Updated December 23 2024
Nine-oh-nine-six-oh
Rome (in Canada)
**CANADA POST STRIKE - Workers forced back
Dec 22
Canada
Temporary Service Disruption
The designated operator of Canada, Canada Post, has asked for countries to temporarily stop sending all mail to Canada. This request is being made as a result of the ongoing national strike by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. Owing to the strike, there is no movement of mail within Canada. International items received as of Nov. 15 are being held in secure containers and have not been processed.
The PostCrossing Postal Monitor page says the same, no outgoing mail to Canada.
https://www.postcrossing.com/postal-monitor/US
I'm not getting much mail in my PO box. Just 2 pieces this week. The workers were forced back so we probably should expect slow downs until an agreement is reached.
Dec 17 - The government has forced workers back and the service has resumed. I will be checking my postal box tomorrow and again on Sunday.
December 16 - As was expected, the government has ordered employees to return to work. Postal operations resume at 8 am on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
"It will take time to clear our network, so customers should expect delays in processing and delivery."
"Some limitations will apply for the first 48 hours after our operations resume โ including for pickups and drop-offs. Because of this, we will not receive or pick up new product until Thursday, December 19."
November 28 - The strike continues. I'm pro-union and hope that collective bargaining continues in good faith. So far I've dropped 3 swaps in nearby mailboxes so that I can mark them as sent, and contacted my partners to let them know.
Friday November 15 at 11am Canada Post strike message:
Canada Post strike negotiations page
Postage rates in Canada.
$1.60 for a US stamp
$2.92 for an international stamp.
Postcrossing Postal Monitor: Ongoing mail suspensions
ICC Logistics site - Mail disruptions
USPS Service Performance Dashboard
I like handmade. It's unique and personal. There's a greater feeling of community when sharing something we've made. It's a means of supporting and encouraging play, mindfulness, creativity, originality, and authenticity.
CREATIVITY IS GOOD FOR US
Study Says Making Art Reduces Stress, Even If You Kind Of Suck At It
"Reduction of Cortisol Levels and Participantsโ Responses Following Art Making," found that 45 minutes of creative activity significantly lessens stress in the body, regardless of artistic experience or talent.
Crafting can reduce your chances of developing mild cognitive impairment by 30% to 50% according to a 2011 study published in The Journal of Neuropsychiatry.
About decos, deco resources, collaborative projects, homers sent and received, and more.
Deco makers are a great group of swappers! Quite often everyone sends and rates quickly. Most of the time all of the decos are sent before the swap deadline. Sometimes all of the decos are rated before the swap deadline.
You have my permission to move my decos and P&P postcards between groups and different collaborative swaps. You can even get a friend/family to fill in a section or page. The sooner they make the rounds and get home the better. ๐
Send me homers, (it doesn't have to be for a swap). I like finishing them up and getting them back to their waiting owners. ๐จ๐ฌ
Homers that came back to me and homers I've mailed out (Expect spoilers.)
OTHER SITES
A list of other papercraft swapping sites
EXTRAS
No need to send extras to me, I have lots. But if you love to send extras then feel free. ๐ Rest assured, I do not rate based on extras.
THE THINGS I SEND
I put a return address on everything I send out.
I keep a photo-log of my outgoing swap items--front, back, and at the mailbox.
It takes on average 10 business days to get to most places. However, delivery is often 4 weeks to many places in the United States.
I will resend if my swap doesn't arrive within 8 weeks (It was 4 weeks when I started SB, then 6 weeks, now 8 weeks because mail service is getting slower and slower).
๐ฉRE-SENDS sent to:
2024
January 4 - @samstuff - I PMd. She said that she didn't receive Jessica P's "Important Women" deco FOB 255-070. I mailed it in October 2023. I then updated the FOB database and let Jessica P know the deco is missing. I mailed a re-send deco for Collaborative Swaps: Small Deco #351040 on January 11PM'd samsstuff to let her know. January 12 - samsstuff replied and she tells me her mail has been stolen twice during the holiday season. January 22 - I have not heard from samstuff about whether she got the re-send. I have not been rated yet. January 31 - Still no rating and no PM from samsstuff. Feb 3 - the resend arrived and got rated.
