For E-Pals or Snail Mail or Whatever!  

Creating Unique Stationery for Anything!

Deneale K. Williams, Yahoo Contributor Network
Jun 25, 2010

Letter writing has became a thing of the past lately, least wise through snail mail. And just in case you are wondering what snail mail is- that is the old fashioned way, with the mail man.

 

 

 

However, if you are into the Internet and emailing, you may still consider yourself a letter writer, and still keeping in contact with friends and family; just like it with the easier way- type, point and click!

Either way, did you know that there are still reasons to make and create your own unique designs of stationery, that can make your letters stand out just a little bit more? Not to mention, you can also use your stationery for other things such as letter heads and notes when slipping a note into the kids book bag, or whatever else you may deem necessary? Maybe even a fax cover letter, there's a thought!

And these unique designs can be scanned and saved into your computer and even used in your email!  There are so many things you can do now of days with technology, you would be amazed, if you aren't already!

For instance, if you have a favorite photo of you and your family, you can take it into a photo shop editor and fade it to a very faint, almost not even there picture, and use it as the background on the paper, or even fade it, and black and white it. Maybe not even the whole sheet, but maybe just the bottom corner. Trust me, it will get noticed and complimented.

Now if you don't want to fade your favorite photo, or even black and white it, you can shrink it and put it in the bottom corner, top or whatever. You can even design yourself some matching labels. Several photo shop programs have that option, and so does the Microsoft works word processor program.

Better still, here is a fun idea, that involves craft and your children. How about giving the kids some crayola paints and letting them do their own hand prints. (This requires washable paints, water, and doesn't even require paint brushes!) If you have several kids, give them each their own color, and let them do one print each, one after another, laying a hand, over atop of one another, letting the other hand show through by moving it over an inch or two depending on how many children you have. You can decide the width. Let this dry, thoroughly.
After it has dried completely lay it on the scanner, and scan it. This, you can also with whatever program you use, fade it and use as stationery. You can also print it, using "fast draft" which will use a lot less ink and appear lighter and you can write on it with a dark sharpie. Providing you used colors like yellow and pinks, and light blues. Something that is able to be seen through with a dark color and maybe a thicker marker.

This project is fun for your children, and they will enjoy using this project as paper to write "you" a note on. Every time they write you a note they might decide to say, "Hey Mom remember when we did this?" Especially if you save it to your hard drive, and later down the road when they are older, they can use it again.
Another fun project with stationery, is rubber stamping. And this to, you can scan and save to your hard drive on your computer. One advantage to rubber stamping, is you can also color them in after inking them onto paper first. There is even another step, where people emboss with rubber stamps, that however is something that cannot be saved to your hard drive, because embossing is textures and raised surfaces, with the stamps. (I however, have not yet learned how to do it, I want to. But have not yet been fortunate enough.)

 

Rubber stamps require ink pads, which come in a variety of colors, and sometimes even scents. You can get colored pencils or crayons too, and like I suggested color them after stamping, and letting the stamped section dry. Otherwise the ink will smear.

Imagine what all of your email friends and family will then think when they see all of your new stationery. They will be amazed, and in awe. You will be getting compliments for days! The kids will pull notes from their backpacks, and their friends will look at it, "Wow your Mom is cool." Just because the note looks like you put a lot of time and effort into it.

It's the little things that make the difference! Why not take the time to be different?

Published by Deneale K. Williams

Q&A to Consider BEFORE You Write to Prisoners!

Q&A's to Consider BEFORE You Write to Prisoners

For Anyone Who Might Be Interested!

Deneale K. Williams, Yahoo Contributor Network
Jun 25, 2010

 

Because I once was an avid pen paler, I have had several people ask me about writing to prisoners. I wish to respond to those questions here, to benefit others, who might have the same questions in the near future. ~~~~~~~
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Q. Have you yourself ever written to prisoners?
A. Yes, several in fact.

Q. Did you have any kinds of problems with the prisoners, like them wanting nude photos or you to talk sexual to them, or anything along that nature?
A. I laid down ground rules from the get go. I explained I was married, and had children. I also explained that I felt I was writing them, to help them pass the time, which I "sort of" felt bad for them. Being away from their families and what not. Not that I approve of them doing crimes, try to understand what I am saying here. But yes, I did have one who insisted on still trying to pursue me sexually, I stopped writing, he continued, and I went to his warden. After that, he wrote again threatening me, I copied the letter and sent it to the warden, and never heard from him again.

Q. What made you want to write to prisoners?
A. I am and always have been interested in law; I in fact majored in it in School. I wanted to know what made these criminals do the things that they did. I never wrote to murderers, or child molesters. I wrote to several convenient store robbers, a stalker who later turned into a peeper, a wife beater, and several other domestic violence cases.

Q. What do you suggest to anyone interested in writing to prisoners?
A. I suggest that you use a P.O. Box. Not your own home residence address. I suggest you don't tell too many personal things, like describe your home, and the whereabouts that you live. Especially if you are writing to a nearby prison. I also suggest that you lay down ground rules, and keep yourself distant. If you are single, do not be gullible, and fall in love with the person. Yes, they will promise you everything. And yes, they can sometimes marry you while they are incarcerated. But you truly need to keep your head on straight. They will use you for commissary and whatever else they can talk you into sending them, that they are allowed to have. Please, please, use common sense.

Q. Why do people NOT want to write to prisoners?
A. A lot of people fear the unknown. And TV makes it out to be a lot worse than it is. AND many prisoners do have a one track mind. They only want to get even, or do more injustices to another. That's why I say, if you decide to write one, use caution. There are some who are wrongly framed; time and time again we have found that people are set free because we, that's right I said WE as the judge and jury, have put the wrong person away. Sometimes, we can't be certain. The evidence in the crime, isn't always there.

Q. Have you lost any pen pals because you decided to write prisoners?
A. Yes, people thought I was a disgrace, an embarrassment. And to be honest, one of the people I decided to write, I wrote because I honestly felt he/she wasn't guilty. Turned out-they weren't. This makes me right, and the people judging ME and the prisoners wrong! My gut instinct led me to that prisoner, seen them on TV, and wanted to write them, looked them up, and them found them!
Q. Do you still write prisoners today?

A. No, I still have a P.O.Box though! I rarely pen pal though, too. Time is limited. However, if I ever deem it necessary to write one again, I will. I have no problem in doing so.
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These are the questions many of pen pals, and friends and family have often ask me, and I thought it would make for an interesting article, and benefit others. Because after all, sometimes even prisoners do need friends. And like I said, they aren't always guilty. We might like to think they all are, but trust me, they aren't.

Published by Deneale K. Williams