💀 Halloween Trick & Treat...your elf 💀

[ZombieMetroAnt]

          *  Sign ups are now closed and names have been drawn.  *

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Something's brewing, and it 'll be ghoulishly fun! A wicked good time for everyone...

Our previous rounds have been wonderful platforms for bringing us all together though our appreciation for beauty, treats and camaraderie. We're glad that you've  decided to join in on the haunting fun!

With ghoulish appreciation,
Mcakes & ZombieMetroAnt

🎃 Tips, Tricks & Other spooktacular ideas!

Spoiler

💀 Elfster Tips:

   -> Ask questions! Anyone can ask anyone an anonymous question, that will help you get a better idea of likes and dislikes, haves and wants, etc. 

   ->When you purchase something, click "Mark As Purchased." They won't see it, but they might be using the same wishlist for other gift exchanges, so this can prevent them potentially getting the same gift from two different people.

   ->If you got something for yourself, remove it from your wishlist! 

🎃 Shipping suggestions 

Spoiler

💀 How to ship abroad/add a customs label while still using online shipping:
1. Creating an account: First, you must create a free account on the USPS website. The paypal.com/shipnow site will not let you create customs forms.
2. Shipping Label: To create the shipping label, you want to use the "Click n Ship" function from the dropdown menu under Mail & Ship. Many of the directions from above are basically the same but the key difference is under, "Where are you sending to?" you will need to use the dropdown menu to select the country of choice.
3. Finishing the Shipping Label:Fill in all the corresponding information until the end of the form including the value of the package. The Canadians on the board may have more to speak to with this but I always kept this amount on the lower side so the recipient doesn't get hit with high customs fee. (average amount I would put would be $10-$20) A great feature is at the end of the page it will give you all your options for shipping. I can tell you on a personal note that when I ship to England I always choose first class international mail and I have never had a problem. Once again, delivery confirmation is thrown in for FREE.
3. Beginning the Customs Form: You will then get to a page that will you through step by step filling in the customs form. The first question will ask you to "Enter Package Information." This is where you can just write this is a gift box for a friend. You do not need to write anything more!
4. Customs Inventory: Next up is, "Enter Item Information." Okay, this one is a little tricky. If you want to itemize, and fill in every single thing in the box, you can. If you only want to do a couple, you can. I've done both over the years and both have been okay. I'm not going to tell you though that it will work every time so ultimately, the decision is up to you. Make sure though that you mark each item a GIFT so that the recipient does not get charged increased fees. Also, and this is IMPORTANT, the total that adds up for the all the items has to be the same total you gave on the previous page for the value of the box. So if you make something worth $1, that's fine! (Again, Canadians speak up hear if I'm wrong but my abroad friends always told me it was better to do this to reduce customs fees for the recipient.) Lastly, each weight of each individual item will need to add up to the to the total weight item, so I've honestly literally made up ratio numbers in the past. (I have never had a problem in years of sending packages)
5. Tarrif Number: Lastly, you do not have a tariff number so leave that blank. Okay, one last thing, choose your AES exemption. I would choose the second one having to do with gifts.
6. Obtaining the Label/Customs Form: The steps following this are similar to the ones from above except that I believe the payment options for USPS may also include credit card options as well as PayPal. Go ahead and print your label which will also contain your completed customs form. (Please note: you may need to sign your customs form before affixing it to your package) On a positive note, YOU STILL SAVE MONEY BY USING THE ONLINE POSTAGE SYSTEM!
7. How to actually ship it:For international packages, my personal advice is yes, bring it to the post office, and yes, actually check it in and get a receipt saying it was checked in by a postal worker. Since many international packages take quite longer than domestic and tend to get delayed at different intervals, you want to make sure that everything is okay when it first enters the system.


Duty Info:
US can receive a gift up to 100 USD. If you send from Canada and mark your gift as 100 you are actually saying it cost you 100 CAD. Today Google converts that to 75.87USD so your recipient should be ok and not pay additional fees.

Canada can receive a gift up to 60 CAD. If you send from the US and mark your gift as 60, you are actually saying it cost you 60 USD. Today Google converts that to 79.08 CAD. So your Canadian friend in this case might pay duties/taxes/fees.

I believe customs will check the rate on the day the item is processed. Seems Canada is at somewhat the same range recently but it does go down a bit. Just things to keep in mind.

