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for the sake of a dying art

For the past few weeks, every time I open the mailbox, it's been a bit depressing. Bills. Junk mail. Offers to switch to faster internet and cheaper phones. More TV channels. And even a free hearing aide consultation. Twice, in the past two weeks, I've had days without ANY mail.

There is rarely, if ever, the personal note. 

When we lived on my grandmother's farm, and shared the same mailbox, I was always struck that she received a personal note from someone almost daily. Sometimes even two or three in a day. 

But if you knew my grandmother, you'd know that she impacted many, many people's lives. And oftentimes, people wrote her letters to tell her so. But the other thing about my grandmother is that you could always find her in the back living room, sitting at her desk, balancing her checkbook or writing personal letters. 

She'd drop you a note, say hello, send a clipping from the newspaper, remember your birthday or anniversary. And people often returned her kindness.

Letter writing is a dying art. Can you imagine if just half of the personal emails you received in a day, showed up in your mailbox as note?

for the sake of a dying art

Though I'm still failing miserably at letter-writing, I am determined to carry my grandmother's torch and keep this meaningful and timeless form of communication alive and well in my family. 

With this in mind, I decided that I wanted to create my own stationery, hoping it would inspire me to begin to write. 

for the sake of a dying art

When it comes to stationery, I prefer notecards versus folded cards and these are very small–only about 3 inches by 5 inches. I'm not out to write a novel, but just a small note to say "hello, I'm thinking of you." They are printed on cover stock with kraft brown recycled envelopes to go with them. 

Now all I need is a good pen. Kidding. (though I do have a thing about pens!)

I thought it would be nice, in the spirit of keeping this tradition alive and to inspire some of you to write a few notes, to give two sets away. Each set will include eight notecards and eight envelopes. 

I toyed with the idea of putting a few up in my neglected etsy shop, since I have printed myself a lifetime's supply, but for today, until I get my act together, I'd love to giveaway two sets here. It's fun to giveaway some of my own work for a change. 

Just leave your own 'hello' on this post….I'll pick two "winners" soon.

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I would be remiss in writing this post without mentioning how I printed these cards. They were printed at home with my Epson R1900. It is a dream printer. The quality and true-ness to color, is remarkable. When my cards were coming out of the printer, I found myself running my hands over the designs, because they almost had the quality of a letterpress. The printer can print wide formats (13 inches) and long (up to 44 inches). You can even outfit it with a roll of paper to print panoramas. If you ever had any hopes of doing some serious designing and printing at home, or printing your own photographs in larger formats, scrapbooking pages, or other creative projects, this printer would be an amazing investment. And I can't wait to see all the great ideas we'll come up with to use it with homeschooling this year as well. I had to tell you, because I love it so! 🙂

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Happy Weekend, friends and happy old-fashioned letter writing. 

For the past few weeks, every time I open the mailbox, it’s been a bit depressing. Bills. Junk mail. Offers to switch to faster internet and cheaper phones. More TV channels. And even a free hearing aide consultation. Twice, in the past two weeks, I’ve had days without ANY mail.

There is rarely, if ever, the personal note. 

When we lived on my grandmother’s farm, and shared the same mailbox, I was always struck that she received a personal note from someone almost daily. Sometimes even two or three in a day. 

But if you knew my grandmother, you’d know that she impacted many, many people’s lives. And oftentimes, people wrote her letters to tell her so. But the other thing about my grandmother is that you could always find her in the back living room, sitting at her desk, balancing her checkbook or writing personal letters. 

She’d drop you a note, say hello, send a clipping from the newspaper, remember your birthday or anniversary. And people often returned her kindness.

Letter writing is a dying art. Can you imagine if just half of the personal emails you received in a day, showed up in your mailbox as note?

for the sake of a dying art

Though I’m still failing miserably at letter-writing, I am determined to carry my grandmother’s torch and keep this meaningful and timeless form of communication alive and well in my family. 

