Letter writing kit!

Have I ever mentioned the abundance of paper clutter in my house...everywhere I look there are stacks of random papers piled up...these piles are also on the floor...under furniture...and in every room in the house!

Now that Ruby is a certified letter writer, I knew that I had to have some system for dealing with all the cute stationery, envelopes and assorted other "paper" things that come along with letter writing! 

 Enter the pretty letter writing kit! 

So, using one of those paper folders, with the pockets as my template, I simply traced onto felt.

I sewed up some pockets...for cute stationery on one side, envelopes, pens, stamps and addresses on the other.

(and yes, I am aware that I "just" could have used the paper folder...but that just doesn't give a mama that same crafty feeling of accomplishment as doing this)!

Backed with pretty fabric...

and some ribbon to "tie" it all together.

Voila!

Now I'm not a great sewer, but this took about 20 minutes to whip up.  I just decided that it didn't have to be perfect, but it did have to be pretty!!!

Thank you everyone for signing up for our kiddie pen pal club!  It's been nice to hear from parents how excited their kids are to start writing letters.  Truly this has been a joy to put together.

I should have everyone matched up by Monday...if you haven't heard from me yet, or if you're waiting to hear about a sibling, please be patient...I'm hopeful that every child will be matched!

xo maureen

Envelope Tutorial...and the cutest free stationery ever!!!

here are some of our finished envelopes...

So with our penpal match up well under way, I thought I'd do a little homemade envelope tutorial.

You'll need envelopes of various sizes, patterned paper, (think old books, gift wrap, scrap book paper),

a glue stick, scissors and pencil.

Get your envelopes...oh this is just so simple.

Tear them open...this is your template...trace this onto your paper.

Using your template...make all the folds in the right places!

Now glue it together...

and here's your fancy and fun new envelope!!! I told you...so simple!!!

(you can either make your own address label with paper, or buy those stick on labels)!

Of course, you'll need some super sweet stationery to go with your super sweet envelopes...

go here!!! for the cutest stationery in the world.  You just bring up the image...click on it to make it bigger, and then right click to print.  Super duper easy, and so so sweet!!! 

Here is some of our stationery we'll be using to write to our new penpals!

Now, if you haven't already, you have until Friday the 25th to sign up your kiddies for our pen pal club!

Please go to the original post here and leave your children's ages, and your location, as well as an e-mail address...if I don't have your e-mail address I can't sign you up.  In the next week I'll be sending out penpal matches for your kids...I'm doing it little by little, so if you don't hear back from me immediately don't worry.

I am so thrilled to see the number of people who are signing up...yes it's a bit of a job to organize, but I just think of all of our kiddies writing letters to each other...actually writing, and mailing letters...it's like a lost art these days...and it makes it all worthwhile!!

xo maureen 

kiddie pen pal club! (continued)

So far we've had a tremendous response for our "kiddie pen pal club!"  I just want to remind people that you have until Friday February 25th to sign up your kids.  Sign up HERE at the first kiddie pen pal post...under the comments section. 

I also wanted to send out a reminder  that you

MUST leave me an e-mail address. 

So far I've been able to track most of you down, but there are a few of you who I can't find any e-mail addresses for.  If I don't have one, can't find one, I can't match you up. 

Also I need your children's ages, so I can match you up with an age appropriate match, and I'd like to know where you live, so I can match you with someone who lives somewhere new.    I can't give you all overseas penpals, but I'll at least try to get you a different state!!

I have to say that so far I have matches for almost every kid...dare I call it penpal serendipity!!??

I may start e-mailing people their matches early next week...so be prepared...get those pens warmed up and enjoy some penpal love!!!!

xo maureen

kiddie pen pal club!

So here's my idea. 

 I remember as a child there were all sorts of pen pal clubs to join, and I loved to write letters, so I joined them all!  I had pen pals from all over the world, and it was a great way to learn about different parts of the world, and I mean, nothing comes close to the thrill of getting a letter in the mail when you're a child.

So...I'd like to start a Twig and Toadstool kiddie pen pal club. 

This will be a one time sign up...so I'm going to give folks a week to sign up if you're interested.

Let me know your children's ages, and where in the world you are...and leave me an e-mail address, leave it in our comment section under this post.

If you'd like more than one pen pal, please mention that as well.

*Sign ups will be closed on Friday February 25th.

I'm going to play pen pal matchmaker for the kiddies and then let the letter writing fun begin!

I'll send everyone an e-mail in a few weeks with your pen pal match...and then it will be your job to contact that person for a physical address. 

My reason for doing this...for one I've been inspired by our friend Julie over at The Letter Writing Revolution, she helped me remember the JOY of letter writing.

I also just imagine the look on our children's faces as they receive mail from a new friend from somewhere in this great big world of ours...simply magic!

Here's to the start of something wonderful!

xo maureen

SIGN UPS ARE NOW CLOSED!!! 

I've "just" been able to match up all the kids.

Thanks to all who signed up.