MeFi Holiday Card Exchange

November 7, 2019 6:34 PM

Who is up for sending more cards for the holidays? The link for the 2019 MeFi Holiday Card Exchange is within!

MeFites send the best cards - I had so much fun last year.

You can sign up here.

The Google form will be open through end of day Thursday November 21st. My goal is to compile responses and send out addresses by end of day Sunday November 24th.

Any type of cards are fine - handmade, storebought, postcards, etc!

You have the option to choose US-only or International, and you can also choose the number of cards you'd like to send - 10, up to 20 or up to 30.

As a reminder, if you don't have the energy for this, but would like a card anyway, please send me a message. I am happy to send cards to people who want them!

posted by needlegrrl to MetaFilter Gatherings at 6:34 PM (83 comments total)

Yay!!! Signing up...
posted by Tandem Affinity at 6:36 PM on November 7, 2019 [1 favorite]

*stretches out writing fingers*

My pens hunger for paper. Let’s do this!
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 6:38 PM on November 7, 2019 [2 favorites]

I can do it this year! Thanks to all the people who sent me a card when I didn't have the spoons to participate, I will pay it forward and say message me if you're in the same boat (I don't live in the US however!).
posted by ellieBOA at 12:28 AM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

Hooray! Your annual holiday card exchange is one of my very favorite things!

Thank you for setting this up!
posted by mochapickle at 1:40 AM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

I don't have the energy for quonsar this year, but can definitely do a card. Headed over to sign up now.
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 8:23 AM on November 8, 2019 [4 favorites]

yaaay! Thank you for doing this!
posted by Sparky Buttons at 8:31 AM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

Yay! Signing up.
posted by PussKillian at 8:37 AM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

Hooray!! I’m all in.
posted by Secretariat at 8:46 AM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

Signed up. Thank you, this is good.
posted by theora55 at 9:48 AM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

I would be happy with a Europe-only group too if enough people sign up.
posted by ellieBOA at 10:02 AM on November 8, 2019

Just signed up for this and quonsar-ing, both firsts for me. I am very fond of sending and receiving mail. Looking forward to it!
posted by wicked_sassy at 11:44 AM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

*pats newly purchased pile of stamps*

I am ready!
posted by jillithd at 12:17 PM on November 8, 2019 [2 favorites]

YYYAAASSS
posted by RhysPenbras at 1:16 PM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

Me please!
posted by holborne at 2:32 PM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Thanks needlegrrl, signing up now.
posted by the primroses were over at 2:54 PM on November 8, 2019 [2 favorites]

YES! This was one of the joys of the season last year for me. Thanks so much for organizing it again.
posted by bookrach at 4:52 PM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

I have added a "Europe only, if there are enough people who sign up! (Please let me know if you still want to send if enough people don't sign up)" option to the questionnaire - if you have already signed up and you would prefer this, please let me know!
posted by needlegrrl at 4:54 PM on November 8, 2019

I was so excited to see this and have signed up. Thanks for doing this!!
posted by googlebombed at 8:19 PM on November 8, 2019 [2 favorites]

Thanks needlegrrl, yes please!
posted by ellieBOA at 11:29 PM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]

Hi needlegrrl, thank you for organising this. I don't have access to the link at the moment - I only have internet access through work and it's blocked. If I MeMail you my details would you be able to add me on? Sorry to add to your work.
posted by paduasoy at 12:07 AM on November 9, 2019

So excited!
posted by kathrynm at 7:45 AM on November 9, 2019 [1 favorite]

Paduasoy, memailed you!
posted by needlegrrl at 9:50 AM on November 9, 2019

This was so nice last year! Cards arrived through the new year and I loved it!
posted by erloteiel at 3:11 PM on November 9, 2019 [1 favorite]

Cards arrived through the new year....
so this isn't necessarily Christmas holiday themed? so no hard deadline to send?
curious- this might be more possible than the Quonsar-one...
posted by cabin fever at 4:26 PM on November 9, 2019 [1 favorite]

oops sorry now I see its called a Holiday card exchange.
posted by cabin fever at 5:07 PM on November 9, 2019

