raise your hand if you love getting fun mail.
{me…me… jumping and waving both hands in the air!}
well…
this week we are sharing fun ideas that have to do with good old snail mail.
hopefully you’ll be inspired to make someone’s day with a surprise in their mailbox.
hopefully you’ll be inspired to make someone’s day with a surprise in their mailbox.
(and you never know… maybe they’ll send ya something back!!)
. . .
when i was a little girl i wanted a pen pal so bad.
like really bad.
there was one person willing to make my dreams come true.
that person was my grandma. 🙂
i cannot tell you how over the moon excited i was when i received that first letter in the mail.
i felt special.
i felt loved.
and i felt lucky to have such an awesome grandma!
{i am so thankful i kept this all these years. it’s so special to me.}
so i thought.
why not make a pen pal kit for my kids to mail to their future pen pals
anyone can be a pen pal:
- grandparent/grandchild
- friends
- cousins
- aunts and uncles
- even people who have never met before
things we are including in our kit:
- paper
- envelopes
- pens
- stickers
- stamps
- a treat
- a box to keep all the letters in. you may want to make 2 of these. 1 to keep. 1 to give away.
(for the box i just used a cheap pencil box and adhered the pen pal box topper with glue dots to the top)
we are also going to include this letter:
download letter HERE
. . .
so tell me.
did you ever have a pen pal?
I'm Jen Sedillo, one of the bloggers behind Eighteen25. I love creating and crafting, reading good books, visiting new places and being with family!
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oh my gosh!!! this is the cutest idea ever! my kids have a pen pal, but this would make it so much more fun! thanks, once again girlies for the fab idea!
xo, alicia
HI, I would love some penpals for my children. My son is 9 and my daughter is almost 8. I've been talking to them about the penpal I had from Sweden when I was little…what a great idea!! Love the blog by the way..fabulous!!
Crystal
ncslusar@shaw.ca
I love this, so cute. want to make them for all my nieces and nephews. I would love to find a pen pal for my 9 year old son.
This is perfect! I was JUST thinking about starting up a pen pal thing for my kids to keep in touch with a friend that just moved! Thanks for keeping me inspired!
What a great idea…I really want my daughter to keep up with reading and writing this summer so what a great way for her to do this and it's fun! Plus she loves to get items in the mail!
Like Jen, my best pen pal was my Grandma… I don't have any of the letters she wrote me but when she died I found where she saved the letters I wrote her and those are pretty darn cool to have!
Great Idea! My 6 year old daughter needs to work on her writing this summer and this is such a cute idea. We have talked about pen pals, but I haven't been able to get her to start writing. Maybe this little kit will do the trick in motivating her. Anyone out there want to be her pen pal?
Joy
joympieri@yahoo.com
Los Angeles, CA
Thank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in CBH Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, under the Page 4 post on Jun. 13, 2011. Thanks again.
What a fun idea!
I actually had 2 pen pals growing up…one was my grandma who lived in Missouri and another a friend I met through my granda who lived in Arizona. I lived in Michigan at the time. I now send secret pal packages to my neice in Michigan and after 2 years she still has no clue they are from me…I love that! Eventually she will figure it out and hopefully we can write to each other. I am in Ohio now and a fun way to stay connected. I did this with all my neice and nephews up there….
I had a pen pal for years. She is still one of my close friends. We started our pen pal friendship after meeting in person when we were 6. She is the daughter of one of my Aunt's friends. 42 years later we have shared major milestones, first boyfriend, getting married, birth of our children, divorce, marriage of a child, vacations a few times. I treasure our friendship and love her alot.
My 12 yo dtr. has a penpal in Ghana. He was the recipient of her Operation Christmas Child shoebox. We received a letter last year and they have corresponded since. They have sent small tokens representative of their countires/cultures. It has truly been a meaningful experience, not only for my dtr, but our entire family.
What a great idea…Pen pal kits!!
