How To Be A Great Pen Pal




Introduction
           Hello! This is Alayna and Lily here, and we are two pen pals who are getting to know each other better and better through letters and letters! We both have other pen pals as well, and we love writing and putting together letters. Here are some tips to help you enjoy it as much as we do! You don’t have to make it as involved as we do, but all these things make penpalling extra fun in case you are looking for boredom busters or other fun things to put in a letter! 



5 Ways To Enjoy Pen Palling For A Low Cost

    1. Watch The Amount
Don’t put all the stuff in one letter! For example, if you put a tea bag in one, it may be wise to
wait and put a bracelet in your next one. Otherwise it may get too fat, and require two stamps.

2. Use Caution In Mail Tag
Be careful what you ask for while playing mail tag, and keep it simple! Don’t overdo it, or ask for
things that may not fit in an envelope for one stamp. 
    
3. Send To Neighbors
  Sneaking fun letters onto a neighbor's front step is an easy way to get creative, and it’s completely free! It also really makes someone’s day, especially if they are elderly and/or live alone. And, if you do this, you don’t have to limit it to flat paper things, you could also use fatter things that may not fit in for one stamp otherwise. (Just don't put anything directly into someone else's mailbox, that's illegal!)

   4. Save Paper
If weight is a problem, it often helps to consolidate your paper. Instead of writing mail tag, your letter, and a drawing on separate pieces of paper, for example, try fitting everything onto one or two pieces of paper. Then you have more space to spare for other fun things like tea bags and bookmarks! 

5. Go Homemade!
        Making the majority of the components in your letters will greatly cut down on costs. It’s also really fun, and it can be much more special to your pen pal to get gifts that you’ve made yourself. Original drawings, small string friendship bracelets, origami, and word art all make excellent letter fillers- and they’re virtually free! Small items like paper clips or tea bags that you already have around the house are great too. NEVER feel like you have to buy all the fancy snail mail kits and supplies advertised on the internet. What makes your letters fun and unique is that they were made by YOU!

How To Play Mail Tag

    Mail tag is a fun and simple way to get to know your penpal, as well as receive some interesting gifts!

           Directions: 
  • Send a list of about 3-8 requests you would like your penpal to include in his or her next letter. Questions, drawings, and small objects are all good things to ask for. Be as specific or as vague as you’d like!
  • Your penpal should then fill the requests, interpreting them as he/she chooses. He/she should also send another list of requests for you to fill, and the cycle starts again!
  • Here are some excellent examples from Pinterest:

          https://www.pinterest.com/pin/96053404540522186/


Themed Letters

Another fun idea that we often use is theming our letters! We often make/draw things that go along with the theme, and you can even decorate the front of the envelope! Here are some examples (we blurred out names and addresses, so that is why there are scribbles are across some of the envelopes):

Tropical

Books
Spring
(This one actually needed two stamps!)

Dogs

40 Gift Ideas To Put In A Letter

  • Pressed flowers
  • Poems 
  • Deflated balloons
  • Flyers from events in your town
  • Bible verses/quotes
  • Individually-wrapped tea bags
  • Drawings/doodles
  • Paint swatches
  • Stickers
  • Postcards
  • Small devotionals
  • Recipes
  • Maps/pamphlets from landmarks you’ve been to
  • Buttons
  • Patches
  • Pretty scrapbook paper/fabric scraps
  • Powdered drink mix
  • Paper clips
  • Band-aids
  • Photos
  • Flat candy/gum
  • Loom bracelets
  • Origami
  • Washi tape
  • Business cards
  • Ribbon
  • Confetti
  • Tiny cross-stitched or embroidered pieces
  • Magazine or newspaper clippings
  • Song playlists
  • Flower seeds
  • Collages
  • Feathers
  • Glitter 
  • Small flat magnets 
  • Local ads
  • Hair ties
  • Small bookmarks 
  • Small coloring pages
  • Crossword puzzles/Mad Libs/other puzzles



What If I Don’t Have a Pen Pal?
The two of us got connected through our homeschool forum, and we’ve had an experience that is
pretty rare. If you don’t have a pen pal but want one, try writing to a friend or family member who lives
in another state or country. It will definitely brighten up their day to get a letter from you, and it’s always great to stay in touch with someone who you don’t get to see that often!

        Finally, please remember that you do NOT have to theme your letters, play mail tag, or add a
bunch of gifts to your letters. The real fun of pen palling is getting to know your pen pal! But, if you’re
feeling crafty, doing these extra things can be so much fun for both you and the recipient, as well as
giving you something to do!

Comments

  1. Miriam NovotnyJuly 9, 2020 at 3:56 PM

    I also have pen pals, and I love arts and crafts. You have so many ideas here that I never even thought of! The pictures of the themed letters made me feel happy just looking at them. Thank you for the fun post!

    ~ Miriam N ~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alayna S.July 24, 2020 at 8:17 AM

      Thank you so much for your encouragement, Miriam!

      Delete

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