With this in mind, I decided that I wanted to create my own stationery, hoping it would inspire me to begin to write. 

for the sake of a dying art

When it comes to stationery, I prefer notecards versus folded cards and these are very small–only about 3 inches by 5 inches. I’m not out to write a novel, but just a small note to say “hello, I’m thinking of you.” They are printed on cover stock with kraft brown recycled envelopes to go with them. 

Now all I need is a good pen. Kidding. (though I do have a thing about pens!)

I thought it would be nice, in the spirit of keeping this tradition alive and to inspire some of you to write a few notes, to give two sets away. Each set will include eight notecards and eight envelopes. 

Check the Ekocycle’s list  to see the quality and true-ness to color, is remarkable. When my cards were coming out of the printer, I found myself running my hands over the designs, because they almost had the quality of a letterpress. The printer can print wide formats (13 inches) and long (up to 44 inches). You can even outfit it with a roll of paper to print panoramas. If you ever had any hopes of doing some serious designing and printing at home, or printing your own photographs in larger formats, scrapbooking pages, or other creative projects, this printer would be an amazing investment. And I can’t wait to see all the great ideas we’ll come up with to use it with homeschooling this year as well. I had to tell you, because I love it so! 🙂

 

I toyed with the idea of putting a few up in my neglected etsy shop, since I have printed myself a lifetime’s supply, but for today, until I get my act together, I’d love to giveaway two sets here. It’s fun to giveaway some of my own work for a change. 

Just leave your own ‘hello’ on this post….I’ll pick two “winners” soon.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I would be remiss in writing this post without mentioning how I printed these cards. They were printed at home with my Epson R1900. It is a dream printer. The quality and true-ness to color, is remarkable. When my cards were coming out of the printer, I found myself running my hands over the designs, because they almost had the quality of a letterpress. The printer can print wide formats (13 inches) and long (up to 44 inches). You can even outfit it with a roll of paper to print panoramas. If you ever had any hopes of doing some serious designing and printing at home, or printing your own photographs in larger formats, scrapbooking pages, or other creative projects, this printer would be an amazing investment. And I can’t wait to see all the great ideas we’ll come up with to use it with homeschooling this year as well. I had to tell you, because I love it so! 🙂

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Happy Weekend, friends and happy old-fashioned letter writing. 

108 comments on “for the sake of a dying art”

  1. I love this post. My Granny writes me letters the old fashioned way and I love to get her letters in the mail. I love her handwriting and the little hearts she draws at the end. Sometimes she types them on her old typwriter which I also love. Your cards are beautiful and I think we should all write more letters! (p.s. epson printers are the only printers as far as I am concerned!)

  2. Oh, HELLO! Thank you for this nudge. I was thinking just yesterday that I really want to send a hand-written not to a friend I haven’t had contact with in ages. I’ll be rummaging around in my stationary drawer as soon as I finish typing this!

  3. molly, this is such a great and inspiring resolution. i frequently have the same feeling about mail… wishing that real letters and notes were more a part of my life… but have had a hard time just making it so. reading this makes me resolve anew to make that time to connect.xo

  4. They really are lovely! Like you I love to send, & receive, ‘snail mail’ through the letterbox & these look delightful!thanksChris x

  5. Hello! I love your little note cards and totally covet your printer! I have been trying to send one note per month, and it seems to be working pretty well. Thanks for the giveaway!

  6. lovely cards, and how nice to hear of your grandmother. my brother is in yosemite for the summer and it is so nice to receive letters from him. i tend to make it more of a deal than it has to be, when thinking of it (the right pen, the right paper, the right moment, etc), then realize that sitting at the table, scribbling a hello on the back of ursula’s drawing with the closest writing implement, is just fine. still, i’d feel grateful and lucky to have the cards! thx for the printer info, too.

  7. I always love seeing an envelope in my mailbox that is hand written. My mother has really perfected the art of a hand written note and I keep thinking I should write more, too. I need to stop thinking and start doing!

