There is a lost art in letter writing that I wish to hold onto. In this speedy world where anything can be done lickity-click, a handwritten letter takes time and shows thoughtfulness. Much like a fingerprint, a person's handwriting — as elegant or clumsy as it may be — is as much a piece of them as the color of their eyes or the sound of their voice. The handwriting of a loved one that has passed or the writing of a child that time has aged will forever be treasured because of who they are, not how beautiful the calligraphy.
Many stationery options are available online, but holding the paper in hand provides both a tactile experience and the best way to evaluate the quality. For something unique, monogrammed stationery offers a touch of personalization. Up-level and hand-embellish high quality stationery yourself with stamps, a custom embosser or even home paper dyeing. You can even create personalized cards to give as a gift.
The South Metro Area has multiple options to source your paper. Donahue Paper Emporium on Yosemite in Centennial and Paper Source at the Streets at Southglenn are just a couple.
I invite you to join me in handwriting a letter to someone you care for this month. It could be as short as a sentence, as practical as a favorite recipe, or as light-hearted as a joke. Whatever is written, write it in your own handwriting as a gift to be treasured by the person you give it to.
Since a handwritten letter is a gift, then the envelope should be treated like wrapping. Sealing a letter with a wax stamp is a beautiful way to turn a standard paper letter into the gift that it is.
Supplies needed:
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Match or Lighter
How to apply a wax seal
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Light the wick and hold the stick parallel to the work surface.
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Let wax slowly drip into a coin sized circle onto the paper. It’s tempting to angle the stick down to increase the speed of drips but avoid this as pieces of soot will fall into the wax and discolor it.
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Blow out the flame and set the stick aside.
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Press the sealing stamp onto the melted wax. Hold for a few seconds before lifting away. If it sticks, gently rock the seal back and forth to release.
* Wax seals can be sent through the mail, but consider an additional outer envelope to protect it from potential damage.