papertrey ink :: moments inked :: correspondence pockets

There are a million and one inspirations driving this post today...I owe many, many people thank you notes, April is National Letter Writing Month, I have a couple of sweet pen pals I've been shamefully neglecting, the phrases #snailmailrevolution, #happymail, and #sendmoremail practically dominate my Instagram feed (the only slightly more popular hashtag being #plannernerds), I just received a lovely letter from my cousin who reminded me that few things are as heartfelt or appreciated as the hand written note...The bottom line is that I need to #sendmoremail.



Feeling utterly disorganized and scatterbrained (not to mention extremely guilty) when it comes to doing so, I turned to my Papertrey Ink Moments Inked planner to set me straight.

When I received my planner a couple of months ago, I vowed that it would not sit idly on the shelf doing me no good for the whole of 2015.  I was going to use it to make me a better person.  I'm doing so-so in that department, but it definitely doesn't help that I have yet to send thank you notes to the kind people who took the time to choose a thoughtful birthday gift for Nemy when she turned 2 back in the beginning of March.  I think that is the real catalyst for creating my little mailing station at the back of my planner--guilt!



Arguably, guilt shouldn't be the reason one does anything, but in this case, I feel it's important to acknowledge the thought and time spent on us.  Inasmuch as guilt is not a reason to take action, being busy and disorganized is not a reason to not take action.  So I've created something that works fairly well for me and keeps me functioning at a somewhat organized level.



I began by making a couple of pockets using the Pocket Page die and some pretty patterned papers.  These could not have been easier to make!  I then took glassine envelopes in assorted sizes (6 x 4 || 3 5/8 x 2 15/16 || 2 7/8 x 1 3/4) and die cut the notches with the Basic Pages dies so I could stick them into my book.  I used the largest size to hold stamp sheets and the smaller sizes for various address labels.

My first PTI pocket houses notecards and envelopes.  I can also tuck in a list or two of the cards I need to send so I don't lose track and forget about them--which is what usually happens, and then 4 months later I remember I never sent Auntie Norma a thank you note for the Christmas gifts she so kindly sent to the kids.



Before I adhered my two pocket pieces together, I stitched a few Planner Banner die cuts along the side of the top piece and stamped 'NOTES' on one of the tabs.  The stamp is from the coordinating Blog Banners stamp set so it fits perfectly onto the flag.



The second pocket holds the cards that are ready to be mailed.  I used the same banner tabs but the 'mail card' stamp is from the Planner Banners set.  It fits just as beautifully...this planner has been so thoughtfully coordinated and designed.  The stamp sets also offer just about every phrase you might need.



The back of my planner is my one-stop-spot for storing postage, notecards, envelopes, and labels, neatly corralled in the paper pockets and glassine envelopes.  Bonus: With the Contacts section already included in the book, all I have to do is turn the page and I have all of the addresses handy.  There's no excuse to put off writing those ever-important thank you notes--or any notes for that matter.



Armed with my simplified mailing station, I am ready when correspondence calls.  I just need a pen and there's always (usually) one of those within arm's reach.

I so appreciate you stopping by today!  I'll be back here later this week with a closer look at the stationary I created to keep in my planner.  I used a few different dies and stamps for quick and easy ready-made cards and labels.  I'm really happy with the way they turned out so I hope you'll come back for that!

Supplies:
Papertrey Ink:
Moments Inked Planner System
Dies:  Pocket Page, Basic Pages, Planner Banner, Divided
Stamp Sets:  Planner Banners, Blog Banners, Bountiful Banners, To You From Me
Ink: Smokey Shadow
White Adhesive Sheets
Stamper's Select White Cardstock

Other:
Envelopes: Paper Source
Patterned Paper: Crate Paper, Heidi Swapp