  8. good to know – we have needed a printer for several years…. both my grandmother and my husband’s grandmother were letter/card writers with very personal words written for the recipient. i have days where i think i would like to sit down with my kids once a week and write letters/cards. but then, i forget and the creek calls…. maybe we’ll get there…

  9. I used to write letters all the time. Now, somehow, I seem to have nothing to say (or no one to say it to?). I do miss sending surprise packages to people – filled with handmade goodies, loaded with fresh-baked cookies.

  10. Hello! I love hand written letters as well. I have cards galore in the basement that I could just send out if I felt the urge! And oh how nice it is to know what printer you used!!! Looking them up…right…now.

  11. Hello! I love to write notes, although mine are mostly thank you notes. All through college, my mom would send me letters each week with clippings from newspapers, cash, or what-have-yous; I always looked forward to them! I do send random “hi” notes to my BFF who lives across the country from me.

  12. Hello! I always mean to write more letters. Thanks for the prompt. I will be putting pen to paper at some point this weekend. Those are some beautiful little cards you designed there. :o)

  13. i spend a great deal of time after every family celebration writing thank you notes. while for a very long time i thought it was tedious, its now become something i really do enjoy!

  14. Hello to you! Am getting back in the habit of letter-writing…I blogged about it recently and in the past made a little drawstring pouch that I kept in my car with a small address book, note cards, and stamps. My note card supply is depleted and these would be lovely!

  15. You are correct, that hand written letters are a dying art form. Thank you for inspiring others to continue such a meaningful and heartfelt gesture. Keeping cute cards on hand does make it much more desireable!

  16. I love letters and Mail Art. Your card turned out cute and you have reminded me to spend some time this week catching up on letters.It’s a great way to keep in touch.

  17. these are sweet. my great grandfather and I corresponded from the time I was in the 4th grade until I finished college, and it was the best way to keep up with friends who were abroad during my mid-late 20s. I miss letters.

  18. Hello! I have many treasured, saved letters from my grandmother, and my mother definitely has continued the tradition, and writes letters daily.

    I like to send cards for different occasions with a little personal note included. And I’m a stickler about thank-you notes. They should not be e-mails!

    I would love to win a set of these beautiful cards.

  19. Beautiful cards. My motivation for letterwriting is there but I lack in follow-through. My mailbox has the same sad condition as yours. Some hand-written notes out may result in some hand-written “love letters” back. I’ll work on that. Thanks for the inspiration.

  20. I went to university far away from home and also had a mother who wrote every week. I treasure those letters still. I’m still far away from my mother and she now writes to my children. The excitement when a letter from grandma arrives is a joy to behold. I hope the recipients of your notes are equally joyful.

  21. My mom and I have a pack to write each other personal notes once we receive one. It is fun to receive a note or even a postcard in the mail! Thanks!

  22. What lovely stationery! I was never a great letter writer, but when I discovered the joy of the note card I got much better. The limited space is less daunting, and I am not forcing myself to fill pages. Last January, I set a resolution to send 3 notes a week. I was great for about 6 months and then life got in the way. I need to pick it up again. Three short notes…it was a great way to reconnect with friends who I hadn’t seen in far too long, or to say thanks to the everyday people in my life that do so much. Thanks for the reminder of how important personal notes are! I needed it.

  23. molly, what a lovely idea. my almost-4yo son is very excited about letter-writing at the moment. it’s mostly for the joy of licking the envelope, but grandma and grandpa and lots of friends are getting letters, so it’s worth the stamps as far as i’m concerned. 🙂

  24. you are so, so right. i, too remember my great-grandmother and the handwritten notes she both sent and received. what a lovely art to remember, re-kindle and encourage for ourselves and our children. thank you.

  25. Cool! After reading a story in a Richard Scarry book about sending a letter and getting one back, I’ve been trying to get my son to write more letters to his grandparents. But it never occurred to me to try it myself. This could be the nudge I need!

  26. My grandmother is the same way, and my children like to write personal notes and thank-yous. Thanks for the inspiration – your notecards cute.

