Little People Mail

It is no secret.  Children, children everywhere love to receive mail.  There is something about a package arriving at a child's home and the parent handing over this package for the child to open.   I had these all packaged up in these cool, large (11X13?) , clear  (re-usable!) envelopes...but then I ended up sending them in a ready post .  I will save them for another time.  But you can see how it looks here.

This is packed with "fun mail", and a bit of preschool items that are FUN too.  

Here are the contents of this package that went out to put smiles on little people's faces.

The Craftier, the better.

Happy Snail Mailing!

Pam

Out Going Snail Mail!!!

#Outgoing!

I had some Texas Mail going out...but I didn't plan this envelope too well.  My script sort of crashed into the stamp corner, ugh! I had to put the other stamp a good distance away.  Lesson  Learned.  Its probably a good idea to place your stamps on your envelope ...FIRST,  Then go ahead with whatever else you plan to do  on the envelope.  

Oh how I love this Sam Houston Stamp!    Texas has certainly produced  its share of  "colorful" men! 

Did a bit of parceling this past week.  I do so love this vintage"Mailman" stamp!

Little people mail going out!  I always want to send individual letters to this family's children...but it never fails...they never arrive all at the same time  causing a bit of  consternation among the ranks, I'm afraid

Texas mail, camp mail, map letters, thank you cards. little people mail, parcels...oh my.  It has been a really good postal week for me!

Write Letters 

Write Often.  

Lady Pamela

Happy Mail...And a Postal Themed Book for Children

I recently received this package of Happy Mail!  Who wouldn't enjoy a pair of aloe infused warm socks...especially after a winter we have had?     But what caught my eye, after the cool Lettering Tips book (I am always building my library of calligraphy!), was the little children's book.  I am an incurable  book hound.  I collect out-of-print children's books...but this particular book had added significance!

Look!  It is a postal themed Peter Rabbit book by Beatrix Potter and with Beatrix Potter's own dear illustrations.  It has miniature letters in tiny envelopes on each page for a total of 14 little letters.  So adorable!  What a wonderful way to introduce children into the love of letter writing.

Here is one of the pages.  Oh.  What a treasure.  Be sure to pick up a copy of this dear little book and give it to a "little person".  We  need to inspire the next generation too.

Write Letters,

Send Happy Mail

Read Postal Themed books,

and Write your letters often!

Lady Pamela

A few Fun Things...All Things POSTAL...

Snail Mail Tools...and this and that!

I have a collection of fountain pens...but have  had some issues with most of them. I don't want to "give up" on fountain pens...because I feel  much more motivated to write a nice long letter with one, and I feel more authentic when I use one!  Besides, I just love the variety of inks that are available and I relish the tactile, multi-sensory feel that you get by using the fountain pen.  Some of them have a scratchy sound, different nibs have  a different feel, and some of the inks have different aromas. Also, working with different inks, I've noticed how some just make your pen glide across the paper, others are more finicky . Since  I don't have much money to invest I am looking for the best "bang for my buck".  All that being said, I have decided to  start taking the pen reviewers, reviews, a bit more seriously.  I have  a few of these reviewers linked to my site, so I hope you will avail yourself  to their wisdom.  I am starting to experiment and branch out a bit but I am truly a newbie.  It is quite fun.  The folks at Goulet pens have a nice Fountain Pen 101 site that is most helpful.  http://www.gouletpens.com/  My next pen will be a Lamy with an interchangeable nib.  

I love the artistic element of these inks!  There are lots of colors to choose from in nearly every ink supplier.  In the future I think I will try out the sample vials.

Uh,oh.  Inky fingers.  I don't know how to fix this leak, but it writes so well, I am not deterred.  The company that produces this pen is not too far from where I live.  I believe I will make a field trip soon to check out their store.

\

Mimi's book club Out-going!  One of my daughters does secret shopping at the USPS.  She let me know that she needed some parcels to post and asked if I had any to go out.  These went out for free! Yay!  Thank you , dear Maddie!   I am checking into being a secret shopper and picking up the USPS jobs.  You  might want to check this out as well to save you some money if you are sending out a good number of packages.

Asher's arrived today!  I had to include some "Firemen" books in his package, as  his daddy is a brave fireman.

This is just what I gathered one day on a stroll down the office aisle.  I have some ideas of how to use these items in the near future , especially for making my own stamped stickers.  Be on the look-out in future posts!

Have fun with your snail mail adventures.  

Write Letters,

Write Often.

Lady Pamela

Back to School Mail!

