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Simple Snail Mail Station

7/13/2021

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Sometimes having the best intentions of getting cards into the mailbox is easier said than done. I've found that there are some things I do to make sure that I actually get the cards in the mail and I thought I'd share them with you!

KEEP IT TOGETHER
This goes without saying, but it's so easy to spread your supplies out over a few different places, but keeping everything you need in one container could be the thing that helps the most. For a while now, I've been keeping all my cards, stamps, and my perpetual calendar in this adorable basket. While the basket may move from place to place, I know that what I need is inside it wherever it may be!

WHAT'S IN MY BASKET?
The essentials for mailing, of course! I've had a perpetual calendar for over 20 years. It's one of my most favorite things. A perpetual calendar keeps all your important dates in one calendar that you can use year after year without having to transfer dates. Sure, many of our digital platforms help us with that too, but there's just something satisfying about having a physical list of these important days. I spend so much time on my devices that I don't want to use them when I'm sending snail mail. 

I have a variety of perpetual calendars in my shop that are made specifically for my love of these calendars. They have a hole for hanging though I'm currently storing mine in my basket of mailing supplies so that everything is accessible!
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Cards for all occasions! Since the pandemic, I don't spend a lot of time in stores, so when I do, I stock up on a variety of greeting cards for my stash. When I have multiple cards to choose from, it's so much easier to find just the right card for the right person. 

As a stationery seller, and friend of many stationers and small businesses, I love to have specialty cards in my collection, but in reality, those cards are pricy and I have to have some lower price-point cards as well. My most favorite place to buy those cards is the Dollar Tree. You can get quality cards for $1 or less and it's a great way to fill your basket so you're ready for all the mail sending occasions! I definitely recommend having some blank note cards or thank you notes in your basket as well!
Stamps, stamps, stamps! Keep your postage stamps in your card basket so you always know where they are and when you're running low. I recently moved my stamps into my basket (uh, hello!) and it really has been helpful! I like to have a few different designs from fun, to love, and some that are just pretty to have on hand! 

Speaking of stamps, do you have a self-inking address stamp? I have a couple from Expressionery that I love and use all the time! I've got one with my name, one for my business, and one for our family. 
Address books! Keeping your address book with your cards and stamps is well, it's a game changer. I can't tell you how many times I've gone searching for my address book until I realized it would fit perfectly into my card basket! YES! For the same reason I love having a physical birthday calendar, I love my paper address book. I've had it for so many years and the only reason I'd get a new one is if I design one! 
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That's it! See how simple it is to get your snail mail life in order? I love having the basket because I can move it around from place to place. Sometimes I work on cards at my desk, but sometimes it's in the recliner while I watch tv. The key is that everything I need is inside no matter where the basket is! 

I also keep a cup of my favorite pens and markers nearby, but they could just as easily fit into a pencil pouch into the basket too. 

I hope this has been helpful! I'd love to hear about what's in your card basket! Share with me below or let's connect on Instagram! 
Talk with you soon!
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Open When... for the passing of a loved one

9/25/2020

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We'd be kidding ourselves if we said that life was all confetti and rainbows. Wouldn't it be nice though? We go through a lot in our lives, much of it we hope is happy and worth celebrating, but some of it is really, really hard. This letter kit design was intended to show you what a box of love can look like for someone who is grieving. Using our Open When Folio Kit, our friend Kendall poured love into these messages to show us just how we can support our family and friends. 

As we approach a year since my own dad passed away, I find myself thinking of him more and more, remembering things about him that I loved and struggling through the memories of his final days. Without a doubt, when people share his picture or tell stories of good times with him, that helps me push through the heartache. 
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When you haven't lost someone really dear to you, it's so hard to know what to say or what to do. I have found that it doesn't really matter what those words are, but they are helpful because it shows that you remember and that can mean the world to a broken heart. 
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To all of who have lost someone dear to your heart, I am thinking of you. You are not alone. 
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Open When... to My Future Self

7/28/2020

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Sometimes a little self-care can come in unexpected ways. I love this idea of writing a set of "Open When" letters to yourself. What might you say? How can today you encourage future you to keep pushing forward? If you pep-talked yourself like you would do for a friend, imagine how much kinder we would be to ourselves. These letters were written on one of our stationery kits, check them out, or make your own!  
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To My Future Self Letter Topic Ideas

Open When...
• You turn 30, 40, 50 (any age!)
• You need to remember your hometown
​• It's time for a change
• It's been a rough week
• You need a reminder that you're awesome
• Something didn't go as planned
• You've done something amazing
• You need to be reminded where you started
• You feel like giving up on a dream
• You're looking for a role model
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I hope these topics and letters will give you some ideas for getting started with your letters!

Our Open When Kits have lots of inspiring and colorful stationery to let your writing flow. Pre-printed envelopes give you a starting point so you don't get stuck on the blank page. Get started, let your creativity show! Show yourself some love!

