A Little Hello & November's Incoming

I think it's funny how plans seem to never go the way they are well, planned. I had many hopes of every day blogging in December but as every November day passed, life just got busier and busier and around came December and nothing was ready. I absolutely love sharing everything that comes to mind about lettering friends, and while I have many ideas in my head, time somehow seems to slip and days pass so quickly without realizing another month is gone. I hope you can forgive me for my spaced posts and unsure plans, but 2014 is exciting me , and I hope to make this blog something really special. I just want to thank you all so very much for following and being so sweet to me. To conclude this, here are all the lovelies I found in my mailbox in November. {December incoming will be written soon}

Letters from Katie, Sarah, Rae, Lexi, Rachel, Julia, Hope & Liz, and Courtney. Was November good to you too? :)

december's beginning in grams

a collection of photos being grammed this half of december.

I. inside haven
ii. the haven at christmas time. note to self it's for buying friends, not me. ;)
iii. a quick stop on my lunch hour to look for a few gifts for friends.
iiii.  hey there fella. i really.. really.. like you.
v.  a letter from my friend Katie
vi. a letter all the way from snowy canada.

 more can be found  here. :)

Letter Writing Questionnaire With Katie

1. Please tell us about yourself, How old are you? What made you want to start writing?

I'm Katie, almost-18-year-old introverted extrovert and wannabe writer. My love for writing began when I was 6, writing short poems that weren't good at all, and grew the older I got. I don't know what made me start writing, but I can't imagine what I would be without it.

2. When did you start writing letters?

I started around age 7 or 8, I think, writing letters to my friend in Illinois. I later met my best friend through a pen pal match up site, and recently began writing several wonderful people all over the world.

3. Have you met any of your pen pals?

I have not, sadly, but hope to one day.

4. How many people do you write? How many different states? Any out of the country?
I write somewhere between 15-20 people from Tennessee, Texas, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, California, Michigan, Wisconsin, and  Colorado. Two of my pen pals live in England, Two in Canada, and another lives in Australia.

5. What is your favorite thing about writing letters?
I love how it brings people from all over together. I wouldn't have met any of these amazing people any other way.

6. Favorite place to buy stationery?

Michaels is great, and I also find a few sets from local thrift stores.

7. How do you store your stationery?

I have a wooden box that my dad kept his keepsakes in as a kid that stores all of my stationary. It's the size of a shoe box and it packed tight.

8. Where do you keep the letters you receive?

I keep art and other things from letters in my art journal, and the letters themselves in a huge trunk with other things like journals and photographs and such. 

9. Favorite letter writing/inspiring blogs if you have them?

I really love The Love Parcel and More Love Letters.

10. In closing, What is something you'd like to share with us that you haven't mentioned yet?
I have an irrational fear of matches and lighters. The flame is just too close to my fingers. Also, I hate snakes, mice, and possums with a fiery vengeance. 

Thank you so much Katie, for sending in your answers. I loved reading all of them and I'm so thankful to be pen friends with you. :)

If you'd like to send in your answers to be featured on my blog, please click here. :) 

Hope you're having a wonderful Friday. Sorry I haven't been on here lately. I had a lot planned for this month but unfortunately haven't found the time to write as much as I'd like. Hopefully I'll be back on track real soon. :) 

Novemer Ipsy

 em mascara - new makeup line from the owner of Ipsy
 be a bombshell berry lip crayon 
 Starlooks eyeliner pencil in amethyst 
 Pixi bronzer, a fan of their products so I was excited to find this in my bag. :)

 bh cosmetics baked eyeshadow: Galaxy Chic, in sun. 

If you would like to subscribe to Ipsy, please go here and If you'd like to learn more about it, check out my first post. :)

The Latest Stamp Catalog

Once every season the post office comes out with a new catalog showing off all the different stamps that are coming out. I enjoy looking through and seeing which ones I like best (and may want to buy) ;). I have a favorite stamp this season and I was able to pick up a few sheets while sending a handful of snail mail the other day. I can hardly wait to put together little parcels for faraway friends this Christmas season. Here's a little peek at what you may find in the catalog. :) As you look through the pictures, any guesses to my favorite stamp?? ;) 

If you guessed the gingerbread house, you are correct!!  Aren't they the cutest little stamps? :) Have you ever looked through the catalog? Have a blessed Friday! <3

Letters In The Mail

a collection of letters in the mail this month. current favs: sending along tea and quotes. <3 

Washi Tape Organizer

Washi Tape is my absolute favorite way to decorate a letter. There are so many to choose from. A couple weeks ago I saw my friend Grace had an organizer  in one of her pictures on Instagram, and just had to ask her where she got it. For a while now I've looked around Etsy, but didn't want to pay $50 plus, on a washi tape organizer that could only hold about 6 rolls. This organizer was found at Costco for $19.99 including 20 rolls of washi tape (4 rolls from Costco are shown in this picture). After much talk with my mom lately about our plans for the Christmas season, we want to be done with all the gifts, and busyness by the end of November. To enjoy the quiet nights, filled with crafting and baking cookies. Some nights I work, but I want to enjoy every moment. Plans for daily blogging in December are in the works. :) 

Envelope Making

For those of you who would like to create your own envelopes but find it a bit intimidating, I found a seemingly easy template online. I originally planned to show you the way I've made envelopes in the past, but this week my mom happened to come across this template and I thought I'd share how easy it is to make. While Skyping my dear friend Grace, I tried it out, and love how easy it is. Here are the step by step instructions.

1. Gather supplies, a sheet or two of scrapbooking paper (depending on how many you wish to make), a pencil, glue stick, washi tape, and scissors.

2. Cut the price tag off. :)

3. You now should have your paper ready to go. 

4. Envelope template found online cut out and ready to go.

5. On the back of your scrapbook paper, use your pencil to trace the pattern and cut out. If you start on the edge of the paper you may have enough to use for a card. :)

6. Your template should look like this after being cut out. 

7. Once your template is cut out, simply fold the two sides in and bottom up..

8. Now you are ready to close up the envelope! 

9. Grab a glue stick and lightly glue the bottom 3/4 of the way up each side. You want to have the envelope stay together but if you go up all the way, you'll have the part sticking to the inside. :) That happened to me. ;)

 

10. The final step once your letter is written and ready to send, simply use washi tape to close up the flap.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this tutorial and if you would like to make it, please go here. :) 

Ideas For Making Envelopes

There are so many ideas out there for making envelopes. In the past I have used magazine clippings and a template purchased  two years ago on Etsy. I hope these tutorials inspire you and if you're interested in seeing how mine turn out, as well as showing a different way to make envelopes, check back Friday. :)

 Find DIY here

  

November Pinterest Loves

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas to be found on Pinterest. Here are my current snail mail loves.

here

Even though I loved letters no less back then, this is so cute! Totally us, Sarah don't you think? :)

here

October Mail

Long letter from Bekah in Canada! She asked to be penpals in the summer and  I found her first letter in my mailbox the other night. She made a pretty envelope and sent along tea, a bookmark, smash journal goodies, "silly bands", and other little things. :)

A letter from my pretty rad cousin, Rae. She knows that I have a bit of an obsession with owls. mhmm. ;) <3 

Beautiful letter from my Aunt Marianne. 

Halloween card,  little leaves and postcard from Shannah. :)