A box full of something....

I first came across one of the owners of this store on Etsy which at that time was called 3.5 dollars where everything was priced at 3.5 dollars. I bought craft supplies even though many other amazing things were sold. Then Etsy changed its rules about sellers being able to sell letters sets and other such things so 3.5 dollars and Cotton Blue decided to get together and open this store. When they first opened I bought somethings but then I took part in a bet not to buy stationery for a year which I did and have done many times before in the past.

 

Since then I have ventured by Yozocraft a lot as I just love looking at all the amazing items but never felt the need to buy anything until recently...

and this is what I bought...

On Got that swings blog she once posted about writing a letter in a notebook I really loved that idea and wanted to try it at some point so when I saw these in Yozocraft's shop I couldn't help buying them even though I probably won't use the top one for a letter as its quite big but I like to pull booklets apart and trim the edges to write on. Every page in these notebooks are patterned and so pretty. I haven't photographed each one as they can be viewed in her shop. I mentioned this to a friend and she beat me to it in writing in one and I loved it as we do write about a books worth of letters anyway.

 

The reason I did make a purchase is these

Postcards! I fell in love with the first batch, those big eyes and the whole way its drawn, then came the collection of snow white ones which are just a selection of fairy tales and then the flowers... so I couldn't resist buying them along with everything else that you've seen so far. I can't wait to use some of these especially on Send Something which I've been part of for over a year and only this week posted something out. I just think its nice to surprise people sometimes without having an obligation or deadline to do it.

Whilst there I came across this letter set...

I love Happy Picnic sets to write on as there are plenty of lines and the paper feels nice also. My writing I feel looks nice on it so I can never resist buying the sets when I see one I haven't had before. Its just a shame the animals always look sad.

 

The last thing I purchased is all the paper you can see in the background of all my items. Its a wrapping paper book which I should hopefully make my own envelopes out of or use to wrap gifts where I need to. I love all the designs and if I ever buy from Yozocraft again I will definately be buying a couple more booklets... for now though I need to stop buying anything and have no more orders on there way. I also do not intend to go shopping this weekend so lets see how things go.

 

The only thing to spoil my package is this

of course the seller didn't know not to send me pig items but don't you think it unlucky that out of all the things I could have received I received this! Oh well, it will make a nice items to put into an envelope for someone.

One thing I would like to say is that the packaging is really good. Each item it individually wrapped in plastic, then bubble wrapped and packed in a really good and safe way.

Have a good weekend! 

I couldn't help it....

I had to get a few things in a box again....

 It all started because I decided to order...

some origami lucky star strips. I was surprised at how small these containers were but they are still so cute. I was disappointed that there weren't all that many different designs of strips that I liked so I ended up making a purchase on Etsy for those as I've been making stars a lot lately and hardly have any strips left. I decided to order these plain ones as they'll look great mixed in with pattern ones.

 

Since I was ordering anyway I might as well get some stationery too....

I guess I have a thing about bears, some of these have been in my wish list for some time now so I'm glad that I now finally have them. The last one is a letter pad and its one of the cutest I've come across, I actually wish I bought 2 but I'm going to really enjoy writing on this one.

It wasn't all bears though as these 2 sneaked in too.

Again though my size bearings were out as I assumed the hello kitty bags were the little ones but these are big... its turned out ok though as I'm sure I can use them for something...

The brown ones I received as a free gift so someone will probably get something in it one day.

Lastly I couldn't resist

getting some stickers too...

I only hope to make one more tape purchase (I know I have a lot already but I have a voucher to spend) and then that will be it for this year if I can help it.

 

I'll have to apologise as always for my seriously bad photos but I'm sure some of you can understand how bad the lighting is still at this time of year... still this morning when dropping my niece off at school it was nice to walk her there in the sun even though the darkness has a special feeling to it also.

 

Have you made any great purchases lately?

It's a mail addiction....

This weekend I feel so rough and have the worse cold I've had this year so far, I don't want to get up but of course I have to.

*I made a start on a letter this weekend and it felt good.

*I signed up for a lolly pop journey prompt swap on swap-bot. I haven't taken part in anything on there for ages so I'm quite excited.
*I went to buy my lolly pop sticks and came across these reduced letter sets so I snapped 2 of each. Either I'll use them myself or offer them on make my day, I'll see.

*Received my P60 through the post looking like the postman had a battle with it. Probably wanted to know if I earned more then him!

*A lovely thank you letter from someone who had their day made. They truely made mine whilst they were at it.

*My niece stamped a letter and I love the randomness of it. I couldn't do it myself as I need it in the corners and straight.
*Taping my letter ready to write on.

I've had some random mail thoughts when checking mail related items on Instagram...

*Do you think letters should be posted on a blog that you have written for the world to see? Is it an invasion of your privacy or a friends?

*Do you ask permission of the person whose letter you post if you can show their name and address?

*If you send a friend a present are you happy with them sharing it on the Internet?