I have a 12 yr old son & 6 yr old girl. We live in Virginia.
Super idea, I have a 6 year old daughter who would love this.
katherine
kathymorrison@gmail.com
Rollinsville, CO
When I was in the 7th Grade, my teacher set our entire class up with penpals (Arizona to Holland). Her penpal was also a teacher, so our classes exchanged addresses and started writing. It was so fun as a girl crazy, pre-teen to get letters and pictures. My penpal was a pretty cute guy with blonde hair and blue eyes. I continued to write until he wanted to come visit for the summer. My dad put the kabosh on that idea. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.
I had two pen pals growing up. One I knew (I moved, and we wrote for many years to stay in touch.),and one I didn't know. I believe I found her through a pen pal service for kids…maybe in a magazine or newspaper? You signed up for a pen pal, and they assigned you one. It was so fun! We even mailed each other gifts! 🙂 Sadly, I'm not in touch with either one of them anymore.
i just signed up for a penpal, i'm mailing out 9 letter tonight to people all over the world! I'm so excited, because i've ALWAYS wanted a pen pal too!
Megan
I LOVE this! I am going to propose this idea for summer vacation writing @ school. FABULOUS!
I love this idea! I have a 11 yr old boy that would love to have a pen pal. 🙂
katcamarillo@yahoo.com
I LOVE this! What a sweet idea. I think I may need to do this for my kids and their cousins!
Very cool! I was pen pals with a cousin growing up. I loved getting mail!
I have 2 boys–ages 10 & 8 that would love to do this.
sarahsines@imonmail.com
When I began college in 1995 my mother started sending me a letter in the mail once a week. This was before e-mail and internet was just getting going. I am now 35 years old and live 45 minutes away from her, but she still sends me a letter every single week. I love snail mail! It is the sweetest treat to open my mailbox and get a card or letter. Thank you for this idea! I think some fun traditions can be started by this post of yours!
I think my five year old daughter would adore having a pen pal. I see a lot of 6 year old girls out there. If any of you moms think they might be interested in corresponding with a fun girl that is starting Kindergarten next year, let me know. Abbie would love it!
Ali Thompson
Henderson (Las Vegas), NV
What a fun thing to do this summer. I have 2 sons that are 10 & 7.
what a sweet and fun idea! I love the letter from your grandma!
What a great idea! My pen pals growing up where my cousin's that lived far away. I am going to do this!
I had a penpal for years, and my penpal and I came up with a special quote when we signed our letters. I had that tattooed to my ankel.
I have a 9 year old girl, a almost 7 year old boy and a 2 year old girl. We live in Overland Park, Kansas.
I would love for my kiddos to have a penpal.
niccolijessica@hotmail.com
What an awesome idea! I have always wanted a penpal. Hopefully we can find one for my daughter. She is almost 12.
enjvanbeb@yahoo.com
http://mycupcakejourney.blogspot.com
This is such a great idea. I'm always bemoaning the loss of letters. I had several pen pals as a child, and I also wrote to both of my grandmas. I only have a few of their letters and I treasure them. What I regret is that I didn't keep the letters that my Mom wrote me through the years. My daughter and son were in college when email was available, so we have no letters to show for all of that time. Yay for your Mom for starting such a wonderful tradition.
My daughter would love this. She is 10 and we live in Washington state.
tanyapoohbear@gmail.com
confessionsofacouplecraftyladies.blogspot.com
Boy, you brought back warm and cuddly memories. My gramma used to send the best cards in the mail to me. She always enclosed a crisp $1 bill. I always loved the thought she put into them and the fun stationery she used. She passed away three years ago at 99 and my sisters and I have all dug up notes, letters and envelopes she sent us. I even found some of the dollar bills, clearly proving that her thought was treasured more than the enclosure.
Oh, I love getting mail and I know my boys would like to find some pen pals…I have a 10 and 7 1/2 year old wanting to participate. We're in Portland, Oregon.