June 19 - @ArtsyKarma - her deco didn't get to me so I asked for a re-send. ArstyKarma flaked and it turns our she's had multiple profiles. She was @Tara @HeatherKM @hkm1979 (Sacramento, CA).
If you join one of my swaps here's what you should know about my hosting style:
Screening
I screen participants to minimize the risk of flakers getting in, and those who do not rate, and those who leave blank comments. I will remove participants with swapping histories that worry me. If you have any negative unresolved swapping history and want to join my swap please proactively message me to explain.
Nudge
If you haven't received a postcard around the one month mark, let me know. I will send out a nudge message.
If I have had to send more than one nudge message to a member, I may "ban" them from future swaps.
Blank comments
Please, no blank comments. When rating please comment on the item received. Example:
"Thank you for the Van Gogh sunflower postcard."
As a host, I read the comments each participant receives. I really appreciate reading a little description of the item. A description tells me the item was received and noticed.
Finished
I check to see that everyone is rated and will add a "Finished" stamp to the Discussion section when all items are sent, received, and rated.
Angel
If your partner flakes, PM me to let me know you posted the "1" and I will angel the swap.
Thank you to all who join my swaps and rate promptly and with a nice note.
Great swapping advice, tips and checklists:
Thinking of hosting a swap? Things you should consider.
Swap-Bot Frequently Asked Questions: What are the rating criteria?
Hosts: Rating Requirements Too Low?
Giving/Getting/Reacting to a Poor Rating
When you create a swap, if you get the following error message: 'Alert: Error creating swap. Please try submitting the information again. (Code: 1)', that almost always means your title is too long.
Are you searching for newbie friendly swaps? Click on the 'Find swaps' tab, choose 'Newbie' under 'Category' and then 'Search'.
Also try contacting the host of the swaps you are interested in. Let them know you are new and asking for a private swap. Hosts aren't required to do this, but many hosts are willing to do a private swap, and you will get a rating.
While you are in the honeymoon-phase of membership, successfully completing private swaps are a great way to show you are serious and committed to swapping.
Many hosts have felt the sting of accepting a new member into a public swap before the 6-month mark only to have them disappear, leaving behind unfulfilled swaps. An example that affected me.
Helpful topics for newbies:
Join the group CPG Newbies
Check @OrigamiGrace 'Currently Hosting' list for 'Nice to Newbies' swaps
Markdown Language
Miscellaneous
๐๐โบ๏ธ๐๐๐ค๐๐ฌโ๏ธโ๏ธ๐๏ธ๐ฉทโค๏ธ๐๐ค๐งโ๐จ๐ฉโ๐จ๐
The meaningful comments you leave are a big reward and motivator!
Overall | Hosted | ||
---|---|---|---|
5.0000 | 1294 | 777 | 823 |
Completed | Fives | Threes | Ones |
---|---|---|---|
1301 | 1389 | 0 | 0 |
Type 1 | Type 2 | Type 3 | Uncategorized |
---|---|---|---|
50 | 212 | 1039 | 0 |
Comments
Hi! Thank you for your contribution on my Stamp & Pass PC. โค๏ธ
Thank you for all of the postage, I appreciate it!
Thank you for the contribution on my HCSI: Stamp & Pass PC. I love it! โค๏ธ
Thanks for adding your artwork to my postcard!
(Please delete my previous comment where the image link was broken.)
Thanks for sending my PnP PC home, Rome. The one with the lady picking your HD flowers is fun! Cheers. ๐๐
Hi Rome - just popping by to say "THANKS" for sharing all the pix of finished PCs and decos. I love seeing how they turned out!
Thanks for the postage stamps!
xx
MuggleMom
Thank you for sending home my collab pc! I love what everyone did and love your addition of the alien, moon and cute cat!!
I'm so glad you are enjoying the "Magic ballerina page" I did in your zine. Wow, when did I do that one? It seems like a long time ago now. Thanks for sharing the finished piece! I always love to see how each person interprets the challenge! Hugs from Alaska, Sherry