15 Pinterest-worthy pen pal letter ideas
Published on 30 June 2020 4 min readThese Pinterest-worthy pen pal ideas have inspired us to revive the disappearing art of letter writing. Pen pal letters are a wonderful way to connect with new and old friends, and are a great way to get creative! As makers, we know better than most how important it is to preserve traditional crafts and how to find the joy in making something with your own two hands - so why not send your pen pal some snail mail!
1. Grab the stationary essentials
Like any craft, you need to stock your stash before you get started! To send your pen pal a letter, you’ll need some essential supplies! Of course, there’s the basics: letter writing paper, envelopes and stamps. But we’re thinking about the fun coloured card, embellishments and other bits and pieces to make your letter extra special.
Rookie Mag has a fantastic roundup of all the essentials and great ideas for other goodies you can include in your pen pal letter.
2. Funky flip books
A fantastic pen pal idea is to make a flip book! Letter writing doesn’t need to be boring, this is your chance to get creative! Lost Art Revived show off the funky little flip book their pen pal sent to them.
3. Adorable air mail themed letters
This super cute pen pal idea we found on Pinterest is such a fun way to send your pen pal a letter! Using brown paper envelopes, washi tape and stickers and stamps, you can stuff each envelope with goodies.
4. Box envelopes bursting with goodness!
Being a pen pal isn’t just letter writing.Sending them little gifts is a fantastic way to share the love too! These box envelopes from Paper and Landscapes are a cute pen pal idea that makes it easy to slip in extra treats!
5. DIY squash book
Basic pen pal letters can get a little boring after a while, but this tutorial from Seven Pink Owls on YouTube shows you how to make a squash book! Made from square paper, this tutorial will give your snail mail a stylish upgrade your pen pal won’t be expecting.
6. Snap a picture!
If you have a Polaroid camera, snapping a few pictures to send your pen pal and include in your letter is a super sweet way of sharing a little snap of your life. Create a flipbook of Polaroids, or just include one or two in your next letter like Camille Ava has on Pinterest.
7. Customise your envelopes
Create an extra special letter by customising the envelope! There are so many ways to do it: washi tape, paper hearts, hand lettering - the options are endless and Oh So Beautiful Paper blog has a great list to keep you inspired.
8. Seasonal snail mail
Why not theme your pen pal letters around the seasons? This lovely autumnal letter by Stellaire embraces the warm cosy tones of autumn making for a super cute pen pal idea!
9. Pen pal parcels
Janette Lane’s adorable pen pal parcels take letter writing to a whole new level! Using cute paper and some embroidery thread you can make a little pouch to pop your pen pal letter in.
10. Easy coin & mason jar envelopes!
Liz from The Paper Project on YouTube has created these super unique envelopes, which would be perfect to send your pen pal!
11. Pretty pen pal inspo
Root and Branch Paper have a gorgeous guide on how to be a pen pal with loads of inspiration for your next letter too.
12. The wonders of washi tape
If you’re a pen pal on a budget, washi tape is about to be your new best friend. We’re loving iamdoe’s washi tape letter, just by using super affordable washi tape you’ve got a cute pen pal letter ready to go. Washi tape comes in so many patterns, styles and finishes, it’s such an easy pen pal idea to execute and it’ll look fab too!
13. Cute pen pal ideas
Just need some inspiration to get you going? She the Spy has some really beautiful pen pal letter ideas in a gorgeous muted aesthetic. Give your letters a vintage feel with pressed flowers or tie them up with string!
14. A wash of watercolour
Watercolours are a great way to add a little something special to your pen pal letter to make it totally Pinterest worthy. A Farm Girl’s Life has used washes of watercolour on her envelopes for a little splash of colour, and delicate hand painted designs to give it a personal touch.
15. Stylish snail mail
Jordan Clark on YouTube has lots of great pen pal idea videos, but this one shows you how to make the most stylish snail mail we’ve ever seen!
With so many cute pen pal ideas out there, reviving the lost art of letter writing is the perfect project to get you creating, and these pen pal letter ideas should give you plenty of inspiration to keep you writing!
