You Send Things by Snail Mail?
A recent thread at AAR on the lost art of cursive writing got me thinking about snail mail. I’ve always had horrible handwriting. In fact, the only grade of C I ever received in school was for a cursive writing class. I practiced, and practiced, but could never improve my writing.
Despite my awful handwriting, in pre-email days, I regularly sent letters to far-away friends. To cover up the state of my handwriting, I would decorate the letters with all kinds of things. Stickers and leaf imprints (and I don’t even recall how to do these) were among my favorites, but each and every letter had to have a wax seal on the outside of the envelope.
Back then, I had a lovely collection of seals (flowers, fairies, initials, etc.) as well as wax in every color imaginable. Those seals were lost years ago, about the same time I wrote my last letter.
However, while I don’t write letters anymore, I do regularly send cards to friends and family. These cards — generally with a personal note included — are also afflicted with my horrible handwriting. I’m thinking it’s time to get a new collection of seals and wax to decorate my notes. But what else could I use?
Do any of you still send letters or notes through snail mail? If so, do you decorate them in any way?
LinnieGayl
I still send letters and cards by mail. I also handwrite all my thank you notes. Seals are big deal for me and the store I’ve bought them from is: http://www.craftersnet.com/category/craftersnet.ssembossed/
Lee, stickers on Christmas card envelopes are something I enjoy as well.
I’m so frustrated. I went to two craft stores today, and neither had sealing wax and stamps. Clearly, an online search is in order.
Well, I think my handwriting is okay. Actually it’s a combination of printing and cursive but hopefully readable. But I do like to put stickers on Christmas card envelopes so I don’t have to deal with sealing them.
VictoriaS: I think that is awesome what you are doing for your friend. I’m sure she appreciates every card she receives.
VictoriaS, that’s a wonderful thing you’re doing for your friend. I was fairly sick this past spring, and have still saved all of the notes and cards friends sent me. It really does mean a lot.
Katie, I’m going to a craft store tomorrow to see if they have sealing wax!
I still do occasionally send a handwritten letter. Sometimes what I want to say is just too personal for typset, no matter how pretty it is. When I send a letter, I want the sendee to know how very serious I am about what’s inside, and how very special they are to me. I have never used any type of decoration on them, though I may be looking into that sealing wax thing!:) A good friend of mine has recently had a mastectomy and is currently undergoing chemo. I am sending her a card every Saturday with a bible verse in it, starting with Genesis and I pray that by Revelations she will be cancer free.
I was always terrible about sitting down to write letters, so when email came out I thought it would solve the problem. It hasn’t, as I now don’t often take the time to type out anything other than a very brief email.
I think it’s really cool that you used to seal your letters with wax. That’s so unique! On the times when I actually did get a letter written, I used pretty stationery. On the envelope I would draw something like a flower or butterfly near the person’s name/address. (Don’t laugh, I was 17.)