Pen Pal Log Update

Hello, friends. I'm going to do two posts, back-to-back rather than combine into one. First up is a quick update for the pen pal/mail log files I shared some time ago (part 1, part 2).

It's been a long time coming, but I finally got full-size (8½x11") pages done for the to-do list (letters to write) & mail log (individual pen pal sheet). Sorry it took so long!

I realize that the half-size log pages I shared previously might not be helpful for a lot of people. This size will be a lot more practical, and easier to implement, if you need such a thing. See links above for how I organize my log.

To Do list (letters to write)

• On Drive
• On DropBox

Mail page (individual pen pal log sheet)

• On Drive
• On Dropbox

Potholder Looms - Practical Nostalgia

Rediscover an old friend. Frenemy?

I don't know about you, but there are many times where I will go to take a pan out of the oven and cannot find a potholder. It still happens, but I've greatly reduced the frequency of the event by adding many potholders to our inventory. (I also have figured out where they all go, so I can track them down, but that's another story.)

Did you have a potholder loom when you were a kid? I did, or at least I got to use one. I do know that I never finished a single potholder. The kit I used came with stretchy nylon loops and no tools and I got so frustrated with it that I quit without finishing even one (I was also an uncoordinated child).

There were (and are) kits available with thick cotton loops, metal frames and tools to help you weave and finish. I bought one of these for myself a couple of years ago, and have had such fun with it!!

In this post, I'm going to share my love of this back-to-basics craft. I'll share my "system," provide links to kits/tools and (bonus!) I have a 12-card set of "recipe" cards (patterns) for you do download and print! I'm going to focus on the traditional loom, but will include some other options at the end.

I have actually given these as gifts, but the reception was mixed. You really have to know your audience, I guess. Personally, I love them. They are thick enough to handle just about any pan, dish, etc. Because they are cotton, they won't melt and can also serve as trivets. What's really fun is the variety of patterns you can create. Once you start getting near the end of your supply, the options obviously change, but they're still fun and functional, even if they aren't my favorite color (I never get enough of the bright, light green loops!).

See the source list for a free download of twelve different patterns, including all those shown in the post. (My favorites are the two at the bottom right, "Quattro" & "Color Gamp.")

Essentials: the basic kit I purchased comes with a metal frame, a plastic crochet hook, a long metal weaving hook and a bunch of cotton loops in a variety of colors.

I cannot recommend the Harrisville Designs kits highly enough (see sources). They are sturdy, come with everything you need, and are available in two sizes: the regular traditional kit makes two ~6" potholders and the deluxe traditional kit makes six ~6" potholders. (They also have a PRO size, which I'll talk about at the end of this post.) The sell bags of loops in variety packs or individual colors, so you can do whatever you want. (At this time, I have no affiliations; this is an unsolicited rave review of a regular customer.)

I don't really recommend the Klutz Potholders book & kit. The plastic loom is the same size as the metal ones above, and it comes with a crochet hook, but the loops are a nylon/cotton blend (resulting in a smaller potholder) and there is no weaving hook. As for the pattern book (why I bought it)...there's nothing in there that you can't find online (weaving patterns, projects to make out of squares, that kind of thing). However, if you already have one, play with it!! The stretchy loops are easy to work with and the end result is fine for most kitchen duties. You just need to come up with a long hook that will help you pull the loops through. Since I have the kit, I'll probably make more in the future, and will post images on Instagram, so if you're interested, follow me there. I may do an update blog post, because I'm going to try regular weaving, but I'm not sure when that will happen.

Extras: I have added a few things to my potholder kit that I personally find to be essential, but are listed here as extras.

• Shown above, I found a bunch of large 2" & 3"book rings that I use to keep the colors separated. This makes it really easy for me to see that I have a ton of one color left, and just a few of others, and I pick my pattern accordingly. 
• Rubber bands: the closer you get to the end of your weaving, the more the loops like to pop off of the pegs. I'll share a picture further down that shows how I use these to keep my work together. 
• Sturdy, ergonomic crochet hook: Crochet and I are not friends, so an ergonomic hook helps us stay civil. 
• Patterns. Download mine, below, or check out Harrisville Design's Pattern Wizard (make sure to switch to "Traditional"). Of course, you can design your own, or just wing it with lovely randomness.

