Latest topics started by: marlie2

Swap name: PostSecret Swap Round 12
Craftster member who is organizing this swap: catsprefermarlie
Sign-up date range: 5/25/2010 – 6/8/2010
Date to send item by: 6/29/2010

Limited to a certain number of people? (optional): No

Restricted to people who all live in the same country? No
If so, which country?

Additional Age requirement? No

Swap Organizer himself/herself meets these conditions: Yes
- Has fully read the Swap Info Guide: Yes
- Has successfully completed two swaps as a participant: Yes
- Is not organizing more than three swaps right now: Yes
- Will recruit a co-organizer or give all details to a Swap Moderator if this swap has more than 25 participants: Yes
- Is at least 18 years old: Yes

Swap Organizer will check each participant to make sure they meet these conditions:
- Has been a member for at least one month: Yes
- Has posted at least 15 times: Yes
- Has completed one swap successfully before signing up for multiple swaps at a time: Yes
- Is not currently signed up for more than five swaps: Yes
- Does not have any negative feedback: Yes
- Participant has agreed that he/she is at least 16 years old: Yes
- If within the US, understands that Delivery Confirmation number is required for this swap: not required for this swap, but a photo of stamped envelopes/post cards OR a certificate of mailing is required
- If outside the US, understands that a mailing receipt copy is required for this swap: Yes

Details of swap
Inspired by the amazing website: http://www.postsecret.blogspot.com
In a PostSecret swap, swapper are creating a decided number of individual post cards, each illustrating a secret they keep that they would like to share with the world (anonymously!)

Post cards are then sent to other swappers, who in turn post what they've received in the gallery, where everyone ooh's and ahh's at how creative you are, and sends you virtual hugs and warm fuzzies. And you feel very satisfied having been able to get your secret off your chest and share it with your craftster family anonymously.

You will be put into a group of 6 people which means that you will be crafting 5 secrets to send out and receiving 5 secrets in return! (Or you will be put in 2 groups, if you choose to make 10 secrets!!)

For more of an idea of what I'm talking about, check out round 11:
Discussion thread: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=338707.0
Gallery: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=340112.0

Specifics (read carefully! There will be a quiz!)

The Anatomy of a Postcard
Your postcard should include at least one image and your secret, which should be written/typed out on the front of the card. Make your cards however you like-- photographs, collage, drawing, painting--or buy postcards and embellish them with your secrets.

You can write a note to the recipient on the back of the card, but that's optional.

Your postcards can all be based around the same secret, or all different. If you use the same secret for multiple cards, the visual part of the card must be different and you must phrase your secret differently. Ideally, you should really use 5 different secrets.

Questionable Content?

Some secrets are not G-rated. I don't want to restrict anyone's freedom of expression, but please realize some people may not want to be exposed to content they may find offensive.

SENDING ANY KIND OF PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. This is a rule set for all swaps on Craftster. Basically, if you would need ID to buy it, don't put it on your postcard.

Privacy
This swap is anonymous; you won't know which postcard is coming from which Craftster member. However, the system isn't perfect. In this swap you will receive a code (like G6, for example and it may be different once your code is assigned) and you will put that assigned code on the bottom left-hand corner of the backside of your postcard (where you would put the address). Please put this on the back of your card, even if it's in an envelope.

If it would ruin your life (or someone else's life) if a fellow Craftster did some Internet detective work and figured out which secret was yours, you probably shouldn't be putting it on a postcard for the world to see. This isn't the place to admit you committed a felony or anything.

And if you are one of those people who can't possibly live without doing the detective work, please keep that information to yourself and don't ruin a fun swap for the rest of us.

If you're really worried about someone matching up the postmark on the card with your name, you could send your postcards from a town near yours, from your work, etc.

Or if you feel like being super-sneaky, you can have your cards postmarked at the North Pole:
http://www.christmaslettertips.com/christmas_postmarks.htm

Shipping
There are no DC numbers for this swap, since they cannot be put on a postcard.