Did you take advantage of the "Back to School" sales this year?  I was inspired to make  some Happy Mail to send to the little people in my life!

$1 Tote bags...Love the Eric Carlise theme...

Boy Theme contents

More on the Girly side...

A good set of color pencils, pencil sharpeners, and crayons...flash cards, stickers...I have to  pause and laugh here.  The thing that excited my oldest grand was the clear, see through  $1 pencil sharpener.  That just made his day.  He was fascinated with it!

I tucked the handles inside, then used packing tape at the top to seal shut.  Then I put an address sticker on the front, and out they went on their mission to spread some happiness!  I was told that they all arrived safely...even the priority and 1st class arriving on the same day.  I was concerned about the bunch going out to the family with  the 3 grands...usually when I send out packages to them individually they don't arrive on the same day which don't you know  can cause some unhappy littles.  But, YAY for our great USPS!!!!  Folks, we  really do have the greatest postal system in the world.    Just one out of the 5  bags I sent out had a little issue of the packing tape coming off slightly, but all the contents were still intact.  Maybe I should have used a staple or two?

Here is Isaiah receiving his bag.  He is crazy about the Hungry Caterpillar...so this bag was great for him.

Take advantage of sales...don't you LOVE saving money AND making little folks happy?  Remember, we are on a mission to let the younger generation know what the Post-person's job is all about and what that mail box is for!!

Write letters
Write often,

Lady Pamela

Do You Keep "Birthday Mail" Lists?

Have you ever flirted with certain disaster? I did, and lost!  I missed a VERY important birthday this week...because I didn't have a birthday list made out, or some kind of plan in place to handle all of these special days.  Aaarrrggghh!  I feel so very sorry...she is my  sweet , little  Chloe...and she is now 2!!  I am  determined not to ever let this happen again...so I contacted everyone, and asked them (one more time...PLEASE...) to send me birthdays. Thankfully, everyone complied.

See some of the blank spaces?  I was still waiting to get the birthdays from Stephanie's family.  Also, I still have 2 more grands "in the oven", so names and dates are still blank! :-)

It was time to get  out the watercolor pencils...Chloe is CRAZY about Tigger!  (her mother is having a Tigger Themed birthday party for her later this month!)  I had to work a bit to get it to come out looking like Tigger...but I think I eventually got it!

Tigger's belly was the perfect place for the address... and of course a quote was necessary!

Next came the  letter, short and sweet...

Thank goodness I had some Tigger stickers...and two orange balloons...one for Tirzah and one for Chloe. I wanted to include a stick of gum...but didn't have any.  I need to get some for my stash.

I mailed it off today, late, but done.    What about you?  How do you  keep track of birthday mail?   I was a terrible Auntie to my nieces when they were growing up.  I had trouble just keeping up with my growing family.  Having 10 children kept me hopping (and still does!). Now we have  four married and  the grand babies are coming...when the next two are born, I will have a total of 8.  I have  12 new birthdays to keep up with (grands, and then my 3 son-in-laws and one daughter-in-law.)  So in just my immediate family I have 22 birthdays to keep up with.  That doesn't include MY side of the family, sisters, mother, etc.

I think I need a plan.

Do any of you out in Blog Land have one of these contraptions?  I bought this at least 8 years ago (probably longer)...to try to get me on track for Birthdays ...

It is a rather nifty little file box with open file folders for each month.  I guess they could hold cards to send out for the month?

See the dates?  I told you it was old!  Sadly, I have never used it.  But just maybe I will start to utilize it for keeping track of the  approximately 30 birthdays that I would really like to send out a card.  Please let me know if you have other means of keeping up with Birthday mail...


Write Letters,
Write Often.

Lady Pamela

Letter Writing is Alive...at Camp!

I am happy to report that letter writing is ALIVE and  WELL at camp!  I am just returned from a week at Bethel Bible Camp in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.  Of course, I enjoyed all of the activities and the wonderful fellowship with young ladies ages 8-10.  They were a pure delight!  But, I was especially interested in all things postal at the camp!  I was really wondering if parents really wrote or not any more.



This little lady was a first timer away to camp.  She missed her sweet family !  Thankfully, homesickness was staved off by  receiving 6 letters during the week.  She clung to them all week.

Well, surprise, surprise, surprise!!!!  The first full day of camp...several of the girls in my cabin got not one but one young lady received 3 letters!!!!  Now that really took some foresight on the parents!   Good job parents!! I was thrilled, and so were the campers...all of them.  Even if they did not receive any mail  they were just excited to get to see the letter and read it themselves.  Letters were passed around and enjoyed by all.