Alright, my kiddo is little (3), but he LOVES sending things in the mail -ever since a post office tour with our playgroup!
Victoria
onecraftymommy11@gmail.com
Can't wait to send this package to our son's second cousins in IA!!!! Thanks for the awesome idea! 🙂
What a fun idea! My sons, 5 & 7, would love to share mail with others.
ncalderon30@yahoo.com
Such a fun idea! My daughter is 4 and is entering "Pre-K" this fall. We are in Overland Park, KS if anyone is interested! She would absolutely love it! 🙂 Erin
kendallquinn@hotmail.com
I had a few penpals when I was growing up. I loved sending and receiving letters.
I have a son who's 4 and a daughter who's 7 who would love a penpal to write to.
We are in Australia. Sally
tyandsal@bigpond.com
My daughters are 10 and 6 and would love to have pen pals. This is such a cute and fun idea.
Suuuuper cute idea!!! I've had a few pen pals (and some email pals). My favorite was this guy who came to our school when I was in grade 4 and he was walking across all of north america. I met him the night before he talked at the school at my families restaurant. He wrote to me for like a year. And I got mail from all over North America. it was SO COOL!
What cherished memories I have of my penpal. I think my son would really enjoy this, he is 5 and going into 1st grade. My girls are a little young but what a great idea to start with them soon.
mechelle@cox.net
When I was in grade 5 our teacher hooked us up with international pen pals through a pen pal program. I kept in touch with mine (from France) and when I went there in grade 11 got to meet him! We're still friends on facebook – 14 years later!
perfect timing for this post. I swear I was just talking to my 9 year old about doing this. thanks for posting. I love your site!!!
We are in Utah, My son is 9 and my daughter just turned 7
anitaskinner@gmail.com
You Crafty Geniuses!
I had a Pen Pal when I was young and there is nothing so exhilerating as getting a letter just for you from a far off place.
My little Ella will be doing this for sure with her cousins who live too too far away.
Thanks!
Emilie
http://www.pluckymomo.com
(formerly Emilie Handmade)
I have four kids: a son that is 11 and three daughters ages 10, 8, and 4. They neeeed pen pals and love to write and receive mail! I mean who doesn't? My email is hotmamaov4 @yahoo.com my name is sulieen. Shoot me an email if you think it will work! Thank you!!
My daughter turns 9 this week. We live currently live in Louisiana. I would love for her to have a pen pal. Although she is a girl, I doubt she'd mind writing to a boy if he were a Harry Potter fan like herself.
sybilreeves@gmail.com
Oh Wow! This is super!
My daughter would love a pen pal, she is 10 years old. We live in Newfoundland, Canada.
sgill@madrock.ca
Love, love snail mail, sending and receiving it and love, love this idea. My 7 year old daughter is so excited about doing this with her friend who now lives in New Hampshire.
This is truely a super sweet idea. I'd love to have pen pals for my kids too. A boy age 7 and a girl age 4. We live in Western Pennsylvania.
It's so funny to come across your idea of having a pen pal. I have recently been thinking of the pen pals I had when I was younger and was thinking how nice that would be now! If anyone who is reading your blog would be interested in an adult pen pal… let me know! I would be happy to make new friends!
That is a fantastic idea! I have something very similar but nothing for my daughter!! I've had pen pals all over the world since I was a little girl. She has just started writing pen friends in the past couple of years! Great post!!
Love this idea! I have a daughter turning 8 this week who has been asking for a pen pal. I had no idea how to find one for her.
Omg Jennifer, this is such a fun and cute idea!
I would like to find a penpal for my 10 yr old son, who could write in SPANISH, or who wouldn´t mind receiving letters in Spanish. We live in Costa Rica, and I can translate the letters to my kid, but he doesn´t write in English.
Here´s my email in case you can help me find someone:
demarco.gabrielle@gmail.com
Thanks a lot, and happy writing to all!
