graphitediaries
Pencils
Posts: 61
Looking for Penpals?: Yes. Global penpals welcome
Country I live in is: Quebec
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Post by graphitediaries on Jan 20, 2022 2:58:20 GMT
Well I'm finally building up a fair amount of correspondence and want to start organizing the storage. Right now it's all just in a box, roughly stacked in the approximate order in which I received it.
How do you store yours?
I'm thinking that since something I really value on my letters is the stamps. I'm not necessarily a stamp collector, but I feel like I would really like a way to more easily locate both letter writers and stamps, and since these typically tend to come from the same place (an Irish penpal will send me Irish stamps), I might try to sort and store letters first by country, then by sender. Any opinions?
What about storage solutions? I want some boxes that can store an A5 or slightly larger envelope, as this is the largest I would typically get. Any sources on where to get affordable boxes for storing letters (ideally with lids and with dividers available)?
Looking forward to any tips!
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Post by sunshine2170 on Jan 20, 2022 7:44:20 GMT
I use shoeboxes. Put seperators in between them and store the letters alphabetically by first name. After that i will give each person their own box if it gets to that stage.
I collect stamps but I dont remove them from my regular penpal envelopes or decorated envelopes, I can't bear to deface the envelope LOL
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graphitediaries
Pencils
Posts: 61
Looking for Penpals?: Yes. Global penpals welcome
Country I live in is: Quebec
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Post by graphitediaries on Jan 20, 2022 19:04:11 GMT
I use shoeboxes. Put seperators in between them and store the letters alphabetically by first name. After that i will give each person their own box if it gets to that stage. I collect stamps but I dont remove them from my regular penpal envelopes or decorated envelopes, I can't bear to deface the envelope LOL Some shoeboxes are a good size, but the problem is they're inconsistent. I only buy maybe one pair of shoes every year or so, and the boxes are never the same size. Would love to find some shoebox-like boxes that I could buy a stack of so they were all the same shape/size.
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Post by sunshine2170 on Jan 21, 2022 7:39:16 GMT
I go to shoe shops and ask them for the boxes, then I get the same size ones, they are always happy to get rid of them
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Post by Rouge on Jan 22, 2022 19:59:33 GMT
Well, I currently use old biscuit or other stuff metal boxes that my parents and friends and family bring me when they can. I also use shoeboxes. As it is not always easy to get, I sometimes sit on my boxes to close them, but now I have one box after I'll have filled the current one.
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Post by penguy on Jan 22, 2022 22:56:57 GMT
I sometimes use envelope boxes. I make notecards using some of my print images and store the cards in the envelope boxes. So I have empty boxes on hand. You might check with your local stationery store or printshop and see if they have boxes they have emptied or will save for you. The only problem is not everyone uses standard envelopes some use A6 size some, business size envelopes and then there are some letters that come in oversize envelopes. I looked on Amazon and found some smaller plastic boxes with lockable lids that looked like they might work.
I have a basket 10 inches wide, 6 inches high, and 11 inches deep that I put letters I've answered in. I put them in in alphabetical order so if I need to refer to something from a previous letter I can find it. The basket will hold about 150 letters. When the new year rolls around I try to find something to put the letters in. I haven't found a really good answer either.
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Post by katiel on Jan 23, 2022 2:48:11 GMT
I actually use photo organizer boxes, which are basically like shoeboxes, but sturdier. I got a whole bunch at the craft store when they were on sale for 2 for $5. So I just put my letters in there, in chronologically after I reply. At the end of the year, I divide up all the letters by sender and add them to last year’s piles, tied with ribbon or string, and store them in a bigger box. So I have a nice bundle of letters from each of my penpals. I like this method because it’s easy to go back and find a specific letter if I need to.
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Post by InsomniaQueen on Jan 24, 2022 1:01:06 GMT
graphitediaries, I store mine alphabetically in binders. Postcards or those who use smaller writing paper are in photo sleeves and larger letters go in plastic document sleeves. I tried various iterations of boxes, but the just didn't work for me. They eventually devolved into chaos and took up more room than I could spare. When I answer a letter, I slip it into its sleeve in its binder. I do save the stamps from my letters (and cool stickers, wax seals, washi tapes, etc) and use them for collage art in my letter log and art journal.
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Post by vertolive on Jan 29, 2022 20:42:25 GMT
I really enjoy putting random parts of letters I get (with no identifying information) into library books or books I sell or donate.
I adore the mental image of a stranger reading something weird out of context. eg “This morning I woke to the spectacle of a Pterodactyl dismembering a dolphin in our palm tree.” <— some of you got that letter.
Don’t hate me.
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Post by emeraldscribbles on Feb 3, 2022 21:25:19 GMT
I keep mine in 3-ring binders; each letter and envelope has its own page protector sleeve.
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Post by penguy on Feb 16, 2022 23:48:42 GMT
How many letters can you put in the 3 ring binder?
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Post by penguy on Feb 16, 2022 23:49:00 GMT
How many letters can you put in the 3 ring binder?
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graphitediaries
Pencils
Posts: 61
Looking for Penpals?: Yes. Global penpals welcome
Country I live in is: Quebec
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Post by graphitediaries on Feb 17, 2022 17:59:21 GMT
How many letters can you put in the 3 ring binder? That was sort of my question - I like the easy accessibility of that but it would get outrageously expensive for me as I’m currently getting 10-15 letters per week. As it were I’ve settled for now on office file boxes and letter size pocket-file folders. It accommodates all the various sizes without having to fold anything up and is flexible for changing around storage methods down the road, plus not too expensive.
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