WIYM: Naked Christmas Card Notebook

This is a great idea!^_^

Yes, love this idea! I'd like to know at least how many pages for each notebook would be good? What type of paper: should they be lined notepaper or can be plain or we can mix different (lightly patterned) papers?

This is SENDERS CHOICE, so try to make something you'd like to receive, don't stress yourself out too much or worry about getting too fancy unless you want to and then it's on you so don't expect the same from your partners, but other than that there aren't really rules.

If you want a rule of thumb for the number of pages, I'd say you should have at least 10 sheets of paper in the notebook, if you fold those in half at the binding and count each side, that's 40 pages of notebook if you were to number them. If you were to make a matchbook binding (the pages aren't folded in half at the binding, then use 20 sheets of paper, and again if you were to count each side you'd have 40 pages. That seems like a reasonable ballpark. But if you use a different number and like the results, go for it!

Lined vs plain vs fancy papers? Again, sender's choice, but I think a mix of papers would be just grand - in fact, I may steal that idea from you. This is primarily an up-cycling swap, so use whatever you have on hand.

This isn't a formal rule, but now that you've got me thinking about it, I think that this should be a "NO BUY" swap - you should only use things that you have on hand already. So, mixed papers? How about throwing in a few pages of re-cycled Christmas wrapping paper? Dental floss for the binding or staples (just suggestions) - we don't have to get super fancy with the binding. And dig out one of those old ratty notebooks you stole from work when you left that last job cuz, seriously, who is going to want the dregs of your mostly-used notebooks? You know they were just gonna throw it away if you left it at your desk when you quit. (Am I the only person who has notebooks like that from old jobs??).

Thank you for your reply, I love the idea of using whatever's on hand! I should start making one to use this month :D

Do I understand correctly? We just put postage on the back and mail it with no envelope?

Yes, slap the postage directly onto the notebook and mail it.

You want to make sure it is secured shut with something your partner can get open with a minimum of trouble like washi tape or stitching. You can write some instructions on the back if you think they'll need help.

Do I understand well: only one Christmas card....? for the outside...? Or can we use more Christmas cards...inside too? When we talk about 20 or 40 pages incl postcards, it will be an expensive swap to send (shipping), isn't it?

You can use as many Christmas cards as you'd like. Or as few as one.

40 pages is actually 10 sheets of paper, folded in half and counting the front and back of each page. Since greeting cards are generally A2 size or close to it, each of the "10 sheets" starts out as only part of a typical 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of copier paper. It should be very reasonable to make something like that under 1oz in order to qualify for first class postage. Even with the non-machineable upcharge, that's under $1 for US postage, and under $1.50 for US to International.

I've done maaaany "naked notebook" swaps and have never found the cost to be an issue.

If you are concerned, you could try making a prototype and taking it to your post office. If the effort or cost is prohibitive, then perhaps this swap isn't for you.

How big does it have to be to mail naked. I made one that is super cute but the card I started with was smallish so not sure I can mail it naked.

really cool idea!

minimum first class US item is 3.5 inches by 5 inches.

Naked notebooks are on the way to my partners. Enjoy!

I kept the small one for myself and made two new ones to send. I am happy that they both made it to my swap partners the post office gave me a super hard time about mailing them. I actually had to put them in an envelope.

Mine made it all the way from Minnesota to Singapore. Yay! (and "whew!")