💀 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 🍬

[willa25]

In my path to make things right, especially since I have been absent for such a long while, I wanted to make sure to post the amazing box I received from @Mcakes for the Halloween exchange. In no way does this make up for the fact that I should have posted it long back during the actual exchange but as I wrote last week (some of you may have read my post), there are some things going on in my life that I am dealing with.

Enough about that... what I just want to say is that @Mcakes is not only a wonderful individual but she is also a talented, creative, and imaginative woman that continues to amaze with her ability to create opportunities for her friends to smile with her beautifully curated gifts.  Not only with the help of @ZombieMetroAnt did she run another flawless gift exchange, but she also sent me amazing gift box. 

So with that being said, I am (finally) posting pics of the gift box below. @Mcakes, while I don't think you should forgive me for how long I took to post this, I hope somehow in your heart (with time) you can slowly let me back in. I truly am very sorry.

When I first opened the box... notice that Max the cat is stalking the box... he wouldn't leave it alone!!!Mcakes beautifully handwritten card! 

Mcakes wrapped the gifts in great halloween themed boxes.Candy overload... including a halloween gingerbread house kit!Lots of my elfster wishes granted including a tokidoki plush (now residing in my classroom), a limited edition invisibobble, a pusheen ornament, and Max the cat's favorite toy ever!!!Mcakes was able to find my favorite Canadian candy, Smarties! She also threw in some high end lippies for me too!Last but not least, here is Max enjoying his new toy. Now you know why he was stalking the box. Catnip is potent!!!

So to everyone who participated in the exchange, I apologize for posting this so late. (especially to @Mcakes) I hope the majority of you get to see this and my wrongs somehow in some way are made right, at least for @Mcakes sake. 

@veronika23 @Beadshopgirl @prettyinpa @Tamara76 @Ispend2much6 @tsavorite @gonerogue

[ohheyitscindyk]

@willa25 Wow look at all those goodies, @Mcakes aka the Mayor of Halloweentown certainly outdid herself! And Max is adorable aww! Glad to hear you're feeling better, Happy New Year!! 🙂

[PrettyPaint]

What an adorable box @willa25. Thanks for sharing! That card is so cute! 🙂

[willa25]

Thank you, @PrettyPaint. I thought so as well. Hope you have a wonderful new year!

[PrettyPaint]

@willa25 I hope you have a nice New Year too! 🙂

[txcatx]

@willa25 It's so good to see to back! What a great box full of treats; I'm especially loving that haunted house cookie kit.

By the way, thanks again for the wonderful box you sent; I'm somehow still working through the treats (well, I ate the candy long ago, but mulling spices last awhile)! 

[willa25]

@txcatx, I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the box. Since I truly went missing from the community I was never able to find out how you actually like the box. I took real time in trying to find everything from your wish list but still be creative in the process. I truly hope you enjoyed your gifts. It was a pleasure to shop for you!

[gonerogue]

It’s  never too late to post your goodies! Thanks for sharing these pictures with us. Everything looks wonderful as @Mcakes did an amazing job! Sending you positive vibes @willa25 😘

[willa25]

I'm already feeling those positive vibes, @gonerogue. They must be powerful! 🙂

Best of luck in the new year and I know I will be seeing you again soon.

[SchylarR]

Wow, what a great box! You ladies all put so much effort into making each other smile! Love it!!!

[willa25]

Yes, @SchylarR. These box exchanges are pretty miraculous. But I will have to say that @Mcakes sets the bar quite high due to expertise in creativity and also how well she curates a box based on a person's personal likes. 

Thanks again and happy holidays!

[prettyinpa]

 So nice to hear from you, @willa25, and wonderful you got such a great box! Of course, from @Mcakes, it's gotta be awesome, she can pick out gifts and decorate a box like no other. You and Max enjoy all your goodies, your time off for the holiday, and join us again when you can. Love that last pic of Max, true kitty joy!

[willa25]

@prettyinpa, how are you???? Thank you for the kind words, and yes, I was truly lucky to have @Mcakes as my elf. She did an amazing job on my gift box. Thank you for the positive wishes and I am sending them back your way too. Hope your new is as special as you are!

[ClassicallyFab]

Yay @willa25!! so glad you posted! SUPER fun box @Mcakes!! ❤️ Hope you had a Merry Christmas, and have an awesome start to 2018!!!

[willa25]

Thank you, yes I did have a nice Xmas, @ClassicallyFab. The box that @Mcakes made me was really extraordinary and I truly feel honored to have received it. 

Best wishes in the new year!

[MissPuff]

@willa25 Welcome back! We're all so happy to see you and also, good on you for bumping this thread bad up! Christmas encroaches on Halloween earlier and earlier, how's THIS for a change? 🙂 

Your fur baby is so adorable! 

[willa25]

@MissPuff, well if it makes you feel any better, when I went to Target today they were already stocking the shelves for valentine's day. And obviously counterculture is meeting corporate america b/c they even had a section entitled, "Galentine's Day."

Thank you for the sweeting about my furry man. I think he's beautiful too but so does he (Haha) so sometimes I have to put in is place... especially when starts trying to clean his butt right by head. Eww!!!!

[Mcakes]

Haha you're so right @MissPuff! #HalloweenFightsBack 😛

[PaletteAddict99]

Oh @willa25 I’m glad to see you’re back and ok. All I can say is you had the most wonderful elf in @Mcakes as she is more like a fairy godmother ❤️

Im sure that her magical goodness, sincere caring and dazzling creativity brought you much joy even in your lowest hour and that was clearly meant to be. A true gift sent from above and just when you needed it most❣️

Take care and no worries as you are much loved here 🙂

[willa25]

@Mcakes, everything in the box brought a smile to my face (well maybe not the creepy spiders). Yes, Max bulldozed his way in to get his cat toy but after that fiasco, I was able to start enjoying everything you put together for me. 

And yes, @PaletteAddict99, I do agree you that @Mcakes is like a fairy godmother. It took me almost a half hour to open that box just because it simply felt like it was never ending . Everything from that box has been put to good use in some way..even the tokidoki plush holds a place of prominence in my classroom. Everything @Mcakes did for me was truly an amazing gesture of kindness.