WMUTeach

I was given a shoe box of 2.5 jelly roll strips that will be the foundation of my swapping 2.5s for 2026. Goal.... get them out of my stash and into everyone else's! Tee-Hee-Hee. When will I begin cutting? Hum, after Christmas and before New Year's for sure. I have too many little "to do's" on my list to dive into at the moment. But the 2026 swap bin is calling me. You hoo! Come cut me up. You hoo! More likely that bin is trying to lure me down a rabbit trail of distraction.

ibex94

It is so nice to have a new pup in our midst. Welcome to Ruckus! And I am glad you can swap this year, JENNR8R!

Like the Saints song goes, "I wanna be in that number" so I am happily back in the swap. And speaking of the Saints.... for your viewing pleasure,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyLj...&start_radio=1 -- Louis Armstrong and Jewel Brown singing When the Saints Go Marching In. Besides my love of this kind of jazz and Satchmo, I love that this particular video features a globe prominantly (in a couple places). Makes my geographer heart happy.

I have started gathering my fabrics for the candies. I even picked out a christmas pattern to work on with my existing candies. Last year was productive for everyone but me with regards to quilting projects. Maybe this 2026 year will be my successful quilting year. New Year's Resolution time!!

Thank you for coordinating our Candy Birthday Swap, WMUTeach! I am busy grading so hope to be playing with candies and family soon.

WMUTeach

What a fun video, Ibex! I have not seen that one before. Your time to play and stitch and create will appear in good time. Right now your students need what you can give to them. Enjoy your music, your candies and your Christmas pattern. Would love to see the pattern you have chosen when you get a moment.

travelinggramma

Do we have any January birthdays coming up? Just want to keep an eye on it while we travel.
While so many are having snow and cold weather, we are have unseasonably high temperatures breaking the records.

WMUTeach

TG, at this moment we have two January Birthdays. Addresses will go out January 2. After that we will be back to the 20th of the month for new PMs with addresses.

travelinggramma

Thank you WMUT. I don’t want to miss anyone. I hopefully will recall where I stashed them in motorhome!!
So glad I had all the cutting done ahead of time

JENNR8R

I went to the post office yesterday to get two-ounce stamps for the swap. I was the only customer there. The clerk said my timing was perfect. Earlier there was a line out the door. What a good start!

pinkflowers

Please remind me...the 2-ounce stamps are the "Butterfly" non-machinable stamp, and will be sufficient for sending the candies inside a typical birthday card sized envelope? And there's a thickness rule as well, correct? I remember the postal worker sliding my envelopes in a tool to check for thickness.

January is just around the corner and I'm hoping to be as prepared as I can be. I'm excited to start!!

WMUTeach

Pink Flowers, I am not sure about the stamp, but yes, if we layout our "candies" carefully they can easily pass through the little measuring slot they use at the post office. It also helps after packing the envelope to "squish" the envelopes under a heavy book or box. The flatter the better.

Cards are always wonderful but many folks have been using a fold of copy paper with a printed message or laying squares out on a piece of scrapbook paper. I mail mine in 6"X9" kraft envelops I pick up at the dollar store. I think they are 6 for $1.50. There are lots of ways to get our little 2.5's in the mail.These always slide through the little measuring device easily. If they don't pass measuring you will be asked to pay for them as if the envelope was a package and it costs considerably more. Do what works for you.

I spent the afternoon cutting and stacking little 2.5's while at a friend's home as she did other quilty things. I am little more than half done. The anticipation is building for 2026 Birthday Swap fun.

We have another potential swapper waiting in the wings. Fingers crossed.

pamelor

I posted some of these picture last year at this time but here they are again! I hope they are helpful for any new swappers.

1. A picture of the stamps. The 2-ounce "forever" ones I buy have flowers on them. 2. A picture of the envelopes (I use A9 but I've seen people use regular business envelopes too). You can see the candies stacked in 6 rows of 8 (48) plus a couple extra on top. I throw a few extra in because I'm worried I might miscount, or one of the candies will be cut incorrectly, etc. 3. My stack of envelopes with a book on top where they sit flattening all year waiting for the time to mail.

I also put these directly in the mailbox outside the post office. I've weighed them on my kitchen scale at home so I know they're under 2 ounces. I don't want to take them to the postal counter then have some random postal worker get into an argument with me about weight, dimensions of envelope, too thick etc. Just dump in the mailbox and so far they've always come through just fine.