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Participate: Project Postal

6 Mar 2013

When I was a little girl, I had lots of pen pals. My mom let me dip into her stash of pretty Crane stationery and I’d scrawl out letters to friends from Africa and Pennsylvania and England and California. To this day, I look forward to the arrival of the mail, even though it’s mostly advertisements, bills, and an overabundance of magazine subscriptions. Every once in awhile, a handwritten note makes its way into the stack and it makes my day.

That’s why Theresa (of one of my favorite blogs, inspirationCOOPERATIVE) and I have decided to put together some mail-based fun in honor of this month’s theme. Project Postal is a way to both send and receive a little ray of sunshine in your mailbox. Want to participate? Read on.

Get Involved in Project Postal

Leave a comment below by this Friday, March 8 and email one of us directly with your postal address.
Once all comments and addresses have been collected, Theresa and I will coordinate sending each of you one person’s name and address
The person chosen for you will be your lucky recipient. Please mail to this person a beautiful quote of your choosing, something uplifting and encouraging. If you know this person, perhaps you can even pick a quote specific to them, something you know they need to hear. You can embellish, handletter, typeset, watercolor, write on a paper napkin…the quote anyway that your heart desires. (Perhaps the recipient will even hang it on their inspiration board.)
Extra credit and optional: Once you’ve received your beautiful quote in the mail, take a snap via Instagram and/or Tweet it using the hashtag #project postal.

We can’t wait to see what you come up with! And, hey, to be honest we’re really excited about what will end up in our own mailboxes, too.

The postcard above is from my lovely friend Giova from One Bunting Away.

{20 Comments} Filed Under: Gifting Therapy, Gifts, Happiness Tagged With: Friendship, Inspiration, mail, Project Postal

How to Assemble the Perfect Care Package II

4 Mar 2013

Today is the official launch of my theme for March: friendship. In Japanese culture, March 3rd is thought of as Girls’ Day. I figured we could extend the celebration through the month in honor of great friendships between women. To kick it off, I put together a care package for my best friend, Lindsey, who lives in Portland, Oregon.

A fun fact: the post I wrote last March about putting together a thoughtful care package is my most visited. For some reason, Google likes to send people there. My advice remains the same: think hard about what the recipient loves and include things that she might not buy for herself. Make it a little indulgent.

My sister is the queen of thoughtful care packages, and she always includes something fashionable, something delicious, and something fun. I kept that in mind as I created this package for Lindsey. In this case, there are several “something delicious” items, including handcrafted marshmallows from a local sweet shop called Sweet Lydia’s. They really are like heavenly, sweet clouds.

Don’t forget to add a note! That’s the best part.

Packages that are decorated are always more exciting than plain old boxes! I always keep some washi tape and stickers handy for just this task.

Do you have any loved ones who live far away? In the spirit of friendship month, why not send them a little package to let them know you care? It doesn’t have to include anything expensive, just things that make you think of them. If I could, I’d send each and every one of you a little care package too.

{10 Comments} Filed Under: Gift Guide, Gifting Therapy, Gifts Tagged With: Care Packages, Friendship, Girls' Day, mail

How To: Handmade Stationery & Washi Pencils

6 Dec 2012

Is there anything better than getting a package full of handmade goodness with a handwritten note in the mail? It makes me think of Sark’s instructions for reading a letter from a friend: find a big tree outside, flop down beneath it, devour the words quickly, then once again, more slowly. This is truly the best way to truly appreciate a good piece of mail — unless it’s snowing. Then couch flopping works equally as well (or Christmas tree flopping).

If you head on over to You Are My Fave today, you’ll find a simple little mail-based tutorial that I whipped up. I’ll show you how to make handmade envelopes and washi wrapped pencils, either for yourself or to give away as a gift. This project (like all of my craft projects!) is really easy — and inexpensive. Just collect some magazines you have lying around, choose a sheet of washi paper, and purchase some #2 pencils.

Ready? I’ll meet you over at YAMF!

{4 Comments} Filed Under: Gift Guide, Let's Get Crafty Tagged With: Crafts, DIY, Guest Post, mail, Sark, You Are My Fave

How to Assemble The Perfect Care Package

14 Mar 2012

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my friend Mary. We used to live a block from each other in Boston, but now she lives in Indiana where she’ll soon be starting vet school (and I live in Portland). I think of Mary most as Easter gets closer because she’s kind of famous in the world of rabbits — go to a vegetarian festival with her and you’ll feel like you’re with Princess Kate herself. “Ohhhh,” the animal lovers say as they approach, “You’re The Rabbit Advocate!”

Since I’m missing Mary so much, it’s perfect timing that this week’s theme is about giving. As I prepare to send her a care package, I’ve realized that really great packages are really about getting specific on your relationship with that person.

Mary is ridiculously busy and I don’t think she follows my blog, but I should include this just in case: Mary, please don’t read any further down this post. Look away! Your surprise will be ruined!

Here are the things to think about when selecting items for a care package. Being thoughtful is generally the best way to fool proof gifts, don’t you think? Consider…

1) Who they are and what they like
2) Any inside jokes or special things you both love
3) Something indulgent that the receiver wouldn’t make/buy for herself

Mary’s care package will look a little something like this…

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

The bunny shirt is obvious, but the rest may need some explaining. Mary and I both loved a sushi restaurant that’s located in our old neighborhood, and the other day she sent me a message that said, “I wish we could go to Fugakyu together!” Until that happens, these funny sushi shaped soaps will have to do. The cookies cover the indulgent aspect — I discovered them over at Jamieann’s blog The Sweetest Kitchen, and oh. my. god. They’re amazing (and so easy!). Lastly, since Mary’s bunny Graysie is treasured and treated as a daughter, no care package to Mary would be complete without bunny treats!

Also, I really like to wrap the whole box up rather than wrapping each individual item, and I find that Paper Source’s wrap is a great heavy duty alternative to brown paper. Here are my three current favorites: