📚 Back-to-School LTC Swap – August 2025
Hosted by: SolaraEleani (Natalie Olson) Tracker #12133

As students prepare for a new school year, let’s mark the season with creativity and care. This swap is all about the excitement of returning to the classroom—whether it’s your first day or your fiftieth year of learning.

🎨 Theme:
Back to School – Designs can include books, supplies, chalkboards, apples, classrooms, or anything that captures the spirit of learning.

📬 How it works:
– Create 5 identical LTCs based on the theme
– Include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) so you can receive 5 different cards from other participants
– 📦 Important: Be sure to register your card on Atlas Quest (as a traditional LTC listing) so that other swappers can log it when received!

📅 Sign-up Deadline: August 17, 2025
📮 Send-by Date: August 24, 2025

Let’s welcome fall with a mailbox full of creativity—one card at a time. 🍎📖✏️

As a mail courier, I thank you. It's a hard job that a lot of people underestimate. It's probably one of the busiest physically and mentally that I've ever worked. So, thank you ♡ We'd like to join ☆

I host monthly

If you enjoy making Shrinky Dinks, you may want to join this LTC tracker! Due date is January 31.

Sounds like a fun one! Have a great time!

Since 2010, I’ve hosted 91 LTC swaps. During that time, I’ve asked only two people not to sign up for my swaps, and that was because they had been unreliable participants on multiple occasions. I don’t do this because I dislike a person but because it’s not fair to the other participants if the deadline gets extended or if a spot gets taken by someone who never delivers their cards.

Love to join, but have no material... or oven. Sad day. Lol

Looking for a fun tracker to join? Check out the Roosters Tracker. Newbies welcome. :)
Tracker #12265
Mumble

I’ve posted this on another board so I apologize if you’ve seen this already. I have lots of older LTCs (some probably around 15 years old) that were passed on to me by another boxer. It must not have been common for the AQ number to be included on the back when these were made. So, fair warning that most do not have the AQ number on the back. Many can be looked up by tracker or trail name. Would anyone want me to send them some? If so, please send me a message instead of posting to this message. That way I don’t worry that I miss someone’s message.

Could you also tell me. I have the same question

Sometimes people just ask to trade LTCs. There are some other great suggestions in this thread, or on your “My Page” look for “Add Widgets” and there is a section there called “Tracker Quick Links” and you can look for listings of LTC trackers that are available. Hope that helps.

I'm always willing to do a trade with anyone who wants to and if you keep a list go ahead and put me on it. When you have a card ready to go, just let me know and I'll trade with you .
I always make extra cards when I join a tracker just in case I mess up -- which happens a lot. Each month I send 5 to Marjorie's LTC Exchange. I also have a zippered 3-ring binder with all my remaining extra cards and I bring it to all events I attend. I invite everyone to check them out and to take as many of them that they may want. This introduces another aspect of letterboxing that many know nothing or little about. So if we're ever at the same event and you have any interest, be sure to ask me to see them.

I’m happy to trade cards with anyone. I always make a lot of extras for trading.

Just ask!

How do I get involved with the monthly LTC exchange? I couldn't find the thread.

This was very helpful. I just purchased the premium membership so I could get the widget. Thanks again.

You will need to go to the "Trackers" page. You can find that under "My Page". Then there's a link to Available LTC. Find one that interests you and join! Make sure to read all the rules with any tracker and ask the host questions. Each host can have vastly different rules or requirements.

Found it! Thanks again for all your help!

Echoing what Linden Leaf says, especially the "ask the host questions" part.

Yes, I don't make cards, but I appreciate it when I receive them.

The first cards I received as a thank you for doing a favor was from Mama Wolf.
I wasn't expecting them. It was a nice surprise.

There are others here that have gifted cards to me, just because they could.
"Happy mail" is an excellent way to describe it.

Sorry I didn't respond sooner--but I've been carving all day. Glad that Linden Leaf did respond and gave you the needed information. Hope to see you in some LTC trackers soon.

Create an LTC tracker LTC as a “singleton” for swap. A singleton is a single card swap available for distribution.

I use cardstock that is .002 per sheet, based on measuring a stack of 20 sheets. If postcards are going missing, it might be due to the specifications.

USPS material specifications for postcards:

Minimum Size: 3.5 x 5
Maximum Standard Size: 4.25 x 6
Thickness: 0.007" – 0.016"
Shape: Must be rectangular
Finish: Can be glossy or matte, but must be able to be processed by machines.
Surface Obstructions: No items like stickers, magnets, or appendages that make the card uneven or too thick, as these may require higher postage or make it nonmailable.
Address Area: The right half (or bottom right) of the back side must be kept clear for the address and barcode.

Thanks for the information on cardstock specs. All I have ever seen on cardstock refers to thickness by weight - 90-pound, 120-pound, etc. Do you happen to know what the weight equivalent is, relative to the thickness?

Basically, the USPS is expecting "90 pound" cardstock. AI claims that is "0.0074 to 0.0122 inches"

AI claims 120lb is 0.0145-0.018 - potentially I tiny fraction too large.

The .002 measurement is probably the pages not perfectly pressed together when measuring a stack and accuracy in the measuring equipment.

I have also seen postcards laminated on one side only (not the address side), and that would make a difference in thickness. I wonder if USPS would consider that a “sticker”?

I've been sending laminated postcards thru the mail for over 10 years without incident... I have found that certain employees do tend follow 'guidelines' differently. That's why I go on Saturday - Colin is a peach - the guy there during the week is a pit...

I’ve been using 110# card stock with no laminate and no issues. Often the postal barcode will not print on laminated cards which then requires an extra step of the barcode sticker. I have also successfully used wide packaging tape on the front (picture side) only with no problems.

I usually laminate only the front side of my postcards to protect the artwork, and to prevent the card from getting torn. I've never had any problems mailing them.

The point is that I’m surprised and intrigued by what is getting through the post office as it relates to postcard LTCs: Double sided lamination, multiple layers of cardstock, stickers, glitter and more.

So I looked up what the usps allows. A good point was made during the discussion: some postal employees enforce rules and some don’t.