Are you going to use a index card box to store your cards with some dividers for dividing the first letter of the pen-pal's last name? Or are you going to use mini folders and store them in a box?
To be honest, I had no idea how I was going to store the cards. I assumed I would just put them in a binder, but some great suggestions came up. I could get a little recipe box or index card box to store the cards in. I know there are some amazing decoupaged boxes on Etsy, and what better way to individualize my storage than to order a handmade Etsy product? With owls. Yes, owls. Or smiling cupcakes.
But I digress.
I alphabetized my binder, so I don't see the harm in doing the same with my little box. And, speaking of boxes, I need some photo boxes! I will have to go to the store this week to buy some as I'm running out of space for my incoming letters! The boxes I own are overflowing!
My pen pal is going to have a design up tonight, so I'll be printing these cards out and sending out my letters by Tuesday.
The next question Svetlana asked:
Also, how do you keep track of who you have sent to and who you are waiting for a response from?
While searching for pen pals, I came across a wonderful way to organize my mail on Julie's blog, Pen Pal of the Week. I use two woven aqua-colored baskets I purchased at the Dollar Tree down the street. The one on the left is for unopened mail or mail I have read but not responded to. The one on the right is for letters I have responded to, and letters I have to send out. Once I respond, seal the envelope, and put it in the mailbox, I place the letter I received in a photo box on my bookcase.
I realize this does not really answer the question, but I will go into more detail with what I am planning on doing in the future.
Because I have no set way of telling who I am waiting on a response from, I will be creating a log book of sorts. Most likely I will build one on Excel. The general idea is to keep track of what is coming in, what is going out, and what I'm waiting on. I have a horrible memory because I get busy.
So the way I'm picturing this working out is that I'll make a basic template on Excel. Within the template I will have a column stating the name of the person I received a letter or package from. To the right, I will list the date it arrived. Beside that, I could put down the date I responded, maybe add a little note regarding some information about the contents of the letter, and then finally, the date I sent out the letter.
This would result in roughly four to five columns. I could add more, such as the length of the letter or if gifts were included, and what they were. Maybe even if I sent a gift, what I sent could be listed in a column, too.
I am thinking I could color block the person's name the last time it showed up, and remove the color once I receive their next letter. This way I can keep track of everything without the bulk of an extra column or even post-it notes. Then, once I go through the process of writing my letter, filling in the remaining columns, and sending out my letter, I can color block the latest name, and the pattern continues.
Now that I've written this, it sounds like a good idea. I'm off to make my template!
Remember, ask any questions you have and I will do my best to answer them. Take care!
I think you should use a database because it might be easier for you change the data rather than with an Excel spreadsheet. But the issue with that you have to learn how to make a database and use one. But then again, if your way works, it will keep on working the way you have intended it to do so.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing using a Excel spreadsheet but after picking up a book called "A Manga Guide to Databases", I thought it would be easier with a database.