5 Cute Stationery Sheets to Use for Snail Mail

Stationeries

To make our letter even more special, using a beautifully designed stationeries (whether you designed it by yourself or not) is essential. We compiled our Top 5 hot picks for stationeries that you may consider using on your next snail mail. Enjoy!

1. iScream Seal and Send Stationery (with cute stickers)
Perfect for your handmade letter or a gift for your pen pal. You can also use this in writing a list of questions that you would like to ask for your pen pal. This is a spiral-bound book which includes 40 different designs that are lined on one side and ready for writing. Dimensions are 0.5x5.8x10.5 inches. This is sold on Amazon for $8.69.

2. Blue Flowers (Letter Perfect Stationery)
The products comes with 30 sheets of paper and 24 envelopes. Each pale blue sheet features an array of delicate water blossoms with shining silver foil highlights clinging like dew. The paper's dimensions are  5 3/4 inches wide and  7 3/4 high. The product costs $7.04 on Amazon. 

3. Purple Passion Stationery Paper and Envelopes
Comes with 40 sheets and 40 purple envelopes. Perfect for handwritten letters and if you prefer, for inkjet type of printers. Paper's dimensions are 8.5 x 11 inches and envelope's are 9.5 x 4 1/8 inches. This costs $7.04 on Amazon. 


4. Cute Lovely Kawaii Special Design Writing Stationery Paper
Who wouldn't love these cutely-designed sheets and envelopes? It contains 32 sheets of writing stationery paper and 16 envelopes. Paper size is 170x130mm and envelope size is 105x90 mm. Price is $7.98 on Amazon.

5. Pizza Shaped and Scented Note Cards
Awesomely designed for pizza lovers, you will surely love this one. Each contains 8 scented pizza-shaped cards and 8 coordinated envelopes. These cards are safely made in the US and feature fun, bright graphics that will surely bring cheer to any recipients. You can buy this on Amazon for $7.19.


Which one do you love the most? Share it on the comment section below! Don't forget to like our Facebook fan page.

Shop now on Amazon! 

Fun Snail Mail Idea: 5 Cute Envelopes for Snail Mail

envelopes

Looking for envelopes that you can use for your pen pals around the world? Kawaii! Check out our Top 5 recommendations of envelopes for your snail mail hobby.

1. American Crafts Boxed Card Sets for Scrapbooking
Each box contains 40 colorful envelopes that you will surely love! Product dimension is 3.5 inches x 6 x 4.5 inches. Envelopes have 11 different designs. You can definitely customize each envelope as it's not occasion specific. You can buy this product on Amazon for $12.99
2. Wood Envelope Template
Save your time in designing your envelope with this super brilliant template. This costs $7.88 on Amazon. You can literally just trace and cut your paper to create your own envelopes. With this temple, you can use your scrap paper, calendar, or any glossy paper to create your own envelope in just few minutes.
Wood Envelope Template Antique Wooden DIY Envelope Set by Jolin

3. DIY Kraft Security Envelope
Perfect base for your DIY card making, surely enclose notes or cards with these high-quality envelopes. The dimensions are 4.25 x 5.75 inch and each set contains 12 pieces of envelopes. You can buy this on Amazon for $4.99.


4. Heart Envelope Seals
Seals that can be put on the flip of an envelope or just somewhere else. Each packet contains  50 heart-shape foil envelope seals. This is available on Amazon for $6.99.


5. Handmade Mini Kraft Paper Envelope
This one is for true snail-mail-a-holic! Each lot contains 200 pieces of cute 5.8x9 cm of envelopes. They also come with string that is used to seal the envelopes.


Washi Shop (Affordable Washi Tapes Under $10)

washi tapes

Washi tapes are one of the essentials in of every snail mailer or those who are fascinated in making scrap books. Not just it's used to design your envelopes and letters but it can also be a great pen pal gift. Check out some of our recommended washi tapes under $10 that you can add to your snail mail art supplies.