Tips & Tricks

I'm not going to reinvent the wheel and write up a how-to, since every kit comes with directions, but I will share some things that have helped me keep this activity fun.

Storage: I'm a big fan of having the right container/bag for projects and this is no exception. I picked up this square fabric basket-type thing at a HomeGoods store. It fits great in a square storage cubby shelf and I always know where everything is. 

Load your Wrist: If you're following a pattern, spend a few minutes before starting and count out the loops you need, then pile them onto your wrists (only showing on one here so I could take the picture). 

Rubber bands: I use thick rubber bands to keep the loops on the pegs. This technique has saved my sanity! You can use one around each side, or (shown), secure a few at a time on two sides. (You just have to avoid grabbing a band with your weaving hook as you go, but it's not been an issue for me.) As you finish, move or remove the bands

Finishing & the last loop: Okay, I have to admit that I have never figured out how to finish these without a loop at the end, but since I don't mind the loop, I don't worry about it too much. What I do is start at any corner, then use the crochet hook all the way around until I get to the last two loops. I put the hook through the two loops and pull another free loop (doubled) through those two. Then I pull one end of the new doubled loop through its other end and tug. Tadah! Loop. Maybe someday, someone can teach me how to do it another way. 

Other Looms

Traditional (top) vs. PRO loom

• I recently read an article (in Craftsanity issue 6) about making your own looms, as well as weaving with yarn. I haven't tried it yet, but would like to. 
• Harrisville Designs also makes a PRO-size potholder loom. I received one for Giftmas last year, along with extra loops. Since they're larger, they require larger loops, and more of them, so naturally they cost more to make, but seems to be in scale with the cost of the traditional loops. I will say that the larger potholders are pretty epic (seen here with a traditional size on top), but the overall cost is high, especially if you want one of the color kits. Having said that, I'd love to get my hands on the big bag of loops they sell (5 lbs., $90, traditional makes 50 potholders, PRO makes 25). ::drools::

Sources

• Free pattern card download from me: on Drive or on Dropbox (personal use only). Print one-sided (on card stock if possible), and cut into quarters. 
• Harrisville Designs Pattern Wizard (make sure you select the right size)
• Looms (Amazon links)
• Traditional size, deluxe (makes six ~6" potholders)
• Traditional size loom (makes two ~6" potholders)
• PRO Loom kit (makes two 8¼" potholders)
• Loops (search around for more options and prices)
• Traditional, brights, makes eight ~6" potholders
• Traditional, multi or individual colors, makes two ~6" potholders
• PRO, multi or individual colors, makes two 8¼" potholders
• Misc.
• Book rings (for organizing loops). (Link to Amazon, because I could not find locally. They'd probably be cheaper if you could.)
• My crochet hook. Size K is the perfect size for me. There are probably better (cheaper) options out there, if you have access to a local yarn store. 
• Rubber bands: I use size 64 for the traditional loom. Just bought a bag from an office supply store. 

April is National Card and Letter Writing Month

Not to be confused with other letter-writing months, as far as I can tell, "National Card and Letter Writing Month" is an event created and sponsored by the US Postal Service. They even have a tie-in with Scholastic (it is fun, so check it out (PDF)).

Prior to 2001, the event was called National Letter Writing Week.

I recall events in school in the early-to-mid seventies that are reminiscent of the PDF linked above. We made post cards and our own postage stamps and pretended to mail them. In fact, I remember being pretty freaking impressed that people could just make their own stamps and glue them to a card or letter without spending any money. (I figured out the truth, eventually.)

In 1980, the USPS released a sheet of six different stamps (15¢) in honor of the week-long event. In 2001, they changed the duration of the event to one month. and in 2015, a new stamp was released (From Me to You (Forever)), that included extra stickers.  