  27. hello,hello!i’m in total agreement…it is a dying art, and one which should be revived! bring it on! thanks for more inspiration…i think you should also revive that etsy shop!

  28. This is such a timely post for me. I’ve been thinking so much lately about how I miss getting letters. When I was young I always had a bunch of pen friends around the world. Then I was an exchange student and kept in touch with my friends and family through letters. And of course kept in touch with the people I met when I returned home. I have kept EVERY single letter I have ever received. And then, some time a bit later, along came email. Now I NEVER get letters, but then, I rarely write them. Even when I make the effort to write a long email to someone (newsy, just like a letter), I rarely get a similar response. It’s like people don’t take time to write anymore. I have my blog to keep in touch with family and friends (I am once again living overseas), but it’s not the same personal thing. I would write pages and pages- often working through my own thoughts and feelings in the process. I would draw pictures and send little gifts. And I miss it so much. I love classic literature and often think of all the letters people used to send each other way back when- just to keep in touch. How sophisticated their letter writing was. How reading those letters aloud was a family affair. Now it’s all facebook and twitter- we may know where all our friends are and what they are doing that exact moment, but do we actually know what’s going on in their lives? The extent of my “letter”s to people are comments like this and emails. I do think it is becoming a lost art. There is nothing like getting a letter from someone in the mail. I still remember the excitement of opening it up and wondering what was inside- measuring how thick it was-sitting down to a cuppa to read it and to do it justice. Love these little cards- gorgeous. I’ve been thinking of making some writing paper and sending a long old fashioned letter to some people…I wonder how many would respond in kind.

  29. A handwritten note is always so special. I remember when my stepfather was dating my mother, he would write us( my brother and I) letters to get to know him before he was coming to move with us to the States. He is from Sweden and it was so great to know and understand this country for when we finally moved there 2 yrs later.

  30. The cards are lovely and so is the sentiment. I, too, love a piece of “real” mail and despite my best intentions am horrible at getting notes off to others.

    Thanks for the reminder.

  31. Hello – those are lovely! I have always loved to get personal mail and have been known to send a “hello – thinking of you” card a time or two … but not lately. Need to get back into the habit. Its fun and you know it brightens someone’s day. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

  32. Molly, I feel the same way. I’ve been stamping my own cards and sending as many handwritten notes as I can. I really love your design and I hope I win. But if I don’t, I would buy these from you in a second. Thanks for sharing.

  33. Hello! I love the design of these! So simple and yet unisex. My husband enjoys writing notes as well and we always have to buy 2 sets of notecards because I like the more “girly” ones and he doesn’t feel he should be using those. 🙂 We would BOTH use these! Thanks!

  34. I love real letters. I try encouraging my children to write to people, too, but the truth is none of us are very good at the follow-through.

  35. I totally agree with so many of your points in this post. I LOVE getting snail mail, especially sweet letters. There is something about slowing down ones thoughts while writing that is different than any other form of communication. One of my summer goals is to write “Sunday letters”. I want to spend some time on Sundays to reflect and write letters to my family and friends. Thanks for the post….I loved it!

  36. Oh how I *love* getting “real” mail, as opposed to all the junk. I’m a rather pitiful letter-writer, though. Perhaps some beautiful stationary would get me motivated!

  37. hello! you are so right! i love getting snail mail , and usually when i send out thank yous and such it is also very snail mail:) LOL!… the note cards are perfect by the way.

  38. a brilliant hello to you. I was just thinking this the other day. Handwritten notes (actually, handwriting itself!) are becoming obsolete. Imagine how different our blogs would feel if everything on them were handwritten.

  39. IF I could just write as many letters as my two sweet girls. They love to write and receive mail. I hope they might be the random number generated in this lovely little giveaway. Little girl pen pals…yes:)

  40. Your stationary is lovely! I was in bed last night reading old letters from my grandma and trying/longing to hear her voice.