1. Mudder 10 Rolls Decorative Washi Tape DIY Sticker
Sold in Amazon for $6.99, free shipping. This is basically a washi paper and the tape width is 0.8 cm. Each roll has a total diameter of 5m.
2. Polar Bear Washi Masking Tape with Cute Dispenser
Sold in Amazon for $6.98. Each pack contains 12 pieces of cute washi tapes. This comes with tape dispensers and yes, they are refillable!
3. 10 pieces Washi Masking Tapes Sets DIY Scrapbooking Stickers
For just $8.99, you can get these 10 super kawaii washi tapes. Each tape has a total diameter of 3m. Good for those who love to explore different designs.
4. Masking Sticker Set
Sold in Amazon for $4.08 and each box contains 27 sheets. Highly recommended for pen pal gifts.

5. Hiart Repositionable Washi Tape, Dots and Strip and Mother Nature, Green Blue
This comes with 4 washi tapes and is sold in Amazon for $8.99. Truly this washi tape is affordable yet it doesn't compromise with the quality.

Shop now on Amazon!

10 Snail Mail Envelope Inspirations

envelope inspiration

Your envelope is the first thing your pen pal sees so you always want to make it look good and special. Lacking some inspiration? Check out our 10 Snail Mail envelopes ideas that you can adapt on your next snail mail. Enjoy!

1. Intergalactic Envelope
This design is by Naomi Bulger. This is best for your male pen pals as this doesn't look too feminine or too fancy. It started by outlining a UFO, drawing some stars and coloring it with water color.
Inter-galactic space mail:

2. Honey Bee
Honey bee is another theme which suits for both of your female and male pen pal. It's not that fancy and it only uses three basic colors which are yellow, black and white. This design is also by Naomi Bulger. The envelope is also embellished with a piece of button and a knot.
Little mail-art parcels:

3. iPhone Meets Snail Mail
This is a super wonderful idea of Naomi (once again ^_^). This shows both the modern way of communicating (mobile devices and smart phones) and the traditional way which is snail mail. The design is kind of easy. It started with drawing an iPhone then putting some speech balloons on it
Old meets new: iphone snail-mail:

4. Disc Envelope
This design is from DIY Crafts Mom. It doesn't have the traditional flip of an envelope. Instead it is sealed using a ribbon. It started by cutting out 4 circles or discs. Here's how you do it.
You could write a little message inside to someone special saying turn around and then you are proposing... thought that might be a cute idea... I don't know... haha! :):


5. Ice Cream Envelope
This is from Kara Yamanaka. A pretty simple yet sweet envelope designs. It has three scoops of ice cream and that's where you'll write the name and the address of the recipient.
Making snail mail pretty on each part of ice a line from the address,:

6. Two Countries <3
Try this very sweet theme where you basically draw an outline of the map of your country and the map of your recipient. Plus each map is filled with the colors of its country's flag. What I like about this envelope is the broken lines between two maps. It just shows that these two people are from two far away places, hundreds or even thousands of kilometer distance, but they still find time to send something to each other. A real friendship! This design is from Lucy Lucera.

Decorated Envelopes, Mail Art, Snail Mail. Only I'll do Nevada and Virginia.:


7. Simply Washi
Simple and sweet. Two words to describe this design. It doesn't have so much drawings or graphics on it but it is embellished with few washi tapes design. This is from Chri Stine
Photo tutorial how to decorate a boring envelope with fun (masking/washi) tape. ©ankepanke.nl:

8. Letter-velope
The envelope itself serves as the paper for the body of your letter. This is truly a space-saver! See how it's done. Picture is from Angie Marina.
Some outgoing mail using the 'Fancy Free' paper and chipboard stickers by @pinkpaislee  Available at @sassyscrappers:


9. Chic Theme
Yellow the color of joy! This design suits for your yellow envelope and basically, you will just have to draw a chick on it. The chick is easy to draw anyways. It also incorporated a knot. Check this out. Image from PJ Stanley.
 :

10. Snail Mail Theme
Draw a large snail on the right side and allocate a space for your address and for the address of your pen pal. This image is from Lisa Morris.
5be742f75aa3d4370310f2d982b2130f.jpg (1595×943):


Conclusion
Which one is your favorite? Tell us on the comment section below! For more art materials like washi tapes and other snail mail supplies, check out our snail mail shop.

Getting Started with Snail Mail

tips and ideas

So you want to start exchanging handwritten letters but you don't know where to start? We're glad to help you. Read our basic guidelines in writing a letter for the very first time.