There is what is called a Certificate of Mailing. This costs $1, it is proof that you sent something.
Here is the link: http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/extraservices/certificateofmailingservice.htm If you want certainty of mailing, this is the way to go

I will also accept a photo of the receipt for stamps or of the enveloped secrets.

You must be willing to ship internationally. If you really don't want to, let me know and I'll try to get around it, but you might have to. It's just a letter.

You may mail your cards in envelopes if you want them to be a little more protected.

Absolutely do not forget your code!

Receiving
Half of the fun of this swap is looking over the gallery daily to see all the secrets that have been sent. Please make sure that you have access to a scanner or camera so that you can share the postcards with the rest of us. Pictures absolutely must be posted. We need to be able to see postcards that have been received.

Feedback
Okay, here is the FEEDBACK criteria
1. PMed proof of sending
2. Received all five (or ten) cards and posted them in the gallery
3. All five (or ten) cards you sent have been received.

There will be a cut off date where, if lost in the mail, I'll use the proof of sending for the feedback.

Sending Late
If something happens that prevents you from sending your cards on time, that's OK--life happens! Just PM me before the deadline, and e-mail your receipt when you send. If you don't ship by the deadline and I haven't heard from you, I will be forced to assume you're not sending and will have to leave negative feedback until you've sent (and can prove it).

Flaking
Of course I don't want flakers! I can (and will!) be keeping track of all secrets sent by the codes you will be putting on them. If you forget a code, we cannot just accept your word for it. You absolutely must remember to put your code on it or have a picture of your secret before you sent so I can match to the rec'd secret... not the ideal way to make sure you sent, but in a crisis it'll work!

Taking a photo of your secret before sending is a great way to make sure your secret is still shared with the world in the event of a flaker not posting your card in the gallery, or it being lost in the mail. If you find your secret has not been posted, you may send the photo to me, and I can post it anonymously in the gallery for you.

Pictures
When posting your received secrets in photos, you must photograph each one individually - so that means no "group shots." A group shot has 2 or more cards in the photo. Because trying to fit 2+ cards into the picture is hard, it makes it near impossible to get a good representation of the cards. Remember, this is first and foremost a craft forum and a craft based swap. Your cards should be 100% crafty with effort noticeable and the pictures should show the hard work the secret-sender put into it (as well as their secret) since they are not able to post their pictures themselves.

Comments in the Gallery
Comments will be allowed.
However, when posting the pictures of the secrets you receive you have to hold your comments for a separate post. So that means: No comments in any posts with pictures. This is to make it easier for members not wishing to read any comments to search with the "View Images Only" option. Yes, you can post your pictures and immediately post again with your comments to your own post.

*Note: You will not receive Negative feedback for not following the above rules, however it will be reflected in the comments of your feedback that you did not follow the directions of the swap when asked.

If you want to participate, information to send to organizer:

QUESTIONNAIRE TO ANSWER:
Name of swap: PostSecret Swap Round 12
Craftster username:
Email address:
Your real name:
Mailing address including the country:
Would you be willing to ship to an address outside your own country?
Confirm that are at least 16 years old or, if not, that you have moderator approval: Yes/No
Allergies:
Smoker?: Yes/No
Pets owned:
Do you understand that you need to PM proof of sending (a photo of the stamped envelopes/postcards or certificate of mailing)?
Would you prefer sending 5 or 10 secrets?
Would you rather not receive secrets involving (please X):
( ) Drugs
( ) Alcohol
( ) Swear words
( ) Religious Themes
( ) Political Issues
( ) Violence
( ) Sexual Themes
( ) Nudity (Remember, nothing pornographic is allowed!)
( ) Other (please explain)
Is there anything else you would prefer not to receive?
Do you need your secrets sent in an envelope?
Quiz question – Multiple post cards in one photo in the gallery is okay, true or false?

IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE, REMEMBER TO SEND YOUR INFO TO ORGANIZER VIA PRIVATE MESSAGE AND NOT TO REPLY WITH IT HERE.

Also remember to read the Swap Info Guide to find out how to ship your item and other details about participating in a swap!!