My Newest Hobby: Pocket Letters!
Pocket letters are a fun new hobby of mine. I first learned about it on a site called Swap-bot, which I discovered on Chat About. The basic idea behind this growing trend is to take a sheet protector that is used for storing trading cards. Decorate each of the pockets and put goodies in the back of the pocket. One pocket should include a letter, such as you would send to a pen-pal (remember those?). Then, fold the sheet of pocket into thirds, put it a sturdy envelope, and send it off to your swap partner!
You then receive similar type of "happy mail" in return! It's so fun to exchange happy mail then to only get bummer mail like advertisements (which can be repurposed into art, if you're the type who's into that!) and bills!
There are SO many different ways to decorate and fill your pockets! Some swappers do themes such as:
- Colors
- Letters of the alphabet
- Beach
- Country/Western
- Music
- Floral
- Based on a favorite movie
- A different page for each month:
- January - New Year
- February - Valentine's/Hearts/Love/ Pink & red
- March - Green/ St. Patrick's
- April - Spring/Easter/Pastel Colors/ April Showers
- May- Labor Day/ National Burger Month/ Miscellaneous
- June - Summer/ End of the School Year
- July - Patriotic/Red, White & Blue (in the USA)/
- August - Back to School
- September - Fall
- October - Halloween
- November- Thanksgiving
- December - Christmas/other holidays
As for goodies to include, it's always going to be small stuff that fits in the back of the pockets. Flatter items also help keep postage costs down. Stickers, small post-it notes, washi tape, decorative paper clips, gum, postage stamps (for your pen-pal to return happy mail!), ribbon, a tea bag, are just a few examples of goodies to include. You can go bigger, such as candy, lip balm, tiny nail polish, beauty product samples, etc. Just keep in mind this will require more sturdy packaging and postage.
There are some VERY talented crafters who go all out in decorating their pockets! I try not to let that intimidate me. I am starting out small right now. I try to spend extra special time on a couple of pockets and make sure the over all page has a cohesive look to it. Some day I know I will have more time and resources to get more artsy. Right now, I'm doing the best I can with what I have.
It's a fun hobby. I'm meeting new people and sharing this new-to-me craft with some of my friends and spreading the happy mail love. Hopefully we can bring back snail mail!
Image Credit » https://pixabay.com/en/postage-stamps-post-leave-letters-484991/ by Didgeman
Comments
cheri wrote on October 22, 2015, 9:18 PM
This seems to be very interesting. Happy to hear that you found a new interesting hobby
1Feisty56 wrote on October 22, 2015, 10:23 PM
I may have to share this idea with some of my grandchildren. I've been trying to introduce them to letter-writing, but they haven't been interested. These pocket letters may spur some interest in them!
AliCanary wrote on October 22, 2015, 10:46 PM
This sounds very cool and fun! I'll bet it is easy to decorate a small pocket like that, and so much fun to make them and to get them. I will have to look into this myself, bc I like crafty little things and I love to see how creative other people can be. This might also revive the lost art of letter-writing!
simplysara wrote on October 23, 2015, 9:38 AM
Definitely get your grandkids involved! Pocket Letter Pals has groups just for connecting kiddos! Pinterest has lots of inspiration.
1Feisty56 wrote on October 23, 2015, 10:33 AM
I'm so pleased you wrote about this as I had not heard of it before. Enjoy!
AngelSharum wrote on October 23, 2015, 1:31 PM
This is a new one on me. They are always coming up with new craft ideas. This looks cool.
Lillybell wrote on October 23, 2015, 9:19 PM
I checked out the website and it seems like a lot of fun! I bookmarked it and may join it when I have more money for some stamps and things.
LeaPea2417 wrote on December 21, 2015, 8:18 PM
That is very interesting. I didn't know it existed. I will look this up and read more about it.