When I signed up I put a note that I'm Jewish and would love a Hanukah or definitely-not-Christmas group. But of course if that's not feasible I'll happily send my non-denominational seasonal tidings to all.
posted by Mizu at 12:16 AM on November 10, 2019 [2 favorites]

I'm in! I love sending cards. I just signed up.
posted by Annabelle74 at 10:05 AM on November 10, 2019 [1 favorite]

Mizu, last year I sent creepy monster holiday cards and, as far as I know, no one hates my guts yet. None of the cards I received were heavily religious, and I am not religious. I think everyone just wants to send good cheer. :)
posted by jillithd at 4:13 PM on November 10, 2019 [5 favorites]

I enjoy this so much every year, thank you for organizing it!
posted by Saminal at 5:56 AM on November 12, 2019 [2 favorites]

I'm in. I didn't know I wanted to do this until I came in here. Thank you.
posted by cooker girl at 5:17 PM on November 12, 2019 [1 favorite]

I’m in. I’m not up for Quonsmas but I love cards ❤️
posted by samthemander at 11:00 AM on November 13, 2019

I'm in!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:30 AM on November 15, 2019

I signed up, as I love sending cards! I put a note that my family (kids and dogs) are on the card, and it's non-denomination. I know holidays can be difficult for some people, I'm happy to send a handmade, non-family card as well.
posted by alathia at 5:01 PM on November 18, 2019

Woohoo! Signed up!
Thanks for doing this. I am really enjoying the whole card experience!
posted by LaBellaStella at 4:57 PM on November 19, 2019

YAY AND THANKS!!!!
posted by youarenothere at 5:38 PM on November 21, 2019

Lists have been emailed out - you may have multiple emails, if you wanted more than 10.

If you didn't get an email, please let me know!

Happy card sending. :)
posted by needlegrrl at 6:32 PM on November 24, 2019 [3 favorites]

YAY! I got my lists, can't wait to get my cards in the mail, thank you for putting this together!
posted by lepus at 6:49 PM on November 24, 2019

Lists received! Hooray! Now I've got to figure out how to stuff strands of holiday lights, a mug of steaming hot cocoa, and a poky holiday puppy and/or kitten for each of you into a standard fifty-five cent envelope...

Thanks so much for organizing this, needlegrrl! It always brings great cheer!
posted by mochapickle at 12:43 AM on November 25, 2019 [2 favorites]

Addressing my cards now - am i the only one who can miswrite my own address 3 different ways in a stack of envelopes?
posted by buildmyworld at 11:42 AM on November 25, 2019

Is there a chance for someone who was In The Shit for the past week to be a late signer-on today?....
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:02 AM on November 26, 2019

I’d love to send you a card, EC! Memail your address!
posted by mochapickle at 7:38 AM on November 26, 2019

Ok, serious question: Is there anyone reading this who would object to getting a card with curse words (funny-in-context curse words, not stuff like "Fuck the Holidays")? I have some and I think they're hilarious, but I totally get if someone would prefer not to have their holiday greetings served up with the F word.
posted by holborne at 8:41 AM on November 26, 2019 [1 favorite]

Ditto EC!
posted by ellieBOA at 9:04 AM on November 26, 2019

Mochapickle and Ellie, MeMails sent! Send me your addresses too!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:16 AM on November 26, 2019 [1 favorite]

holborne, that’s me, and you are thoughtful to ask. Just not my thing!
posted by mochapickle at 9:25 AM on November 26, 2019

Righto, thanks! Will forgo F word cards this year.
posted by holborne at 9:35 AM on November 26, 2019

Oh, i meant just for me! I say send ‘em anyway and just send me a cute postcard or something!
posted by mochapickle at 9:37 AM on November 26, 2019

I'm cool with receiving foul-mouthed cards! But it's good you ask, because I think some people work on and open their cards with their kids!
posted by Secretariat at 10:59 AM on November 26, 2019 [1 favorite]

