Help Break a World Record!

Hello all,

Just a quick post to point you to this great campaign to send Christmas cards to a little boy with cystic fibrosis. My card is going out in the mail tomorrow!

~ Anne

Wednesday and Holiday Mail

It's that time of the day when I become mostly useless.  I needed to take a break from work and realized that I hadn't tended to my blog lately, so here I am!  Hello, dear readers! (the few of you who are still left, that is)

I worked hard to get Halloween mail out to everyone, and I thought I did a decent job, but this weekend I found a stack of envelopes I'd stamped and addressed, but hadn't sent.  Oops.  Hopefully some of you still have the same address next year!  It seems a bit late to send it out now, since Thanksgiving is only a week away.

So, my goal is to do better with the Christmas mail I'm sending out.   I haven't really decided what I'm sending out yet, so I suppose I need to do that first!  But anyway, the goal is to actually send it all out before Christmas, or at least before New Year's.  I guess I'm just not a particularly speedy crafter. 

How early do you start on your holiday mail?  Do you have a system?  I'd love to hear about it!


Okay, back to work. 

~ Anne

Sandy

Hurricane Sandy is here, and should be around for another day or more. For now I have power, although 100,000 people around the state don't already. Even if we lose power at least our home is safe.  My plan? Catch up on my letter pile!! Hopefully some of you will get letters from me as a result of this storm.

To everyone on the east coast in the US: stay safe and dry!

~ Anne

Blogger's Neglect

Hello everyone!  Or hello to those of you who still read my blog, despite how quiet it's been for the past month or two.

I was sitting at work and wondering what mail would be waiting for me when I get home this evening, which eventually reminded me that I have a blog about mail!!

My excuse: I've been busy with work and school.  And I'm working on fun Halloween-themed mail to send out later this week.  By the way, for those of you outside the US - do you have a version of Halloween?  I'm wondering if my pen pals in Canada, Germany, etc should be on my Halloween mailing list.  (Side note: it's amazing [read: embarrassing] how US-centric my world is.  Despite the fact that I listen to international news stories I really don't know nearly enough about other countries. Although I guess the fact that I want to change that means I'm ahead of lots of people, right? Maybe?)

Anyway, I'm curious to learn about fall holiday traditions in other places - feel free to leave a comment or let me know in your next letter :)

Back to work...

~ Anne

Giveaway Winner Post

Happy Monday everyone!

I just wanted to share that the lovely Aniko has posted about the washi tape she won from my giveaway!  Link is here.

She is also having a giveaway of her own that you may want to enter :)

Hope you all have a great week.

~ Anne

Looking for tips... making envelopes

Hello everyone,

I've been busy with work and school, but I'm also (slowly) catching up on my mail pile!  As I was responding to one of my pen pals yesterday (shout out to Meg!) I was thinking about making envelopes.  As some of you may know, I don't usually make my own envelopes.  Occasionally I use bags from Starbucks, but I've only ever made one envelope.  It arrived at its destination safely, but I covered it in tape just to be sure. 

So, the question is... what are your tips for making envelopes?  Is it just about practicing? 

I was looking online, and Paper Source has templates that look useful.. I also remember seeing a wooden one somewhere online, but I'm not sure where. 

For the one and only envelope I made, I just unfolded an envelope I already had, and traced around that.  Of course, it was sort of sloppy and then I wasn't too successful at folding the sides over.  Perhaps lesson #1 is to use a ruler? 

Any tips and tricks are appreciated.  I'm hoping to make some fun envelopes for the holidays - time to start practicing!

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend, and happy crafting!

~ Anne

Mail Musings

Yesterday one of my expired Postcrossing postcards finally reached its destination (Russia), 134 days later! It makes me wonder how long it used to take for letters to go halfway around the world, before the days of jet airplanes and computer scanners and all of those great things. People talk about 'snail mail' like it's soooo slow, but it's all a matter of perspective, don't you think? 

I like that snail mail helps me slow life down in a world of instant everything. (Hungry? Instant dinner! Bored? Instant entertainment!) I like the convenience of technology as much as the next person (I'm writing this on my iPad after all) but it feels like we've lost sight of just how fortunate to have all of these things people used to work so hard for and wait patiently for. Even our snail mail :)

Hopefully this doesn't sound too preachy! Just my random thoughts on a Monday morning.

Have a great week!

~Anne

Giveaway Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my 5k giveaway! 

The winner is Aniko!

Since this giveaway was so popular I may have to do another one soon. I still have two sets of mini washi tapes left... :-)

~Anne

Eye Candy {Anthro}

So, as many of you may already know, I love Anthropologie.  A few paper creations caught my eye while I was browsing their website recently...

Rotary phone:

Sewing machine:

And, perhaps my favorite, typewriter:

If I had $1,000,000...

