2015 Annual Arena Card Swap

[ArenaHunt]

MLPArena Card Swap 2015
Get those pens and cards ready - IT'S CARD SWAP TIME!
The annual card swap is back for its 10th year.

visitors can't see pics , please register or login
 visitors can't see pics , please register or login

Everyone and anyone can join. Participants will send and received 5 cards, but not necessarily to the same people - so it will be a surprise who you receive cards from.

**RULES & Things to keep in mind:
1: Each group will have a variety of addresses - USA, Canada, Europe, etc. If you cannot send cards overseas, please do not join. You should plan to spend at least $20 for cards and mailing.
2: If at any point you run into trouble or delays, PM me ASAP.
3: You MUST include your Arena username when you sign your card, so the person receiving your card knows who you are! Make sure your username is legible.
4. You must complete the photo check-in [via PM] by the deadline.
5: You must let me know [via PM] when you have mailed your cards.
6: You must let me know [via PM] when you receive cards and from who. Each and every card.
7: You must ship within the set deadline.
8: No glitter bombs.

**Expectations of swappers:
1: You may get a variety of cards - various holidays, traditions, cultures, and religions. If you are not comfortable with this, please do not join.
2: Cards can be store bought, hand made, computer print-outs, postcards - whatever you want. They don't have to be pony-related.
3: Active participation in this swap thread.

**Requirements to join: have been here at least 3 months with a post count of 100 posts or higher
(ie - must have joined July 2015 or earlier)
No - I will not deviate from these requirements, please do not ask. I will not respond to those messages.
If you don't have enough posts yet, get posting. If you don't have long enough membership, hopefully you will join us next year.

NOTE: You can enter a maximim of 4 swaps which together count as 1 place in your swap profile. Entry will be at the moderating team's discretion. Participants will not be cleared until ALL of their cards are received by their partners.

**How to join: Please PM me (ArenaHunt) with the following info:
Name (first and last):
Mailing Address (full address as should appear on the envelope, including country):
Secret Word: (this is an unique word to this swap and is not the same as the other swaps)

**Last day to join: November 6.
Please take this as seriously as you would any other swap. Once I have sent the group lists out - you cannot drop out. If you have any doubts about being able to fulfill your requirement, don't join. Appropriate feedback will be left for any drop-outs.

**Initial partner lists will contain only usernames and countries. You'll 3 weeks of November to get your cards ready. Addresses will be sent after check-ins are complete.

**Photo check-in deadline: November 27.
To prove you are ready to put your cards in the mail, and to get your address lists, everyone must PM me a PHOTO for their check-in.

Anyone that does not submit a photo of their ready-to-mail postcards for the check-in will be dropped from the swap (and appropriate feedback will be left). That means you will not be sent your address list if you don't submit a check-in, and you will not be included on any other address lists (you will not receive any cards from the swap).

**Card Mailing:
All cards are to be mailed by December 12.
Address lists will be sent out in the weekend of Nov 28-29. As soon as you receive your addresses, you can address your cards and get them in the mail.

**Make-up cards: December 26-January 10.
Participants must be prepared to send make-up cards if any of their cards go AWOL in the mailing process. Any cards not received by Christmas (Dec 25), the sender will be notified and expected to get a make-up card sent out immediately. All make-up cards must be received by January 10.

Participants will not be cleared from the swap unless all of their partners have received a card.

**Feedback:
Feedback will be left by me upon completion of the swap. Feedback will be based on communication, mailing within the deadline, following of the rules, participation in swap threads, etc. The secret swap word is candy. This is not the same one as the other holiday swaps, please make sure you're sending the right one.

**Swap Timelines:
now-Nov 6 - sign ups open
Nov 7 - sign ups closed
Nov 7-8 - group lists PMs to participants
Nov 9-27 - participants shop for or create cards
Nov 27 - photo check in deadline, cards must be complete and ready for mailing
Nov 28-29 - addresses will be sent to all participants that have checked in; participants address cards and get ready to mail
Dec 12 - mailing deadline, all cards mailed
Dec 26(ish) - senders of missing cards will be notified and will send out make-up cards
Jan 10 - deadline for make-up cards to be received

It's always fun to get holiday cards in the mail! This way you'll be guaranteed a lot of mail, and a lot of fun. And we all have the fun of sending out cards and getting to know each other a little better.

visitors can't see pics , please register or login
 

Be sure to fill out the "Partner Interest" questions as well! Post them here for your partners to see.

Favorite Color(s)?

Favorite Animal(s)?

Favorite MLP?

Other tidbits of information?

Your winter holiday?

[ringwraith10]

Yay, I'm so excited! Going to send my PM soon.

[banditpony]

Aaah ~ I really want to join this.
The only kicker for me is the international part. -__-; It's so hard to get to the PO during open hours.

Out of curiosity. What is a glitter bomb? Is it cards that have glitter on them... or is loose glitter inside a card that would fall out?

[ringwraith10]

Aaah ~ I really want to join this.
The only kicker for me is the international part. -__-; It's so hard to get to the PO during open hours.

Out of curiosity. What is a glitter bomb? Is it cards that have glitter on them... or is loose glitter inside a card that would fall out?

If you can get to the Post Office once, you can actually buy a page of international stamps, then you can mail them from your mailbox.

[Kiwi]

Glitter bombs are when people fill the card/envelope with loose glitter. It gets everywhere and caused quite a mess, which is also a health risk for those with pets or small kids.

I'm not sure for US, but Canada Post will still mail an international item if you use enough domestic stamps to cover the cost (sometimes need 2-3 stamps to equal the cost). That's why I send out the Countries with the initial partner lists, so everyone knows how many of each type of stamp they need - there's 3 weeks to work on cards before the check-in, and then another 2 weeks for mailing, so 5 full weeks to track down stamps.

[BethyVic]

If I am involved in the Sock Swap, OT Ornament Swap and Holiday Tea and Chocolate Swap, can I still join this one? 

[Mkia]

I love this swap!! Will send my form soon

[Sochy]

Omg, I would love to join! : D I think this is my 100 post, lucky me.

[Mkia]

I'm not sure for US, but Canada Post will still mail an international item if you use enough domestic stamps to cover the cost (sometimes need 2-3 stamps to equal the cost). That's why I send out the Countries with the initial partner lists, so everyone knows how many of each type of stamp they need - there's 3 weeks to work on cards before the check-in, and then another 2 weeks for mailing, so 5 full weeks to track down stamps.

This is true for the US as well. I believe an international stamp is around $1.20 for the US. So I usually just slap three regular forever stamps on and have never had an issue

[Lilithdrff]

Ooooh more cards for me to send out! I'm in!! 

[ladybastilla]

I saved a spot waiting for this swap. I love cards. They'll look great on display with my mini tree and then I can glue them into my smashbook once the holidays are over so I won't lose them.

Sending PM.

[aintnobuffalo]

I also was saving a spot for this one! Sent my PM. I'm excited! I hope I will have time to make my own this year, but it was still super fun when I only had time to buy them.

[ladybastilla]

I'm debating whether to make or buy. I'm not the most advanced at card making, but I'm not completely hopeless either. On the other hand, I'm also a total shopaholic who enjoys shopping for cards. I'll likely depend on who we get and if I like the materials I have to work with.

[icecreamgirl]

I loved taking part in this swap last year and I got some amazing cards in return 

Will be definitely signing up again!

[Beldarna]

PM sent! How exciting!