The Great Google+ Pen Pal Challenge

In celebration of National Card & Letter Month (April 2014), I invited the Google+ community to write me a letter and in turn, I would write each of them a letter and send with it a card from StationTEEN.

I was touched and overwhelmed with the responses. In fact, I am still answering some of my new found pen pals.This project is one that made me realize that I, a designer of cards and stationery, get caught up in the day to day of emails, my website and social media sites. I was reminded how much I really love building relationships with people through handwritten letters. I hope all who participated had a wonderful time.

Within a week of posting the challenge, letters began showing up in my mailbox from all over - New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, California, Maine and Whales to name a few.

                            

This masterpiece was designed and mailed to me by the incredibly talented, +Matthew Price, owner of Octopus Creative Design in Wales. This incredibly cool design is proof that letters aren't boring and that letters can be fun, surprising and exciting.

Sending handwritten letters are not only fun, they are a way to express yourself in a way that doesn't come through in an email. You don't don't have to buy fancy stationery and your handwriting doesn't have to be perfect. In fact, your handwriting is what makes your letter different than all other letters. You can get creative by decorating the envelope or the paper that you write on using magic markers or colored pencils. Try including photos, writing a poem or making a collage. If you buy or make a note card, why not write your letter on a piece of notepaper and include it within the card?

My most unique pen pal is, Ivy the Pit Bull.Her owner is Katherine who runs a fabulous company, Kotow Content Marketing. Their second letter is shown above. A great example of self expression. 

Writing letters enables you to develop deeper relationships wether it be with new and old friends as well as family. Do you remember how exciting it was to open your mailbox and see a letter addressed to you? You won't believe how happy you can make someone feel just by sharing a small part of your live with someone this way.

When is the last time you wrote a letter? 

How Writing Thank You Notes Can Strengthen Your Brand

I’ve been designing and writing thank you notes since childhood. Saying thanks was something that was required of me by my parents in daily life, whether spoken or written. I found that over time the practice of writing thank you notes became easier for me than expressing myself through words.

This practice is powerful. It enables you to say more than thank you. It’s an opportunity to show appreciation on a deeper level, detailing your feelings about the receiver and what they may have done for you or how they have enriched your life in some way.

Have you ever received a thank you note from your boss or written one to your employee or customer? Either way, you must know that the thank you note is powerful. Even in business!

In this digital age where most people email and text, handwriting certainly shows the human side in us all. The handwritten thank you note catches the recipient by surprise. The note can immensely boost an employee or customer’s self esteem, leaving him or her feeling valued and appreciated. You might even solidify a relationship with a client.

Over the years I have kept many thank you notes. When I read them, I am left with the same emotions that I had when i read them long ago.

If you can’t afford to give your employees raises or your clients a holiday gift, why not write each of them a thank you note that makes them feel appreciated? You won’t regret it and you will in turn be remembered and appreciated. Remember, we all want to see the human side of people and the thank you note lets us show that side.

How to Write a Thank You Note

A hand-written thank you note is the ideal way to show your appreciation and trumps an immediate e-mail or simply saying thanks in person. Here are some do's and don'ts to guide you through the thank you note writing process.

Thank You Note Do's

~ Handwrite the thank you note. Many think that you must write in cursive but honestly, just writing by hand shows that you care and is more meaningful to the recipient than you may realize.

~ Buy stationery or a card. Sure, it may be easier to type a thank you on your computer but it looks impersonal. Purchase a thank you card or personalized stationery with corresponding envelopes which look better than a piece of paper folded up and stuffed into a plain envelope.

~ Personalize your message. If the person gave you a gave you a silk scarf, don't simply thank them for it, but add, "I plan on wearing it to my sister's wedding." If you are going to see that person in the future, tell the that you are looking forward to that particur event. Also, don't be afraid to show your feelings or enthusiasm toward that person.

~ Send the note, even if it's late. Don't feel embarrassed. Better late than never!

~ Take your time. You might want to write a first draft on a piece of paper to ensure that you are saying exactly what you want. It can be frustrating to have to throw away a card or piece of stationery due to a grammatical error. Use a nice fine point pen so that the ink won't smudge or bleed. Take your time to write as legibly as you can.

~ Send thanks for trivial things. You might be thankful that someone gave you good advice or that the neighbor brought in your mail while you were away. A thank you note can strenghten relationships and sometimes ensure that you will get the help of that person in the future.

Thank You Note Don'ts

~ Don't be stiff. Show your personality and write the way you speak. It's okay to be humorous or even sarcastic as long as you aren't insulting the gift.

~ Don't refer to specifica amounts of money. Instead, mention how you might use the money, especially if you know that the giver will approve of your money plans.

~ Don't assume that an in-person thank you is enough. Remeber that when you thank someone, you are attempting to do it in the most personable way as possible. Thanking the hostess at the time of the party is fine but just remember that your gratitude gets lost in the excitement. Taking the time to write shows respect for the giver and shows how much you truly care.