Gabi
I always wanted a pen pal! My kids would love to do this too! What a great way to make new friends! I have a boy 7, a girl 4, a boy 3 and a baby… (at least the 3 older ones would get a kick out of it 😉 ) Oh and we live in Oregon.
simplelilcowgirl @ yahoo. com
What a cute idea! my cousins and I used to write to each other all the time:) I am a teacher and this would be a cute end of the year gift for the kids or even a project to recycle those pencil boxes!
I have 2 kids an almost (august) 11year old boy who will be in 7th grade and a 5 year old girl who will be in kindergarten this fall.
mrsjanowitz@yahoo.com
My kids would love penpals
Boy 11(almost 12)
Girl 9
Girl 6
idahogal@hotmail.com
What a fun way to spend summer
My kids have been wanting penpals but I haven't had a good source of finding them some. This is sooo perfect.
Boy: 11 (almost 12)
Girl 9
Girl: 7
Boy: 4
Thanks.
idahogal@hotmail.com
I love this! I have a son who is almost 6! He would love this! My email is http://www.littlebitoflifephotography@gmail.com
I have an 8 year old boy who needs a pen pal for scouts. I think he has to be from another country, though. Any ideas?
Am I too late to request this? What a beyond amazing idea! I love your blog anyways-but now I really, really wish that I lived in Vegas. Between you and Kiki…sheesh..
I have 3 girlies, 7, 9 and 11. thanks again for doing this!
sassygirlshop@comcast.net
Cute! My daughters have penpals so we are going to make one for each of them as well as their penpals. I want to cut out vinyl letters. What font did you use?
What a fun idea! My daughter and I have been talking a lot about this this summer. She just turned five in May and will be in Kindergarten in the fall. She's already very advanced at reading and writing and would like to get to know someone through letters and artwork via mail. We'd love to meet you!
Amy in Texas
inkdotwell at verizon dot net
Cute idea! I have a 2 year old little girl who loves getting mail and drawing pictures 🙂
And we live all the way in New Zealand too 🙂
I had a penpal when I was in elementary school, my teacher set it up. I am now a teacher and would love to do the same! I won't be able to send anything until school starts in August and I teach Kindergarten. But if anyone is intersted in hearing from a bunch of 5-6 year olds, let me know!
ericarae1327@yahoo.com
I have had a pen pal for 42 years!! I lived in NC and she lived in RI — a boy at her school wrote my school looking for a pen pal — I answered him and ask him to give my name/address to a girl at his school. We still keep in touch – but now by Facebook or e-mail! We have met each other only two times over the years!
SANDY
I would love for my sons to participate in having penpals! Gabe is 7, almost 8, and Graedon is 4, almost 5. We live in Indiana.
stacy@mach500.net
What a GREAT idea!! I have 2 girls (and a baby boy) who are 7 and 3 if anyone is interested in being pen pals. We are in CA 🙂
leahnmakenna@gmail.com
This is awesome!
We're in south-eastern Virginia.
My daughters are
12 (rising 7th grader)
11 (rising 6th grader)
8 (rising 3rd grader)
4 (rising Kindergartener) – I can help her write back 🙂
jasksfam@yahoo.com
My name is Jenn. Thanks! 🙂
What a great idea! I was thinking of sending it to our cousins who just moved to Ohio and Oklahoma, but they are only 3 and 2 and I don't think they would quite get it- then I saw your idea to leave a comment here…perfect!
I have a 9 year old boy,
almost 8 year old girl,
and almosr 6 year old boy. I'm not sure my youngest would understand the concept, but if anyone is interested let me know 🙂
amberalyse@yahoo.com
I just LOVE this idea! I've got three kiddos that I tihnk would love to have a pen pal. They are 12 (nearly 13) boy, 8 girl and 6 girl. We live in Oklahoma. If anyone is interested, my email is thompsonp@valornet.com
Okay this is seriously adorable. And your pen pal letter from your Grandma made me wanna cry. I love finding cards or even the envelopes to cards from my Grandpa because he would sign it the way we said it…"Love, Grampa" lol :o)
Thanks for sharing this!
