Showing posts with label postcard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label postcard. Show all posts
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Blog Giveaway
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Happy 6th Birthday, Postcrossing!
Hello friends!
Having a three-full days weekend is really nice, but it makes my Tuesday feel like Monday! Alas, that is great news knowing I only have to work four short days this week. Nevertheless, time seems to be flying! Don't you think?
This morning, I checked in on one my Postcrossing accounts (because I have two! Yikes!) and read about their approaching 6th birthday, how fun! The site administrator, Paulo Magalhaes is inviting the members to submit photos of themselves holding postcards they are about to mail out which they will use and compile in a video montage like they have done before that I regretfully missed. Well here's my chance and to all of you who are part of this wonderful project, we just might be featured in the video if not win these goodies as well:
The World's Smallest Post Service by Lea Redmond of Leaf Cutter Designs.
![]()
Included in the kit:
1 0.2mm fine-tipped micron writing pen
40 mini writing sheets
40 mini envelopes
60 envelope seals
4 mini gift boxes
4 sheets Kraft wrapping paper
4 sheets miniature "newspaper" packing paper
44 inches twine
40 postage stamps
32 special delivery stickers
Instruction sheet
Mail Carriers Set by Playmobil.
![]()
So here's me with my Sad Queen postcards and behind me are my wall of cards that are mostly available on Letter Parade the shop. I'm crossing my fingers I'll be part of the video, at least :0)
And in the subject of postcards, I am embarrassed to admit that I have been so out of the loop! Reading Missive Maven's blog, I came across Walltype, SendSomething.net and Swap-bot, let me explore these awesome recommendations more then maybe I can blog about each in the near future!
Happy writing!
Cindy Gonzales - Kujat
Having a three-full days weekend is really nice, but it makes my Tuesday feel like Monday! Alas, that is great news knowing I only have to work four short days this week. Nevertheless, time seems to be flying! Don't you think?
This morning, I checked in on one my Postcrossing accounts (because I have two! Yikes!) and read about their approaching 6th birthday, how fun! The site administrator, Paulo Magalhaes is inviting the members to submit photos of themselves holding postcards they are about to mail out which they will use and compile in a video montage like they have done before that I regretfully missed. Well here's my chance and to all of you who are part of this wonderful project, we just might be featured in the video if not win these goodies as well:
The World's Smallest Post Service by Lea Redmond of Leaf Cutter Designs.
Two Christmases ago I got my cousin, Mary Kris, two of my pen pals and my husband, Dan one each of this awesome mail product from Ms. Redmond. Her customer service was awesome (still is, I'm sure!) and all her products unique. I am happy to see her products gracing Amazon now as well as other online gift shops. It's a lovely surprise enough to see something special in the mailbox and having the letters and packages come in miniature sizes is even more amazing! So this kit would make a wonderful addition to any letter-writer's desk!
Included in the kit:
1 0.2mm fine-tipped micron writing pen
40 mini writing sheets
40 mini envelopes
60 envelope seals
4 mini gift boxes
4 sheets Kraft wrapping paper
4 sheets miniature "newspaper" packing paper
44 inches twine
40 postage stamps
32 special delivery stickers
Instruction sheet
Mail Carriers Set by Playmobil.
These Mail Carriers are well loved by Postcrossers across the globe including myself. We have come to know them on first name basis, Paulo and Ana. Honestly, I am envious of the two, they have gone to more places that I wished I've traveled to! You can read more about their fun trips here.
So here's me with my Sad Queen postcards and behind me are my wall of cards that are mostly available on Letter Parade the shop. I'm crossing my fingers I'll be part of the video, at least :0)
Happy writing!
Cindy Gonzales - Kujat
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The Sad Queen Postcard Series
Hi friends!
Whoa! I got sidetracked there for a while. But yes, oh yes my 2011 is going great, thank you! I hope the same goes for you!
Much apologies for the long absence. What? Three months it's been. Let's see, my day job well, I can't complain and music continues to play, louder it seems... my Etsy shop, however, I would quote a good friend and fellow Etsyian Jessica of A Cup of Green Ginger that "you get out of it what you put into it." Though it hasn't been too much effort put in for mine, recently, I've added a new series of Postcards called 'The Sad Queen' and have circulated a handful of the February and March series to newfound friends via this awesome facebook group Postcard Exchange, and of course via Postcrossing. I am happy to report I've had several requests for swaps (postcards) along with "favorite" clicks and have sold some, too.
