CARDS FROM CUPID

THIS VALENTINE'S DAY SMOTHER FRIENDS AND FAMILY WITH A LITTLE SNAIL MAIL LOVIN':

Hey Girl! Postcard via Rifle Paper Co.

Your Love Is My Drug via Ashkahn

Cupid Is Stupid via The Social Type

Amour Card via Pei Design

God Only Knows Card via Ashkahn

Hello Valentine Card via Sugar Paper

Forever Postage via Beau Ideal Editions

Red Heart Cards via Paper Source

Pink Leggies via Mr. Boddington's Studio

Only You Card via Scout's Honor Paper

Petite Red Stationery via Carde Blanche

Lookin' Good via Idlewild Co.

Valentine's Perks via Little Low

Hello Gorgeous via Rifle Paper Co.

GOING POSTAL ANNOUNCEMENT

NOTE: AUGUST PEN-PAL ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE SENT OUT NEXT WEEK.

Last November, I set up a Snail Mail Exchange. Within hours of the post being published, emails poured into my inbox with old and new readers eager to participate. Honestly, it made me giddy with delight! Over the past nine months, word has spread about #OFDGOINGPOSTAL and this little social experiment has taken off. Seeing strangers from Melbourne to mid-Missouri connect via card stock and Washi tape makes my heart oh-so happy. Thank you! You've restored my faith in old-fashioned correspondence. I love it!

I wasn't exactly sure how long it would be before the Snail Mail Exchange would run its course. As we get closer to our little guy's arrival in October, I feel it's important that I prioritize some of my to-dos. While it's been a thrill to coordinate #OFDGOINGPOSTAL, I've decided August will be the last month in which I assign pen pals. I say this with a heavy heart, but I feel it's best for the time being. To those of you who have participated with enthusiasm, I appreciate all you've done to spread a little sunshine.

After nine months of colorful card stock and confetti, I think we can all agree that parcels and post will always be best.

IMAGE CREDITS: PEN // SNAIL

A POSTAL PSA

If you're involved in the OFD Snail Mail Exchange, I thought I'd let you in on a few reminders...

• March pen pals have been assigned. The sooner you get your mail off to the recipient, the better!

• I continue to get emails from people who have not been receiving mail from their assigned pen pal. I don't intend to keep tabs on all 150+ participants. Hey, sometimes people forget! Focus on the fact that you brightened someone else's day.

• If you find life is too busy at the moment and you'd like to opt out of the Snail Mail Exchange, my feelings WILL NOT be hurt. Just send me an email and I'll take you off the roster for future months. Give a letter, get a letter—that's the point!

• Whether or not you want to continue to communicate with previous assigned pen pals is YOUR call. You're not obligated.

• To lighten the load on my end, pen pals are randomly selected each month by a list generator. If for some reason you're assigned the same person from a previous month, it must be a sign that you're meant to be besties.

• Flaunt that mail with #OFDGOINGPOSTAL! I'm so impressed by this postal lovin' crew. Keep those Instagram pics coming!

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Snail Mail Exchange, send 'em my way!

IMAGE CREDITS: STATIONERY // PEN // STAMPS // PAPERCLIPS

GOING POSTAL UPDATE

With the first month of the Snail Mail Exchange under my belt and over 100 fabulous participants, it's safe to say I learned a thing or two I wish I'd done differently. That's life, right?! I've got my fingers crossed we can work through the kinks and in a few months it will be operating like a well-oiled machine, my friend — Dave Chapelle's character in You've Got Mail, anyone?! Until then, I thought I'd address some questions and concerns I've received from washi-tape and note-card crazed enthusiasts.

SNAIL MAIL EXCHANGE DETAILS:

• Each month, participants will be given a NEW pen pal.

• I will email you at the beginning of each month with your new pen pal's mailing address.*

• Mail should be sent to pen pals within 1-2 weeks of receiving their info. The sooner, the better, so you don't forget.

• Whether or not you continue to be pen pals with someone is up to you! You're only required to write them once.

• I'm am participating in the Snail Mail Exchange. Like the rest of you, I'm assigned one pen pal each month. I wish I could send EACH of you mail once a month, but I'm certain my right hand would fall off and I'd probably curse stationery and stamps. Oh, the horror! In my next life, I'm SO being a paper-loving octopus that owns a letterpress.

• Pen pals are assigned in a grab bag kinda way. You will be sending a piece of mail to someone DIFFERENT than the person you'll receive a letter from. Logistically, it was easier for me this first time around.

• Several participants have yet to receive mail from their December pen pal. If for some reason you didn't get around to sending a piece of snail mail, hop to it! Those still waiting on mail, please keep in mind that some pen pals are from overseas and it may take a little longer to send and receive mail.

• That being said, I know the holiday season was crazy busy for all of us. If you find that life's too nutty to participate in the exchange right now, that's alright! Just email me and you can opt out. My feelings won't be hurt. It will help me ensure we have participants involved that actually want to send and receive mail.

• I can't police every participant to ensure s/he has mailed his/her pen pal. With over 100 people involved, it's just too much. If for some reason you get paired with a participant that does not send you mail, I apologize in advance. Consider it an opportunity for you to spread a little joy to someone else. I'll cross my fingers that I pair you with someone the following month who is trustworthy and timely.

