10 Snail Mail Essentials (+ free stationery printable!)

Hello friend!

Today’s post is all about Snail Mail and what you need to make your letters cute. As a writer, I find that writing a letter to a long-distance friend is a much more meaningful way to communicate than texting or Facebook messaging. Plus, who doesn’t love getting cute letters in the mail?!

There’s something so special about receiving a thoughtful letter – you know that whoever sent it to you spent time not only writing you a personal message, but also choosing stationery and mailing it off to you.

Although a kind letter alone is enough to show you care, you know I’m all about decorating and crafting! And when it comes to snail mail, I think the decorating part is just as fun for the sender as it is for the receiver!

Luckily, it doesn’t take a whole lot of supplies to create cute snail mail. You can get as detailed and creative as you want! When it comes to snail mail, it truly is the thought that counts.

As you can see, I love to mix and match different stationery items to create a personal letter. And whether you have one washi tape or one hundred, you can create something beautiful. It’s all in how you put it together.

So here’s my list of 10 Snail Mail Essentials:

1. Stationery/Letter Paper – Although a note-card looks cute and generally comes with an envelope (check out #9 on this list), sometimes you need a little more room to write to your pen pal. I created this city-scape stationery and am offering it as a free download for BrightMail subscribers to print and send! Click here to sign up for BrightMail and receive access to the WBT Library (including this printable stationery), or, if you’re already a subscriber, click here to go straight to the Library and enter your password! P.s. I printed the stationery sheet 2 copies to a page for a half-size version.
2. Washi Tape – Is there ever a craft project that I don’t use washi tape in? Probably not. I love using washi tape to decorate envelopes and letter paper, or to attach smaller items/papers to a notecard. It’s functional AND it’s dang cute. Some of my favorite tapes come from the Target One Spot – so if you’re looking to try some out, I’d start there!
3. Good Pens – Now, the bad thing about some notecards is that a lot of pens will become a smeary mess. Enter: the Sharpie and the Pilot Multiball. Both of these pens will write on glossier stationery paper without smearing.
4. Stickers – Having some cute stickers to jazz up an envelope is never a bad idea. I like using alphabet stickers, seals (like the gold hearts from Target), and decorative stickers (like in the Ban.do Sticker Book Part 2) to add a unique and personal touch to the letters I send.
5. Labels – If you have a dark-colored or patterned envelope, having some kind of label will make sure the address is readable. I don’t always use a label, but when I do, it’s these Sugar Paper Labels with a gold scallop edge (which are sadly now out of stock). Keep an eye out for mailing labels around the holidays when gift-wrapping supplies are in full stock.
6. Rubber Stamps & Ink – I also like to use rubber stamps to personalize letters and stationery. Surprise! One of my favorites is the “Please Deliver To:” banner stamp with the wood handle, which I put on the front of otherwise plain envelopes.
7. Goodies – This is totally optional, but sending your pen pal a few goodies is sure to make their day. I will sometimes send decorated paperclips, stickers, sticky notes, washi tape samples, or perfume samples along with my letter, just to give it a little something extra!
8. Postage Stamps – Okay, this is not optional. If you’re sending someone snail mail through postal service, you’re going to need a stamp. I love these floral stamps that have been available at my local post office throughout the spring, but there are all kinds out there (you can even make your own).
9. Notecards – Finally, a use for those Target One Spot Notecard Sets you’ve been hoarding! Or is that just me? I personally love the Target One Spot Notecard Sets – you get eight cards and eight envelopes for $1! Frugal, functional, and fun. The envelopes are always cute too!
10. Pen Pals – The last thing you need is someone to send your letter to. If you don’t already have a pen pal, try reaching out to your friends, family, or social-media crushes and asking if they’d like to become one. Or, maybe you just want to surprise someone you know with a letter! It doesn’t have to be life-long commitment; whether you’re exchanging letters with a pen pal or sending a one-time note just as a thoughtful gesture, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the process of writing, creating, and bringing someone else joy.

And that’s one through ten! That’s all you need to send some cute snail mail to your BFFs. Well, that, and your kind words 🙂

If you want to see some of my snail mail creations, be sure to follow me on Instagram! I often post photos of outgoing mail, and sometimes my pen pals tag me in photos too.

What are your snail mail essentials? Let me know in the comments!

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