  41. Ah, I love to write letters! I try to do one a night (my actual output is more like 5/wk). Once you start, it’s quite addicting and so cosy. To sit down with a cup of tea and a pen and a piece of paper is one of the great joys in life.

    And mail goes so fast these days it seems- I write a letter and in one or two days it’s made it to the recipient!

    xo, K

  42. What a beautiful design! I have a thing for stationery, pens, and blank books. And ephemera. Oh, also quirky stamps/stickers/labels.

    Is there a support group for this?

  43. hello! yes, you are right. i also notice i don’t write much, yet i want my two-year-old to begin to know how to do it…but really, he must see it in action for it to matter to him at all. sigh. good reminder. thanks!

  44. I like to write letters, and send a clipping or more often then not a recipe. My key to it is to have lot of cute paper/cards.

  45. Speaking of sending mail…does anyone know how I can get a penpal for my child? We’ve tried sending notes, drawings, little surprises to his cousin who lives across the country, but the cousin never replies. Every day we go to the mailbox, and my son asks “is there anything for me?” and he’s so disappointed.

  46. This one hits home to me. I write a million notes. Thank yous, happy birthdays, just hello’s. But no one writes them back! Just quick little emails. I agree that we all need to get back to writing more notes and do believe your beautiful note cards will indeed help! Thanks for the chance to win some!

  47. You know, you can’t even hardly find “good” stationery anymore in the stores. My favourite was used by a friend…the lines that you would write on were drawn as “clothes-lines” between buildings, and on the sides were little drawn birds and people leaning out the windows, waving to the neighbours, across the “line.”

    But I started my blog because I liked writing letters so much, and didn’t have the time to write to everyone I wanted to stay in touch with. I still send (very long) personal emails, and that will have to be good enough for now…

  48. these are lovely cards! i love the kraft paper envelope – such a nice touch. i have a friend from college with whom i correspond only by snail mail. it isn’t as frequent as it used to be but i love the thought and time that goes into a hand written missive!

  49. It’s an art worth preserving. I love the thrill of something personal in the mail – it’s part of the appeal of ordering online, I think!

  50. I still have all the letters my best friend and I wrote to each other all through high school and college. I treasure them and real letters are so rare today. I really need to get back in the habit. This just might inspire me to do so. I also love stationary and note cards – these are beautiful. I thought they were letterpress in the photo :o)

  51. I love your notecards. I miss getting handwritten letters. Recently I thought it would be nice to find pen pals for my children. I had one from Japan and one from England as a child. I was given their names and addresses from teachers. I think it would be fun for my kids to experience writing and receiving letters as well as learning about other cultures from a child’s perspective. Thank you for the giveaway!

  52. Just a few weeks ago, I wrote a handwritten letter to a very, very dear friend. It felt so wonderful~and was beautiful. I’ve always loved a letter, complete with a stamped envelope.When I went away to college, and for quite a few years after, my Grandma and I used to write letters back and forth all the time. Treasure.

  53. Love getting letters in the mail, especially from old roommates and college buddies. Perhaps there is one coming your way, which oddly enough was written on the 18th, while resting by a river in pleasant ol’ Oregon.Love and hugs…

  54. I am sentimental for a few special men in my life today and this really struck home. They too were men who kept friendships and maintained correspondence in the age of stationary and long distance charges. I still have some of their letters both to me and to others. I certainly don’t have any emails that I will be passing to my grandchildren. It’s a shame too, because I can hear their voices in these letters. I can feel more in their penmanship than in you could possibly get from a printed letter. We should know this from our children’s little notes as opposed to the cards they buy for us. Thank you for the reminder.

  55. I have read your blog for a long time now, but I never say hello. Your post a bit ago about lurking and what blogs are struck me. So today I say hello. I too have been trying to revive the personal letter or note. I have sent a few recently and need to sit down again to write some more. Thank you for the prompt.

  56. I keep telling myself that I am going to be better about writing notes or letters, but I never am! I need to be, as I too love mail!

