North Pole Postmark!

Check out this link with information on how you can have your letters postmarked from The North Pole! The December 10th deadline is approaching!

americans love letters.

Check out this new great site: Americans Love Letters

Help Save the US Postal Service by pledging to write one letter a month!

Living people on US stamps: Who would you choose?

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Who would you put on a stamp? Charlie Sheen? Lady Gaga? Yourself?

Hoping to boost sagging revenue, the U.S. Postal Service on Monday abandoned its longstanding rule that stamps cannot feature people who are still alive and is asking the public for suggestions.

It's a first that means living sports stars, writers, artists and other prominent - or not-so-prominent - people could take their places in postal history next to the likes of George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr., and Marilyn Monroe.

"This change will enable us to pay tribute to individuals for their achievements while they are still alive to enjoy the honor," said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe.

But it seems to be at least as much about money as admiration.

For years, the post office has been facing severe financial problems due to the growing use of email. A burst of interest in stamp design and collecting - which the Postal Service is seeking to promote partly through social media - could bring in new dollars, since stamps that are collected rather than used for postage provide added revenue.

Poking fun at the Postal Service's money woes, Comedian Stephen Colbert has been pushing to become the first living person depicted on a government-issued stamp. His Comedy Central website proposes a "Farewell to Postage" stamp with a photo of him holding up a smartphone that shows an email telling the Postal Service "See Ya!"

Judging by initial public reaction in interviews Monday, Colbert faces competition.

Cyndi Scarlett, 54, of Alexandria, Va., who works in humanitarian development, touted her choice of Apple Inc. founder Steve Jobs to be the first living person on a stamp. Walking by a post office in downtown Washington, D.C., she cited his company's role in reshaping everyday life, from the ubiquitous Macintosh and iPod to the iPad.

"He has changed the face of technology in America," Scarlett said.

Elizabeth Saunders, 38, a former educator who lives in Washington, said she believe first lady Michelle Obama deserves the honor, pointing to her efforts in combating childhood obesity. Saunders said she was impressed when she recently saw the first lady on the TV show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," building a house for a military family.

"She's just not afraid to get her hands dirty," Saunders said.

But Justin Pierce, a 29-year-old consultant from Arlington, Va., had a TV personality in mind for the first stamp: actor Charlie Sheen, who was fired from the show "Two and a Half Men" last season. "He's an American icon," Pierce said.

Other suggestions included evangelist Billy Graham, President Barack Obama, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, actress Tyra Banks and Paralympic athlete Bonnie St. John.

Janice Myles, a paralegal from Washington, said her pick would be someone who epitomizes the everyday American - herself. "I'm spiritual, I have no criminal record. My only downfall is that I don't speak different languages. I don't judge people; I look at the facts," she said.

Since Jan. 1, 2007, the Postal Service has required that a person be deceased five years before appearing on a stamp. Before that, the rule was 10 years. Still, former presidents were remembered on stamps in the year following their deaths by tradition. And, more recently, people have been able to upload photos and design their own stamps for personal use through the U.S. mail.

The post office is inviting suggestions for new stamps through Facebook, Twitter, a Postal Service website and by mail to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, c/o Stamp Development, Room 3300, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20260-3501.

The advisory committee already receives as many as 40,000 suggestions for new stamps each year and culls them to about 50 finalists, which are sent to the postmaster general for a final decision.

People can view upcoming stamps on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, through Twitter(at)USPSstamps or on the website beyondtheperf.com/2012-preview. Beyond the Perf is the Postal Service's online site for upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.

---

Associated Press writer Randolph E. Schmid contributed to this report.

© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

new yorker postal covers.

A view of the rise and fall of the USPS through 14 New Yorker covers. 

Read the article and view all 14 covers here.

I recently read that if a big blue mailbox gets less than 25 pieces of mail in a 6-8 week it gets targeted for removal. I had a bunch of letters to mail the other day so I decided to drop them off at my local big blue box instead of putting them on my home mailbox. This my friends is a lucky little mailbox! He got fed lots of letters the other day. Do you have a neighborhood big blue mailbox? If so, feed it some letters!

Read the rest of the article here.

Etsy Sale!

Check out all the new great things in my etsy shop and save 10% with the code THANKS10!

telegram.

