Do you want to send handwritten letters to your military loved one? Maybe they are deployed or stationed far away, but you feel uninspired looking at blank journal paper and sad envelopes. What are you to do? Here are ten ways to add wonderment to the mail you send your military loved ones.
Write with flair!
Head to your local art store to pick up gel pens or a glass quill with inks for an indulgent feel. Regular cards add up quickly; instead, buy a pun-filled or variety pack notecards, so if a quick thought strikes, you have a card to send off.
Roses are red, Violets are blue…
Add a page from a poetry book to your envelope. It could be a love poem or a hilarious haiku about dinosaurs. Another option is to handwrite a poem you adore or create a poem for your letter!
Stick the landing of your letter with stickers.
If you want to add pizzazz, washi tape is an affordable cute tape you can buy to seal your letters. Stickers add personality, so you can’t go wrong whether you choose a “No Drama-Llama” or an extremely sparkly Disney Princess sticker. Add stickers inside for your loved one to add to the letters they send!
Keep it secret, keep it safe!
Letter locking is a form of folding paper to be only read by the receiver, and flat-shaped origami is easily mailable in an envelope. Letter folding in either form can be fun—even when your swooning swan looks more like a pitiful pigeon.
Bring the glamour!
You may be anti-glitter, but you can always add celebratory pieces! Confetti can be store-bought, stamped-out paper, leaves, rose petals, or bio-degradable glitter for a letter-opening flourish.
More is more!
Ask friends to send your loved one mail as well. Perhaps it’s a recipe card or a note about the weather. Handwritten letters don’t need to be five pages long. A simple “Thinking of you” can go a long way in making someone feel seen.
From Paris with love!
You can keep it simple by picking up postcards around you. An art store might have funny ones, and a gas station may have some about the local area. Write in a quick hello and fun fact of the day without the pressure of perfection.
Riddle me this…
Air Force spouse Ali put riddles into her letters to her husband while he was at training, and he’d send guesses and a new riddle in response. Try this out, and add a few for a fun challenge!
Add everything but the kitchen sink.
Cutting out favorite articles, crossword, or the daily puzzles to send off can be a thoughtful addition. You can also add photos from your recent adventures.
It smells like home.
In Legally Blonde, Elle Woods sprays her pink resume with a hint of perfume, saying, “It gives it a little something extra.” Draw a heart with your favorite essential oil, or spritz with your favorite cologne. Scents can bridge memories in our minds and will help your loved one feel like home is in their hands.