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Atemwende

Do you choose only certain kinds of stamps? What kind of stationery do you write on—plain paper or something more 'fancy'? For that matter, are you a typer or a writer? Do you vary your ink color? In all, what special things do you do for the presentation of your letters? 

 

For me, admittedly, I care a lot about aesthetics. In fact, this question was sparked for me as I was contemplating getting the gorgeous, gorgeous 'O Beautiful' stamps to adorn my envelopes. I think that I won't, though, because, hey, if the envelope envetually just gets thrown away (which there is more of a possibility for when writing to prisons/jails, I know), those beautiful stamps are going to go to waste. (And not to mention, on top of their beauty, those stamps are pretty expensive.) (But I have my eye now on the Mississippi statehood stamps over my own state's stamps because they're more aesthetically pleasing to the eye.)

 

Has anyone been using any fun stamps of late?


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ST4s

Back to topic (a blast from the past, bumped courtesy of a random spambot), and not that I’m here to suggest anyone try to defraud the U.S. Postal Service (while the current and atrocious U.S. Postmaster General is trying to blow the place up from the inside), I’ve noticed something about stamps.

When I’ve used stamps with a smooth shiny surface (as opposed to a paper-y, absorbent surface), my more MacGyver-y buds have rubbed-off the postmark and reattached these stamps in letters back to me. It’s kind of a déjà vu thing.

 

 
Thucy82

I think I've said it elsewehere, but I have spent way too much time typing things, so I always write my letters, never type them. I also have this fountain pen I'm very fond of, so I'm glad to be using it. I try to buy nice stamps ; in France they're almost obsolete, you usually go to a machine and have the date and price printed on a generic sticker you then stick on the enveloppe. I hate that, so I buy nice stamps, even though the clerks at the post office sometimes make me see they're annoyed having to show me what stamps they have. I actually asked my penpal about whether he gets the enveloppe and therefore the stamps (but I haven't heard back from him yet). 

@ Athena, I'm actually thinking about writing stories again (but not fanfics). If I ever do, my penpals will clearly have to suffer reading through them ! :-P

 
AnneMariesQUEEN

I’ve written some Lily/Snape fan fic (-: They’re my favorite ship.

 
MG65

You write fanfic? Boy I bet they love that! I’ve only ever read Harry Potter fanfic, no time for it now though.

 
AnneMariesQUEEN

Sometimes I feel really sorry for the mail clerks who read my letters.  “Captain Phasma and General Hux did WHAT”

 
AnneMariesQUEEN

In my defense, they asked me first if I knew any dirty jokes.  And oh man, do I ever (-;

Plus I wanted them to read my Star Wars fan fics.  You know everyone in a galaxy far far away gets lonely from time to time.  Hahaha

 
MG65

Athena you sound sexual letters!! You dirty birdy lol!!!

Me next....get ready pp....

 
ShadeyBiz89

^^^OMG Athena!!! LOL wouldn't that be embarrassing??? Fortunately I don't think it would happen, LOL! That would be awkward and funny at the same time, LOL!

 
AnneMariesQUEEN

I always worry just a little with using any cursing or sexual language, that one day it’ll get stamped with “too sexual return to sender” in big black letters on the envelope and returned and the post office will laugh at me lol 

 
Mateo

@Athena my handwriting is awful but as long as he can read it, I'm fine with that. He hand-writes to me so I think it's only fair I put in the same effort haha. But yeah, I type it out on Microsoft Word first and save it to a USB Stick, then hand-write it out after. So when he writes me back, I always know what he's talking about. Plus, I'm not good at writing on the spot so I like to change things around on the Word Document and finalise it on there before I even begin hand-writing it. If that makes sense haha.

@Atem my PP is in California and they do seem leniant so far. My PP and I write in Spanish sometimes. Well he's trying to teach me haha. But that's not really supposed to be allowed. Cuss words too, we both use a lot of them - as well as sexual language from time to time and as of today, I've not had any letter denied. Also, the reason I add drawn emoji faces in my letters is same reason as you... I don't want to come across too serious 'cause I'm usually playing around but it never conveys well in letters.

 
ShadeyBiz89

I mostly type, when I first started I handwrote everything, then I started getting paranoid about losing things so I mostly type on Google Docs. If it's important I'll type it out first and then write it out, I actually do that more now, as another poster said I too flip from one thing to another and get scattered trying to respond so typing is a way to organize it and then I write it out. So I just did that the other night to my AZ guy in response to his depression, I'm doing both. Everyday letters, I just type.

Special stamps I never used to worry but now sometimes I use themed ones, stamps generally won't be rejected, it's up to you what stamps you use to send the mail. nature ones, animal themed ones, military/armed forces ones. I can't think of them all.

I've sent colored envelopes to CA, TX and AZ, they've gone through no problem in various spots. I had a problem with that in New Mexico, anyone writing there please note that all envelopes HAVE to be white or they won't even open it, automatic RTS, but in the states I know allow it I've continued writing with colored envelopes. I don't intentionally do that I just write with whatever's available but with my New Mexico PP it has to be white so I have no choice.