Want to send an old time telegram to a friend? Check out this great site: Telegram Stop!

For Only $5.95 you can send a vintage inspired telegram to a friend! And yes... that includes postage! They also do bulk orders if you would like them for a party, special event, wedding, etc. 

LOVE IT!! I will find a reason to send one of these or multiples out!

Are these not the coolest buttons? I am thinking of making some like this... what do you think? I am going to mail one of these gems to my penpal also! I kinda wish I would have gotten more now that I think about it!

greetings from miami.

I will be relaxing on the beach next week with friends and I can not wait! Look for some exciting things when I get back next week...

snail mail project.

Check out this great article about snail mail my email on cnn.com!

Are you to lazy to hand write letters yourself? There are three easy steps to have a handwritten letter made and sent just for you so you don't have to do it yourself!
1. Type an email message (100 words max) to someone whom you would like to receive a letter in the mail, and include the recipient’s physical mailing address.
2. You may request one custom option to be included with your letter, for example:

• • a doodle
• • a flower petal
• • a spray of perfume / cologne
• •  a lip stick kiss
• • suggest your own
• 3. Send all of this to:snailmailmyemail@gmail.com
  COURTESY NOTE: Only one request per person please.
  
  
  Check out their website for more information! They are also looking for volunteers to help write letters!

address labels.

I have been in my new place for about three months now and I have still been hand writing my return address on all my letters and packages that I send out. I do not know what took me so long, but I finally made myself some labels yesterday and I think they turned out great! What do you think? 

I can't wait to send out letters with my new labels on them!

pantone postcards.

A wonderful combination of pantone colors and postcards! I will definitely be buying a pack of these! Buy these postcards at Chronicle Books! 

images from bigBANG studios 

hello. airmail.

another new listing in my etsy shop! What do you think?

out of thin air.

Do you love airmail as much as I do? Check out this great paper! I recently picked up a pack of this at a local bookstore, and was I excited when I received a letter in the mail from a friend yesterday written on this paper! Visit modcloth.com to pick up a pack for yourself!

baby announcements.

I have been in a designing mood lately and it has felt good to be doing other stuff besides the normal day to day routine! Check out these baby announcements I designed that I have put in my etsy shop for purchase. They are perfect for you or someone you know having a baby! Spread the word! Tell me what you think!

You can spread the announcement of your new bundle of joy to all of your friends and family through the mail! A combination of two great things!

camera mail.

I stumbled across this on tumblr. I thought it was pretty cool, so I wanted to share it with you all! Read about it here.

I am super excited to announce that I have gotten a few sets of my Ocean City, MD stationery into a local gift shop on the boardwalk up there! Fingers crossed that they sell well and she will be requesting more in the near future! I have been busy making envelopes and writing pretty letters these past few weeks, have you been writing letters?

The new love stamps are out and they are GREAT! I ordered my stamps online through usps.com because I hate dealing with the long lines at the post office just to buy some stamps. Did you know that if you order stamps online the shipping is only $1.00 no matter how many packs of stamps you order? Not to bad! It did take about a week to receive them, so if you are in a rush it might not be the best way to go.  But I highly suggest you pick up some of these new great stamps that are out. The celebrate ones are perfect for birthday cards or anything that is worth celebrating. And the love stamps are just great for anything!!

sorry for the long break.

hello readers, I do apologize for the long break that I took. I have been busy moving, working, starting a second job, organizing my craft room and my letter writing area and supplies. But I am back! I have been writing more letters than ever, how about you? Be on the lookout for great things coming your way!

giveaways, new features, new products in my etsy shop and all sorts of great things. Is there anything you want to see on my blog? Let me know!

garden of love.

oh me oh my. I can not wait to go to the post office and pick up some of these stamps! I have been waiting and waiting for them to come out and today is the day!!

Information from beyond the perf

Award-winning illustrator José Ortega of New York City and Toronto depicts an abstract garden of bright flowers, a butterfly, a strawberry, and doves, interlaced with vines that run from one stamp to another. Each prominent element of the design is in the shape of a heart. The deep blue background is reminiscent of a brilliant summer sky. The word “Love” sits atop each stamp.

