Mobile devices are the way to stay connected with friends and family. In an instant, we can send a text or get an email. This has become the preferred way to send a message. This is all great and fine, but something is lost. These forms of staying in touch simply aren’t the same as getting a hand-written, flowery report of what’s going on in another person’s life in a ‘letter’.
The art of letter writing is the personal expression of sharing with others a glimpse into our world. By sending a letter it becomes the next best thing to visiting your friend across the miles. No sooner as ink meets paper a masterpiece is in the works. Your thoughts spill from your mind onto your stationery forming an intimate picture of your life for others to absorb.
Let’s face it, there is something more tangible about an old-fashion letter over our modern-day technology to keeping in touch. A letter is gently caressed with the fingers, it is carefully tucked into an envelope, and sealed tenderly with the lips of someone dear to you. Then, the magic of its journal from hand to land by air or sea until it reaches one’s hand again. Nothing compares to the burst of excitement that greets me when opening my mailbox to find a visit from a friend patiently waiting inside.
How to begin. Let’s start with the tools needed for letter writing. Becoming a letter artist requires the necessary supplies to create your masterpiece.
Stationery is the palette you’ll create your life’s story upon to share and reflects who you are to the intended recipient. Stationery can range from whimsical to serious or you can even keep it simple in using plain notebook paper. It doesn’t have to be expensive.
For free printable stationery visit:
Free Printable Stationery
Graphic Garden
Mint Printables
Lil Shannie
There are calligraphy writing instruments found in fountain and felt pens. I use both. There are pens specially for using on dark or light-colored paper.
Regardless of which pen you choice you can find pastel and bold colors found in a variety of ink types – liquid gels, metallic, and glitter.
Envelopes I usually keep it simple and use whatever is on hand, but in years’ past I enjoyed making my own envelopes from scenic magazine pages. It’s a creative project to turn something ordinary into fun!
Visit this site to download various envelope templates to create your own!
Personal Touch to your letter says to your recipient, “How sweet of her to think of me!” Often times, I’ll embellish my envelope with cute stickers and occasionally I’ll slip in a sheet for my friends. If my friend has small children, then I’ll include some kiddie stickers. Personal touches can include photos, postcards, bookmarks, or anything that’s easy to include in an envelope. It’s a small gesture, but it means a lot to the person getting it. Whatever tools or materials you use for the art of letter writing, be sure to write from your heart.
Who to write? Your parents, your brother, your sister, a good friend, your spouse, or your children. Simply write to this person, as if you are sitting beside him/her chatting over a cup of coffee. Make it a warm, fun experience. You will know you’ve accomplished this task by the time you seal your letter if a cozy ripple embraces you. You know that ‘feel good feeling’ when you sigh sweet relief as if to say, “All is well with my soul”.
Valentine’s Day is Tuesday, why not write a love letter to your sweetie? See, Tips on how to write a love letter.
The art of letter writing is slowly fading in our society. Jump on the crusade with me in restoring our culture of a piece of nostalgia. Better late than never, I always say. For more “L” link ups, visit Miss Jenny Alphabe-Thursday classroom!
Have a reLaxing weekend!
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I love writing letters and receiving them!
There’s just something so lovely about getting a handwritten note in the mailbox!
Thanks for a lovely link this week Cathy. Happy Valentines Day!
A+
Every year I promise myself that I will be better at this. Starting with thank you notes to everyone for Christmas and birthday gifts. I am doing a better job this year, but still have a ways to go. Thanks for the prod in the WRITE direction
Amen!
I have a great aunt in Germany that has not embraced technology. I’ve been getting in the habit of writing her letters more frequently and from what I have heard she is very happy that I do this from time to time and keep her updated on my family life!!!
I love writing letters and really getting back into it! Thanks for all the great tips and the free downloads for stationery. You are amazing. Great L post! Thank you for sharing. Hugs Anne
I still write letters, send cards and, generally, keep the post office…those ungrateful wretches!…in business. Of course, I’m speaking only of my own mail carrier; she’s horrible.
Anyway, I sent 2 letters, a get well card and a box of goodies today and still have letters to write.
Is there anything nicer than getting or sending a letter? What a delight!
We are still letter writers in our family. We have all sorts of stationary and pens out the ying yang! LOL We handmade our Valentine’s cards this year too!
I still love letter writing. I have many of the letters that my parents, grandparents, great aunts and other wrote me as a child…but these days, not so many letter writers in my life. Sad. It’s something I’ve tried to teach my children…my daughter seems to get it. But definitely it’s a thing that’s going by the way side…
There is nothing that I love to receive more than a hand written letter, but I can’t remember the last one that I got. My mom who passed away three years ago was a letter writer. Even though we talked on the phone, she would send me notes regularly. And saver that I am, I still have them in a box. Occasionally I will pull them out and re-read them.