This post is sponsored by Expressionery.com. All opinions are my own (as always).
Do you ever miss the days when snail mail was the only way to send mail? As much as I love technology, I loved getting handwritten mail. It was a bright spot in the day to walk to the mailbox and find a card or letter addressed to me. Some for holidays and others were just because. With the internet, e-mails and e-cards, text messages and instant messenger have made keeping in touch so incredibly convenient! However, I’m still like a kid in a candy store when I find a letter or card sitting in my mailbox!
Laura Kelley is awesome at sending happy snail mail! She is uber talented too. Her stationary from Expressionery.com is what inspired todays post and taking a few minutes to share my love for snail mail. Let’s take a look at these 5 Tips to Write More Snail Mail in hopes that we’ll do just that!
ONE | Supplies
Have cute stationary, cards and/or envelopes on hand. If you have a favorite pen, keep one handy near your stationary. And don’t forget the stamps {wink}. Whether you buy cards or make them — there are so many lovely possibilities. Here are some cards I recently received from Expressionery.com. These are from Laura Kelly’s Me & My Peeps™ line!
We make a pretty darn cute cartoon family, eh? I love them. They’re happy and make you smile, perfect for sending to family and friends! Aren’t they great? From notecards to notepads to address labels — these are adorable snail mail supplies to have on-hand.
TWO | Make Time
Set time aside for writing snail mail. That might require scheduling some time on your calendar and even setting reminders. Life can get incredibly busy, so pencil in some time on your calendar to sit down and write one or two letters. If it’s too hard to do that, gather up your supplies and do a little multi-tasking while watching your favorite TV shows in the evenings. I always say, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way!” Right?
THREE | Accessibility and Organization
Keep your stationary and supplies accessible and organized. I have a card box where I file cards by holidays (birthdays, wedding, anniversary, etc). The general blank cards or thank you cards are stored in a rubbermaid container. Having them stored neatly and with accessibility makes writing snail mail easy breezy!
FOUR | Keep Inspiration On-Hand
If you’re anything like me, you might appreciate a well said quote or statement. I like to keep them in a notebook — and I love-love-love keeping books with additional inspiration close by. I have always wrote templates for thank you cards. The perfectionist in me had to know what I wanted to say before I finalized it in ink on the notecard {hee-hee}. Even when I was in Higher Education, I kept templates of every type of letter possible. They were filed away in my drawer for reference.
These two books have been HUGE lifesavers for me over the years:
When Words Matter Most by Robyn Freedman Spizman
On a Personal Note | A Guide to Writing Notes with Style by Angela Ensminer
I rarely used the templates word for word, but they inspired me to translate my thoughts to pen and paper!
FIVE | Have Fun and Be Creative!
Remember that there are very few people who don’t appreciate snail mail — so have fun and be creative! Doodle your note, write a silly poem, send along a goofy picture or a $5 Starbucks card. Being a perfectionist, I have to remind myself that not everything has to be perfect. A handwritten letter is a personal note that can be as simple or fancy as we’d like it to be; however, 99% of the time the outcome will be the same — a smile and joy!
“The way to a girls heart is through her mailbox!”
Let’s send some happy mail, shall we? Ready. Set. Go!!
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JaneEllen says
So cute, Kelly, do you write letters, send cards? Hope so cause I know I love getting snail mail. I think it’s a very loving thing to write to people. The cards you showed are so cute, your immediate family including your pooches.
Years ago when I’d travel with hubs in his semi all over country and some of Canada, I’d write letters to friends. They complain now I don’t write anymore. I’d tell them about all our adventures, where we’d go, what kind of conditions we had. I’d write while traveling but especially when we’d be waiting to get loaded/unloaded. A lot of time is spent doing both. One friend said it was like reading a book, chapter by chapter, she said she read my letters to her boy friend and her daughter/hubs and to a mutual friend of ours. Wrote to our kids and other friends too. They hated it when we went home but I’d write then also, especially in MT during the winter, many times I was out there by myself while hubs on road, got kinda lonely so wrote. Sometimes I stayed up til early hours of a.m. making things in my wonderful craft room that looked out on the lake, when there was a full moon it shone on the lake and snow so beautiful, could see elk, other animals out cruising around like it was daylight. I’d so love to go back there to live again.
In summer I’d take my paper/pens to lake with me, write while I was relaxing on beaches. We lived almost right on Canyon Ferry Lake which is south of Helena.
I wrote when we moved to KY also of our adventures.
Guess I enjoy telling stories of what we did, how it was. We moved from San Diego areas to MT, talk about a culture and weather shock. I’m a bit of a gypsy, love going at drop of hat and willing to try things not usually done by somebody my age. Friends said they lived vicariously thru my adventures.
Sorry for talking too much, maybe I’m in wrong business, lol. Happy weekend Kelly
Kelly Rowe says
I do write letters and send cards. 🙂 The internet and social media has put a damper on snail mail these days. You really don’t see it much any more. Kind of sad. Thanks for the comment and information about yourself. I always enjoy reading your comments. Trust you had a great weekend and are having a good week thus far. HUGS!
Natalie Cleckner says
Love this post and especially the tip to keep inspiration on hand! Letters are definitely my love language so it was a treat to read this. I think I will go write some letters right now :).
Kelly Rowe says
Aw, thanks so much Natalie! 🙂 I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed it. There is something so wonderful about a hand written note and/or letter. Happy writing. HUGS.
Health Matters. Life Matters. says
Such cute ideas! I love writing letters to friends, it adds a personal touch. Thank you for these suggestions on how to make my writing area a bit cuter. Stopping by from the Sits Girls link-up party! ~Alexis from Health Matters. Life Matters.
Ellen Delap says
Love writing and receiving snail mail. I am most inspired by cute stationary. Thanks for sharing!
The Reading Residence says
Great post, lovely tips. I love sitting down to pen a letter and it’s so nice to receive snail mail rather than junk mail!
Dean Phillips says
My friend from high school recently reached out to me through a written letter last Sunday in the afternoon. It was nice to hear from here and now I have been looking into snail mail subscriptions to send out my reply to him. This here led me to your incredible post which has provided me with some valuable insight. I am very impressed with how you pointed out that life can get incredibly busy, so pencil in some time on your calendar to sit down and write one or two letters. You raised a great point here, one I’m sure those looking to write more letters will be glad to be mindful of. Thank you for this!