Ortega says, “Garden of Love depicts the abundance of life, its generosity, whose spirit is to be shared by all its creatures. Love’s definition is broader than romantic love. Love is that colorful, full feeling you get when you enjoy being a part of and sharing in the generosity of life.”

To create his design, Ortega made a digital file of his original pencil and marker drawings. Then he added color, improvising until the garden took shape. Ortega, a collector of decorative arts, says tapestries, textiles, and mosaics influenced his choice of colors and patterns.

The Garden of Love stamps are being issued as Forever® stamps. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.

Ortega’s previous projects for the U.S. Postal Service include the 2007 With Love and Kisses stamp and the Salsa stamp, one of four stamp designs that appeared as part of the 2005 Let’s Dance/Bailemos issuance.

If given the option, always buy handmade!

special features.

Hi-

I have been thinking of things to add to my blog so that it is not always just random posts.

I am going to start out with.....

This will include a lot of things:

• what does your mailbox look like? A view at my personal mailboxes... the places I mail my letters from the most

• incoming and outgoing mail

• a look into stationery and where I sit to write my letters. 

Things will be added to this along the way and I would love to see where you work as well. If I start to get more followers, I will also start doing giveaways on mailbox mondays as well! I hope to have a great first mailbox monday next week starting with my mailbox!

make your letters extra pretty.

I promised you a few inserts from the new book I received in the mail and here is the first of few...

This is from page 180 in "The Happy Book"

The art of letter writing is being lost in this age of email and IM-ing. Spend some time writing a letter to someone and then mail it. Here are some ideas to make your letters extra pretty:

• Photocopy a favorite photograph and write you letter on the back

• Write each paragraph in a different pen color

• Write a short note to your friend each day for a week. Number the notes, and send them off. Instruct your reader top open  a letter a day, and then ask her to repeat the process with you.

• Go rubber stamp crazy and make your own hand-stamped stationery. Even the most no-frills craft store has hundreds of cute and quirky stamps and a rainbow of ink pads. It's crafting at its easiest. 

• Doodle like mad!

I have a huge collection of stickers, colored pens, postage stamps, and japanese tape! I like to decorate the envelopes so when someone sees it in their mailbox they know they have something fun waiting to be opened! I like to make my own stationery (notecards and envelopes) as well!

Do you have any other ideas? How do you make your letters extra pretty?

I have moved! I think my most favorite part of this move besides decorating was sending out my new home address cards! I am excited to receive mail at my new address and get excited to look in the mailbox every day. The next thing on my agenda... address labels!

the happy book.

I received a great piece of mail and birthday present the other day! My friend kathryn sent me "The Happy Book" by Rachel Kempster and Meg Leder.  I was curious when I saw it to see what it was all about and to a great surprise it is a great little book! There are a few ideas about letter writing in the book that I will be sharing with you over the next week or so! If you would like to purchase the book you can do so here!

" Let us all leave behind letters of love and friendship, family and devotion, hope and consolation, so that future generations will know what we valued and believed"
    -annonymous

world's smallest photo postcard.

On the topic of little letters, here is a tutorial on how to make your very own world's smallest photo postcards by photojojo.com!

In 9 easy steps you can make your very own tiny postcards to send to those special people in your life! I will definitely be making some of these soon! Click here to view the tutorial!

world's smallest post office at home.

The World's Smallest Post Service is an ongoing project by artist Lea Redmond. Since 2008, she has been setting up her miniature post service in cafes and shops, transcribing tiny letters for passersby. Her creative workshop, Leafcutter Designs, offers curious goods, surprising services, and projects for participation: www.leafcutterdesigns.com. 

Includes: • 0.2mm fine-tipped micron writing pen
• 40 mini writing sheets
• 40 mini envelopes
• 60 envelope seals
• 4 mini gift boxes
• 4 sheets Kraft wrapping paper
• 4 sheets miniature "newspaper" packing paper
• 44 inches twine
• 40 postage stamps
• 32 special delivery stickers
• Instruction sheet

Pre-Order yours at Chronicle Books! Only $22.95

sketchbook project.

If you are into being creative then this is the thing for you! I participated in this last year and already signed up for this years. I am just waiting for my sketchbook to come in the mail!! Check it out!

world graphic design day.

World Graphics Day is celebrated on April 27, the anniversary of the founding of Icograda, the world body for graphic design, in 1963. It is a day to celebrate the profession of graphic and communication design. The day has been celebrated since 1995.

