Secret Santa

(I did a search but nothing came up, but sorry in advance if something like this already exists)

I had this idea today, so it may be a little too late (hopefully not?), but wouldn't it be cool if we could do a Secret Santa thing?

Someone would collect the names of the people who want to take part in this, mix them all up and randomly select who sends a present to who...

Of course, I have no idea how much postage is in different countries, but I guess it wouldn't be that much if you send something small. Even just a Christmas card!

I wouldn't personally mind if I received my secret gift after Christmas, that's why I'm telling about this anyways...

So, what do you think? Is this something that we can do, or am I too ambitious again :D

//
Edited to include instructions and such.

-Everyone participating should be fine with letting their addresses be known by two people here; the person collecting the information and doing the mix-up (mimi), and the sender.

Reply with something like this:

"I want to participate!
From: Finland
To: anywhere"

To let us know where you're from and where you can send your gift to. If you can only send to your own country or to Europe for example, it can be arranged so that you get the recipient of your gift near you.

-You can also report as a recipient only, if you have a situation where you can't send a gift right now, but would like to be a part of this anyway. It may sound selfish, but it's really not; you can probably send a gift next time ^^ Then reply with something like:

"I want to participate as a recipient! I live in ________"

It's important you tell where you live; reason stated before :P

-As we've learned from before, some gifts may get lost on the way, so be prepared for that... But most of them arrive safely.

-What to send? Anything you want; you can buy something or make your gift with your own hands, like many have done before. You can also include cards, drawings and letters if you want!

-When you receive your gift, you can post a picture of it on this thread so others can see what you got! And also to let your sender know you've received your gift :)

Secret Santa 2012 starts from page 15: http://www.tableoflove.net/t3246p210-secret-santa

Secret Santa 2013 starts from page 22: http://www.tableoflove.net/t3246p315-secret-santa

I love that idea It's like a way to link us all together!

Its great idea, I hope that postage isnt expensive.

If postage is expensive for certain people maybe they can request that they have a person that's in their country or something idk haha

I do love the idea

I love this idea, even if it's only just a card it'd still be really cool

Amarine2008 wrote:If postage is expensive for certain people maybe they can request that they have a person that's in their country or something idk haha

yes, in same country or somewhere near


and we should all take pictures later with our gifts

TanyaMinxy wrote:

Amarine2008 wrote:If postage is expensive for certain people maybe they can request that they have a person that's in their country or something idk haha

yes, in same country or somewhere near


and we should all take pictures later with our gifts

Now i'm excited LET"S DO THIS lol

yeah!!!!! ))))))

I would do this but I'm on the other side of the world and postage would be costly :S

you can trade with someone else froma australia

i will do this but all i can give is a card i dont think i could afford postage either

I think postage isn't as bad as ple think unless they rush deliver it... I sent a package to the Netherlands and it only cost like $15 and it was a fairly large item

Yay, I'm glad you like the idea ^^

I myself would probably send something small, self-made. I'd first decide what to send and then find out how much the postage would be. The postage isn't much over here, I guess it would a few euros at most. Self-made cards would be adorable, if you can't send objects :) Of course, if one can afford it, nothing is stopping them from sending whatever they like :o That's why I like the randomness of this "game".

Sadly this can't be made completely random, the sender of the gift must know who they're sending to; it would be really expensive to send them to one place and then be sent randomly from there (xD), but at least the person receiving the gift won't know who it's from ^^ Unless you want to know, of course...

So everyone participating should be fine with letting their addresses be known by two people here; the person collecting the information and doing the mix-up, and the sender.
I guess I'll be doing the collecting and mixing? Since this was my idea and all... Unless someone doesn't trust me or something :D Someone else can be appointed to the job if you wish.

So um, let's collect the participants in this thread first? Reply with something like this:

"I want to participate!
From: Finland
To: anywhere"

To let me know where you're from and where you can send your gift to ^^ If you can only send to your own country or to Europe for example, I can arrange so that you get the recipient of your gift near you.

I do feel bad if someone wants to participate but can't send anything... Could they still participate as recipients only? Would anyone be willing to send two gifts?

TanyaMinxy wrote:and we should all take pictures later with our gifts :)

That would be awesome :D

I'm definitely in, I'll participate!

From: England
To: anywhere

So excited about this

guys, excuse me but i can;t be part of it :'(
but i wish you everything the best

I think i'll paticipate! need to ask my parents if it's fine giving the address out
From: England
To: europe

"I want to participate!
From: America (ohio)
To: anywhere"
^_^ something homemade would be wonderful i must get my crafty eyes on now @.@

I want to participate
From: Serbia
To: any country in Europe

if i could i would/

I'll participate!
From: US
To: anywhere that I legally can

(and I'd be willing to send 2 things if there are ple who can't send something but would like to receive something)

That's fantastic, Quincy! I'd be willing to send two gifts as well, so at least two people can participate as recipients only; they don't have to send a gift if they can't :o

One thing occurred to me today; in order for the sender to be secret, you can't put the sender's address on the package. Then we just have to hope that all packages reach recipients safely xD

Second thing that occurred to me today; it would be awesome if Kerli was participating... :3

We can probably put return addresses just not names.

I'll participate!
From: US
To: Anywhere.

And who picks the pickers secret santa D:

Sure Im in!!
From: Greece
To: probably europe, but if not, anywhere...