  57. I used to send notes and write letters much more before I had children (or rather four children). We did, however, send postcards from the beach which was fun. I do love to get notes in the mail and love to send them. These would be lovely to add to my collection.

    Sara

  58. Hello! And Amen to your post! Did you ever have a pen pal and couldn’t wait to get the mail? I do. I sure wish my kids had pen pals. While technology is terrific, the art of letter writing and real face to face conversation seems to be going by the wayside. Love that you brought this up. Lovely stationary.

  59. I am obsessed with letter writing, and I love the notecards you made! I live in Texas and I have a friend in Nashville. We talk about twice a year and write letters and cards the rest of the time. These would be so fun to have! Thanks!

  60. Thanks for the insperation. My mom and grandmother also write letters and send cards. I set a goal last year to send at least one letter or card a week, but have fallen out of the habit this year. Your beautiful cards could get me back on track!

  61. the only person that I regularly write letters to is my husband’s grandmother. we write back and forth to each other at least once or twice a month. it is so nice.

  62. Hello,

    I do love having nice stationary to write a quick note to friends. I’m trying to have my kids write notes, too, but it’s an uphill battle. I also am trying to fight the decline of actual invitations. We get so many evites that I really miss an actual invitation. Don’t get me started!

  63. I just write a note to a friend the other day. She & her boyfriend had my girls and I over for coffee and a garden-visit. It was a fun couple of hours. The next day I wrote her a note for the mailbox, when I guess I could have just facebooked her. It felt so much better to write a note & put a stamp on an envelope, though. Like I was reciprocating some of the time she had taken to have us over. Anyway, I hope that you are successful in your endeavor to keep the handwritten correspondence alive!

  64. how cute are you? I think of this often. I scoured etsy with david once because he wanted to write some notes and we couldn’t find anything masculine and simple enough. I think these would be perfect!

  65. I love love love mail (ok, not so much the bills and junk mail) – getting a card in the mail is so joyous, and I do like to take time to make others’ day by sending them a smile via USPS. Your cards are just darling! Where did you get the envelopes?

  66. Love the cards…and would SO like beautiful mail in my box too. As my mother always said…”To have a friend, you have to be a friend”. Here’s to letterwriting…thanks for the encouragement.

  67. i am so partial to old school letter writing…i love your notecards, they’re just lovely. thanks for offering them up! that printer sounds fabulous. i also get beautiful notecards from Leslie at The Paper Princess…i think she’s starting up a line of children’s products soon.

  68. yes Yes YES!!!! I don’t need the cards (though they’re lovely, beyond belief!), just need to say how much I echo this sentiment. I grew up resenting the need to write “thank you’s”, and have thrown out the baby with the bathwater as a result. Wrong, so wrong!

    Having moved half-way across the country from my family, I’m just now seeing that the simple note, a five-minute jot, is such an immensely satisfying way to keep in touch, keep it human, keep it real.

  69. I actually made prints of some photos I took camping over the weekend AND put them in an envelope to send away to my sister in law who camped with us.

  70. Your note cards look just lovely – I really like the color. My grandmother had the most beautiful handwriting. Your right – letter writing is an art form that is slowly slipping away. Maybe I’ll write a couple of letters this week – thanks for the inspiration!

  71. I love receiving a handwritten note and am so glad when I spend the time to write one. Your cards are lovely. I’m so impressed that you made them! They would be great inspiration to put pen to paper. Thanks for the chance to win!

  72. I know what you mean. I feel like I never get any mail and just read a book that was all correspondence. I would maybe put on the front, can’t wait to hear from you. So then maybe they’d write back!

  73. I have a thing for pens and sending & receiving personal notes in the mail. It can totally brighten someones day. THanks!

  74. I love letter writing! I do my best to keep in touch with a few friends in the UK, as well as our Compassion children. I’m looking forward to training our children in the art of letter writing soon, too!

  75. oh, hello! those are so lovely, and anyone would be lucky to find one in their mail box! this year, in our first year of marriage, we have received more handwritten correspondance than ever before–I too am committed to keeping it alive!