~ Anne

5k Giveaway!

Hello everyone!

I have just reached 5000+ page views and more than 50 followers!  So, in celebration of this mini-achievement I have decided to do a giveaway!

Up for grabs is a set of mini washi tapes, your choice of the three:

 Each set has eight mini rolls in various colors/patterns.

Next to normal-sized washi tape for comparison.

TO ENTER:
- Leave a comment letting me know which set you would like.
- Extra entries for following my boards on Pinterest or following me on Twitter.  (If you do this, please leave a separate comment so I make sure to get each entry.)  If you're already following one or both, let me know - that still counts :)


The fine print:
- Contest ends 9/7 (next Friday).  I will post the winner on Saturday.
- To be eligible, please be a follower of my blog. 


~ Anne

PS - I will try to post better pictures of the washi tape this weekend.  I don't have them with me so this will have to suffice for now.

Busy!

Hello all,
I apologize for not posting my weekly incoming mail this past weekend.  I've been quite busy!  Most weekends I send out at least 8 or 9 pieces of mail, but this weekend it was zero.  However, I got a promotion at work! More money to spend on stationery :)
Hopefully I'll get back to sending mail and posting here soon.  I still read and enjoy the mail I receive, I promise.  I'll never be too busy to open my mail!!

~Anne

Snow and Graham

Public service announcement for all paper lovers:

Fab is selling Snow & Graham paper today.

all images from Fab.com

I told myself I wouldn't buy any more stationery/misc paper products until I used up most of what is in my stash, but I actually need coasters for my desk at work, so I'm slowly talking myself into it... Plus I don't actually have any Snow & Graham paper at home.  (Can you tell I'm an online shopping/paper addict?)


~ Anne

PS - if you want to create a Fab account, please click *here* so I get credit for referring you.  Thanks!

Incoming, Week of August 6th

Incoming:

(sorry for the blurry picture)

Another slow-ish mail week, but I'm still catching up on my replies so it's okay :)

~ Anne

Mail Me Some Art

I wanted to share with everyone a totally cool mail art project called mail me some art!!

I missed out on the monochromatic postcard swap, but I'm hoping to finish my kitchen postcard in time to send it out in tomorrow's mail. 

The hostess with the mostess (aka Karen) recently posted about what she calls "the method to my madness".  It's amazing how much work goes into this!

Even if you aren't going to participate, I think it's worth checking out the site just to see the awesome mail art that people are creating. 

~ Anne

Important Question!

Hello everyone,

I was bummed today when I came home from work and saw two letters I had sent out on Monday, returned to my mailbox. This has never happened to me before, and the only connection I can think of is that I used a new marker to write the addresses.

Does USPS have trouble processing envelopes if they are addressed using a metallic marker?

If so, that would be quite disappointing!! I just got my first metallic sharpie and it looks so lovely on envelopes.

More on this later in the week - time for me to sleep!

~Anne

Recent Projects

Since I'm not very good at posting my outgoing mail on a regular basis, I figured I would just periodically post pictures of some of my favorites.

Here are a few recent projects of mine:

I lovelovelove the marshmallow rice krispie treats that they sell at the Starbucks at work.  Each time I buy one I get it in one of these paper bags.  Now they are being reused as envelopes!  Hope my letters don't come out sticky :)

envelopes from Starbucks bags

postcard from starburst wrappers

Using one of the paint chips I got as an address label:

~Anne

Incoming, Week of July 30th

Incoming:

~ Anne

Washi Tape

As some of you may remember from my post on paint chips, I can go sort of overboard from time to time.

Well, it's happened again.  I decided I needed more washi tape.  See how little I had before??

Well, it's all relative.

So, I decided to buy some more.

MoMA exclusive washi tape:

And then some tape from Uguisu:

Mini washi tape:

So small in comparison!

Single rolls from Uguisu:

My full collection:

{More lovely washi tape on Pinterest.}


~ Anne

PS - I confess to posting this today mostly because it's been a loooong day at work (and I can't go home yet!) and tomorrow will be yet another long day (we are getting audited...).  So feel free to leave me nice comments to cheer me up!  (And forgive me for the blatant pandering.)

Incoming, Week of July 23rd

I didn't get much mail this week, but the mail I got was great.  


Incoming:

I've been busy so I haven't been sending as much mail.  It's true what they say - to get mail you have to send mail!  Hopefully I'll get caught up soon.

~ Anne

New Stamps: Choreographers

Today the USPS releases its new issue, Innovative Choreographers, featuring Isadora Duncan, José Limón, Katherine Dunham, and Bob Fosse.  

The dancer in me is very excited to start using these beauties!


~ Anne

Question: Mailing Preferences

Hello everyone,

I have another* mail-related question for my fellow postal enthusiasts. 