On this occasion, designers reflect and hope that an international network can contribute to a greater understanding between people and can help to build bridges where divides and inequities exist.^[1]

baby shower invites.

It is a steamy overcast day today. I am sitting in Starbucks listening to Adele and addressing baby shower invites for my best friend amanda's baby shower that is approaching us. I am very proud of how these invites turned out. I designed them myself. I love when I can express myself and my vision graphically.

I hope you all are having a lovely saturday and doing things that you love!

handmade easter cards.

I decided to get crafty this easter and make my own easter cards.  Here is a step by step guide on how you can also save money and get crafty by making your own carrot cards! 

Supplies:

white paper

black, green and orange markers 

scissors

glue

step 1: draw a carrot shape in black sharpie then color in with orange and green marker.











step 2: cut out the carrot you just colored.

step 3: fold a piece of 8.5x11 paper in half long wise. glue carrot cut-out to the edge of the paper, where the seam of the fold is under most of the carrot and some sticking out. (As shown in photo)

step 4: cut out paper around the carrot shape. you then have an adorable handmade carrot easter card. write your message and make someone smile!

leave behind.

This weekend I went to DC to go and see the sketchbook tour! It was a worldwide art project I had taken part in this summer and wanted to see it on the closest stop to home while it was on tour! While in DC we made a day out of it with shopping and great food. We passed a paper and card store and I knew that would be the perfect place to leave behind some of my postmarked with love. cards! I snuck a photo before  I left the store of my leave behinds!

interview with a card designer.

Kathy Loyd- notecard designer.

How would you describe your letter writing style?
    My letter writing style is definitely casual. I tend to write just as if I was telling someone the same thing in person.


What is your favorite thing about writing letters?
    Connecting to the person I am writing to is my favorite thing about writing a letter. I always hope they are as happy to be getting a letter from me as I am them.


How did you get started making personalized notecards?
    I love quotes and I love paper so when I saw some blank note cards at a paper store I used to pass on my way home from work I tried it out and have been making them ever since.

Do you have a favorite quote or saying you like to put on notecards?
    I look for quotes that are specific to the person and what they are going through at the time. So I don't really have a favorite because I like so many. Although, I really like the quote I made up myself. :)


And what Quote is that?
    "Don't be so tied up in your virtual life that you fail to live the life right in front of you."

I notice that you only have colored envelopes you use with your notecards, is that for a specific reason?

    I mostly use color envelopes because color makes me smile and bills always come in white envelopes so when you see color in your mailbox, you know it will be something fun!

If someone wanted to order custom notecards from you, do you do custom orders?

    I just have the basic computer so I just do quotes. If someone wants a specific quote printed, I can do that!

If you are interested in personalized quotation notecards, please feel free to contact me at ellenloyd@gmail.com. I will pass you on to Kathy!

go green.

Information provided by beyond the perf

Introducing the USPS "Go Green" Stamps!


With Go Green, a pane of 16 stamps, the U.S. Postal Service seeks to raise awareness of simple actions each of us can take to conserve natural resources and promote the health of our environment.

Artist Eli Noyes of San Francisco, California, gets the points across in a colorful and playful manner. The art shows both genders and a range of ages, from a small girl turning off a light switch to an adult choosing to walk instead of drive. It conveys a positive message: things we can easily do to have an immediate impact on the air we breathe and the energy we consume.

map brooches.

This is a little off topic from letters and writing, but I wanted to show you all some other projects I have been working on! I have a bunch of maps so I decided to make NYC subway map and Tokyo metro map brooches. I also made some using NYC metro cards too! I am going to list these in my etsy shop in the future possibly!

postmarked with love. identity is coming along!

I have been plugging away at ideas I have in my head all day for my blog and etsy shop! Here are the cards that I made to leave behind places as part of a guerilla marketing campaign I want to do for my blog and shop. I will eventually order the buttons I designed and attach them to the cards! (Even those got a slight makeover today.) One tiny step at a time I guess!

What do you guys think of my official postmarked logo I created? I am kinda loving it!

postmarked buttons.

button design for postmarked with love

Happy Monday Readers! I hope you all had a great weekend and are busy writing and receiving letters! The month is close to half way over!

