For today’s #BringBackPaper post I thought I’d show you how to make a pocket letter, the latest fun, crafty creation sweeping the snail mail world.
Have you heard of pocket letters? I hadn’t until I received one from one of my lovely pen pals, Sarah, and I then discovered this is becoming a big thing.
Check out the #pocketletter hash tag on Instagram and you’ll find so many pretty pictures and ideas over there and visit the official Pocket Letters website.
I knew that I’d have to have a go myself, so I thought I’d share with you how I made a pocket letter, all you’ll need, the kind of things you can include and how it all works.
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How to Make a Pocket Letter
Buy The Sheets For A Pocket Letter
The pocket sheet itself is a trading cards pocket so you will need to order some of these first, or hunt around your house if you have kids who collect cards!
I do have a fair few stationery supplies, such as paper, washi, pens, stickers, stamps and so on, so I sat down with my various snail mail bits and pieces and got ready to create…
Creating a Pocket Letter
I started by filling each of the pockets with pretty backing paper.
I have these lovely little craft paper squares which I thought would be prefect for this. Don’t worry if you’ve not got anything like this, though.
I can also see that using things like wrapping paper, old cards, brown craft paper or magazines would all be very effective. You’ll need to cut them 9cm x 6.5cm.
Once that’s done you can get on with filling your pockets with anything you’d like.
I’d recommend making one of them a letter or short note…
And I think mail tags are always fun…
And then stickers, positive quotes, teabags, snacks, bookmarks, cut-outs, embellishments, twine, buttons, washi, tags, paperclips, anything goes!
Play around with post-its to label, use washi, cut letters out, whatever you want to do. Then fold it up and pop it in an envelope to your lucky recipient, and be sure to pretty up that envelope, too.
It took longer than it would for me to write a normal letter, of course, as I did write a letter here along with all of the other bits and bobs.
When I started I saw it as all a bit time consuming, but by the end I was thinking up ideas for my next ones, as I really go into it.
I like the idea of using one of my gardening magazines to back it and doing a flowery themed pocket letter, so I think I’ll give that a whirl next. And then I can see something like a woodland theme looking great and colour themes, like pretty in pink or monochrome would be effective.
I think once you have a go yourself, lots of ideas will come to you, too. I’m not all that creative normally, yet once I actually got going it was nice and easy to do.
What do you think of it? Are you tempted to have a go yourself?
Are you ready to pen pal? Yes!! If you want to get a fun mail pack, you could get The Pen Pal Pack here and you can be writing within ten minutes, hooray!
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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links
Very adorable! I can see even cutting the sheet in half and doing mini ones if time or resources were limited. I think I’m going to put this on my to-do list!
Yep, anything goes! Glad you like it, and do share if you make one 🙂
This is a wonderful idea. I could use my project life page protectors for this. Genius!
Yes! Glad you like it x
I’ve seen vlogs about people receiving these but wasn’t sure what they actually were so thanks for telling me! They seem awesome but I’m not sure I’m creative enough to get into them.
I wouldn’t call myself creative, but it was actually good fun once I got going! Happy to share 🙂
I’ve never heard of them before, but what a great idea! So cute. I’m definitely in favour of bringing back paper, it harks back to a simpler time!
They are pretty and a bit different, too. Oh yes, bring it back!
These are a lovely idea. They remind me of the ATC – Artist trading cards – a few years ago. Basically just small decorated/drawn cards, and kept in pockets like this. They were for swapping, and I made a few although never wanted to let them go!
Oh, that’d be the danger, I see that!
Glad you like it. Send it to any friend, bound to make their day 🙂 x
That’s a brilliant idea – have pinned and will definitely have to give this a try! 🙂
Lovely! They are fun to do x
I LOVE this! I’ve just joined #postcircle so I perfect reason to go through my stationery (and maybe buy some more 😉 ). x
Brilliant! Glad you love it, have fun! (oh, and there’s always a need to buy more stationery ;-)) x
Jocelyn!! So adorbs love the page…i love writing! And have about 6 new penpal from facebook…but I literallh have no stionary nor where to get any! No cute stickers no stamps no nothing! I print out cute paper from google nd decorate and draw on envelopes but thats it! Where can i look online? Amazon has the suckiest choices! Help please
Thanks! Etsy is always worth a look and I’d also say pound shops or dollar shops, depending on where you are, a great. This might help – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKk2CEgkiu4&t=58s
I saw these months ago on IG but dismisses the idea as being something I’d probably be really rubbish at but you’ve really proves to me it’s so easy and that I’d love it! Love to start doing this x
It is easy, you would love it! x
I hadn’t heard of or seen these until I saw you mention them but it’s definitely something I’d like to make time for and I can think of one penpal in particular that would probably love to receive one! 🙂
Hope you have fun with it then! x
I’m thinking about getting started with Pocket Letters so it was great to see just how they are put together. They sound like so much fun both to send and to receive.
They really are, and simple enough to do, too. Have fun with them!
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GREAT post! Would love if you mentioned my website and how people can get a free checklist on all the details about forming swaps, finding pals to swap with, etc. http://www.pocketletters.com
Hugs,
Janette Lane
Pocket Lettersâ„¢ Creator
Will do, thanks!
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This is so lovely. I have done a set of “Open Me When” letters as part of a Christmas gift this year. I know its early, but there is a lot of preparation in them. I will definitely give this a try.
They’re easy to do once you get going on them.
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I’ve been making PL for over 2 years now and I love them!!
They’re so pretty, aren’t they?!
Just found your site and love reading all about your love of snail mail. Regarding the Pocket Letters, how do you mail these? Do they fold over a few times or are they too bulky? What size envelope would they fit in? Thanks!
Hi and welcome! I normally post them in an A5 envelope, as they get a bit too bulky any smaller than that. Have fun!