Metafilter Card Club -- it's still a thing! December 29, 2024 4:24 PM Subscribe
Mefi Card Club was started as an ongoing card swap in March of 2018, and still continues to this day (approaching 7 years, whew!). It's been a bit since we've had a Metatalk post about this and we could use some more participants to keep this sustainable, so I figured it was time. If you want to continue the fun of sending and receiving cards and not limit it to just the holiday season, come join us!
If you have never heard of Card Club before here is where it got started. The mechanics are basically the same, although the dates are now pushed out towards the middle and end of the month. Basically, you sign up once and let me know what month(s) you want to get cards in. After that, I send out an email monthly asking for who wants to send cards and how many, and then match them up with people to send to. That's it.
People sign up for cards all sorts of things (Birthdays are the most common). Some want to receive cards every month, some only 1 month out of the year, and a few people only want to send, never receive.
If you want to be added, please send me an email at meficardclub@gmail.com, and I'll get you set up! Although this is still going, we have had waning participation over the last year or so, and getting new people in the club would be fantastic.
If you have never heard of Card Club before here is where it got started. The mechanics are basically the same, although the dates are now pushed out towards the middle and end of the month. Basically, you sign up once and let me know what month(s) you want to get cards in. After that, I send out an email monthly asking for who wants to send cards and how many, and then match them up with people to send to. That's it.
People sign up for cards all sorts of things (Birthdays are the most common). Some want to receive cards every month, some only 1 month out of the year, and a few people only want to send, never receive.
If you want to be added, please send me an email at meficardclub@gmail.com, and I'll get you set up! Although this is still going, we have had waning participation over the last year or so, and getting new people in the club would be fantastic.
I enjoy it a lot although it’s definitely due for a bit of new blood - I think the actual number of cards sent out has dropped a bit as people get distracted. (This includes me.) It’s very fun to get interesting mail and postcards though!
posted by PussKillian at 5:02 PM on December 29 [3 favorites]
posted by PussKillian at 5:02 PM on December 29 [3 favorites]
I have been mailing with MCC since May 2018, and have sent from around the world! The card club is a great pleasure, and thank you so much Sparky Buttons for the time you put into it! I have a standing request for 2 months- my birthday month and the new year. I send mail to others 4-5x a year. I also really liked the (separate) Metafilter holiday card exchange this year.
It is really fun to see many of the same senders and receivers over the years. There has been a decrease in participation, and I received no cards for my birthday month this year even though my name was assigned to others. Admittedly, this made me feel sad and rethink my own participation as a sender, but I want to keep on it for now. I sure hope some more Mefites see this and join in the fun- can't wait to send you a surprise!
posted by maya at 6:01 PM on December 29 [7 favorites]
It is really fun to see many of the same senders and receivers over the years. There has been a decrease in participation, and I received no cards for my birthday month this year even though my name was assigned to others. Admittedly, this made me feel sad and rethink my own participation as a sender, but I want to keep on it for now. I sure hope some more Mefites see this and join in the fun- can't wait to send you a surprise!
posted by maya at 6:01 PM on December 29 [7 favorites]
Mod note: [So cool! Added to the sidebar and Best Of blog!]
posted by taz (staff) at 3:35 AM on December 30 [2 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 3:35 AM on December 30 [2 favorites]
I’ve been a participant from pretty much the beginning, and I managed to wrestle my mailing back into schedule this year (the cards always went out, but sometimes much later than planned). I hope people like my anodyne observations about weather and what’s immediately in my mind (and my terrible handwriting).
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:58 AM on December 30 [4 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:58 AM on December 30 [4 favorites]
Think I will finally sign up! Thanks SB.
posted by ellieBOA at 5:11 AM on December 30 [3 favorites]
posted by ellieBOA at 5:11 AM on December 30 [3 favorites]
The holiday card exchange was fun, I’m happy to do more!
posted by tranquility at 5:37 AM on December 30 [5 favorites]
posted by tranquility at 5:37 AM on December 30 [5 favorites]
I truly enjoy sending and receiving mail—it’s such a joy! Life got busy over the summer, and I fell behind sending cards. It’s fun to hear from other mefites and make some new friends too.
The fun extras like stickers and magnets are such a nice bonus.
Thanks SparkyButtons, for being so prompt in sending reminders at the end of each month!
posted by SunPower at 7:58 AM on December 30 [3 favorites]
The fun extras like stickers and magnets are such a nice bonus.
Thanks SparkyButtons, for being so prompt in sending reminders at the end of each month!
posted by SunPower at 7:58 AM on December 30 [3 favorites]
GenjiandProust, I have had cards from you and enjoyed them, thank you. I've not been able to participate in the card club for a while but hope to do so this coming year. Pieces of connexion through the post are good.
maya, really sorry that happened to you.
posted by paduasoy at 8:06 AM on December 30 [4 favorites]
maya, really sorry that happened to you.
posted by paduasoy at 8:06 AM on December 30 [4 favorites]
I've been enjoying the card club for a few years - thank you, Sparky Buttons, for making it happen!
posted by moonmilk at 12:25 PM on December 30 [3 favorites]
posted by moonmilk at 12:25 PM on December 30 [3 favorites]
Card club can be great! I had started to get resentful of what looked like greedy people who signed up for receiving mail every month forever - but I also love rambling about the latest loom and and kitty and garden and weather happenings to people, and getting back the same. So: New year! New attitude!
