I've hosted two trackers so far. My first one had only 11 participants (including me). The current one has 7 so far. This is important because I want to do a tracker with the entire alphabet, so 26 participants. What is the likelihood of it being filled if I give it 4 months? Would it be better to split it into two trackers of 13 each, due at the same time. (Someone could join both if they want the whole series.)

Ideas?

What is the theme other than the alphabet? I am willing to join 1 or both if you split it. Also I think 4 months is to long. If they are not interested in it in a month they will probable not join at all.
Sassy Sailor

I don't think you'll get very many signups if you only give a month. There are a ton of trackers that are due in may/june and many of the LTC makers are feeling burnt out from a long winter of making cards.

Getting the 26 right now might be tough. Some people might be willing to do multiple letter, though.

[._.]

What is the theme other than the alphabet?

I'm thinking of Illuminated Letters. There are some examples at the bottom of this page. It would be the letter with some other decorations. The letter would have to be prominent, but you could add any other decorations (stamp, embellishment, etc.) that you'd like. The medieval examples are the idea, but participants wouldn't need to do anything so intricate.

I'd probably do a letter with intertwined vines (in the design) and some places painted with my gold and silver paint pens. I aim high, then even if I don't read it I do better than I otherwise would have done.

I would agree with you and might suggest opening it in July or August or for the 4 months. I would love to do J and M if you do open this up.

I took part in an illuminated letter swap about 3 years ago. We got about 20 participants. The host gave 6 months to get it done and all 26 letters were done.

I think it's better to keep it as one tracker and then let people sign up for more than one letter if you don't get 26 sign ups. Close it out a month beforehand so that you know who is doing what. Also keep in mind that you're always going to have last minute drop outs, so have a back-up plan if you want the whole alphabet.

I've only hosted a handful myself, but here's my conclusions so far. It seems that people are nervous signing up with a new host the first few times around, so you won't get all that many participants to start with. Then it also depends on your theme. For the most part I've picked themes that are targeted at a specific interest that isn't necessarily super popular, so my trackers have been small. If you pick a theme that is more general, then you'll get more people. Last thing, check the calander to see if there are a bunch of trackers due at the same time as when you want yours due. I just made that mistake and now that I've changed the date, I've got a few sign-ups.

announce the tracker with a link when you are ready. im interested.

Can you find a link that includes pictures with significantly less detail involved? I know I would burn out making 26 of something so detailed, needing to add the gold, paint, etc. I might sign up later, but I have 4 trackers due by June that I need to do before adding any more.....

Just bought some gold embossing powder....lol

Google (or Bing) illuminated letters or illuminated alphabet. There are all sorts of them.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=illuminated+alphabet&FORM=BIFD#x0y182

And here's an "L" that I did which was simple, but nice looking.

I'm interested as well. This sounds great!

I'd be interested if the deadline was in a few months (lots going on in May/June/July). I'd love to have all 26 so I'd sign up up for either option, but it might be easier to keep it as one tracker.

I would keep it as one tracker as well. Put it off for end of July, beginning of August and you should be fine.

I would love to do the letter A! Let us know when you post the tracker!

I would love to do B and C ...or just B if you have enough folks.

Did someone say "H" already? I'd be willing to try to do an H if it's not due anytime soon.
:-)

Could have the A please?

Well heck. I guess I can do "V"! :-p

Actually, if I could do Y, that would be better. Then I could use it for my family's holiday cards!

Rocklun

I'm interested as well - is there a tracker set up yet?

I'll take the letter R if it's not taken yet. I'd like it all 26 letters too.

Oberon_Kenobi, you are a marketing GENIUS. You created interest in this tracker and then left for work, leaving the rest of us to battle over the letters! I've been checking off and on all day to see if you created this tracker yet so that I can try to nab the letter Y.

As I suspect I'm not the only one who keeps checking for the tracker, I beg of you: please end our torment and create the tracker! ;^)

Sincerely,
Rocklun (aka the one who wants the Y)

I've been checking for it too!! And to think he was worried about participation. But don't worry Rocklun, I don't want the Y. The B on the other hand... :)

Bwa ha ha maybe I'll swoop in and nab the Y!

dp

Bwa ha ha maybe I'll swoop in and nab the Y!

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

My last name starts with Y so a Y stamp could be useful to have :)

My last name starts with Y so a Y stamp could be useful to have :)

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. But since I have to go to bed fairly soon so I can drag myself out of bed at 4:45, I may miss my chance to sign up for the Y, depending on when he lists the tracker. :^(

No problem..I was mainly messing with ya. Send Oberon a message to make sure he knows you want him to add you. If you want I'll join, take the Y so no one else does, then change letters after you have a chance to add a Y box :)

Hey now...I already called B! Lol

Those (in the search) are more of what I had in mind. The more intricate ones are more than what I was thinking of, but you get the idea. The one that you did is exactly what I am thinking of.

It also looks like this will be a popular tracker. It looks like it will be best to do all 26 letters in one tracker. I'll plan on September since that is currently not very crowded. I'll post it next week, once I finish something I'm working on.

Oberon_Kenobi, you are a marketing GENIUS. You created interest in this tracker and then left for work, leaving the rest of us to battle over the letters!

Thanks for the complement. I really didn't think that it would generate this much interest. I'll create the tracker this evening, to be due sometime in September. I'll sign up the people that have already spoken for letters, in the order that they've posted or emailed me. That is if I can figure out how to do so. If not, I'll just leave it open.

Once I get those signed up that have spoken for something I'll open it up for sign ups. Please don't post any more requests for letters. I'll let you sign up for your own, after it is set up.

Thanks for all of your interest.