Let me explain the concept behind the Sad Queen postcard series. I have to admit, I am all over postcards now, I used to be just crazy about letters but little did I know then that these two come hand-in-hand. Well, throw in stamps, too, but I'm still getting there. And of course, I've slowly been exposed to different types of postcards, and to my surprise, there are hundreds and hundreds! No wonder they bring so much joy to postcard enthusiasts and collectors alike. So, I was particularly fond of postcard books, literally, a book a size of a postcard that contains pages and pages of postcards that you can tear and mail out. What a wonderful idea! I married that to an excuse to create something at the start of the year, and what products would spring up to mind but calendars? Though too late to come up with one now, I decided to produce one postcard every month until I have a full twelve enough to compile into a postcard book that will also serve as a calendar. So this is my task at hand.
The story of the Sad Queen herself is an ongoing one. I progress into the story as I go from month to month and what better way to start but the month of Love, February, when the sad Queen hits her all-time low.
Well, with all that being said, I present to you The Sad Queen February, March and April.
These, along with lots of new stuff since my last blog entry can be found at my Etsy shop. And the 10% discount offer exclusive for you still stands just use this code upon checkout LPARADEFRNDS10!
Thanks for reading and happy writing!!!
Cindy Gonzales-Kujat
Whoa! I got sidetracked there for a while. But yes, oh yes my 2011 is going great, thank you! I hope the same goes for you!
Much apologies for the long absence. What? Three months it's been. Let's see, my day job well, I can't complain and music continues to play, louder it seems... my Etsy shop, however, I would quote a good friend and fellow Etsyian Jessica of A Cup of Green Ginger that "you get out of it what you put into it." Though it hasn't been too much effort put in for mine, recently, I've added a new series of Postcards called 'The Sad Queen' and have circulated a handful of the February and March series to newfound friends via this awesome facebook group Postcard Exchange, and of course via Postcrossing. I am happy to report I've had several requests for swaps (postcards) along with "favorite" clicks and have sold some, too.
Let me explain the concept behind the Sad Queen postcard series. I have to admit, I am all over postcards now, I used to be just crazy about letters but little did I know then that these two come hand-in-hand. Well, throw in stamps, too, but I'm still getting there. And of course, I've slowly been exposed to different types of postcards, and to my surprise, there are hundreds and hundreds! No wonder they bring so much joy to postcard enthusiasts and collectors alike. So, I was particularly fond of postcard books, literally, a book a size of a postcard that contains pages and pages of postcards that you can tear and mail out. What a wonderful idea! I married that to an excuse to create something at the start of the year, and what products would spring up to mind but calendars? Though too late to come up with one now, I decided to produce one postcard every month until I have a full twelve enough to compile into a postcard book that will also serve as a calendar. So this is my task at hand.
The story of the Sad Queen herself is an ongoing one. I progress into the story as I go from month to month and what better way to start but the month of Love, February, when the sad Queen hits her all-time low.
Well, with all that being said, I present to you The Sad Queen February, March and April.
These, along with lots of new stuff since my last blog entry can be found at my Etsy shop. And the 10% discount offer exclusive for you still stands just use this code upon checkout LPARADEFRNDS10!
Thanks for reading and happy writing!!!
Cindy Gonzales-Kujat
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
5 000 000 Postcards!!!
I'd like to congratulate Postcrossing and its wonderful team led by Paulo Magalhaes for reaching the 5 million mark of postcards sent through members of Postcrossing since they started this wonderful project in 2005.
A couple of days ago I tried my luck at guessing the countries (or combination of) the 5 millionth postcard will be sent from/to. My guess was USA to PHILIPPINES and there were 871 guesses! The winner of the right guess wins a surprise from Postcrossing team and guess what? Nobody guessed the right combo. So what about this 5 millionth postcard?
Here it is, sent by member Elefantus (who's been a member for 3 years and has sent over 2,116 postcards around the world!) in Italy to Ployploy (is a newbie like me and member for 29 days and this 5 millionth postcard is only his 4th received!) in Thailand. Elefantus and Ployploy will get the prize instead since nobody guessed it right!