The receiving of mail caused quite a stir that first day.  The girls eagerly positioned themselves and began writing letters with high hopes! Just look at those faces. So much excitement!!

Re-reading letters by flashlight!  Precious.

 

Mail Call!

 

 

 

 I actually got 3 letters, I couldn't find my lovely letter from my  oldest daughter at the moment I took this photo.

 

Another daughter thoughtfully wrote me and even included one of my favorite wax seals!  The bird carrying the letter.

 

My husband, clever man that he is,  sent our  two children (at two different camps)   mail and included a full sheet picture of our scruffy dog, Emma...who sorely missed them. Our youngest daughter was enamored with this!  She carried the picture  around and showed it to all of her friends.

 

So, dear readers, Letter Writing is alive, in little encampments, probably around the globe this summer.   If you know of any young person going off to camp, especially for the first time please take the time and write them even a short note or post card.  You may never know the full  impact that it will have, but  trust me, it will be treasured and may make the difference between the camper going home or staying!

 

 

Write Letters,

Write often.

 

Lady Pamela

 

 

P.S.  I believe my summer should be slowing down  so that I can  get back to writing everyone who is waiting for a reply to their letters...Jan, Elaine, Sheryl, Mrs. Duffy... oh my!  I need to get going!

Little People Mail

When sending mail to children, it is helpful to remember what it was like to have been a child yourself. What sorts of things did you enjoy receiving in the mail?  I am always on the hunt for small and mailable (meaning sort of flat) interesting items.  I think that a variety of color also helps to add to the excitement. Here , I am using those great zip lock bags I purchased from Dollar Tree (see post:  Frugal Postal Finds).  By the way, these bags are not flimsy...they are made of durable , sturdy, plastic.

This  bit of "Happy Mail" going out to Isaiah.   He is not quite two, but he will not have any trouble figuring out what to do with these items.

Here are the items that have been  included.  Stickers, Squirmies (I'm not exactly  sure  what these do), bubbles, glow stick,a hot wheels car, a super cool finger light (I divided this up between all of the packages--I copied off the instructions and wrapped up one light per package) , a mystery "Despicable Me"  and don't forget the Note  (notice I didn't say "letter"--attention span at 19 months is more on the "note" level.)

We have been having a heat wave here in Virginia.    I decided to cool him off by sending a few snow flakes his way...

Dear Isaiah,

Helloooo there!  Way over in the mountains of Roanoke! Are you doing well today?  I Know you are, because I have never seen you without a smile (exceptions to this might be when you have been poorly treated ;-) )

Aren't we having HOT, HOT weather?  Well, even though the mountains are a tad bit cooler, its still hot!  So, Mimi is sending you a few snowflakes to cool off.

Eating Popsicles (ack!  misspelling!!!) and more Popsicles is an even better way to cool down!

Well, have fun with your "happy mail!" and know that your Mimi and Pops love and pray for you!

Mimi and Pops

Gideon is a BIG brother...mind you he is only 4 but he has a lot of responsibility for only being 4.  He has two little sisters, Tirzah and Chloe.  Charlotte is a little friend who was visiting.  I offer a bit of advice when it might be necessary to yell for mom (who is very pregnant with #4).

Dear Gideon,

I just saw a picture of you with Tirzah and Chloe...eating popsicles!  Yummy!  You have a good mommy to make Popsicles for you!  Do you have the swimming pool up?  I'll bet you are having all kinds of fun!

Chloe sure looks like she had fun in the flour barrel .  She was cute with Charlotte in the pictures!

You have your work cut out for you watching those two!  But, I feel you can handle that.  Remember, if blood is squirting out...or one of them wanders down to the creek...or you see a bear...these are Definites to yell for mom!

We love you,

Mimi and Pops

Boy packs ready to go...

Girly things going out to Hannah...my little friend in Blue Ridge...actually, she is getting to be quite the young lady at age 13.  But can you believe it...I forgot to enclose a note/letter!  That will be going out separately. 

Ready to head to the post office!

So, writing to little people needs to be short and sweet...and chatty, like you were sitting next to them talking on their level. If I am just sending a note, I make sure to always put some type of tuck-in like a balloon, stick of gum, or stickers.  I wish I could say that I was more disciplined in writing and sending things on a more regular basis, but as it stands, right now I am rather sporadic.  I am working on this.

**Mail Challenge**  Send out some happiness to a child this week.  Let them know what the mail box is for!

Write Letters.

Write Often.

Lady Pamela