Regardless of the event's origins, ending and receiving mail is a great way to feel good or bring warm feelings to others. Very few people get real mail nowadays. I'm not the birthday card sender I once was, but I have heard from some people in the past that the card I sent was the only one they received. And it really is just nice to get something personal in the mail. So, I encourage anyone reading this to set a goal and send some cheer.

It's also a great way to keep handwriting skills from going completely stagnant. (One of the reasons I started finding and writing to pen pals in the last year is because my handwriting was becoming illegible.)

I signed up for the Write_On challenge/campaign, which means I'm going to try and send thirty pieces of mail during the month. (Yikes!) I didn't do so well with the goal I set in February, but that's in the past. Each challenge is a fresh start, right? To keep track of my progress, I created a simple calendar/planner page (8½ x 11"), which I'm sharing below.

I'm also including some links to other events that might appeal. But you don't have to join anything. Set your own goal. Maybe it's to send some thank you notes, or "thinking of you" cards, or fun mail to your kids, nieces or nephews (bio or honorary). Connect, however it works for you.

Sources

• Mel's planner page on Drive or on Dropbox (Personal use only, please).
• write_on
• Little Girl Designs has a 30 Day Mailbox Love challenge and has free stationery downloads (and a different kind of calendar).
• Pretty by Post challenges you to send four cards. That's doable!
• Relinking to the Scholastic/USPS PDF. 

Custom Sticky Notes

We live in a digital world, but just about everyone still has occasion to jot down some thoughts or leave a note. For those of us who are letter writers, we can probably think of many uses for sticky notes and several for customized ones.

Here's an easy DIY project for you: sticky notes that you can customize or personalize to your heart's content.

I've been making my own personalized sticky notes for some time. They are inexpensive (compared to having them printed) and can be highly customized. I wasn't a huge fan of the templates I started out using, so I made my own, which I'm sharing today (8½x11" only right now -- I can do A4 if there is interest). The only drawback would be for anyone bothered by the virtual impossibility of having them in a perfectly square stack (see image).

What do you need?

• My templates (or make your own**). The PDF is the layout copy (with printed grid lines). The Word doc is the print copy (without printed grid lines) that you can customize to include your own text or art.
• In Drive
• In Dropbox
• 3x3" sticky notes If you want a different size note, see the details at the end of this post** to see how to make your own guides. (I'm avoiding naming brands in general, but I really do recommend Post-it notes: you want these to STICK during printing; I wouldn't trust dollar store notes in my printer.)
• Inkjet printer (I recommend printing the actual notes on an ink-jet printer, just to be on the safe side. The layout sheets can be printed on any kind of printer).
• MS Word (Open Office Writer should also work okay)
• Artwork (clipart, logo, etc.), or you can just type some text. To show that you don't need fancy software, I made my "logo" (above) in PowerPoint and saved it as an image. 

How to make your own custom sticky notes: 

1. If you have access to a copier, print one copy of the layout document, decide which will be your top edge* and mark it. Then make as many copies as you like (each will produce six notes).
   If you don't have access to a copier, print as many copies of the layout document as you like, then mark the top on each page*. 
2. Apply sticky notes to the squares on the layout, with the sticky edge towards the designated top edge (any other way might lead to paper jams).
3. On your computer, add your details to the print version, making sure to rotate them so they'll be aligned to the real top edge of your note*. These guides are just a table and are not locked, so if you want text (e.g. "from the desk of...") at the bottom, consider using a text box instead of hitting [Enter] a bunch of times. The fun part is that you can do up to six different versions in one go, with different images, text, etc. 
4. Print this version onto the layouts that you've applied the notes to, making sure the top of the layout sheet is pointing in the right direction for your printer*.
5. Peel notes off of the layouts and stack as best as possible.