EC, happy to send you a card if you send your address!
posted by Secretariat at 11:00 AM on November 26, 2019

I would love an expletive filled card!
posted by ellieBOA at 11:59 AM on November 26, 2019

No barriers to expletives here! (Coming or going apparently....)
posted by Tandem Affinity at 12:48 PM on November 26, 2019

EC, memailed you!
posted by needlegrrl at 1:01 PM on November 26, 2019

Expletives are fine for me too
posted by buildmyworld at 1:25 PM on November 26, 2019

I have stamps and ink and I've been stamping the ever-loving beans out of some cards today!
posted by Secretariat at 4:54 PM on November 27, 2019 [1 favorite]

Sent mine today!
posted by ellieBOA at 4:05 AM on November 29, 2019

I addressed mine last night and will plop them in the mail tomorrow! Yay!
posted by jillithd at 11:08 AM on December 1, 2019

Mine will go in the mail sometime in the next few days, depending on the weather situation and when I can get to the post office! :D
posted by firei at 3:00 PM on December 1, 2019

I have ended up with an unofficial group assembled and will be sending mine out over the course of the next few days. Thanks!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:30 PM on December 1, 2019 [1 favorite]

Sent half of mine out today and going to do the other half this week. Cheers!
posted by tofu_crouton at 10:25 AM on December 2, 2019

All of mine were picked up today. SO EXCITED!!
posted by RhysPenbras at 7:07 PM on December 2, 2019

ellieBOA, yours arrived at mine today - amazing! Transatlantic mail seems to have gotten faster in recent years.

... which is good news for me, because I haven't sent mine out - they'll go out early next week!
posted by invokeuse at 8:29 PM on December 5, 2019 [1 favorite]

Wow France to Canada in 4 days has to be some kind of record! I got my first card yesterday, thank you needlegrrl!
posted by ellieBOA at 11:28 PM on December 5, 2019 [1 favorite]

Yay, glad it arrived! I try to send out international immediately, because the timing is so unknown. The rest of mine went out yesterday, but they are making a stop in another town, so they will likely be on their way early next week. :)

(I like to send them out for holiday postmarks when I can!)
posted by needlegrrl at 4:38 AM on December 6, 2019

I will be a little bit slow on these, because my original plan of finding something hideously Texan + Wintertime was flouted by the christmafication of everything. So INSTEAD after I got home from my trip I allowed myself a small decorative paper budget and now I get to make ten collages!!! But I gotta make 'em. Meanwhile, if anybody's got a line on pictures of armadillos or horned lizards in tiny winter hats please let me know, for unrelated reasons.
posted by Mizu at 5:05 PM on December 6, 2019 [1 favorite]

Thanks for the cards tandem affinity and wicked_sassy!
posted by ellieBOA at 4:17 AM on December 7, 2019 [1 favorite]

Mizu, I was also hoping to find some very Texan cards to send out. I had trouble finding anything completely non-denominational at all. Now that I know how hard they to find locally, I think I'm going to make my own for next year with snowy cacti and whatnor.
posted by tofu_crouton at 5:18 AM on December 7, 2019 [2 favorites]

I’m putting a few in the mail today! I think this will be a multi-stage release.
posted by Secretariat at 9:14 AM on December 7, 2019 [1 favorite]

Received two more, thank you theappleonatree and thivaia!
posted by ellieBOA at 3:33 AM on December 12, 2019

I've had several lovely Christmas cards, thank you. But also unexpectedly today came home to lots of birthday cards to my cat. I'd forgotten I'd put myself on the list this month. It's been a bit of a tough week - negotiating accommodation for my father for one thing, and some work issues. I was ridiculously moved and pleased by the cards to my cat - who is now 18 (I think I forgot to update on the card exchange, so people thought he was 17) and pretty skinny and fragile but still cuddly and purry (or bitey and scratchey, but he's always had emotional regulation issues).