I'm not very artistic so I don't draw much, my penpals do that, but the content of my letters has been good enough to have long term friendships so that's what matters. My penpals have always said to me, if the letter is good it doesn't matter what you put around it or on it, and it's true, but making it pretty makes it stand out and more fun for them at the same time.

Love this topic, nice input everyone!

 
AnneMariesQUEEN

I had some of the eclipse stamps but used them all up!  I’m going to order some of the hot wheels ones, I’m bored with the cheap-O flag stamps.  I do everything online with the usps, as much as I love my local places, the post office is always out of cool stamps and usually just has peace roses or flags, ha

 
MG65

Ok...the hot wheel ones are so awesome! Seriously thinking about ordering some in the future.

 
ST4s

Coolest stamps EVER: USPS' 2017 "eclipse" stamps. Their first in thermochromic ink. The static image is the sun's corona with a black circle overlaid, but when you heat it up (rub it with your finger) the black dissolves to become an image of the moon. Current fave = hot wheels.

 
MG65

You can get cool stamps? Wahhhhhhht?? Where...how...

What’s the price difference? Lol 

 
ST4s

Part of what I do during the work day sometimes involves desktop publishing and imaging software, which I also have at home. My letters can come off looking like magazine spreads then, not because I'm trying to do that; it just sort of happens, like I'd have to force myself not to. And yes, the right paper, the right envelopes, and cool stamps matter to me too. Occupational hazard, I guess. My handwriting is practically illegible though (ask me about those handwritten envelopes that get marked "return to sender" :-)

 
ashfjshf

I like to type up my responses and then I write it out and the written copy is what I'll send out to them. I find that I can be quite scattered when I respond and that I'll remember things to mention as I go along. So as I type I can just pop everything in the right spots. It means I can keep a copy for myself too.

I try pick out interesting stamps/one's that are somewhat related to something we've discussed. One of my PP's likes to peel them off and keep them in his address book. Apart from that though everything else is pretty standard - plain white envelopes etc. I've never tried coloured envelopes, stickers or stamps in fear that it'll get rejected.

 
Atemwende

I did the same thing and found that inmates aren't really allowed cologne, that what the smell usually is is some kind of essential oil. My penpal used to ruin parts of his letter with it, he would use so much. There were a few times I almost said something about the smell (which, again, wasn't bad, just overpowering), but I kept thinking, eh, well. If that's how they want to present their letters, it's not really hurting me any. Not to mention, I used to do the exact same thing with previous penpals. I had this seed-embedded paper I would use (the claim was that, to plant it, the paper would grow—I wonder if any of those old penpals planted them), and I would often add drops of rose essential oil to it. It made the paper smell like a babydoll's skin. Mmm, babydoll's skin. LOL

But no, they eventually eased off it a little and even for a short while stopped altogether when I had to inform them I'd had that one letter denied for containing perfume. I guess they figured if they kept doing that, they might also get their letters denied.

Strangely enough, I eventually grew accustomed to the smell.

 
AnneMariesQUEEN

That’s good to hear no one was bothered by the smell, Anne Marie !

Atem, I only ever had one letter sent to me with a cologne scent!  It was mellow but yup some of them are definitely strong - I was very curious one day after getting a scented letter if cologne was something sold at most prisons and looked it up, ha.

 
Anne marie HH

Lol @ atem...
Yeah M said the perfume could be smelled round the pod for days..lol...but no one complained..

 
Atemwende

The Ellsworth Kelly stamps available for pre-order, with the various stripes of color, are beautiful also.

 

I was aware of the stickers thing. Very interesting, though, no? So many creative ways to smuggle in drugs, apparently. Drug smugglers really are a creative bunch, if you think about it. Who ever would have stopped to think drugs can be hidden inside of polaroids even.

 

Well. I think those who use perfume/scents (inmates included - I have a penpal who does this and that scent used to be strong enough to potentially knock me out) should keep in mind a little goes a long way. I'm not knocking it, but that stuff gets overpowering fast and seeps into everything. Even a small dot will do. 

 
AnneMariesQUEEN

Anne Marie, that’s an excellent idea about making copies so it’s just a picture of the sticker!  Thanks for the suggestion.  Haven’t sent stickers in but will try that idea of making a copy in the future I’m sure.

 
AnneMariesQUEEN

Hope all works out Catherine!  I wish I could send colored envelopes but I suppose it makes the detection and inspection more difficult.  I’d be curious as to what they mean by craft items too because I’ve sent craft items in.  I guess it depends on what facility it is and what is considered a craft item to them.

 
AnneMariesQUEEN

Atem, yes about the Lennon stamps!  I am a Stones girl over the Beatles any day, I’m ready for some Jagger stamps, ha.  I just opened the USPS app on my phone and see there are -

Hot Wheels, for fans of those cute little race cars

Mister Marvin Gaye Himself (mmm-hmm!)