Congratulations Postcrossing!!! Congratulations to Elefantus and Ployploy!
And here is the previous 4 millionth postcard:
A couple of days ago I tried my luck at guessing the countries (or combination of) the 5 millionth postcard will be sent from/to. My guess was USA to PHILIPPINES and there were 871 guesses! The winner of the right guess wins a surprise from Postcrossing team and guess what? Nobody guessed the right combo. So what about this 5 millionth postcard?
Here it is, sent by member Elefantus (who's been a member for 3 years and has sent over 2,116 postcards around the world!) in Italy to Ployploy (is a newbie like me and member for 29 days and this 5 millionth postcard is only his 4th received!) in Thailand. Elefantus and Ployploy will get the prize instead since nobody guessed it right!
Congratulations Postcrossing!!! Congratulations to Elefantus and Ployploy!
And here is the previous 4 millionth postcard:
Happy postcrossing!!
Cindy Gonzales-Kujat
Monday, August 23, 2010
Bad Postcards
If you haven't joined Postcrossing yet, it would probably be best if you skipped this entry so as not to inspire you to send out the worst postcard! On the bright side, if you do get one, instead of thinking "what a waste of stamp," have a laugh and share some! Because there is a blogsite dedicated to bad postcards you can upload. And yes, it is literally called Bad Postcards. So next time you need a chuckle, you know where to go online.
Here are some of the postcards you will find at the site:
 |
| http://bad-postcards.tumblr.com/ |
Monday, August 16, 2010
Shopping for Some (unique) Writing Stuff
From time to time, I like to surprise my pen friends across the globe or at the next state over little stuff like odd postcards, cute stationery, or envelopes made out of torn magazine pages (yes, fashion pages make wonderful sturdy envelopes!). Opting for a colored paper can do so much to add pizazz to an already interesting letter. Every letter writer knows this!
The neighborhood Michael's offers cheap and cute stationery, they have a section where you can dig up colorful and beautifully designed writing pads for under a buck! Or sign-up for their newsletter and get discount coupons as often as once a week. Jo-Ann is also another arts and crafts store that supposedly offers more for a lot less than Michael's, but we'll leave that to whoever runs the 'smart shopping' blog.
But today, I'm going to let you in on an amazing online store that I have been buying cool items from, not just for this hobby, it's also my go-to site for buying unique gifts. It's called Uncommongoods.com and it stands by its name! Here are the items I've been eye-ing lately that I'm sure my pen friends would love to see in their mailbox:
1) Memo Postcard (ceramic $15)
Like a dry-erase board only a lot chic-er
2) Postcardens (available in 'City', 'City' "Greetings" packaging, 'Botanical Garden', and 'Botanical Garden' packaging "Thinking of You" $12.50)
A postcard for the gardener or Architectural enthusiast in you or a pal
3) Stitching Postcard (set of two $10)
Now this is just ingenious! You can actually map out your routes using the thread and needle included in the kit. If you find yourself backpacking throughout Europe, what a great way to send this one out instead of having multiple postcards! You can choose between USA, Europe or the world.
4) Blackmail Cards (set of two postcards $8)
Uncommongoods.com has endless list of very unique and quirky stuff like this one. The postcards come in blank so you can stick the lettered fonts to make it look like a ransom note. Imagine how much fun this would be for you and whoever you're sending it to!
5) Postcard Mug (one cup comes with a special Pebeo marker with ink especially made for ceramic - $40)
Unlike those other mugs that you can write on, this one you can seal it permanently so the ink won't rub off when you wash it, simply bake it in the oven for 35 mins at 300F!
6) Saw Letter Opener ($15)
I have always been opening my letters the only way I know how, by trailing my fingers through the folded edges and I personally love the look of a ruggedly opened letter, but I suppose you can also find joy in using this saw if you're used to doing things right and clean.
7) Shoe Letter Opener ($15)
A more feminie version.
8) Elephant Poo Paper Journal and Note Box (choose between the 20-paged journal or the note box with 70 slips of paper - $14)
Just recently, my pal from NM sent me this clever note cards made entirely out of Elephant Poo! I am all out for recycling and upcycling and making use of an otherwise wasteful matter just blows my mind! It reminds me of this one fashion designer who made use of discarded salmon scales on her accessories collection like how we use snakeskin. Amazing!
