2004 PT Christmas Card Exchange

[Barbara]

Last year we have been close to 60 people. It was very expensive (especially for the ones outside the US as the postage is more expensive) but it was soooooo much fun

So if you feel you can afford it and if you want to do it, do it

Whether you are a newcomer or a pillar

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by LuvmyPapillons
So if there were 50 people signed up..that would be $18.98...I think that's right..Can old timers with this give me a ball park $$ figure so I can decide about getting on this list...I'm gonna do it any I think..It sounds like so much fun..getting all these cards and sending out cute cards with photos,etc...
Thanks,Victoria
PS..or should"new" members not really do this? as most of you know each other, right?

In the US, first class stamps are $.37/e, which means 50 x .37 = $18.50 - just for the postage. However, you would need to either buy cards or make them before you can send them and that's the part that gets expensive. To keep the cost down somewhat, I buy my cards and then insert a picture of T & P in each one. At least I think that would be a bit cheaper than making a card from scratch....but now that I think about it, I've never really priced it out that way. I just know that the card stock is expensive and the printer ink is expensive also.

Another option to keep costs down would be to send a postcard. I think postcards are now $.20/e (?) which would make postage for 50 of them $10.00 instead of $18.50, and creating a nice christmassy postcard seems like it would be cheaper than creating a full blown card.....hmmm.....

Also, I think it's great that new members are interested in participating. It really is a lot of fun and this is a good way to get to know the people here.

[karyn674]

I don't know if this is silly, but anyway i will still ask.

If for us that live outside US can send one envelope containing all the cards destinated to all of you US Citizens to an address where someone who's kind enough, could take them to the local post office bearing a money order for the amount of local stamps( i.e. quantity of cars x $.37/e) would result to a much cheaper cost. This is how I worked it out:

Let's say we have 50 cards destined to the US. So I grab all the cards and send them in one envelope along with the money order that will cos me max. $5.68, plus $.37/e x 50 cards = $24.18

But if I send them all from Malta indivitually that will cost me about $.85/e per card multiplied by 50 cards = $42.61

See there is a discrepancy of $18.43

Can someone inform me if this can be done please?

Thanks

Karen

[wolf_Q]

Originally posted by karyn674
I don't know if this is silly, but anyway i will still ask.

If for us that live outside US can send one envelope containing all the cards destinated to all of you US Citizens to an address where someone who's kind enough, could take them to the local post office bearing a money order for the amount of local stamps( i.e. quantity of cars x $.37/e) would result to a much cheaper cost. This is how I worked it out:

Let's say we have 50 cards destined to the US. So I grab all the cards and send them in one envelope along with the money order that will cos me max. $5.68, plus $.37/e x 50 cards = $24.18

But if I send them all from Malta indivitually that will cost me about $.85/e per card multiplied by 50 cards = $42.61

See there is a discrepancy of $18.43

Can someone inform me if this can be done please?

Thanks

Karen

Yes that can be done and I believe it has been done in the past. I don't mind being the sender if you'd like to mail the cards to me. I'm at the post office all the time anyway.

[karyn674]

Hey that was a quick reply!!!!

Thanks a mil. for your kind help wolf_Q

[LuvmyPapillons]

Hi..Thanks for the Heads up about liking new members to be interested in this card exchange..how could we not??
Maybe a few of us US people could offer to accept packages of cards from overseas? so 1 or 2 people aren't inadated with cards?
I stopped sending cards out to family & friends 3 yrs ago...If they find out I'm doing this??I'm in the Dog house for sure..Shhhhh
I need to make up my mind soon , I know. I also thought it would be cheaper? to print out the cards of good quality paper instead of card paper..and print on them phots, xmas stuff,etc..May not look as nice as "real" cards..but what the hay..it's the thought that counts,right??
I haven't gotten my siggie from here yet as I just learned to use a album site for a album rather than saving to hard drive and fetching the pics from there only..I have learned so much here already!!
Talk later,Victoria
Mic & Annas littel girls born last Valentines day..My only litter so far.

[LuvmyPapillons]

Hi..Thanks for the Heads up about liking new members to be interested in this card exchange..how could we not??
Maybe a few of us US people could offer to accept packages of cards from overseas? so 1 or 2 people aren't inadated with cards?
I stopped sending cards out to family & friends 3 yrs ago...If they find out I'm doing this??I'm in the Dog house for sure..Shhhhh
I need to make up my mind soon , I know. I also thought it would be cheaper? to print out the cards of good quality paper instead of card paper..and print on them phots, xmas stuff,etc..May not look as nice as "real" cards..but what the hay..it's the thought that counts,right??
I haven't gotten my siggie from here yet as I just learned to use a album site for a album rather than saving to hard drive and fetching the pics from there only..I have learned so much here already!!
Talk later,Victoria
a siggie from my msn group I belong too..Not great as the ones here..But I like it. smile..

[Barbara]

I have made my cards myself last year, buying coloured cardboard, designing a motive, printing it in colour and glueing it on the cardboard cards. I think they looked VERY nice (at least I loved them very much ) but it cost me two complete weekends of time- which was fun.

As always money can be exchanged against time

This year I bought my cards as I am completely under water with work.

But I have a design idea for another self made card. Maybe next year

[karyn674]

I also thought it would be cheaper? to print out the cards of good quality paper instead of card paper..and print on them phots, xmas stuff,etc..May not look as nice as "real" cards..but what the hay..it's the thought that counts,right??

I totaly agree with Barbara. Something you do yourself that has taken up your time and most of all your thought is much more valuable then something ready-made and puchased. I does contain more value and it much more fun to do

Ps Just checked your profile and discovered we both age on the same day. Isn't that funny

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I have a correction on the postage amount that I cited earlier. Kater was kind enough to remind me that not all the recipients live in the US, so the cost will be more that $18.50 because some cards will have to go overseas. If I remember correctly, the cards that go to the Western European countries (Germany, England, Spain, Denmark, etc) were $.85 each and I don't remember how much they were to go to other places such as Australia, New Zealand, etc., but just say they are $1.50 each (I don't think they were that much, but better to over estimate than under estimate). So say out of the 50, 40 are going to US addresses; 40 x .37 = $14.80. Say 7 are going to Europe; 7 x .85 = $5.95. And say the other three are going elsewhere; 3 x 1.5 = $4.50. That would make a grand total of $25.25 which is definitely more than the $18.50 I quoted before.

HOWEVER this is only an ESTIMATE! I do not know the exact number of participants we'll have this year, I have no way of knowing how many of those are Europe or elsewhere and I'm using my best guess on the overseas postage costs. This is only an example and more than likely the actual costs will be more than this - along with the costs of the cards - so it is an expensive undertaking - both in money and in time. Even though I bought my cards, it will still take time to sign them all, print the pics, insert a pic in each of them, address them all, stamp them all and send them on their way. This is what I did last year also and even though I didn't make the card, it still took the better part of two weekends to get it all done.

So I'm not trying to scare anyone away, but it is quite the undertaking and those that aren't ready for the commitment - either time or money wise - should probably take a pass.

[neko1]

Got my cards...sign me up!!

[shutterbug0303]

Yippie!! I'm in!!! Can't wait to get the master and get started!!!

[neko1]

When is the information being collected?

[wolf_Q]

Originally posted by neko1
When is the information being collected?

Everyone who wants to participate will email his or her mailing address to [email protected].

[neko1]

Oops, thanks....I'm too stupid today to think of looking at the first page!

(just sent my email in)