Depending on the parameters, ie. a decorated recipe card styled project, I would like to participate. I await the details should this project start up.

Deb :tea:

Good morning, crafty Peeps!

I have a (sort of) crafting dilemma that I hope everyone can contribute some ideas to. I have a medium-sized extended family, and we're not going to be able to get together in person for Christmas like we usually do. It's just too risky - I'm immunocompromised, there are little kids, elderly people. We're all agreed that it's just not going to happen this year, and a Zoom dinner isn't going to cut it. (My weirdo family doesn't talk during meals - it would just be streaming camera of all of us chewing our food.)

But what can we do, that would take into account that different people will want to do different things and have different capabilities? A couple of ideas I had:
- Some people could write newsy Christmas cards and mark on the outside "Do Not Open Til December 25"
- Some people could assemble boxes of gifts and mail them to the different households. Maybe we could Zoom the opening of presents.
- We could reserve December 25th for making phone calls to each other (and other friends and family, too).

These ideas seem really straightforward and not very festive though. I want to bring all age groups into it (we have ages 2 through 90). Keep in mind we would have to get started on this right away, since if the post office is involved, stuff should probably get there no later than November 30. I want something whimsical, that maybe only I could do - but how could I encourage other people to be whimsical in their own way? And - number one - how can I keep this and make it sound LOW EFFORT? My family doesn't get jollied into projects very easily. The trade off is that we will not be travelling three hours each way to see each other in person.

I would like to avoid the route of exchanging Christmas cards with just the name signed inside and a gift card included. You know what I mean.

So hopefully now your creative juices are flowing. Please post any ideas you have here for me. And if I can offer feedback on any ideas you have for your own family gatherings, I will be very happy to do so - just let me know.

Happy Merry Merry,
Georgia

Holidays across the miles ....
 

Due to living internationally for many years (and having family spread across Canada) my family has one person ‘host’ a video. We frequently have 20+ groups (1 to 7 persons) that use a phone to make a video and send it to the host who then uploads it to an album on Facebook. We all receive the link late on December 24th. Throughout the next 48 hours we add photos, more videos, etc., and then start adding recipes as there are always food photos. It’s been a great way to stay in touch....it also has been a great way to remember those who are no longer with us and welcome new additions to the family.

Deb :tea:

penpals etc.
 

I don't normally make suggestions in these threads but after reading them (curious) I am wondering with all these wonderful ideas why each member of peoples family and friends don't spend $30. on a camera and mike so you call chat live. Skype is free and it is great for keeping in touch and talking face to face. Just a thought. Amazon has tons.

Hi Pen Pal Types,

Just some snail mail news I thought you all might be interested in:

I heard a story on NPR's Marketplace and it made me think of this group. They were talking about greeting cards during the time of Covid. A greeting card company owner (sorry I don't remember which one, but it wasn't Hallmark) said that sales have increased exponentially for sympathy cards and "thinking of you" type cards.

The increase in sales of sympathy cards is a little macabre, although expected, I suppose. But "thinking of you" cards - maybe it's time to send out some (non-holiday) cards to the people on my holiday card list.

I have also noticed that the greeting card section of the grocery store seems to be crowded lately. I had thought it was just the luck of the draw - lots of people crowding the aisle when I happened to be there - but maybe there's something more to it than that. Everybody misses their friends, of course, but I wonder if hanging out in the card aisle is a way to prolong the trip to the grocery store? - and stay out in public a little longer. Just a thought (not that I recommend lurking in the card aisle during Covid).

I'm not really proposing a group project here, just passing along some news. Hope you all are well -

Georgia

I read similar articles on Bloomberg and Fast Company.

I've always been a card sender, but since Covid I know I've sent even more!

At Halloween in fact I sent several cards and wrote inside " Yup, ghosts and gobbling's are scary, but not as scary as a pandemic"!

I re-connected with two friends from Milwaukee, during Covid, that I had lost track of, and have sent each numerous cards. One is a real movie buff and got most of her DVD's thru the library rental system, but once Covid hit, and that wasn't possible, I sent her several DVD's as well.

To be honest I can't say I've received more cards during Covid, but IMHO "tis better to give than receive" still holds true for me, even during a pandemic!

