Snail Mail Kit Swap: Follow Up

I hosted the Snail Mail Kit Swap on swapbot.com early this month. I wasn't sure if this swap would work or people would actually be interested in such a swap. And since this was going to be a bit pricey I was not confident at all. But surprisingly the swap had an overwhelming response. We had 54 swappers who joined in this project and thanks to all of you wonderful people the swap even made it to the top 10. And that was even more exciting!!! I am sure we all had fun putting the package together for our partners.

Well I received my swap from my partner Karen, today. And I love what she put together for me - it is so beautiful and so colourful and has many wonderful things that I like and would surely use.

Well I'll shut up and let the pictures do the talking. Thank you Karen for this wonderful and thoughtful package. I love it all. 

 Isn't this a beautiful and colourful envie??

 She packed it so well!!!

 This is the most beautiful and lovable box ever - thanks Karen.

 Covered with used envelopes - with addresses, stamps and  what not...!!! LOVE IT :*

 inside the box.

 Love all the cards, lettersets, envelopes, greeting cards, labels and the address book that says London was a hit!! It's one of my favorite city.

 Love this tiny little stamp you sent - will be using it soon and I love Papermate pens.

And I love cute and colourful owls too!!

Thank you, Karen - love the package!!!!

Letter Writing and Me

For the last few years I haven't received any festive or celebration cards, while I have been writing Christmas cards regularly to all my extended families for almost 3 consecutive years (except for the year 2010 - as I was busy preparing for my wedding).

I have been reading online and reading some books too - and I am being suggested that I should drop these people off my list who do not care to reply the letters or do not have the courtesy to send a simple greeting card.

Most of my extended family tells me its better to call then to write long letters. But I don't receive any calls either. How can people so busy? Many times I wonder if I am going wrong somewhere or is it that people just don't care? I feel neglected! It feels as if I am doing all that I can to keep the "flames" on,  while the opposite is true for them.

My grandma always says that family is always family and I have learned from her not to give up on our loved ones. So my latest project is to write to them and send greetings and mail them all that I can and give myself a time frame of 2-3 years before I drop them off the list. I pray that this relationship of sending and receiving mails can be restored. Its not just a tradition or a culture or a ritual but a way to say that, I care, I miss you,  I am thinking of you and Just because...

Many times I have realized that my friends and family who call me get lost within few minutes of conversation. They do not know what to say or ask beyond those typical questions like, "how are you? how is your husband? how are studies? you doing good?". I might sound frustrated but this is the truth. The calls are not intentional, just a formality so that they can say, "oh, we do call her from time to time".

I am not saying that I am perfect with maintaining this tradition or that I am so good with sending cards and so on...  I agree its not easy to write letters - it requires time, and thinking and an intention. You pour out your heart to someone when you write - either email or traditional mail. And that's why it required effort, and that's why letters are treasured and people require a response.

Sigh... me and my frustration.

World's Smallest Postal Service

While surfing online I found this cutest thing on web. Ever wondered on sending the smallest and tiniest letter or greeting card across? Here is someone who can do this for you - World's Smallest Postal Service .

And this is how it works:

 "You write a letter and it is transferred onto a tiny 1 inch paper. It is placed in a tiny envelope with address, stamped and wax sealed. The letter is then securely put into a see-through folded coin case and is packed with a magnifying glass."

And it's not just letters you can send but invitations, custom cards and even packages. And here's the coolest video of the coolest mailing kit.

Outgoing mails for today

 An attempt at doodling flowers.

 A small little something for my cousin

14 outgoing postcards - to family in India and Canada

An Unexpected Envelope

My hubby found this in my mailbox today. So excited to see a big envelope - a big stuffed envelope addressed to me :D .

I couldn't figure out what this was about. I checked the sender's address and it was from Canada. I wasn't expecting anything from Canada. Even the sender's name didn't ring a bell. There was no swap name or any detail on the envelope. I opened it carefully not knowing what was inside.

While opening the envelope - I was still thinking that this was a wrong swap. I didn't sign up for any craft or craft supplies swap. I went through each item carefully thinking, "Oh no! I'll have to return this to the person who sent this to me. It's a wrong swap."  ;(

It wasn't until I read the note in the envelope addressed to me that I realised that this was for me. It was ALL for me. It wasn't the wrong swap. I had forgotten all about it. 

Isn't this like an answered prayer? We ask God for many things desperately and persistently and after sometime we go about with our day to day life  forgetting what we prayed for. But Christ is faithful and he doesn't forget our prayers. AMEN!?

This is what I got in my Stuffed Envelope Swap.

 Things in the Envelope:

• 1 Smash Stick : K&Company
• 1 pack Laura Ashley Photo Corners
• 2 Designer Rhinestones : Bling It
• 1 pack Rhinestones (Butterfly) : KAISER scrapbook
• 1 Clear Stamp : Studio g
• 2 Scrapbooking papercraft: 7gypsies
• 30 pieces color block brads - garden flowers : Queen & Co.
• A colourful flower

PS: Thank you Josie for such a Surprise!! Felt like love in abundance.