9) Panda Poo Paper (notepad, greeting cards and journal - sold in sets or individually - $8 - $24)
10) Horse Poo Paper: Note Box and Journal (choose between the 20-paged journal or the note box with 70 slips of paper - $14)
For your pen pal who has a ranch, a few lean horses and is horse-crazy and looks like she has everything. She probably doesn't have this. Well, she has the real thing I'm sure.
11) Bacon Flavored Envelopes - Set of 25 ($7)
Yes we're done with Poo.
I remember the time when scented pens and stationery were all the craze between my girlfriends and I in high school, but the scents were always on the fruity and floral side. Never in our youth would we imagine to ever come across a bacon-flavored envelope!!! But here it is! And it can only mean the beginning of more bacon-flavored stuff!
12) Plantable Wish Cards (12 wish cards plus three pencils - $10)
Another wonderful idea! You can send out a prayer, greetings and well wishes by writing it all down on the circular cards, plant it and voila! You get a variety of flowers sprouting out in a few weeks.
So for your next Christmas party, you need not panic but visit http://www.uncommongoods.com/. They have a large selection on gifts under $50 or $25 for the kids, coworkers, neighbors - they have just about everything for everyone!
Keep checking back on their website because they are constantly adding unique items.
Snag any of the items above and have a blast writing!
Cindy Gonzales-Kujat
The neighborhood Michael's offers cheap and cute stationery, they have a section where you can dig up colorful and beautifully designed writing pads for under a buck! Or sign-up for their newsletter and get discount coupons as often as once a week. Jo-Ann is also another arts and crafts store that supposedly offers more for a lot less than Michael's, but we'll leave that to whoever runs the 'smart shopping' blog.
But today, I'm going to let you in on an amazing online store that I have been buying cool items from, not just for this hobby, it's also my go-to site for buying unique gifts. It's called Uncommongoods.com and it stands by its name! Here are the items I've been eye-ing lately that I'm sure my pen friends would love to see in their mailbox:
1) Memo Postcard (ceramic $15)
Like a dry-erase board only a lot chic-er
2) Postcardens (available in 'City', 'City' "Greetings" packaging, 'Botanical Garden', and 'Botanical Garden' packaging "Thinking of You" $12.50)
A postcard for the gardener or Architectural enthusiast in you or a pal
3) Stitching Postcard (set of two $10)
Now this is just ingenious! You can actually map out your routes using the thread and needle included in the kit. If you find yourself backpacking throughout Europe, what a great way to send this one out instead of having multiple postcards! You can choose between USA, Europe or the world.
4) Blackmail Cards (set of two postcards $8)
Uncommongoods.com has endless list of very unique and quirky stuff like this one. The postcards come in blank so you can stick the lettered fonts to make it look like a ransom note. Imagine how much fun this would be for you and whoever you're sending it to!
5) Postcard Mug (one cup comes with a special Pebeo marker with ink especially made for ceramic - $40)
Unlike those other mugs that you can write on, this one you can seal it permanently so the ink won't rub off when you wash it, simply bake it in the oven for 35 mins at 300F!
6) Saw Letter Opener ($15)
I have always been opening my letters the only way I know how, by trailing my fingers through the folded edges and I personally love the look of a ruggedly opened letter, but I suppose you can also find joy in using this saw if you're used to doing things right and clean.
7) Shoe Letter Opener ($15)
A more feminie version.
8) Elephant Poo Paper Journal and Note Box (choose between the 20-paged journal or the note box with 70 slips of paper - $14)
Just recently, my pal from NM sent me this clever note cards made entirely out of Elephant Poo! I am all out for recycling and upcycling and making use of an otherwise wasteful matter just blows my mind! It reminds me of this one fashion designer who made use of discarded salmon scales on her accessories collection like how we use snakeskin. Amazing!
9) Panda Poo Paper (notepad, greeting cards and journal - sold in sets or individually - $8 - $24)
I don't know where all this poo-recycling could lead to, hopefully we can stick to just poo's of our grass-consuming friends. On the bright side, these products are highly recyclable and DO NOT STINK at all.