<3

Amarine, maybe I'll do the picking? Since this was my idea. Like I said in my post at the bottom of page 1 :)

And about return addresses, there always has to be a name as well. At least the surname, otherwise it won't find the sender :D I don't know, you guys decide whether or not you're brave enough not to put a return address to the package! If you put it, at least it'll be a secret until the gift is received. It'll be more like Random Santa xD

How long should I keep collecting participants? Spread the word! Get more people involved! :D

And I think I have my gift ready! :3

Well i don't think I can actually send a package w/o a return address because that's just how the us postal system rolls (at least the one in my town) and even if I don't put a name it'll be kind of obvious its from me if the person is observant...

um depending on when ple want to receive things depends on when to end it. I mean I couldn't get something to anyone outside of the US before Christmas... maybe until Wed so we can get them sent and received around the new year? and gives it ple time to prepare a gift

I think it's awesome...can't wait!!! I don't have problem with addresses. it's us for god's sake! we trust each other, don't we???

I think you should wait till Xmas..One more week..Then we have to prepare our presents and send them...

You misunderstood. By who picks the pickers secret santa I mean since your doing the selecting and such then how would your secret santa be a secret?

This sounds like such a fun idea! I'm definitely in.

From: USA [ Nebraska ]
To: Anywhere

Amarine, OOOH, now I feel stupid :D Well, I guess there's nothing to be done about that, unless I involve another person for the picking. But I don't mind knowing who my secret santa is, if you're all fine with it as well.

I am fine with that
I think thats the only way

Sure why not haha.

And besides, we'll probably do this again next year if this is a success, so maybe someone else can do the picking then :)

im so sorry guys - i would have love to pick all the santa's for you but i couldnt get access to tol.

Silja - have you already picked the people? if not, i can do it so you'd have a secret santa as well

Mimi, I haven't picked them yet, I'm still trying to get more people to participate. You won't be participating? Then it's fine by me if you want to do the picking ^^

It's a great idea. I can't participate because of different causes... Have fun with it

im sorry loves i said i could do it but i am still in the hospital and i dont know when im getting out T_T love you all

but um i hate to ask this but could i just receive it will brighten my day

Forace wrote:Mimi, I haven't picked them yet, I'm still trying to get more people to participate. You won't be participating? Then it's fine by me if you want to do the picking ^^

u know my computer still isnt letting me on tol!!! im at my mum's work now using the computer. im getting a new windows put on my computer and hopefully that will fix the problem!
ill send out a newsletter about the secret santa! maybe that way we can get more people joined!
Also, no, i don't mind taking part in this - everyone will know my address anyway because of the moonchild project lol and I dont really want to give my estonian address out

OOOH! i wanna join! wish i knew about this sooner!!
im in the USA
can send to USA only

if that doesnt work out could someone still possibly be ever so kind to send me something? that would be so exciting and make me so happy to recieve a moonchild gift! happy energy would radiate to you

I'd love to partake in this! I'll send anywhere (:

Thank you for the newsletter, Mimi! ^^ Okay, you'll be in charge in the picking, then :)

jayson526 wrote:im sorry loves i said i could do it but i am still in the hospital and i dont know when im getting out T_T love you all

but um i hate to ask this but could i just receive it will brighten my day

Of course you can be just a recipient! I understand it sucks to be in a hospital, so you deserve something nice ^^ I hope you'll get better soon <3

@moonchildmaybelline: there's no hurry, no dates have been decided. At least I haven't decided O_o I'm sure it'll work out ^^


Sooo that would be 11 participants so far, and 1 as recipient only ^^ Keep 'em coming, there's still time!

I got the mail:D
I'd love to participate! I will write TOL on my hand so I won't forget to log on here hihihi

From: Sweden
To: Anywhere! :>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I'M SO PUUUUUMPED, I just wonder, sorry for not reading everything very much through (I mean, really sorry cause I'm sick of being at the computer, has been all day cause of a stupid essay D: ) but .... So it doesn't matter when we send it? As soon as possible when we've got the addresses of course, but I mean, will it be like a three days-dead line or something? Cause all I do is stress and I don't know how much time I will have this holidays hahaha x.xxxx
anyways
I'M SO PUUUUUUUUMPED!!!

YetiMoonchild wrote:So it doesn't matter when we send it? As soon as possible when we've got the addresses of course, but I mean, will it be like a three days-dead line or something? Cause all I do is stress and I don't know how much time I will have this holidays hahaha

Thats great question, I have exams and essays and I will be very busy, that why it is important to know

TanyaMinxy wrote:

YetiMoonchild wrote:So it doesn't matter when we send it? As soon as possible when we've got the addresses of course, but I mean, will it be like a three days-dead line or something? Cause all I do is stress and I don't know how much time I will have this holidays hahaha

Thats great question, I have exams and essays and I will be very busy, that why it is important to know :)

Hum, if have your gifts ready, I guess you can start telling your addresses to Mimi, as she will do the mixing and picking... She'll give you the address where to send your gift, maybe some time next week? And then, maybe you could send it... in a week after that? I don't like deadlines that are too strict :P

Right now there's no hurry, because I'm sure you're all busy during Christmas days, visiting relatives and such. Also, post offices will be closed for a few days (at least here they are).

Now, what was Mimi's e-mail again? xD

Sorry wont be joinning since im like claudia hu lives at the other side of the world and postage will be costly and nobody in my country do secret santa, everybody just pick hu their recipients. If u guys want help with the picking I would gladly to help

I can give you your recipients next week and if you all can post your stuff early next year? surely you dont have essays and exams during christmas period?

and my email is mimi@kerli.net !