George W. bush (I just sent my pen pals a funny article about the time he tried to put on a rain poncho at the last inauguration, we were having some former presidential bloopers discussions last month!  I should get these so we can keep smiling about it)

Celebrate stamps (those are pretty)

I’ll look into getting a pilot pen, I spend more money on cheap pens that just run out of ink too quickly !  Thanks !

 
Anne marie HH

Suprisingly enough "Atem" where my fiance is, perfume and lipstick kisses are allowed, but I also stick stickers on paper, then print copies, so it's only a picture of a sticker, since THEY aren't allowed, so far 10 years in, nothing rejected, few photos contrabanded lol

 
catherinelee530

I had a letter returned to me because I put a couple of cute stickers on it. I never thought that would be a problem. My pen pal said that at his prison they had a problem with people smuggling drugs in through stickers before. It just wasn't something I would have thought of. There was a list of other things not allowed which included glitter, colored envelopes, craft items (whatever that might mean), and fragrance. I'm trying to be more aware of using anything "fancy" now. I tired using stamps to make my last letter nicer. Hopefully that won't be returned. It's just ink like the ink it's printed with. I guess I'll just have to cross my fingers. 

 
Atemwende

I've only ever had a letter denied for something that I actually had no control over, which was that it smelled like perfume by the time they opened it to inspect it. I couldn't figure out how, as I never add perfume, but I think it must have been lying with another letter that had a lot of it on it. 

 
Atemwende

I was so excited to see the Snowy Day stamps because I remembered that book from kindergarten and had a wave of nostalgia. I meant to get a sheet of them at Christmastime, but I never did get around to it, and now it's about to be summer all over in the States. Oh, and I was only just looking at the Lennon stamps! The orange ones, right? Thought those were gorgeous also, but I'm not really a fan of Lennon, never really listened to the Beatles, so I thought it would feel a little out of place for me to put those on an envelope... Like wearing the t-shirt of a band I'm not at all familiar with but just liked the design of.

I can't bring myself to use the flag stamps because I don't like how they look. LOL. But they really are always a steal price-wise. I only wish the others would go on sale as much as the flag ones do.

 

Like both of you, I sometimes will type my letters into/on Google Drive (or something like) just so I'll have an extra copy. But the weird thing about me is, I'll often do that and then still write it onto paper, and the handwritten copy is typically what I send. Or, sometimes I naturally end up with copies when handwriting letters, because I'll mess up and then start all over, leaving behind several drafts that I then keep and store away so I'll be able to remember what I wrote.

 

I'm like you, Mateo (weary of mail getting denied for doing fancy things), but I always do certain things anyway and say to myself I'll simply see what happens. Lol. I do check the mailroom guidelines for each facility, but sometimes certain things aren't mentioned at all and I will find myself not very sure of all that's allowed and all that's not. Luckily, I've been finding California to be prrretty lenient. 

You know, I've started using emojis/drawing them though I'm not usually in the habit of using them because my penpals also tend to use them, and I know if I don't use them I have this tendency to come across as too serious, so I make myself remember to draw them here and there.

 

Athena, I have a refillable Pilot pen! So I get to choose from the variety of ink colors Pilot offers. I've grown partial to their caramel color. I want more colors, but I also have a maroon, blue (out of this one), and then a lot of the plain black. I hope to get teal. 

 
AnneMariesQUEEN

I’m jealous of you awesome ones who do handwritten letters, Mateo...my handwriting starts out lovely but then goes downhill when I get tired!   

Out of curiousity you make copies of your letters to save in case something gets lost in the mail or have a good track record of everything going through ? 

 
Mateo

I definitely would choose to write over type but I'm especially weary of my mail being denied if I do anything too fancy like different pen colour or etc. I do, however, include little hand-drawn emoji doodles to show my expressions... and he does the same. And we draw pictures on the empty space on the back/bottom of letters for eachother... or he shows off his calligraphy he practices. 

 
AnneMariesQUEEN

I used The Art of Magic stamps which my Pagan/Wiccan pen pals loved and commented on.  I also used The Snowy Day (from the book) stamps and Star Trek stamps. I love some of the stamps they’ve used...Dragon stamps because I shared my Dany (Mother of Dragons!) cosplay with them and some have used John Lennon stamps.  Lately I’ve been using boring flag stamps because they went on a flash sale at Amazon.  I wish I could send my pen pal/bro some stamps but there is no way his facility would ever let me, they are incredibly strict with all mail.  I’ve gotten mail sent back for having six pages of paper instead of five.  It didn’t weigh too much, it just had too many pages for an approved letter there.  Haven’t seen the Mississippi stamps yet but I’d love to check them out.

I usually print out letters on Google Docs so it saves to my drive.  Sometimes I write handwritten letters but that’s rare.

Envelopes I go for the cheap 5x8 ones that are amazon basics, I send A LOT of mail as my pen pals just like the mail to show up no matter what it is, they fit photos too. They’re a tiny bit see-through but very sturdy.  I’ve dropped some of my mail on the ground in the rain and the envelopes survived it (-;

What color inks do you use, Atemwende?  I might be more into letter writing by hand vs Google docs if I invested in some good pens.