for the love of letter writing
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I look forward to the month of April every year because National Lettering Writing Month is a challenge for me to do something I really love. Things you love can be pushed to back-burners because the things you need to do often take precedence. Letter-writing is one of my favorite modes of correspondence. It’s not the most convenient way of telling something to someone - it’s just above telegrams and smoke signals. I daresay most people believe it to be outmoded, old-fashioned, and altogether obsolete. I disagree! I think it’s one of the best ways to communicate - and here’s why I love it.
A way to slow down and choose your words.
Texting, email, and phone calls (my least favorite mode of communication) all allow you to say anything at the drop of a hat. When you sit down to write a letter, the things you are communicating seem to hold more weight. You’re paying at least 55 cents to send it. They won’t receive it for several days. But they’ll most likely hold on to it for a long while - maybe forever. This may give you pause - what will you write now that you know that it’s significant?
A more intimate way to communicate.
The word intimate has romantic connotations - but that’s not always so. Sitting down to write a letter takes time, forethought, consideration, and intention. All of these things should be present in meaningful relationships. Letters are a reflection of the care and thoughtfulness you have for your recipient. Doesn’t it feel so much more special to receive a letter than a text?
A creative activity.
A letter can be a plain white envelope and a piece of notebook paper… or it can actually be an artistic experience! There are limitless ways to express your creativity through letter-writing. You exercise your imagination and artistic sensibilities through choices, like: the paper and envelope (texture, print, color, size, shape), stamps (arrangements, design, colors), the addressing (color pens and markers, different scripts and typefaces, how the lines of text fit together within the confines of an envelope face), and the contents of your envelope (a teabag of your favorite drink, a postcard you picked up on a road trip, an art print you just had to get, a sticker you know will suit their water bottle or thermos, a picture from a cherished shared memory). You make it as much or as little as you want it to be.
Throughout the month of #write_on, I get to connect with some amazing people around the globe who all love sending mail. I frequently get questions about the tools and supplies I use for my letter-writing. I definitely have my favorites and I’m happy to send you straight to them! Here are some affiliate links to get your letter-writing supplies.
Moonlight Gelly Rolls
These look incredible on both dark and light papers and prompt the most amount of “what pens are those??” questions on Instagram. I always run out of the blue ones most quickly because those two hues are just gorgeous.
Soufflé Gelly Rolls
These guys go on kind of transparent and then, over the course of a few minutes, they dry in a very bright pastel. Aside from coming in the prettiest colors, I think the act of their color-changing is fun by itself!
Pigma Brush Pens
These are my favorite pens for illustrations. I used them to draw portraits on my envelopes this year (see examples above!) and they were a crowd favorite. I also use them every year for #Inktober. They last a long while and I love the different size brushes - they allow for fine details and easy fills.
Vintage Stamps
When I just need a hodge-podge of stamps to bolster my collection, I love throwing this guy into my cart. You get 100 stamps, ranging from one-cent to usually 10-15 cents in a variety of colors and sizes. You will get some repeats in the package but that never bothers me.
Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White Ink
This is every calligrapher’s favorite (or so I’ve gathered) for dip pen lettering and brush pen lettering. I use my water pen to dilute the white ink, dip, then use it for brush lettering. It’s very opaque and controllable.
Water Brush Pens
Useful for brush lettering but ALSO, I use them to wet the back of my vintage stamps! As much as I love those old stamps, they often smell like musty basements and cigarettes. Not totally appetizing. So instead of licking the back of them - I use the water brush to control the water I’m applying and stick it right on the envelope. Easy peasy!
Envelopes
My very favorite envelopes are from Paper Source’s Paper Bar. You can order them online or stop in your local Paper Source to lay your eyes on the beauty of a Paper Bar yourself. Something about all those colors together makes me so happy. Be sure to select the right size for the letters/paper you wish to put in your envelope. I generally always purchase A7 because it’s suitable for 5x7 prints.
But if Paper Source is not an easily accessible paper source ( 😉), I am also a big fan of LCI Paper!
Want to get started letter writing? You really don’t need anything fancy or special - but I think if you want to be part of an amazing community and get to know some great people all around the world… I would encourage you to take a few extra steps! Some of the best people I’ve met started as my pen pals - and now we travel to see each other and spend time in person together.
The list below is a compilation of both my recommendations and those who reached out to me to be included on the list.
Stamp Vendors
AxmxZ
Letter Writing Communities
Stationery + Cards
Snail Mailers
I hope this post has inspired you to dig out your stationery and send a letter to someone you care about! Need an idea for something to write about? Here is a GREAT list of prompts from the #write_on campaign. And you don’t have to wait until next April to get started with your letter writing. Get connected now, be inspired, and send some mail.
A mailbox looks so much better when it’s holding a letter.
xoxo,
P.S. Want to be a part of the resource list above? Drop me a line.
Regarding affiliate links in this blog post: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.