* My old printer fed paper at the short edge, so I marked the actual top of the page as the TOP and aligned my notes accordingly. My current printer tray feeds pages along the long edge. so next time, I'll have to make one of the long edges the top to avoid jams. This makes things more complicated, because I will also have to remember to rotate the content in the grid so they'll be in the right place on the printed notes. I actually ran some tests through the old way and they were fine, but your mileage may vary. As always, I'm not an expert and cannot accept any responsibility for issues that arise with equipment I've never seen.

I may do a rotated version for printers like mine.

** All you need to do is create two almost identical versions of a document with the correctly-sized grids. On the layout version, the grid lines will print so you can align your notes. On the print version, the grid lines should NOT print. Only what you add to the spaces intended for your notes will print.

Pen Pal Log Free Downloads and More

Pen Pal Log

A few days ago, I posted about my pen pal/mail log and promised free downloads and other details. If you want a pen pal log, but don't want to create your own, then use mine!  These pages were designed for a disc-style 8½x5½" notebook/planner (print full letter-size sheets then cut in half). I created my log based on products I already owned, so it literally cost me nothing except paper & printing. Going out and buying all of these things just for this log can be pretty pricey, so you may want to research other binding options. (I am, and will update this post if I have anything to report.)

Files

Download these three PDFs and print as needed for your personal use (no selling or mass distribution).The files linked below have been saved to Google Drive. If you cannot access them, feel free to email me (see profile) and let me know which page(s) you want and I'll share via email.[Update: link to post with full-size pages.]

• To-Do: is my letters to write sheet. I print this page single-sided, so I can see at a glance what letters I owe without flipping pages. It should work fine printed on both sides if you want to save paper. 
• Mail: is my individual pen pal log. This PDF has 2 pages; when printed correctly & cut in half, you will have two 2-sided log pages per sheet of paper. If possible, print on paper that is a little thicker/smoother than regular copy paper. The pages will be a little sturdier and you should be able to tape little notes with washi tape and remove/replace without damaging your sheets. 
• Enclosures2: is a slightly different page than shown in the previous post. Trying to have 4 different enclosures per page (two columns each side) was hard to keep straight, so I took this opportunity to tweak it a little. (I couldn't rearrange things, and if I ended up sending a lot of one item, there was no place to overflow.) I'm thinking about printing this 2-sided, but only using one sheet per enclosure. If you want the old version, with two columns, let me know.

Materials & Tools

Punch: Why is this listed first? Because quite honestly, the punch is probably the most expensive component if you're starting from scratch. If you you already have a punch that will work on 8½"x5½" paper then you're all set. If not, check with friends/family to see if anyone has anything in this size that you can use before you go shopping. (People are forever buying things for a planner system, then changing their mind (how do you think I have all this stuff sitting around?).) Unless you can easily afford to buy a whole other batch of stuff, find your punch first, then base your notebook and accessories on that.

• If you're buying one for a disc-style notebook, I recommend the Circa portable punch; while it only punches a couple of sheets at a time, it's less than half the price of the full-size one from Staples that has a shallower punch (and is decidedly not portable).
• A 3-ring punch might come into the printed area a little, but a punch intended for a planner that size (Franklin, Day Runner, etc.), will probably work, even if it has too many holes. This one from Staples (Amazon link for convenience) has mixed reviews but is not expensive and is the right size. One thing I've been trying to do is convert an old letter-size 3-ring punch to work for a mini binder. If I manage to succeed, I'll post an update. If you want to really save money and are willing to spend the time, make a template out of thick card stock, and hand-punch the holes. 

Notebook: Once you know what kind of punch you have (or are going to buy), you can match a notebook to it.

• Disc style: I re-purposed an old Arc notebook, but actually prefer Levenger's Circa notebooks (Junior size), because the punch goes a tiny bit deeper, which means the pages stay in the book a little better. Honestly, if you order from Amazon Prime, the basic Circa notebook is just $2 more than the Arc and is, in my opinion, the superior product.
• Non-disc style or ringed notebooks: search Amazon for "avery mini binder" or dig up an old 8½x5½" planner.

