30 Ideas for Letters to Write and Send
Although I design custom memory-keeping projects today, I started my graphic design business back in 2008 designing custom stationery and invitations, and I've always loved all things paper and snail mail.
But in this day and age, we don't need to communicate ordinary stuff in a letter - that's what email and text are for.
I still believe there's something special about a handwritten letter, and as my work has transitioned to custom memory-keeping projects, I find I'm even more convinced of a letter's impact over time.
So I spent some time brainstorming creative letters to send - to friends, family, acquaintances, even strangers.
Read on for a month's worth of creative, letter-writing inspiration.
1. Write to a friend whose kiddo has an upcoming birthday. Tell her she's doing a great job.
2. Drop a couple of stickers / a bookmark / a journaling card (i.e. something light and flat) into an envelope with a little note and send off a mini-gift to a friend.
3. Send a note to someone you admire online (look for a PO Box on their website or email them and ask).
4. Write to a niece / nephew / friend's kiddo. Kids don't get enough mail!
5. Cut a recipe out of a magazine (or print one online) that you recently made and send it to your mom / aunt / grandma and let them know you thought they might like it.
6. Write a nice note to your kid's principal / teacher / head of school. Those folks get a lot more criticism and complaints than praise.
7. Write a note to your mail carrier and tape it to your mailbox. Do you know your carrier's name? I met ours (Terry) this winter, and now he always knocks if he's delivering something fun.
8. Write to someone far from home: traveling or living overseas, in the military, Peace Corps, on mission, etc.
9. Write to a grandparent with updates on your life.
10. Write to a friend you haven't seen in awhile.
11. Send a joke to your sister / brother / friend.
12. Buy a postcard in a local shop or drugstore and mail it to someone who's moved away to let them know your city / town misses them.
13. Write a note to your significant other or roommate and hide it in their car / bag / coat pocket. It took my husband like four days to find the last one I wrote him!
14. Send a note to celebrate an anniversary (figure out who in your family knows these dates!).
15. Check your calendar on Facebook - it should list your friends' birthdays. Send a card to someone this month who isn't expecting it.
16. Write to a family friend who knew you as a child. Let them know what's happening with you - maybe even enclose a recent photo of you or your family.
17. Send a note to a friend and enclose a stamped, addressed envelope or postcard to be sent back to you.
18. Write a note to someone you know who's pregnant and wish her well.
19. Celebrate a friend's recent accomplishment (running a half marathon, getting a promotion at work, etc).
20. Send another thank you for a gift you (or your kid) received letting the gifter know you're still using and loving it.
21. Write a thank you note to a doctor / dentist with whom you recently had a check-up thanking them for the visit.
22. Along those lines, write a note to a doctor you had to see awhile ago. Send them an update (Moms: I'll bet your OB would love to see a recent pic of that baby they delivered a few years ago!).
23. Send a note to your elementary school letting them know where you are today and what you're up to, or send a note to a specific teacher if they're still at the school.
24. Write to a co-worker or friend congratulating them on a recent professional accomplishment.
25. Send a new mom a note of encouragement.
26. Write (or email) someone who recently wrote an article or blog post you enjoyed.
27. Mail an old photo to someone - #tbt via snail mail (if they know what tbt is, then tell them to open it on Thursday!).
28. Buy a $5 gift card to a coffee shop and mail it to a friend.
29. Take one of the cards / pieces of stationery that has been sitting in your stash forever and send it to your best friend from high school.
30. Write a note to yourself. List all the things you want to have done this year. Seal it and write "open on new year's eve" on the outside of the envelope. Tuck it in your night stand and put a reminder on your calendar for that day to check it. #motivation
Although I no longer design stationery, I still love writing and saving letters as part of my memory-keeping projects.
You can read more about why I think memory-keeping matters or how to get started memory-keeping if you haven't done so already (or if you have that dreaded "I'm behind" feeling!).
Are you up for writing more letters this month? Do you have any creative ideas for letters to write and send? Leave a comment and let me know!
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