Thank you, everyone, for Christmas cards and cat cards.
posted by paduasoy at 1:45 PM on December 12, 2019 [4 favorites]

Mine were sent yesterday.
posted by FakePalindrome at 8:41 PM on December 12, 2019

I sent most of the overseas cards out on Monday and the rest were sent out yesterday. It's been great getting all the different cards. I look forward to this every year!
posted by googlebombed at 6:58 AM on December 13, 2019

I sent mine yesterday. I apologize to a couple of people on my list; I used a smudgy ballpoint so some of the addresses look a bit untidy. (The cards are still ok though.)
posted by holborne at 9:27 AM on December 13, 2019

Yesterday was the best mail day I have had in my entire life: Four (four!) holiday cards from all you lovely holiday exchange mefites and a small, unexpected holiday gift from a beloved faraway friend. No bills, no flyers, no junk. Just 1000% warm wishes. It was excellent.

All of mine went out earlier this week!
posted by mochapickle at 10:12 AM on December 13, 2019 [1 favorite]

I dropped off all my cards at the post office Wednesday!

I think the clerk behind the counter was relieved I hadn't come to pick up a package.
posted by invokeuse at 5:08 PM on December 13, 2019

I mailed out all my cards 2 days ago, finally!

So many lovely cards arrived today :).
posted by Annabelle74 at 6:17 PM on December 13, 2019

I've received such lovely cards so far! Thank you all. I like to tape them to the railing of my split-level so I can see them as I go up and down the stairs. :)
posted by jillithd at 8:11 AM on December 14, 2019 [2 favorites]

I’ve been receiving cards and loving it! Thank you metafilterians :)

I have been a bit hamstringed in sending ours out, but they’re written and will go out in tomorrow’s mail. Truthfully, what happened is this: my husband and I came up with a wording for our photo/family holiday card that mentioned the loss of his father, and then when we received the printed cards, it started to feel a bit too hard to share that much. We decided to put a pause on holiday cards until we could wrap our heads & hearts around it. In the end, we decided to send them as-is. (It’s weird for me - normally I get my cards out over the Thanksgiving weekend!) Some years are big and momentous for good reasons, and some are big and momentous for bad reasons, and this year was frankly BOTH for us. And we wanted to share that.
posted by samthemander at 10:49 PM on December 15, 2019 [3 favorites]

Sorry for your loss, samthemander, and big hugs to you and your family if you want them.
posted by invokeuse at 11:08 PM on December 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

I'm still sending out cards! Things got busy, some went out, others haven't. But they're all addressed and sitting there, going out 2 or 3 a day!
posted by Secretariat at 8:31 AM on December 28, 2019 [2 favorites]

I loved all my cards, thanks everyone!
posted by cooker girl at 8:43 AM on December 29, 2019 [1 favorite]

I got two more cards yesterday, including one from south of Australia! I think getting letters from MeFites is a special kind of delight.

Thanks so much for arranging this, needlegrrl!
posted by jillithd at 7:50 AM on January 3, 2020

Oh goodness, I'm so sorry, this past month or so has been a mess of health problems. This is so so late, but I just sent out all my cards--hopefully people can still use some good wishes for the new year. I got to use some of my languishing sticker collection, at least!

Also wanted to say thank you for the lovely cards I received! I can't remember who it was from because the envelope is somewhere in my disaster of an apartment, but Wayward Son was also one of my favorite books this year!
posted by brook horse at 2:14 PM on January 17, 2020 [2 favorites]

brook horse, for what it's worth, I just got a holiday card from an aunt this week, after I put away all my holiday trappings, and it was the best thing to get a surprise holiday season extension!

Also, thanks to everyone in my group, I absolutely loved every last card.

If anyone wants to do a valentines exchange, and has the spoons for it, here's a link to the metatalk thread for that. If you aren't up for the executive functioning and/or expense of a full on exchange, but would like a valentine anyway, please feel free to memail me.
posted by the primroses were over at 6:47 AM on January 18, 2020 [2 favorites]