! The Jolly Christmas Postman is such a good one for the season.. and really reminds me of my childhood around Christmas time, it is so neat. In addition, I definitely wouldn't count on the books being in a library, as you brought up a good point that there are too many pieces to keep track of. I myself have several pieces missing from my books, who knows what I did with them. hehe. I am going to re-buy all of them! I had forgotten about them for so long!

This is such a cool swap. I am looking forward to working on it AND receiving my book!

THANKS MARY!

PS EVERYONE - tell your friends about this swap too! ♥

Not sure if this was the type of thing you had in mind, but Nick Bantock has a lovely series of books starting with Griffin and Sabine that contain envelopes with letters that you can take out and read. They are really beautiful books and you'll get lots of voyeuristic pleasure from peeking in at the correspondance between the two characters.

Also Brian Froud has a follow up book to the Pressed Fairys which has letters from assorted famous people about their opinions on fairies. It is also beautifully illustrated and contains envelopes with letters and other bits. M

Do the pages have to be 8.5 x 11? or could we do smaller pages or can we each interpret it as we want, as long as we come up with a "book" of filled envelopes?

MistiKo that book sounds DELIGHTFUL! Where can I find one?

lulu sure, they can be any size! I used to just make them 8.5 x 11 but whatever size you'd like is great! :) thanks!

Love those books & what a great idea.

I have seen instructions somewhere of how to make envelope books that would be ideal & might just help a someone with there book... Will try and re-find it & add a link.

Oh I've got that happy warm excited feeling of a new project! (thank you)

(sorry for my typing/spelling errors just so excited!)

Want to just double checking I have this right in my head!!!

I am thinking the stack of post (that forms my book) should all be for my partner (rather than a collection of the various stuff from the jolly posties bag)... & will invent where or who it's from & the reasons it's been sent to them on a creative letter or card included in each envelope?

It sounded so much clearer in my brain!

Hope that makes sense & I have it right?

Now will find that link.

This isn't the one I was thinking of but does show clear simple instructions of how to blind enevlopes together to form a book.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crpapercraftsorigami/article/0,1789,HGTV3293_1397858,00.html

HTHs

i'm gutted i had all 3 books and loved them all, and now i can't find them. i'm praying i've put them away somewhere safe.

Do we put letters in these envelopes also? If so, any kind?

Yes, please try to include a letter in each envelope! Thankyou + welcome to the swap! :)

what an incredibly cool swap! Thanks so much for suggesting this. The Griffin and Sabine books are another variant on this.

hehe, thanks storylaura - i'm really excited for it!!!

This is such a fantastic swap idea! I remember those books and always wanted to make one.

Should there be some kind of (simple) story in the book, or pictures, or should the pages be blank except for the envelopes I put there?

Because I couldn't stand the suspense of wondering just how cute these books are, I jumped in and ordered "The Jolly Postman" off Amazon.com. It should be here Friday and you know what? I can't wait!!! Ya'll have really got my interest up in seeing and EXPERIENCING this book for myself. I think experiencing it IRL (in real life) will also help me make the best book I can for my partner, too! :)

CAN'T WAIT! Karla

KarlaKC HAHAHA i really hope you enjoy the books! I will be ordering them again, because I don't know where all mine went! :(

marianenita I guess it is open to interpretation. You don't have to include a story, if you are a good story-teller, more power to you. Just so you know, I will not be including a story, hehe. I'm not that good of a story teller ;) I will be decorating the pages with pretty papers, etc and including a note in each envelope. Maybe I will add a story here and there, on the pages though! Thanks, hope you join in!

I, too, ordered all three Postman books online - mine from half.com. I'm going to look for those other books mentioned too! This is one of the things i like most about swapbot - we exchange lots of interesting ideas and information. Thanks for hosting this swap, Iheartswap!

Some links http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/howto/ideas/envaccordion.html http://www.scrapsoflife.com/blog/accordion-fold-envelope-book/ http://www.craftypod.com/?p=115 http://www.instructables.com/id/Envelope-Book/?ALLSTEPS

Wow those are fantastic links!! Thanks Teresa! It makes me even more excited for this swap!

Thanks for the links teresa! those are all great! they look so pretty! i want to make one like that ... heh.

So this isn't exactly a book made of envelopes, rather it is a book that contains envelopes inside. lol, i guess it's essentially the same thing. hehe. well i'll def. host another one like this with pictures, hopefully all the ladies participating will add pics too! ;)

ONE MORE DAY TO SIGN UP!

be sure and tell your friends, i am very excited for this swap! thank you everyone who has interest in the swap + the books, i love the books ;)

Great, I told my husband I wouldn´t do anymore swaps (he´s annoyed with the postage) . . . but this one just looks too fun! :D I´ll have to write a few extra articles to pay the postage, but looks like it is worth it!

ah oops, kind of just clicked with me that the kind I linked to isn't really the same as the jolly postman books... for the record, I wouldn't mind receiving either kind. I will probably be making the envelopes-in-book kind, not the envelopes-as-book kind, but if you are my partner and have any requests be sure to let me know! (that is if you don't mind finding out you are my swap partner and having the surprise ruined...)

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO JOINED!

24 people, not bad. it would have been 26 but 1 person had to drop out and I had to ban another - no feedback.

begin making your books dears, hope everyone has fun!

I really enjoyed doing this... & will definately be making more... Thank you :)

Biff !!! I just saw your envelope book in your flickr album, you have one lucky swap partner. The book is amazing, I love it and all the goodies and surprises look darling! Please join next time, you are more than welcome! THANKS DEAR!

Natalie, I just sent yours today!!

Hope its arrive safely!

I loved seeing Biff's book of envelopes, too! I wish the view was bigger (not complainging!) so that I could better understand the method, but what I could understand was awesome!

I need another day to finish mine. Dalwil, it's coming but give me another day or two before I mail it - it's got to be just right. :)

Karla

My partner is a non-sender! What is about?

Means I won't receive? The girl even sent me a mail to explain...

Tex82, my daughter emailed you and you said you understood the health issues I was having and knew I'd be putting it in the mail soon. I do not skip out on swaps. My daughter was helping me with this during my bone marrow issues and she knows nothing about how this swap thing works. Plus even if I'd sent it out on the 7th, you still would not have received by the 10th due to postal time. I'm am sorry for the delay, please be patient and it will arrive.

Ok. I'm waiting!^^

My book from Starwatcher is BEAUTIFUL, thanks!

hey! I never receive my envelope book!!!

And never will receive.

never never never