Over 50 Fun Things You Can Send Your Pen Pal
Adding little extras into your envelopes is one of the small pleasures of writing to pen pals and sending snail mail. It's fun to surprise and delight your recipients and I think it also adds to the excited anticipation that makes snail mailing so fun!
If you've ever wondered what little gifts you can send to your pen pals (that will fit in an envelope) or you've exhausted your own ideas, I've come up with a great list of over 50 ideas to give you a little inspiration!
Things to Consider Before Choosing a Pen Pal Gift
There's a few things to take into consideration before you start stuffing things into an envelope!
1. Destination
If your pen pal is in another country it's important to know what you can and can't send in the mail to that destination. Agricultural restrictions to help control pests or invasive species may mean that seed packets or even pressed flowers are a no go. There may also be food restrictions that mean no tea bags or chocolate! It's worth doing a little googling first!
2. Postal Requirements
Be aware of postal requirements for letter mail - both in your own country and to the destination country if you're sending internationally. If you go over certain envelope size or weight requirements, your letter may quickly turn into a small parcel or packet that requires extra postage (in some cases it might be a LOT of extra postage!). Some countries may only allow paper or paper goods in lettermail.
If you want to go all in with envelope decoration and go heavy on stickers, washi tape or fancy ephemera like lace or ribbon, you may need to package your letter and envelope inside an undecorated envelope for mailing.
3. Your Snail Mail Recipient
What kind of things is your pen pal interested in? Can you send them something related to those interests or hobbies? If your pen pal's culture is different from yours, it can be fun to send little items that show them what life is like where you live. If this is a new pen pal, stationery items can be a good first gift - you already know they enjoy writing letters!
Over 50 Things You Can Send Your Pen Pal
You're sure to find something here that would be fun to send your pen pal. If I've missed anything, let me know in the comments!
Flat, Paper Items for Pen Pals
- puzzles: crosswords, sudoku, word finds, logic puzzles (for extra fun, make your own!)
- a family recipe (put it on a pretty recipe card) or a recipe clipped from a newspaper or magazine
- blank recipe cards
- a small art print
- postcards (these can also double as an art print)
- vintage used postcards - you can thrift these of find them on ebay. It's fun to read the messages on the back
- die cut stickers
- sticker sheets
- a playlist of your favourite songs or songs on a theme (you can your pen pal can agree on a theme in advance and exchange playlists!)
- a poem
- bookmarks
- a cut out handmade snowflake like you probably made in elementary school
- origami
- a mini handmade booklet or junk journal
- zines or mini comics
- a doodle you've drawn
- cute sticky notes (you don't have to send a whole pack - 5 or 6 is fine!)
- a questionnaire you create (this gives your pen pal something to answer in their return letter - great when you're getting to know each other!)
- blank stationery paper (for more letters!)
- notecards
- vintage postage stamps (used or unused - ebay can be a great resource)
- a stitching, knitting or crochet pattern
- colouring pages
- handmade envelopes in different sizes
- affirmation cards
- travel brochures for fun places where you live or that you've recently visited
- confetti
- paper flags
- if they like junk journaling or collaging, pretty bits of scrap or scrapbooking paper
Small Treats for Pen Pals
- tea bags, instant coffee packs or hot chocolate packets
- sticks of chewing gum
- honey sticks
- flat lollipops
Other Flat Items for Pen Pals That Are Not Paper
- cute paperclips
- pressed flowers or leaves (you may want to encase them in clear tape or laminate them to avoid damage in the mail if they're very fragile)
- seed packets (you may not be able to send these internationally)
- plantable cards or paper with seeds embedded (you may not be able to send these internationally)
- washi tape samples
- polaroids or photos
- vintage photos from thrift shops
- iron on patches
- bits of ephemera like ribbon, lace, string etc
- hair ties (scrunchies may be too bulky)
- temporary tattoos
- cute bandaids
- mini embroidery or cross stitch pieces
- stitch markers (for knitters or crocheters)
- feathers
- fun packaging from something you bought recently
- a drink coaster from somewhere you've been recently
- cute nail files or emery boards
- nail art stickers or gems
- flat key chains
- tiny shells or beach glass
- collectible pins or buttons (make sure they're flat enough for a letter)
- a flat friendships seed bead bracelet
Pen Pal Ideas for Bigger Parcels
These may or may not be too bulky for letter mail depending on where you live and the destination of your letter. They might also require more sturdy packaging.
- a chocolate bar
- snacks your country is known for
- pens
- socks or scrunchies
- candy
- fun jewellery - like a mood ring or cute earrngs
- an old school mix tape or CD (if they have a way to play it!)
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