I used to swap FBs and never really thought about it in those days that I was sharing my address with the whole world. It just seemed fun until I started getting letters from prisoners and I wrote to one of them asking how he got my address so he told me the name and address of the lady who was compiling a list and sending it to them saying we wanted letters. I told a friend about it and she sent her many aggressive letters, I'm sure she changed her P.O.Box number after that. I slowly stopped swapping and then stopped altogether.....

Yahoo groups was a whole different kettle of fish as you knew that the people within the group were the only people who had access to those details and not everyone on the world wide web...

I don't even share my name on here anymore as 'some' of you will have noticed and that's not because I don't want my followers to know it, its just that its a really uncommon name that I don't want people from work appearing on here as there maybe times when I may write something out of contents and only realise later... its one of the reasons I don't have a facebook. I have to sign my letters as Bubbles which is quite sad as I want to use my name but its to stop people letting it slip out in comments etc...

As for my address I've only had one person do it and I still can't understand why as they blurred out their own address... if you don't like it why do you think I would? I do hope one day to have a P.O.Box number so that I can freely use it on here but right now I'd rather not anymore.

As for presents its a tough one, all my letter sets etc... are kept in one place, so I don't actually know what I received as gifts and what I bought. So if it fits in with a theme or I think a friend will like it, I send it but I don't knowingly re-gift. I have started putting labels on now though to stop me sending gifts on. All my sets are what I like which is why I bought them but also I use the same stuff as presents too. I guess I don't mind.

What are your thoughts on letter writing?

Wee! It's Mail Time again....

On Friday the postman came and went as no one was home which meant he had to leave a card. Knowing my package was waiting I couldn't wait to go and pick it up on Saturday, once there they couldn't at first find it but thankfully they did. My excitment was short lived though as the package was wrapped in plastic by Royal Mail but what really got me is why on earth would you use a simple brown (not bubble wrap) envelope on an order so expensive, even worse though was that it was one of those where it has two circles on the back, the top one has string on it to wrap around the bottom one and thats all they had used (no tape, nothing and this is considering they sell it in all sizes!). Those circles had completely been ripped off so my whole pack of stationery could have ended up anywhere as there was no invoice with my address on. Honestly it would have been really something having to deal with this lost item so I'm glad that wasn't the case as the contents inside was really great...

I came across a blog that mentioned modes4u and being a stationery manic I had to have a look so fell in love with a lot of items. I didn't plan on buying anything but was offered a 10% discount plus with the free shipping I decided to get somethings.

I really wanted the Sentimental Circus sets as I needed something to go with my tapes that I bought. I do have some Rilakkuma sets already but I don't know why I don't enjoy writing on them but when I saw this set I really liked the design and decided to get it... after all I needed to make it to £54 for free shipping.

As for tapes there were so many I wanted, added them all to my cart and then deleted them because as you know already I have so many and I like using what I buy where as other people buy all that they like and may never look at them again. Also I never buy anything with the intention of keeping it as I give some of it away as presents but I really need to start keeping a list of what friends buy me because I don't know what I have bought and what has been given so there will come a time when someone is offended that I've passed something on that they gave me. Everything I have though I really like so its not a case of passing rubbish on. I bought some making tapes and absolutely love them, I would have been tempted to buy more if it wasn't for the problem with the package, I can't risk it again so will never buy from that store again which is a shame.

I love having winter themed letter sets to write on in winter but there aren't many out there to buy. Plus those penguins are so cute. The little tape was a free gift.

Lastly three Chou-Fleur Bunny Lettersets, I've never come across this rabbit before but I love the softness of the colours and design of it that I couldn't help buying all of them and I'm so glad I did plus those masking tapes go so well with these sets. Its just a shame I never use envelopes as these are all so lovely looking.

Since last Saturday I've had some lovely mail as I got the package from a friend in The Netherlands, my order, a letter from a friend in Australia and yesterday I received this

Some Stitch note paper which I have stuck in my nieces new drawing book along with some Pingu sheets too which she loved. A postcard of a hotel she stayed in and I think its so impressive, I bet that was someones house once upon a time... I love the surrounding area too, so green! I never had a stamp so long before but also its a really nice one but best of all of course is always the letter as it takes around 2 weeks for letters to arrive to me from Canada, this one took a little less which was nice....

I wish I could have letters every week as its nicely spread out and something nice to look forward to after work but sadly I usually get all letters around the same time and then can have a month or two without anything! Its been a little more consistant lately though which is why make my day has suffered some  what craft wise as my letters come first.

Have you had a good mail week? Did you receive any surprise?

Surprise Mail...

Yesterday after many weeks I went into the city which was so nice as I didn't have my sister with me. I mostly just wondered around so didn't buy much even though I saw a couple of bags that I liked so decided to think about it and go back later to buy  one of them if I decided I really liked them.

When I came home there was an envelope waiting for me and I had no idea at first who it was from especially since I wasn't expecting anything. It was from one of my friends surprising me with not one but two really cute letter sets and its not even my birthday or anything so that was really nice as well as a really nice postcard of France... lushes greenery makes me so jealous but best of all was the super duper long letter which I really enjoyed reading all curled up and snug... Isn't that Mickey Mouse and Co stationery just the cutest? I very rarely show my letters but I just had to with this one.

Have you received any nice mail lately or Any nice surprises?