• Because several people haven't received mail from their December pen pal, I'm going to hold off on sending January's pen pal assignments until the end of next week. I want to give everyone a chance to get their snail mail out before inundating you all with a new contact.*

• I created the Snail Mail Exchange in an effort to help disconnect from the digital world and bring postal back. While many of the participants blog, Instagram, tweet, etc., I'm not responsible for giving you all of your pen pal's online info. We're disconnecting, my friends. It's part of the fun!

• With over 100 snail mail enthusiasts involved, I have not conducted any background checks. If you don't feel comfortable exchanging addresses, then don't be involved. I can't vouch for everyone, but I would like to believe that those who emailed me to sign up for the exchange did so with the best intent.

• Not sure what to write? Introduce yourself, if you'd like. Share an inspirational quote or a funny joke. You can make this whatever you'd like! There are no rules. If writing isn't your thing, doodle or stuff that envelope with confetti. It's okay to keep things simple. The point is to make others smile when they find an envelope in their mailbox.

• Clueless about the Snail Mail Exchange? Click here for more details.

• To those currently involved, thank you for participating! Creating this little postal pick-me-up was definitely a highlight to my 2013. Thank you for your continued patience as I try to figure out all of the logistics.

• For those interested in bragging about your snail mail on Instagram or Twitter, feel free to use: #OFDGOINGPOSTAL.

Phew, I hope I covered everything. Are there any additional questions or concerns?

Do you like having a random pen pal, or would you prefer to swap mail with the same person for the assigned month? 

*January pen pal assignments will be emailed to participants next week.

P.S. If this was Andy Cohen's Bravo Clubhouse and the word of the night was mail or pen pal, we'd all be blitzed!

A Postal Pick-Me-Up

It's no secret that I'm a sucker for snail mail. It not only gives me a reason to buy snazzy card stock and washi tape, but sitting down to send a little postal pick-me-up to dear friends and family brings me oodles of joy. Since I started blogging, my list of pen pals has almost doubled, and I LOVE it! It's a nice little escape from the typical email, tweet, or Instagram comment — a personal way for me to connect with others and unplug from all the digital madness. I've received so many notes of encouragement, it's a little bit overwhelming. I feel truly blessed to have connected with so many people who delight in something as silly as a colorful envelopes, the occasional handful of confetti, and thoughtful words. It can be as simple as "I'm rooting for you!", to a favorite quote, or corny joke. I've learned that random pieces of mail with positive messages are like sunshine for my soul. Sending snail mail is almost as fabulous as receiving it. I love having a reason to skip to my mailbox only to find an unexpected envelope from a friend.

Since this brings ME so much happiness, I figured it was time to share the joy. Don't you want to receive a little snail mail sunshine? I think it's time for One Fine Day to go postal. Many of us connect via blogs, Twitter, and Instagram. It's obvious we have a lot in common. You like stationery, I like stationery. I think we should be pen pals. Whattaya think? 

How it works:

1. Anyone interested in joining the mail madness can email me your address. 
2. Each month, I'll pair you with a bloggie friend in which you will send a surprise piece of snail mail.
3. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Just grab a cute note card and get creative.
4. Don't know the person? No problem. This is a random act of kindness — a reason to make someone smile.
5. Doodle a favorite quote or joke. Fill that envelope with a silly amount of confetti. Say "Howdy!"
6. This shouldn't feel like another task to add to your To-Do list. It should be fun! We're bringing postal back!

Happy Monday! I hope this gives you something to smile about.

IMAGE CREDITS: Snail Mail // Fancy Stamps // Confetti // Vintage Stamps // Happy Note // Le Pen // Good Things Doodle // Envelope // Heart // Washi Tape // Bow Paper Clips 

Valentine's Day Cards

I've never been one to turn down an opportunity to send correspondence, especially if it's bedecked in hearts. Enjoy this round-up of my favorite Valentine's Day cards. I'm sure there's something suitable for your special someone!

• Happy Valentine's Day by Mr. Boddington's Studio // I adore the punchy polka-dots.
• Always & Forever by Sycamore Street Press // So simple and lovely.
• Me, on Valentine's Day by Mr. Boddington's Studio // A gimlet for the gal!
• You + Me Forever by Sugar Paper // These guys can do no wrong. I love each of their pieces.
• Sending You My Love by Rifle Paper Co. // One of my favorites!
• Blossom Heart by The Paper Source // I wouldn't mind keeping a set of these in my stationery inventory.
• Happy Valentine's Day by Quill & Fox // My notecards arrived yesterday. I can't wait to fill them out!
• Dots & Heart by Fox + Anchor // Hearts and polka dots. Why didn't I think of that? A perfect combo.
• I Stinkin' Love Your Face by 9th Letter Press // I'm smitten! I wish I would've stumbled upon it sooner.
• Be Mine by Carolyn Suzuki // Whimsical and cute.
• Sweet Valentine Wishes by Sugar Paper // Scalloped edges and that precious envelope liner. I die.

P.S. A snazzy Valentine's Day Gift Guide is on deck for Thursday. It's never too early to start dropping hints...