EBYS Pocket Letter#1

What is a pocket letter? You take a plastic 9-opening page protector – the kind that you store ATCs or baseball cards in – and fill each pocket with (mostly) paper based items, often related to a theme. One pocket must include a letter to your partner, similar to what you’d send a pen pal. Ideas for pocket items include:

• Tea bag
• Sticky notes/page flags
• Stamped images
• Stickers
• Washi tape samples
• ATC
• Ephemera / images from other sources
• Handmade mini envelopes
• Die cuts / paper shapes

If you need examples or ideas, search Instagram for #pocketletter or check out Janette Lane’s tip page: http://janettelane.blogspot.com/2015/02/janette-lanes-pocket-letter-guide.html

What is an Eff Your Beauty Standards Pocket Letter? It’s a pocket letter that deconstructs or critiques patriarchal standards of gender or beauty or identity.

I love pocket letters, but let’s face it, they can be a little basic. (I’m counting myself in here – I’ve been making ton of pocket letters this winter and spring.) I’m hoping that we can create some revolutionary! I’m interested in seeing how we as a group can take something that can be apolitical and make it daring, feminist, and alternative. Since we’re taking a craft and giving it a specific theme, I thought it would be helpful to give a few guidelines. So here they are:

• 1 pocket must include a letter that shares your EBYS journey, whatever that is and wherever you are in that journey
• 1 pocket should include a visual example of your Eff Your Beauty Standards aesthetic – what do you find to be empowering, beautiful, sexy as hell
• 1 pocket should include an EBYS quote
• All other pockets are up to you – include paper-based treats for your partner that celebrate EBYS as you define it.

Each pocket must be decorated on the front and at least lightly decorated on that back. (Lightly decorated = more than just plain paper. It should be painted, covered with patterned papers, or spruced up in some way).

To screen swappers, I will be using our group standards, which are:

• Must have a well filled out profile
• Must not be listed in any flaker groups
• Must maintain a 4.9 rating
• Must have logged on in the last 30 days
• Must have no late swaps on dashboard

I will also use my own personal judgement – looking at profile comments, rating responses, my own intuition, etc. I will do my best for this to be a safe swap and I will angel anyone who is flaked.

If you receive an EBYS pocket letter that follows the pocket guidelines, please rate a 5 promptly. Obviously – hearts are up to the sender.