Pinsperation

The other day I received this lovely package from my Pen Pal in the Czech Republic, it was a great surprise as I was just finishing up my reply to her last letter.

I've been spending some time reading other snail mail blogs, a great one is 365 days of mail, and browsing Pinterest and I decided to try out some of the great ideas I've seen adding my own touch. Where do you get your inspiration for your snail mail projects?

The package from my Pen Pal included a short letter and Christmas postcard, some Christmas teabags, Chocolate coins, sweets and a cute napkin and ladybird bookmark/large paperclip. Lots of fun to open! 

I made a bookmark to send with my reply and decided to pair it with a Jane Austen quote postcard with some quotes about reading on the back. I also made an envelope to put the card and bookmark in.

I also added some chocolate coins and some Christmas flavoured coffee drinks, I can't seem to find individually sealed Christmas tea where I live which is a great shame. I used a different envelope, and put the chocolate coins, and some flower confetti in a cellophane bag which I decorated.

I made another envelope in which I put two more postcards; a tiger one which I attached cat magnets to using a strip of magnetic metal and washi tape, and a dragon one (I took photos then managed to delete them after I had put everything together).

I then tied it all together with ribbon, slipping some pencils down the side and adding a Roald Dhal tag and put it in another cellophane wrapper and then in a jiffy bag ready for posting.

I hope she likes it when she receives it.

Incoming Mail

I am a member of a few different mail exchange sites, Postcrossing a postcard exchange project, Swap-bot where you can swap various types of mail be it something crafty, a letter, a parcel or a postcard and Sendsomething a site where you can meet other liked minded mail enthusiasts and send and recieve surprise mail.

This postcard comes from a member who I have not exchanged mail with before so it was a very nice surprise and I shall be sending something back her way in the New Year

This postcard was from a Postcrossing member who I have swapped with quite a few times and it was a lovely surprise. It is a fan art card of The Hobbit.

This was a from a swap with a Postcrossing member, the postcard is sold by Pokemon Co to raise money to assist the children affected by the earthquake in 2011.

If you enjoy sending and receiving mail it is worth checking out the different websites to see if you can find something that suits you. 

A Christmas Themed Post

Recently on Swap-bot there have been lots of Christmas themed swaps, I haven't taken part in many as I have had lots of other mail projects going on but I did take part in a UK based Christmas Spirit Supplies Swap. I thought I'd share what I sent and received and a little of what I did with my supplies :)

This is what I sent to my partner, a mix of crafting supplies and some chocolate goodies to eat and drink while crafting.

I also had a go at making a homemade postcard which I wrote my Christmas greetings on.

This was my lovely package, Christmas stickers and washi tape, some felt toppers and some yummy treats :)

This is one of the cards I made using the felt toppers

And as this is a Christmas themed post this is a picture of the Christmas Card I made and sent to my German Pen Pal.

Incoming Mail

Another post showing some of my incoming mail, some days I get really lucky and have lots come though in one day, it usually follows a quiet period of no mail though :)

In this picture I have at the very top and envelope with 5 postcards from a swap-bot swap, some RR cards of Bleach and Ghost 07, 2 RAS from Malaysia, a very cute decorated envelope with Castiel from Supernatural and a postcard I sent myself - yes that's right, I wanted the stamps ;)

These are the postcards in the envelope, I was really pleased as they cover many of my wishes - A very cute cat and wolf, some beautiful snow, water and sky scenery and I think the cloud card is kawaii.

This lovely selection of postcards, a bookmark and a teabag came from Germany as a thank you for sending some travelling sheets, it was a bit of a surprise as I sent them in the earlier part of the year.

I thought I'd write a quick post showing some of my decorating techniques. I'm not an artist or even very good at doodles but I like to personalise any post I send out. Sometimes it may be something really simple other times I like to do a little more. I generally tend to use washi tape and stickers but on my envelopes I sometimes do attempt a drawing or collage.

These postcards were for a swap and were being sent in an envelope so I was able to decorate a little bit more than I normally would using the address side of the card as well. 

This is the back of one of my Pen Pal letters, the front was pretty simple but I though I'd add a bit more to the back and create a scene with stickers.

How do you like to decorate your mail or do you prefer to leave it as it is?

Outgoing Mail

I've been making my recent outgoing mail Christmassy either with Christmas themed postage stamps and/or with the decoration. The UK postage stamps for Christmas were quite good this year, my favourite being the 1st Class one showing an image of someone posting a letter with a snowy background which you can see in the second picture.

Postcards for various RRs and Swaps

My Christmas themed envelope to a Pen Pal in Finland.

Another Pen Pal letter this one going to Russia, stamps added at the post office.

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Hello Again!

Well I have been absent for too long and this Blog is so new too. I have lots of mail to share and I will be working on posting it over the next few days :)

To start with here is some Happy Mail I received yesterday and today.

Yesterday - A lovely packaged letter from a Pen Pal in Russia and a postcard from a swap on Swap-bot from someone holidaying in Germany.

Today (L-R) - A Christmas card from Mooshi the cat, a letter from my Pen Pal RR, a Jetoy postcard from the July to December RR (Signups for the January to June RR are open here) and a mini meetup Christmas card from my Pen Pal in Finland.

With Christmas fast approaching I have been working on making Christmas cards for family and other Christmas activities which has not left me as much time for my pen palling and postcard sending. I have been working on my pen pal letters ready to send out for the New Year.

I am looking forward to getting back to swapping on Swap-bot, sending postcards on Postcrossing and creating and sending happy mail. I have signed up for a few January swaps on Swap-bot  and the January to June RR on Postcrossing. It should be a fun mail year!