Show us your creativity by tagging us on social media with the tag #polkadotpaperlove 

Many thanks to my friend, Kendall, for sharing her talents and giving us so many ideas for writing letters to yourself! What topics would you add?
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Hand Lettering Tips From a Pro

4/9/2019

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Hand lettering is so popular and for good reason! Looking at beautifully written words just makes my heart happy. When I knew I'd be taking photos for our new Open this When kits, I knew I needed some beautiful writing! Istagram to the rescue! I found this lovely hand-letterer willing to take on the job and even better, she shared some amazing tips to help you get started with your very own hand lettering. ​

Here are some tips from the amazingly talented @brennamedia (make sure you check out all her work on Istagram too) who writes for Punkpost.

  • Ombre lettering: To create the two-tone/ombre lettering, people can actually just find two similar colors. Write with the lighter color first. Then, go back and trace over the bottom half with the darker color. If you really want the ombre look, you can go in and add more color with the lighter marker to blend the two tones together. Personally, my style is more of the two-tone look.
  • Straight lines: If you really want straight lines, a lightboard is a great investment. You don't have to have anything fancy. The one I have is $23 and I have used it daily for about two and half years. Once you have it, you just print straight black lines on a sheet and place it under your page while you write. It's sure to impress people!
  • Take your time: Hand lettering and writing in general isn't fast. It takes a while, especially when you're first starting out. Don't get frustrated. Don't rush. Just set aside the time and patiently work your way through you letter or project. The care will pay off. 
  • Practice: No one is great at lettering overnight. I have been writing for Punkpost for years, so my style comes naturally to me now. But that hasn't always been the case. It has taken hours and hours of practice. Any other lettering artist will tell you the same. You just have to start somewhere and keep at it. You'll get better!
  • Coloring doodles: I like to put down the color first with marker and then go over it with my black pen to add in all the structure and details. I find that it avoids smearing the black lines and I don't spend as long coloring into all the little spaces.
  • Doodles: Art doesn't have to be complex. Start with basic shapes, and work from there. The balloon for example is just a circle with a small triangle and a line. Anyone can accomplish it! If you're nervous, spend some time doodling on scrap paper before putting it in your letter.
  • Loved no matter what: At the end of the day,  whoever you send the letter to is going to love it, even if you don't think the doodles or lettering are perfect. You made the extra effort and they will love it. 
This post may contain affiliate links.
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I love the black tracing on the script. It just gives it such a nice touch! And all caps writing? I feel like I write best in caps!
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Brenna is even sharing with us her most used pens! I *may* have run out and grabbed a 50 pack of SuperTips as soon as she sent me this. 

My most used pens (and all great for beginners):
  • Crayola SuperTips: I used these to make the letters and envelopes I sent you. What's great about these is that they are easy to use, come in lots of colors and are inexpensive. They are great for beginners, but also work as you progress in lettering. This box of 100 that I linked to is also super fun and not that expensive. Obviously you can pick up smaller sets at pretty much any store.
  • Uni-ball Signo gel pen (0.38mm): I use these pens to outline my Crayola SuperTips letters and for the body of my text. I love them because they are super fine and you can create sharp lines and create small details with them.
  • Uni-ball white gel pen: These are by far my favorite white pen. They are fun for extras details. I used them on one of the card I made. They work great on top of colors and on colored paper.
  • Sakura Moonlight gel pens: These gel pens are vibrant and the Moonlight ones specifically are think, making it easy to create bold letters and really have words jump off the page. 
  • Pentel Sign Brush Pens: If people want to try brush lettering, these are my favorite pens with a small brush that pretty easy to control. Plus, it's fun to have a lot of colors.

So what do you think? Are you ready to give hand lettering a try? Share your progress by tagging @polkadotpapercompany on Istagram and using the hashtag #polkadotpaperlove
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Perpetual Calendar made Milestone Journal

3/6/2019

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In January, I sent out a quick survey to my followers asking you how I can be the best help for you? How can I give you what you need? And wow, you guys had some great things to say! The most popular request was "how do I use your products?" along with "more blog posts!" So, I'm here to do BOTH of those things for you right now! 

Up today, an a-typical use of the popular Perpetual Birthday and Anniversary Calendar. These have been long-time staples in my shop, I've sold a few thousand of them, and well, that feels pretty good! So what if sending cards isn't really your thing? I've come up with a really fun idea for you, read on and let me know what you think!

Here's how you can use a perpetual calendar as a record for something like, your relationship with your significant other. 

Instead of filling in birthdays of people you know, use the dates to fill in milestones in your relationship. Your first date, your engagement date, your wedding day. 

Keep adding year after year, vacations, pet adoptions, birth of your children. 

Add in the purchase or sale of a home, a job promotion, a move. 

Each month as you flip through the calendar is a trip down memory lane where you can see all the amazing things you've done together. 

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If you know me, you know I am really sentimental. I LOVE keeping records and looking back at all my favorite memories, but the problem with keeping up with all of that is TIME. Precious time. Scrapbooking takes time, blogging about travels takes time, making photos books and albums takes time. And more often than not, by the time I have time, I forget to add things I really would have loved to remember. 

The best part about using a perpetual calendar to jot down these milestones, is that it only takes a few seconds. I may be busy, but I have a few seconds to jot down something that will bring me joy for many years to come. As the years go on, the lines fill up, dates will overlap, but what an awesome record of the life you made together!
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