Recently I came across an all too affordable stationery set and bought it. Why not, I thought. It's a break from my standard paper. The paper in this set is okay but the envelopes are a sickly green color. I should have paid better attention to that before putting it in my cart. Earlier today, looking the stack of mail to go out I lamented sending something so unbeautiful to people who have kindly sent me lovely things and took an extra minute to write apologies on the outsides before mailing. I still have a few green envelopes left and because I am waging war on waste I intend to use them. This means I have a few more apologies to write but I am looking at this as an exercise in good humor and not taking myself too seriously. So, should you receive a green envelope with an apology from me but like the color, forgive me my contrary tastes.
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Lady Pamela has commented on the post titled, "What to Do With Extra Stationery." I really like what she has to say so I share it here lest anyone miss it. You can visit Lady Pamela at her blog, The Lost Art of Letter Writing...Revived! What beautiful stationery! What I have started doing with my excess is to make up "mixed bags" with one card from each set and sending them on as well. Especially in need of these offerings are the younger generation! Teenagers, tweeners, etc don't really have the money to keep up an interesting stationery stash, so those that write me on spiral bound paper are the first on my list to receive some goodies! It accomplishes two things...helps us clear out the excess, and it blesses others as well! Do you have stacks of stationery that you need or want to clear out? Send it to a pen pal. You know they'll appreciate and use it. I was the happy recipient of these lovely cards and thought I should take a picture before I wrote in them and sent them on their way. I recently purchased a set of note cards (they're very cute by the way). I think I'll pay it forward and send one to a friend.
I want to show you a card that deserves mention. No, it's not a belated Valentine's Day card, it's just a belated post. Remember the mystery sender who occasionally sends postcards with no name? Well, this sweet thought comes from the same hand. Thank you, Valentine. I would write back but you never include your address! Maybe one day? I smile when I see it because I can hear the Pillsbury Doughboy laugh. Do you remember this commercial? I do. Listen for the giggle at the end. Next up is envelopes within envelopes from Patty. This is brilliant. She tells me she didn't think of it herself but I know she's responsible for the cuteness of it. The back provides instructions. This is two envelopes joined by the glued flap to create a sort of folder. Tucked inside are smaller envelopes. She's given me a set of ten. If you receive a letter from me in a Halmark envelope you'll know you're in possession of one of Mrs. Duffy's exclusive envelopes. I just know there's something I can do with this envelope idea to pay it forward...but what? It'll come to me in a flash of inspiration...soon I hope. And finally, from one of my most avid snailers, COMICS! Now who wouldn't delighted to find funnies in the mailbox? I feel one of my story book envelopes is in order. I may not post pictures of everything I receive but. I enjoy every letter and card. Now go write a letter and brighten someone's day!
To throw temptation by the way of the ink lover, I show you a winning combination embodying both beauty and patriotism. USPS has issued the Purple Heart stamp. I believe this will coordinate beautifully with Noodler's Purple Heart ink. Imagine this combination of ink and stamp on Crane & Co. Ecruwhite stationery sealed with lavender sealing wax from Letter Seals. Not only will this combination coordinate beautifully, just to make it sweeter, it is all made at here at home in the United States of America. I will need stamps soon. I still have lavender sealing wax and I still have a stash of Crane & Co. paper; I lack only the ink. Mr. Duffy, if you should read this post you will know what to do.
You may remember my daughter's exhortation to me to make envelopes instead of using only "boring, blue envelopes." Well, I did make envelopes and afterward realized I had made them all in blue...plain, boring blue. I felt this was a bit self-defeating but I thought of a remedy. Out came the craft scissors and more colored paper. Using the envelope template as a guide I made envelope liners of differing colors. I thought the craft scissors provided more visual interest than a straight edge. The result is below. Unfortunately, trusty Elmer's tends to be too wet for this project and crinkles the paper somewhat. I do hope envelope recipients will forgive crinkling. As a final touch, I used the same craft scissors to make a pattern on the top of the letter sheet. I used Clairfontaine Triomphe paper for this. It is oh so smooth and loves fountain pens. I hope recipients will find this stationery as enjoyable to receive as it has been to make.
![]() I was doing housework when my daughter came in with the day's mail. Knowing my mail priorities, she brought the letter to me immediately. Always ready to drop what I'm doing to read a letter (and always ready to drop housework for any reason ) I put down my feather duster and opened the blue envelope. It was sealed with a sparkly dolphin sticker, a sign of what was to come. The letter was written on blue, nautically themed paper that gave me a pleasant feeling just to look at. The real treat, of course, was the content of the letter. The sender is a penpal who writes regularly. What makes this correspondence relationship especially enjoyable is that I actually get to see her once or twice a week. She knows my love of stationery and always writes her letters on pretty, cute, or otherwise interesting paper. I consider this to be thoughtfulness on her part. Now to set aside more housework and write a letter! |
Letter Matters
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