Last week I thought about the idea of a little guerrilla advertising for my blog. Help spread the word and and get some followers as well as showing people that letter writing is FUN! What do you think of my button design? I am thinking of putting an order in this week... I want to attach them to cards and leave them random places in and out of town that I go!

I am excited about the idea... and who doesn't love a fun button!

I will also include them in stationery packs that are purchased from my etsy shop!

On a recent visit to NYC I went to my favorite paper store in the whole city, Paper Presentation. This store is beyond amazing! If you love stationery and paper or anything to do with letters and such you will want to spend hours in there. I was with my boyfriend and a friend, so time was limited... but I still found some great finds!

I picked up some airmail twine that I can not wait to use on letters and packages. I also got some paper luggage tags to use on presents that I wrap with maps.

I really want to do a craft show one day with all of the handmade stationery that I make, so I bought this adorable little cardboard suitcase to use as a display!

So if you are ever in NYC, I highly recommend you check out this paper store! You will not regret it!

tiny little letters.

If you love sending letters, check out this 

World's Smallest Post Service

It is the cutest thing ever! You pick out the card that you want and type your message. They then print it in the little card, seal it, stamp it and send it on its way... a tiny magnifying glass included.

I recently sent one to my mom (pictured here) and she LOVED IT!

please write: don't phone

While there is mail there is hope.
After we have hung up I can't recall
Your words, and your voice sounds strange
Whether from distance, a bad cold, deceit,
I don't know. When you call I'm asleep
Or bathing or my mouth is full of toast.
I can't think of what to say.
"We have rain"? "We have snow"?
Let us write instead: surely our fingers spread out
With pen on paper touch more of the mind's flesh
Than the sound waves moving from throat to lips
To phone, through wire, to one ear.
I can touch the paper you touch.
I can see you undressed in your calligraphy.
I can read you over and over.
I can read you day after day.
I can wait at the mailbox with my hair combed,
In my best suit.
I hang up. What did you say?
What did you say? Your phone call is gone.
I hold the envelope you addressed in my hand.
I hold the skin that covers you.

-Robert Watson

stationery collection?

I am getting ready to move and as I am slowly boxing up some stuff tonight I conquered my stationery collection. Is it bad that I have so much it is going to have to go into two boxes? At least I am always prepared to write a letter!

speaking of writing letters... I have one down, 5 more to go this week! how is your letter writing going?

stationery giveaway.

I would love to do a stationery giveaway. a package of goodies that includes stationery from my own collection (handmade and bought), stickers and other fun things.

would you all be interested?

have you been writing?

It is the third day of april... have you been writing letters? I have received one in the mail every day so far, and I have a long list of letters to write!

handmade stationery.

I love to make handmade envelopes! Here are some that I made from NYC subway maps! Stationery sets for sale in my etsy shop!
Different cities available:
• NYC subway
• Charleston
• Ocean City, MD
• Asheville
If you don't see any that you want just message me.. I have a TON of maps and can make any of the cities listed above!

Start off your letter writing month with some adorable stationery sets!

 "To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart."    
- Phyllis Theroux

april is national letter writing month.

April is National Letter Writing month! Get out your pens and Get out your paper... it is time to start writing letters! Throughout the whole month I will be posting all sorts of fun and exciting things to promote letter writing month!

I plan on trying to write as many letters as possible this month... you should too!

swap.

I sent off my big fat stuffed envelope today! All decorated and ready to go... I hope she likes it!

I can not wait to get mine in the mail!

If you like getting mail you should sign up on swap-bot.com!

"When you write to your friends, make your letters so beautiful in form and text that they will be read, re-read, and cherished a long time after as a fond memory." - Book of Etiquette, 1922

mail swap.

I signed up for my first mail swap on swap-bot.com. I am excited to send it off in the mail and hope that I get a fun package in return. I am going to go home tonight and see what I can find that my swapper likes to stuff her envelope with! It is fun to get a big fat envelope stuffed with goodies in the mail!

I have some letters I need to write and get sent off. They are on my to do list, so I should probably get busy!

write more letters!

postal door mat.

I am in the process of moving soon, and I think this mat fits everything I love into one! What a way to be greeted at the front door! This might be on my wish list of things to buy for the new place!