Such a cute idea!! My husband is living up in salt lake, while i'm stuck in cedar city trying to graduate (only 4 months left) but i'm going to make him a pen pall box and mail it too him tomorrow! your never to old for pen palls right?? 😉
What a fantastic idea!
We live in Australia.
My daughter is almost 10
My son is almost 7
My name is Belinda
Our email address is: paulplusbelinda@gmail.com
This is a great idea!
I know boys would enjoy having new friends across the miles.
R is 7 and going into 2nd grade.
M is 4 and going into Kinder.
(I can help him with writing at first)
They enjoy playing outdoors and being with friends and family.
We are in Northern California.
bandy.angelique@yahoo.com
Can't wait to get started!
HI! Love this idea!
My daughter is 8 and will be in third grade! We live outside of Washington DC!
jenrepella@aol.com
Still looking for a pen pal for my 6 year old girl, she thinks I'm not trying hard enough to find one. LOL!
Contact me: alysia dawn 14 at yahoo
Hi bryansgyrl
I am trying to email you but no luck with that address. Contact me I have a 6 year old girl who would love to be your daughter's penpal.
andreaboecker@cogeco.ca
This is such a great idea! I had a couple of pen pals growing up and I loved it. I would love to have one for my daughters, one who will be 8 and another one who will be 6. I also have a 4 year old boy, that can't write a lot yet, but I'll be helping him. I know he would love getting letters though.
opps It might help if I put my email for others to contact me.
satippetts@gmail.com
2 girls – 6 and 8 yrs.
1 boy – 4 yrs.
What a great idea. I have a almost 12 year old girl, we live in california.
Thanks.
Joanne
jpineda77@hotmail.com
When i was younger i had a ccouple of pen pals here in Estonia where i live. But about 16 y.o i got a pen pal from USA. And now i have more than one pen pal from other countries too 🙂
Is it too late to join this?
I have an 8 year old boy and an almost 6 (in a few weeks) year old daughter.
My email is michelleduckworth1022@yahoo.com
They would LOVE this!
Oh my goodness! I love your blog and I love this idea! I teach third grade and will find a way to implement this into the curriculum next school year!
Thanks so much!
Melissa 🙂
Sounds like fun! I have an almost 4 year old daughter, and we are in Southern California.
harnettgang@gmail.com
My 4 1/2 yo boy is very into mail and loves to write. He'd love a penpal! I also have a 2 1/2 yo boy. We live in St. Louis, MO. Please email me….. Jlptucker at gmail dot com 🙂
Am I too late? I have an almost 6 year old daughter who would LOVE to do this. We live in Virginia, but moving back to Las Vegas soon. I also have a 3 yera old daughter who could have fun sending pictures and things. Let me know! What a great idea.
Oops! Forgot to add sarabizz at hotmail dot com
We would LOVE to do this! My girls would think this is so fun!
I have a five year old girl entering kinder in the fall and a two year old girl that loves to get mail!!
Thanks!
Whitney
thegrossfamilytx at gmail dot com
my 8 year old daughter would love a pen pal!
Oh how neat….I had a pen pal when I was a child…she was from Japan and I have had another one as an adult and his family is from Japan also….
Yes…would love to have a pen pal for my daughter. Lexi is 6 and will be going to the 1st grade this coming year. She would love this. She loves getting on my blog and seeing all the places I visit and people…she loves seeing the children.
What a great idea!
Please be very careful I have my e-mail address above and I have had a FEW creepy people e-mail me. Just to let you know.
This is such a great idea! My daughter has two of her friends in her class that are going to another school next year so we are very excited to keep in touch with a penpalship! Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea and the free printables too. She is so excited to get started.