Direct Swap - Krista from Canada

Krista also belongs to the Canadian Postcrossing group I wrote about yesterday. One day we were chatting about a Christmas card exchange and she suggested that we do a random swap based on our profiles. Sounded good to me. A week or so later this card showing the Western Red Lily arrived. I did not know this was the provincial flower of Saskatchewan. Krista really did an amazing job on the reverse with a great message about herself and stickers, tape and more! Great swap - thanks Krista!

Random Act of Smiliness - Melanie from Canada (Part 1)

Sometime in the summer Melanie had contacted me about helping her with a favour. She was a super person to swap with and what she needed help with was a very easy request. The way she thanked me (which wasn't necessary) was by sending me a totally fun bundle of cards - perfect! She sent me lots of different maps from the Maritimes for my collection (or to swap, she didn't care and left them blank for me if that is what I want to do). Some other fun ones too but that will be a post for another day.

Direct Swap - Melanie from Canada

Here is another map card I swapped with Melanie. I was having a hard time finding someone to swap with in Quebec so the fact she had an extra from her collection was great. Can't even count the times I have driven through this province on my way to New Brunswick. It may be long and not so fun but always worth it to see my sister!

Direct Swap - Mia from Canada

Yes, this card may look familiar. I had contacted both Mia and Roxanne at around the same time. Both asked for my address and said when they next had a map card they would send it to me. I didn't think they would both be lucky and get one within days of each other. I also didn't know how to go back to one and say thanks but no thanks. So I received two of this great card with lovely notes from both.

Direct Swap - Roxanne from Canada

About a month ago I connected with Roxanne about swapping for an Alberta map card. She was happy to swap and I was happy to have one more province for my collection. She decorated the back of the card with a really fun variety of stickers.

Direct Swap - Ashley from Canada

This is a super fast one to tell you about. I sent Ashley a message on Sunday afternoon asking if she would like to swap as I saw she had some Ontario map cards and Wednesday morning it is in my mailbox. This fun illustration has a little bit of everything going on and yet only has half the province. Ontario is so big! You figure driving from Toronto to Thunder Bay takes longer than driving to Atlanta, Georgia. Rightly or wrongly if I am in a car for 18+ hours I don't want to be in the same province! I am so happy that Ashley agreed to this swap as I haven't been able to find a provincial map card to send let alone collect anywhere. She had picked out a few ideas for me to send her and sadly I didn't have any "in stock" so I sent a close substitute. One day I'll surprise her as those are cards I can get just haven't been to that area in a few months....hope she can wait.

Direct Swap - Karli from Canada

At the beginning of the month I figured if I wanted to build my collection of provincial maps I had to start doing something about it. I started to surf the gallery hoping to find some and more importantly to find someone who was willing to trade. Karli lives in Saskatchewan and had this great card posted. She agreed to swap with me within about 30 minutes of me sending her a message - sweet! I was delighted when it came yesterday. It is a nice map with lots of "extras" - the flag, flower and various wildlife that can be found there. There is even a Mountie as the RCMP Museum is in Regina. Then to top it off, check out the hand cancellation - Love, Saskatchewan - is that not the sweetest postal stamp going?!? Thanks again Karli for helping to build my collection.

Direct Swap - Emma From Canada

Around the same time I was in touch with Karli I saw a map card that Emma from PEI had sent. Again, shortly after I was in touch she agreed to a swap. Her card to me arrived yesterday and she messaged to say my card to her arrived as well - perfect timing! The card shows the map of  PEI, it's flag and I believe in the lower left the an illustration of the provincial flower, Lady Slippers. A great card - thanks Emma! I just doubled my collection in one day!

Random Act of Smileness - Tam from Canada

I know, right now you are thinking "what is a random act of smileness or RAS?!?" I didn't know either until I received these cards from Tam. Basically, it is doing something for someone "just because" it will make them smile, which in turn makes you smile. Kind of like the card I received yesterday from Donna or the one last week from JJ.

At the end of last summer I was contacted out of the blue by Tam. She somehow came across my profile and saw that 1) I was trying to get a map card from every State and Province and 2) my birthday is October 31 - her favourite holiday. (Remember I told you that my birthday oddly plays a role for me in Postcrossing). She said she had a map card she would like to send to me to help with my collection. Well, you can just imagine my surprise when I received four fabulous map cards of British Columbia and one of Alaska! She writes that while she lives 400 kms north of Vancouver in a town called Kitimat she is only 90 miles from the Alaskan Panhandle. Funny, I just realized now she wrote kms when talking about BC and miles for the US. I do that with temperature sometimes! This was truly a fun week for me getting these amazing cards. Kind of like an early birthday.