(I do think you should include some mechanism for purging the rolls of the non-responsive, Sparky Buttons)
posted by janell at 1:39 PM on December 30 [4 favorites]
(I do think you should include some mechanism for purging the rolls of the non-responsive, Sparky Buttons)
posted by janell at 1:39 PM on December 30 [4 favorites]
Yep! Back in August I started keeping track of who hasn't responded at all, and at the 6 month mark (next month), I'll send a warning/ last chance email, and give them two weeks before taking them out.
posted by Sparky Buttons at 2:02 PM on December 30 [3 favorites]
posted by Sparky Buttons at 2:02 PM on December 30 [3 favorites]
I joined as way to use up my vast hoard of art supplies, and I really like finding inspiration for my particular favorite seasonal themes. Of course it's created more art supplies as well, so I read the AskMe about decluttering, but best I can do is just make better piles, LOL.
It's so great to see stamps from other countries, to share stickers and images and temporary tattoos (!).
Glad you're keeping track of responses, SparkyB, could you perhaps put a little note in about Address Changes/ Mailbox requirements? I'm always a little sad when a card bounces and I can't resend it (many folks do not respond to MeFi Mail messages).
Thanks to everyone who does send cards as well, it sure is nice to get mail other than dazzling offers for life insurance or scammy home financing.
posted by winesong at 3:24 PM on December 30 [3 favorites]
It's so great to see stamps from other countries, to share stickers and images and temporary tattoos (!).
Glad you're keeping track of responses, SparkyB, could you perhaps put a little note in about Address Changes/ Mailbox requirements? I'm always a little sad when a card bounces and I can't resend it (many folks do not respond to MeFi Mail messages).
Thanks to everyone who does send cards as well, it sure is nice to get mail other than dazzling offers for life insurance or scammy home financing.
posted by winesong at 3:24 PM on December 30 [3 favorites]
I love Card Club! I also like to DIY my cards, but that also means I'm beholden to the flows and mostly ebbs of my creative juice. I try to only sign up on months when I think I've got it, but sometimes I overshoot. (As such I haven't got any of my holiday season cards out yet, but they will come, I promise!)
posted by phunniemee at 3:39 PM on December 30 [2 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 3:39 PM on December 30 [2 favorites]
I agree with winesong about adding a note regarding address changes. I was sad to see birthday cards bounce back in the last few months too.
posted by SunPower at 3:53 PM on December 30 [4 favorites]
posted by SunPower at 3:53 PM on December 30 [4 favorites]
I'm in! Lots of beautiful cards to send from Granada, Spain. :-)
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 12:19 AM on December 31 [5 favorites]
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 12:19 AM on December 31 [5 favorites]
I am no doubt on the list of people to be dropped. I get the emails every month and think 'I should do that' but inevitably it just feels like a stressful deadline I won't meet. I wanted to hand make the cards and have that be fun and amazing and encourage me to do certain crafty skills I am otherwise neglecting, but then it never works out. I even bought a ton of stamps just for that reason at the beginning of the pandemic.
That's all on me, not on Sparky Buttons, who puts no pressure at all on people. I think the exchange is super fun and I loved getting cards, but I am not organized enough to send them. Maybe when I get back from vacation I'll have a go at crafting a MetaFilter block print and make a bunch of cards that I can send without stressing each month and if so, I will start sending again.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:17 AM on December 31 [5 favorites]
That's all on me, not on Sparky Buttons, who puts no pressure at all on people. I think the exchange is super fun and I loved getting cards, but I am not organized enough to send them. Maybe when I get back from vacation I'll have a go at crafting a MetaFilter block print and make a bunch of cards that I can send without stressing each month and if so, I will start sending again.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:17 AM on December 31 [5 favorites]
Sparky Buttons, you're a gem! I hope to participate again this year.
posted by mochapickle at 5:20 PM on December 31 [3 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 5:20 PM on December 31 [3 favorites]
Sitting at home writing postcards - gotta sign up for the club if you want an Agatha Christie cover art postcard from me!
posted by PussKillian at 5:49 PM on December 31 [4 favorites]
posted by PussKillian at 5:49 PM on December 31 [4 favorites]
December marked the end of my term as a director on the board of a local organization so I'll be back mid-January for February's mailing.
For my fellow crafty folks: I love to diy the cards as well, but I'm going to lay in some store-bought cards because the creative juices aren't always flowing.
posted by kimberussell at 6:32 PM on December 31 [4 favorites]
For my fellow crafty folks: I love to diy the cards as well, but I'm going to lay in some store-bought cards because the creative juices aren't always flowing.
posted by kimberussell at 6:32 PM on December 31 [4 favorites]
I think I’d like this, I’m feeling very isolated these days because of cancer treatment. I wouldn’t have much to write about and like Ina gives her blessing, cards will be store bought. But I’m pretty good at deadlines, since that’s my whole work identity.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 11:40 AM on January 1 [6 favorites]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 11:40 AM on January 1 [6 favorites]
I’m throwing my name in as well. I love sending and receiving cards. It’s one of my ways of sharing art/joy. Like, when (Santa) saw a pack of Faith Ringgold cards, they showed up under my solstice tree-as I have started to send MLK Day cards to friends, and this year I need to send them Early as the day coincides with inauguration. If you surmised that I create occasions for cards, you would be right! Looking forward to exploring this new creativity with all who I am matched with!
posted by childofTethys at 4:44 PM on January 2 [3 favorites]
posted by childofTethys at 4:44 PM on January 2 [3 favorites]
This is such a great idea! You can count me in.
posted by carnival_night_zone at 12:04 PM on January 3 [3 favorites]
posted by carnival_night_zone at 12:04 PM on January 3 [3 favorites]
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posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:26 PM on December 29 [6 favorites]