  76. I have to admit that I used to write a lot more notes and letters. I would write to my friends while I was away at camp. When I got home I wrote to friends I made at camp. And, yes, my grandmother. Both of my grandmothers wrote letters to my sisters and me. I do miss getting letters from them.For two years I have been writing to my son’s girlfriend while she is away at college. It is fun because I know she appreciates it. She makes her own stationery and replies and also writes notes to my daughter. My son is not a person who gets excited about mail so I am glad that his girlfriend is.

  77. I love your cards. I love to write letters. I admit I don’t do it enough but I enjoy it. For years I did not do a christmas letter but would hand write every card. Some years it is too hard to get everything in but others I still try to get a personal note.

    I know my kids love seeing a hand written envelope in the mailbox.

  78. What a sweet and perfectly simple little design.

    I too keep meaning to send some lovely real mailbox goodness – little postcards and simple notes are so wonderful and nourishing to receive. To touch and feel in your hand and your heart.

    Thank you for this daily inspiration. I’m turning to computer off to tidy my desk and make space for some real letter writing!

    {would love to win your little giveaway, but also loving the thoughts and inspiration….}

  79. Oh dear, I hope I’m not too late for the chance to win. These are awesome and I love to write letters. My kids always ask me why don’t they get letters from people and I tell them they have to send letters if they want to receive them. Letters to family is our summer project. Every week we are writing letters to them. I’m excited for them and the letters they will receive.

  80. NIce. I will also add to the stationery and notes conversation what I keep around. I went to a stationer/printers (I’m in Brooklyn, I went to Print Icon in Manhattan) and bought a few 25 packs of card stock in letter size, and they cut the sheets for me into quarters, which makes a nice size flat. I got kraft, light green, and cream. I got a rainbow assortment of envelopes to fit. I keep a few stamps around the house – a friend made one for our family with our last name letter and a few birds, then I learned how to make them – soooo easy and sooo fun with a speedball carving set and mastercarve blocks OR even the 4 packs of plastic erasers from the dollar store. I made a monogram for my husband for his birthday, and I’m very inspired by simple elements put together, a la Yellow Owl Designs. They’re great for thank yous, hellos, “here-are-a-few-snapshots-we-printed-for-you.” We ink pad several of the monogram-style ones to keep around, and having the blanks and correctly sized envelopes handy is great for impromptu card making with other stamps, crayons, paint, you name it. For me, it’s great and important that then I’m not slowed down by finding an envelope that fits, gluing kids art to an appropriate weight card, etc.

  81. I don’t see a “comments closed” and a winner announced yet, so I hope I’m not too late. I love your note cards! And, yes, good old-fashioned letter writing is dying. Like you, I only get bills and ads pretty much anymore. Receiving mail isn’t as fun as it used to be. Sad, huh? I would love to start writing letters again and receiving good mail again.

  82. Hi Wylie,I was just nodding in absolute agreement with your comment. I am a real stickler for ‘Thank you notes’ too. I think it’s only fair to get one when you have spent time and consideration picking gifts. Sadly, it would seem to be a lost art!Then I noticed your name – my maiden name is Wylie – same spelling. I had to write back!Jude (Perth, Australia)

  83. Hi Michelle,I have a 7 year old daughter – just learning to write. We would love to send little letters and drawings. Would he mind a ‘little sister’ penpal? My name is Jude and I am a grade 2 teacher in Western Australia. My daughter’s name is Lily and she is in grade 1. Email me if you are interested.Jude

  84. When I was a teenager we moved to Scotland from Australia and I had dozens of penpals. I would write religiously every time I received a letter and I rarely went a day without a letter. I loved receiving mail. Now it’s all bills, sigh! I would happily write to anyone looking for a penpal – I can’t always promise long letters during term time when I teach but I will always reply.I’m a primary school teacher with children of my own -we would happily take on some pen pals. I think it’s a wonderful way to communicate and so personal.Jude

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