 🎃 Participants - exactly 31 muahahahahahah 

Spoiler

Asche
beadshopgirl
ClassicallyFab
darkiceis
Dyslexia
gonerogue
Ispend2much6
jen143xo
jozkid
kso1225
LCResz
Lipstick4Soul
luvgloss13
Mcakes
mermadelove
MissPuff
myumew
NotCrocker
OhheyitscindyK
PaletteAddict99
prettyinpa
RGBrown
Samtian
shimmerbait
snoflakefaerie
SpaceLlama
Tamara76
txcatx
unfungirl
willa25
ZombieMetroAnt

Mix one part Scream with two parts Scare,

a pinch of Fear, a dash of Dare...

and give your elf a Halloween Box Extraordinare!

⚰EDITED TO ADD:

     👻 Shipping: our goal is to have boxes delivered by (or before) 10/31.  Boxes being shipped across the border take a bit longer

     👻 Wish lists: if you haven't already, please update your wishlist on elfster 🍬

[RGbrown]

@luvgloss13

Notifications were down completely yesterday afternoon and last night. I thought they were back this morning, but I didn't get a notification for this post...just happened to see it on the feed 🙄

My cat has a shoe fetish. Here, he's inspecting my latest purchase (I can never get a good shot from above, but he's going to town licking them...that's his seal of approval 😄

And sleeping amongst my recent converse spree

[lipstick4soul]

I have a lot to catch up on! One of the most fun parts of participating in these is the thread chatter and waiting fir the unboxing to start!

I might have to ship sooner rather than later so I don’t have to rebuy the candy. 😆

[Beadshopgirl]

I hear you @lipstick4soul. I owe my Elfee a new bag of gummy candies, because I totally stress-ate my way through some the other day. 😉

[ohheyitscindyk]

@lipstick4soul @luvgloss13 I know myself, so I'm going to buy the candy last & immediately put it all into the box & tape it up so as to not tempt myself!

[snoflakefaerie]

My boyfriend keeps asking who the candy is for. I've taken to hiding it until I ship so he doesn't get to it. I also bought some fancy caramels, and ended up breaking in to them. Oops guess I'll have to get some more.

[prettyinpa]

@ohheyitscindyk-  Exactly!  Plus it's so humid here I'm afraid the chocolate will spoil if I leave it sit in the box until it cools off. Not to mention hubby and his buddies who like a choco to finish off their dinners.

[luvgloss13]

I am doing a keto diet. No sugar, but I cheat with these boxes. 😮

Last time I may have ate my giftee's stuff and had to buy more . LOL

[darkiceis]

@luvgloss13 It happens to the best of us 😄

[Ispend2much6]

@lipstick4soul  We're having that problem with the Halloween candy for the neighborhood kids.  They'll never know some went missing though...

[luvgloss13]

Hello ladies, 

Happy Monday. I am so sorry I am behind and have not been around. My mom took a fall and hurt herself. 😞  

she is in bad pain and getting some mri's. 

I am so looking forward to everyone's unboxings. 

What is everything doing for Halloween? Getting dressed up? 

It is October and very very hot and muggy. Give me my fall weather dammit. 🙂 

[ohheyitscindyk]

@luvgloss13 Aww I hope your mom feels better soon!!

Yes, it's abnormally warm for fall, & I'm trying to break out the boots & leggings! I still have to find a costume, but I usually go to a friend's house 🙂 I miss the days of trick or treating though 😄

[Asche]

I hope your mom is doing alright @luvgloss13!! 💜

[darkiceis]

@luvgloss13 I'm hoping for a safe recovery for your mother and that she feels better soon. 

[luvgloss13]

TY so much. My mom is a stubborn lady and never complains! So she made her pain vocal this time. Hope the MRI shows nothing. 🙂

[darkiceis]

@luvgloss13 Fingers crossed that everything will turn out ok and quickly.  xoxo

[MissPuff]

@luvgloss13 Oh no! Sending good thoughts your mum's way, and hope she feels better soon!

It's unbelievably muggy where I live as well, I'm so sick of this weather. I also feel like the leaves aren't changing color, it feels so late in the season and all the trees are still green! 

[luvgloss13]

@MissPuff TY  hun!

It is muggy and thick and I want cool sleek nights and fall decor.  Oh and pumpkin spiced lattes 🙂

[Ispend2much6]

@luvgloss13  You're being a great daughter. 🙂  I'm with you in hoping for fall weather (i.e. less than 80 degrees and low humidity,) soon.  Looks like we will have to wait until November.

[luvgloss13]

@Ispend2much6  TY for the well wishes . I don't wanna wait for November! LOL. 

[ClassicallyFab]

Hope Mom gets the help she needs, and heals quickly. Let us know if we can help in any way. I’d be happy to send a care package. @luvgloss13

[luvgloss13]

@ClassicallyFab aww thank you, that is so sweet. I love this community. xoxo

she is just in pain, in bed and hates taking medication to help.