Where do I find pen pals?
There are various of ways to find pen pals. Here are they:
1. Send us your basic info like name, address, hobbies, and the qualities of a pen pal that you are looking for. After doing so, we'll be featuring you on our web site and other audience will see that, and they'll contact you if interested.
2. Try exploring hashtags in Instagrams like #penpalsoftheworld, #snailmail, #snailmailwanted, etc. There are tons of them and they are all waiting for ya!
3. Register on websites like http://www.postcrosser.com or http://www.interpals.net . The two are the most used and trusted websites when it comes to finding a pen pal.
4. Join Facebook groups like Find Pen Pals.

What will I do next?
After finding someone to write with, it's now time to write your very first letter. There are 4 easy steps to follow:

1. Write your letter. Introduce yourself. Be natural and show the real you. You may want to talk about your hobbies, favorite food. Just show how excited you are in your very first snail mail letter!

2. Prepare the envelope. Most people who do snail mail design their envelopes and embellish them with washi tapes, stickers etc. You may also want to use colored pens and other creative writing materials.

On the envelope, write the name and the address of the recipient on the most center part and on the upper left hand corner of the envelope, write your name and the address. Often postmen already know that the one written in the middle is the recipient however, it's still safe if you put signals such as "Please deliver to."

After designing your envelope, put all pages of your letter and other surprises (if any) inside the envelope then seal it.

3. Put stamps on it. Go to your nearest post office and ask an attendant to weigh your envelope/parcel. She will then price it accordingly. Pay that amount and she'll provide you pieces of stamps. These stamps are very important to be securely glued as these will serve as the fare of your letters.

As for the price, they vary depending on the continent of the recipient, the weight, the type of mail (ordinary, registered, etc). In the US, a 28 g letter for first-class mails costs 49 cents.

4. Hand it to the attendant and he'll stamp (rubber stamp) your stamps to indicate that your envelopes are ready to go. Letters are not delivered on the same day. Post office usually has a cut-off day and depending on the policy of the recipient's country it may take up to 60 days for him to receive it. But on the average, it takes around 2 weeks for neighboring countries.

Voila! You have just posted your very first handwritten letter. Don't forget to inform your pen pal that you have just posted his letter so he can get an eye on his mail box regularly.

Top 5 Reasons Why do Snail Mail in 2016

snail mail blog
In this world where messages can be sent in just one click, some still choose to do it the traditional
way in the form of snail mail. For those who do snail mail, it is considered as one of the most enjoyable hobbies and it gives them this unexplainable feeling every time they receive a letter on their mail.

But why despite of e-mail and several social media sites like Facebook  there are still some individuals who do snail mail? Check out our Top 5 Reasons:

1. They love to express their artistic side.
Most people who do snail mail are those who enjoy doings crafts, cutouts and hand le
tters. They also enjoy designing an envelope with water color, stickers and fancy washi tapes.

2. Snail Mail is more personal than e-mails
Though you can send your message in one click (and can be received by the recipient as soon as you send it), snail mail is more personal as it is handwritten. The fact that it is written word by word, the envelope is designed with love and dedication plus someone exerted an effort to drop it in a post office, who wouldn't be touched when someone send you a letter?

3. They found a special outlet.
All of us have friends that we meet in person every day whom we share our secrets and stories but pen pals also serve as special outlets of emotions. Sometimes whenever we feel sad or we have this problem that we can't share to anybody, our pen pal is always there to read it. 

4. Good things come to those who wait PATIENTLY.
Yes, patiently! Letters arrive at your mail box around 1 week to as long as 60 days. Whoa. That's really a long period. But this waiting time adds the element of surprise and when you receive it, it's truly worth the wait. Often your pen pal gives you tiny yet sweet gifts like a bag of tea or key holder.

5. They are timeless.
Unlike talking to your friends on Facebook messenger or in any messaging applications, snail mail letters are truly timeless and can be read anytime you feel too without scrolling on unnecessary conversations.

Conclusion
Indeed no software or mobile application can replace handwritten letters. It will always be the best and the sweetest way of communicating with a far away friend. Have you once tried writing a pen pal? Comment your stories down below!