Accessories: 

Sticky Notes helped me remember to use this
Miss Piggy stamp

• You don't have to buy dividers, although the heavier ones are nice for frequently-used sections. You can see in the video that I purchased one set, then made additional dividers with cardstock and stick on tabs*. The accessories from both brands** are pretty much interchangeable, which is helpful, in case you find a sale. In fact, on Amazon, you can order the Arc tabs for $4.99, with free shipping, which is less than half the price of the Circa dividers. For ringed binders, see the "mini binder" results on Amazon for pretty inexpensive tabs. 
• Sticky notes are pretty essential. I make little notes about all kinds of things and attach them to my pals' pages. Example: one of my pals used Muppet stickers on an envelope, and mentioned them in another context. I have Muppet postage stamps, so I made a note to make sure to use one of them on the next letter I sent. I transferred that note to the letter when I started to write it, so I'd remember when I stuck it in the envelope. 

*Watch out - I accidentally bought "angled" tabs. I'm using them, but they bum me out. 

**There could be others that I'm not aware of.

Pen Pal Log

Two mail-related things happened last week that made me sad. First, after not getting any mail for a few weeks, my husband came home from the Post Office with a small stack of envelopes, none of which were posted recently; two had been mailed (domestically) before Christmas! We have no idea where it has been all this time - perhaps in the box of someone who doesn't visit often? I was able to notify all but one of the senders immediately online, and sent a post card to the last, so they knew I wasn't ignoring them.

The second thing that made me sad is the reason I'm finally doing a post on this subject. When I went to log that new stack of mail, I found a hole in my letters to write checklist: no checkbox where one should have been. Oh, crap! I wrote a lot of letters and cards over the holidays, but had neglected to respond to one. Luckily, the letter wasn't lost, and once aware of my mistake, I was able to make responding a priority. If I hadn't kept that log, however, I might have come across the older letter, assumed I had already answered it, filed it away and that pen pal would never have written back (having nothing to reply to), assuming I wasn't interested in corresponding.

This is why I keep a log. I'm sure everyone has some kind of system that works for them. Maybe a stack of letters to reply to. Maybe a spreadsheet or a simple to-do list. I use a redundant system to make sure I don't have to rely on my memory. It's in a book, which is harder to lose than a sheet of paper. It can also be changed easily if I find something in the future that works better. I know that not being able to arrange or remove pages would make me crazy, so the notebook I selected allows that.

I don't make a lot of videos, as evidenced by my camera work (which I hope will improve), but here is a tour of my pen pal log.

There are two main parts to the book. First, every pen pal has their own page, where I put their contact info, and list details about both incoming and outgoing mail. They're sorted alphabetically, and separated into groups, so it's pretty easy to find whatever page I need. On the back of each page, I tape their response to the little question card I send out. (I use washi tape, so I can easily move the card to the front of the page when the list flows over to the back.)

At the front of the book, I keep the heart and soul of the log system: my "Letters to Write" page (top picture). It's simply a list of letters I need to write that I mark when in progress, and when sent. Whenever I get mail I need to reply to, I first add the person's name to this page, then add more detail on their own page. It was the gap on this page that led me to realize I was long overdue in responding to one pen pal.

Beyond that, I try to keep a list of goodies sent on an "enclosure" page (one section per type of enclosure). I'm not great at keeping this up to date with things like washi tape samples, but have been pretty good when it comes to CD mixes and smashed pennies. This way, I hope to avoid sending the same little giftie to the same person twice.

I have a section for extra pages, one for basic postal rates, and one for inactive correspondents. These are either people I don't write to a lot, but want to keep a record of which cards I send, etc., or they are people who were pen pals who stopped responding (or never responded at all). This way, I don't have to flip past their pages over & over, in the "active" section and be reminded that they've dropped off the radar. I go through it every couple of months and move truly retired pages to a drawer.

I'd love to see what others are using! How do you keep track?

Interested in making your own pen pal log like mine? In a few days, I'll be posting the files, plus a list of resources. Stay tuned!

Update:

• Part 2, with download links for this size pages
• Post with link to full-size pages