10) Horse Poo Paper: Note Box and Journal (choose between the 20-paged journal or the note box with 70 slips of paper - $14)
For your pen pal who has a ranch, a few lean horses and is horse-crazy and looks like she has everything. She probably doesn't have this. Well, she has the real thing I'm sure.
11) Bacon Flavored Envelopes - Set of 25 ($7)
Yes we're done with Poo.
I remember the time when scented pens and stationery were all the craze between my girlfriends and I in high school, but the scents were always on the fruity and floral side. Never in our youth would we imagine to ever come across a bacon-flavored envelope!!! But here it is! And it can only mean the beginning of more bacon-flavored stuff!
12) Plantable Wish Cards (12 wish cards plus three pencils - $10)
Another wonderful idea! You can send out a prayer, greetings and well wishes by writing it all down on the circular cards, plant it and voila! You get a variety of flowers sprouting out in a few weeks.
So for your next Christmas party, you need not panic but visit http://www.uncommongoods.com/. They have a large selection on gifts under $50 or $25 for the kids, coworkers, neighbors - they have just about everything for everyone!
Keep checking back on their website because they are constantly adding unique items.
Snag any of the items above and have a blast writing!
Cindy Gonzales-Kujat
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Enter the World of Postcard Cycling
This is such an exciting time for us who are into writing letters and are also into sharing/sending postcards, I think they go together! I find myself ending my travels at a souvenir shop securing a good number of postcards to send out to my penpals and they in turn send me some from the beautiful places they've gone to, or from their own beautiful country. I myself have not really caught on collecting postcards but I do know some people who do, I had no idea how this trend has picked up on 211 countries until I came across Postcrossing.com. This might just start my own postcard collection!
The current stat when I joined is:
198,328 members
211 countries
241 postcards/hour
4,846,190 postcards received
168,549 postcards traveling
26,584,227,484 km traveled
663,361 laps around the world
Amazing!
Signing up is free, so of course, I jumped in on what this is all about and discovered that it's another great way to expand your list of pen friends. Initially, you'd be given five random addresses from around the world to send your first five postcards to. After which your turn to receive five more will come. You can prolong the communication if you wished to as information about the receiver is also provided, that way you know if you have similar interests and can keep writing.
Their blog is fun to read as well, it features some of the "postcrossers" and I've just read about this one woman who has over 13,000 postcards in her collection even before she joined www.postcrossing.com!
Whew!
Postcrossing is somewhat a postal version of Facebook, with all your privacy intact. This is a wonderful way to bring people from all over the world closer. Heck, if I knew (or, exchanged postcards and letters with) five people in The Netherlands or ten in France, I'd go and book my flight already! This might be looking at it the extreme way, but somehow, if there is such personal communication between citizens of every country to the next, we can almost be absolutely sure we are generating our own share of peace to the world, though one postcard or letter at a time. :)
Join Postcrossing now!
Happy writing!
Cindy Gonzales-Kujat
198,328 members
211 countries
241 postcards/hour
4,846,190 postcards received
168,549 postcards traveling
26,584,227,484 km traveled
663,361 laps around the world
Amazing!
Signing up is free, so of course, I jumped in on what this is all about and discovered that it's another great way to expand your list of pen friends. Initially, you'd be given five random addresses from around the world to send your first five postcards to. After which your turn to receive five more will come. You can prolong the communication if you wished to as information about the receiver is also provided, that way you know if you have similar interests and can keep writing.
Their blog is fun to read as well, it features some of the "postcrossers" and I've just read about this one woman who has over 13,000 postcards in her collection even before she joined www.postcrossing.com!
Whew!
Postcrossing is somewhat a postal version of Facebook, with all your privacy intact. This is a wonderful way to bring people from all over the world closer. Heck, if I knew (or, exchanged postcards and letters with) five people in The Netherlands or ten in France, I'd go and book my flight already! This might be looking at it the extreme way, but somehow, if there is such personal communication between citizens of every country to the next, we can almost be absolutely sure we are generating our own share of peace to the world, though one postcard or letter at a time. :)
Join Postcrossing now!
Happy writing!
Cindy Gonzales-Kujat
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)