My grandmother’s refrigerator was always covered with handmade cards we kids had sent to her as thank you messages for presents.  She and my mother taught us the value of handmade things – and how to return the favor by sending a hand-written thank you note in return.  

In today’s world, sometimes buying a card, locating a pen that still writes, jotting a note, finding a stamp and getting to a mail box can seem like a lot of work, especially when a couple of clicks will send your thoughts and feelings around the globe in seconds. Who can even keep track of postal rates, after all?  


Bicycle Card Set by vanessakimball

Snail mail greetings on one-of-a-kind handmade cards have gone the way of the dodo, haven’t they? Not quite.

There’s a community of artists and crafters who are using the internet to both acquire unique correspondence materials - like handmade greeting cards - and to find friends with whom to exchange them.  Upon receipt, members post photos of their handmade greetings to share the cards with others.  


Cool Blue Leaves Personalized Stationery Set by crescentmoonpaper

But you don’t have to send something around the world to honor the dying art of hand-written correspondence. Perhaps you could write out your New Year's greetings on some handmade cards available from the EtsyGreetings Street Team. (Or anywhere else on Etsy!)

Personalized Stationery Set of 8 by InvitaPaperStudio

Further Resources:
History of Mail Art
Flickr.com/groups/LetterLovers
Nervousness.org
PostCrossing.com
EtsyGreetings.blogspot.com