When you send a letter to a pen pal, do you usually write long or short letters?  Are you consistent?  Do you have a preference for which type you receive?

I started to wonder about this when I heard about someone feeling disappointed when a pen pal responded to their long and lovingly-written letter with a short note. 

For those of you who love mail art, do you hope to receive back mail art of equal quality?  (Is there such a thing as low-quality mail art??) I will admit to feeling intimidated by the creativity of some fellow mail artists, but for me it's more about the joy of creating something and sending out into the world, thinking about all of the systems at work that help it reach its destination. And I'm always thrilled when someone decides to write back.  Maybe I will get over that excitement, but I doubt it.

I'm curious to know what you think about this topic.  Please share! :)


*Previous mail-related questions can be found here.

~ Anne

Vintage Stamps

The rest of the vintage stamps I received:

In case you missed it, the two other posts about vintage stamps are here and here.

I love old stamps!  I don't want to use them!

~ Anne

Pantone Box {Fab}

Recently I discovered Fab through fellow blogger Alycia of The Curious Pug. 

They have a bunch of different stuff, and great prices.  I'm particularly fond of their vintage furniture and typewriters!


My first order was this turquoise Pantone box:

I thought it was going to be small (maybe the size of a graphing calculator at most), but look at how big it is!

(with a pen for size comparison)

{If you're interested in joining Fab, click *here* so I get credit for referring you.  Thanks!}

~ Anne

Incoming, Week of July 16th

Incoming:

In addition to the letters in my mailbox, I got a few packages of stationery, washi tape, etc that I ordered online.  Stay tuned for more!

~ Anne

Vintage Stamps | LOVE

One of my favorite series of stamps is the LOVE stamps.  Here are a few that I got in a recent order of vintage stamps:

The puppies are adorable, right?

PS: I previously posted about the "G"Rate make-up stamps I also got here.

~ Anne

Electronics Made of Paper

AWESOME.

Electronics from the eighties:

I love the idea of making something plastic, like a Nintendo controller, out of paper!

From fubiz via pinterest.

~ Anne

Found at Work: "Hello"

I was looking through the supply cupboard at work and happened upon these great name tags:

Looking forward to using these as mailing labels!

Have you found anything great at work to use in your mail projects? If not, where do you look?

~ Anne

Incoming, Week of July 9th

So much incoming this week!

Postcrossing

Incoming, Part One

Incoming, Part Two

~ Anne

The "G" Rate Make-up Stamp

This week I received an order of vintage stamps I ordered from ebay.  Among the other lovely stamps I received were these:

"The "G"Rate make-up stamp"... has anyone heard of this before?  I love the bird.  A quick search tells me that these stamps are worth 3 cents each.  I never knew there was such a thing as the "G"Rate!

Pictures of the other stamps I received coming soon!

~ Anne

Guest Post | Miki of Miki's Scrapbook

Hello, Letter Love followers! I am Miki from Miki's Scrapbook and it's a pleasure to be guest posting here today, basically for two reasons. 1) I met Anne not so long ago, but I became friends with her very easily (because let's face it, she's totally loveable!); 2) I love snail mail! So it's cool to have the opportunity to share my mailing experiences here with you :).

First and foremost, let me just say that I'm totally delighted with the way USPS works! I am originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina (have been living in California for over a year now) and the postal service there is ... how can I put it? Really far from perfect! They don't let you use tape on envelopes, letters get mysteriously lost, they charge you taxes if you get a package, oh, and the postmen and employees at the Customs have the right to ask you to open your package in front of them ... But anyway, here in America my experience so far has been 100% satisfactory. I'm currently into sending packages in unconventional and unwrapped containers such as bottles, food boxes and balls and so far I have never had any problem.

My first experiment was the Easter eggs you can see in the pic above. I was not sure whether they were going to accept them at the post office, so I opted to get the stamps and throw them in the mailbox. Fortunately, they reached my recipients with no trouble! :)

I also like using water balloons instead of packing peanuts. They hold up ok for about 3 days, which is how long it usually takes for packages to get delivered. I don't think I'd use balloons for international shipping, though. Oh, and in case you're wondering where I got the plastic balls, they're 99c over at Party City.

Some considerations to take into account:

When you use an unwrapped container, always cover the bar code if it's exposed. I learned that when I took the tin foil box above; the employee had to use black permanent marker to cover it.

If you prefer to skip the post office and print the labels at home or use stamps, check USPS First Class price list (packages) and be aware of the fact that prices vary according to the measurements and shape of your container.

If you pay an extra 85c you can track where your package is on the USPS website. I bought an app that's called Package Tracker so I get the updates on my phone. This app costs $1 and works with many different shipping companies.

Thanks a lot, Anne for letting be here today!

Hope you all have a great day! ;D

Miki