Gosh maybe we should start.......
 

~~~:gotmail:

A card exchange! Anyone up for it? I'd prefer something lose and unstructured without time constrains myself!

That should of been loose as in without a lot of rules.....

Loose and unstructured that's kind of vague and open ended sounding, what does that mean and how would it work?

Hi, all - I'm trying to come out of hiding. It's spring break this week so that helps. Miss y'all!

nycfem ❤❤❤we have missed you!!!

The Ultimate Loose and Unstructured Pen Pal Event:

Everyone who wants to will sign up below and PM their addresses to the wrangler, starting now. The wrangler will distribute the addresses when they are received. Participants are free to send letters, cards, art projects, to whomever they want, whenever they want. Participants can join at any time. Project lasts until everyone agrees it has run its course, or the wrangler is over it.

No deadlines, just group rule.

Georgia volunteers to wrangle unless someone else has a better idea and wants to do it.

What do you all think?

Four likes looks like loose and unstructured approval to me. Therefore, I present

The Ultimate Loose and Unstructured Pen Pal Event

Everyone who wants to will sign up below and PM their mailing address to the wrangler, starting now March 31, 2021. The wrangler, GeorgiaMa'am, will distribute the addresses within a day or two of when they are received. Participants are encouraged to send letters, cards, art projects, etc. to whomever they want, whenever they want. Participants can join at any time. Project lasts until everyone agrees it has run its course, or the wrangler is over it.

No limit on participants. No deadlines, just group rule.

1. Georgia Ma'am
2.
3.
4.
5.

Four likes looks like loose and unstructured approval to me. Therefore, I present

The Ultimate Loose and Unstructured Pen Pal Event

Everyone who wants to will sign up below and PM their mailing address to the wrangler, starting now March 31, 2021. The wrangler, GeorgiaMa'am, will distribute the addresses within a day or two of when they are received. Participants are encouraged to send letters, cards, art projects, etc. to whomever they want, whenever they want. Participants can join at any time. Project lasts until everyone agrees it has run its course, or the wrangler is over it.

No limit on participants. No deadlines, just group rule.

1. Georgia Ma'am
2. Gemme
3.
4.
5.

"Four likes looks like loose"--say that fast 10 times!

Four likes looks like loose and unstructured approval to me. Therefore, I present

The Ultimate Loose and Unstructured Pen Pal Event

Everyone who wants to will sign up below and PM their mailing address to the wrangler, starting now March 31, 2021. The wrangler, GeorgiaMa'am, will distribute the addresses within a day or two of when they are received. Participants are encouraged to send letters, cards, art projects, etc. to whomever they want, whenever they want. Participants can join at any time. Project lasts until everyone agrees it has run its course, or the wrangler is over it.

No limit on participants. No deadlines, just group rule.

1. Georgia Ma'am
2. Gemme
3. Nanners
4.
5.

Four likes looks like loose and unstructured approval to me. Therefore, I present

The Ultimate Loose and Unstructured Pen Pal Event

Everyone who wants to will sign up below and PM their mailing address to the wrangler, starting now March 31, 2021. The wrangler, GeorgiaMa'am, will distribute the addresses within a day or two of when they are received. Participants are encouraged to send letters, cards, art projects, etc. to whomever they want, whenever they want. Participants can join at any time. Project lasts until everyone agrees it has run its course, or the wrangler is over it.

No limit on participants. No deadlines, just group rule.

1. Georgia Ma'am
2. Gemme
3. Nanners
4. Orema
5.
6.
7.

Count me in!

It would be nice to get fun mail for a change! :)

Somebody brought up a good point today. Unlike most of our past projects, I will not be collecting and redistributing the projects. I am simply making a mailing list, much like we do for holiday cards, and distributing the addresses to everybody. Therefore, everyone who participates will have each others' addresses. Participants will mail their projects directly to the recipients.

Also, there's no need to send money to me since you will be handling your own postage.

Sorry for any confusion. Is this a problem for anyone?

Nope, works for me..........:hangloose:

I'm not much of a artsy crafty person so I'll be sending cards only!

No problems here

I can hardly wait to get this party started...:gotmail:

Yay!
 

Super excited about this!

How exciting! The first batch of addresses has been sent out by PM. If you didn't get it, it's because either (1) you didn't sign up, or (2) you didn't PM me your address. I know there are others who are interested, so send me that info!

Clay, do you want me to sign you up? Are you still having trouble with that?

As Dean Martin used to famously say....
 

"keep those cards and letters coming in".

~~
So far I've received several beautiful cards......:gotmail:

Received cards with bears (I ain't scared!), legs, a guitar playin' lady, and warm letters. Thank you for thinking of me!

And they say letter writing is a dying art.......pish

Address list!
 

Hi! I can't remember who sent out the address list for this round of the card exchange, but with the server update, it's not in my inbox anymore. I was just looking for it to start sending cards, and it's gone. Could somebody please send it to me again? Thanks!

Thank you to the five people who sent out cards for this project.

I'm still sporadically sending out cards, notes, news articles, etc etc !

It makes me happy thinking I just might of made someone laugh or brighten up their day.

I don't know about a December craft project. The holidays are a hectic time and usually the card exchange keeps me busy enough. The Halloween ATC project though sounds fun. Oh I was just asking myself what I might make out of things I have on hand or supplies that wouldn't be too spendy and in a flash it came to me! If we do a week for sign up, and around the same number of people who've participated in the past join in this round I could do it in a four or five week window of time, though five would be better. Anyone else interested?

refresh my memory please....
 

What are ATC cards again???