Top Ten Gift Ideas for Letter-Writers

The rise of the internet and email threatens to make friendly letters delivered by the post office obsolete. Despite this, there are some who stubbornly prefer to send and receive handwritten greetings. Do you know a person like this? If so, why not acknowledge the love and care they put into their letters by giving one of these top ten holiday gifts?

1. Special stationery may be such a cliche holiday gift that you might not think it is special enough. To personalize this gift, find stationery and matching envelopes featuring your loved one's favorite hobby or the area in which your loved one lives. For example, a Florida 'snow-bird' might appreciate stationery featuring seashells. A dog owner might enjoy stationery with her favorite dog breed. Does your letter-writer collect cows or angels? There is stationery with cow or angel borders.

2. Instead of boxed stationery, you could give a holiday gift of a tablet of either lined or unlined paper. From fluorescent pink to pastels and classic off-white, tablets are produced in a variety of colors and textures. One is sure to be your letter-writer's favorite.

3. Did you know you can purchase black notebook paper that has lines? Gold glitter print looks especially dazzling on this black paper. With a pack of metallic glitter gel pens your holiday gift for your special letter-writer would be complete. You can also get gel pens that have glitter in the ink or combine two ink colors together for interesting effects.

4. The next holiday gift suggestion is prompted by the tendency all of us have at some time. How many times have you sat at your desk to compose a letter to someone who lives a distance away but instead stare at the computer screen or the blank page and wonder how to begin? The best prompt for letter-writing is a journal that captures the important events and thoughts of each day. A blank page journal or even one with daily inspirational thoughts can be filled with reminders to stir memories when your letter-writer puts pen to paper.

5. If your letter-writer is also a cook or baker extraordinaire, a good holiday gift would be recipe cards. You can purchase recipe cards personalized with the name of the cook and ask for those heirloom family recipes and her written memories at the same time.

6. The next item on this top ten holiday gift list for letter-writers is address labels or self-inking stampers with your loved one's address on them. Address labels come in a variety of sizes and designs. Perhaps you could even match stationery and address label designs. If you decide on a self-inking stamper, also give glitter dusting powder available through scrap booking outlets to put a shimmer to the letter-writer's address.

7. Nothing personalizes things more than a monogram. Embossers (from $10-50) stamp your loved one's address or monogram right on the outside of an envelope or on card stock to make a unique note card. Some embossers look something like a stapler but imprint a raised design on your paper.

8. Kings used to seal important documents with wax and the imprint of their signet ring. Your loved one can do the same with her correspondence today. Sealing wax ($4-5 a stick) in a multitude of colors and seals with fancy imprints and brass, ceramic, glass or wooden handles ($15-50) combine to give every envelope a royal touch.

9. Does your letter-writer already have a desk caddy for ingoing and outgoing mail? Make letter writing portable by giving her a lap desk that she can use anywhere. Lap desks are made of wood or manmade materials, can come with a weighted base or with straps that keep papers in place, and may be rectangular or kidney-shaped. Combine this with an armchair caddy from $8 to $15 that can store her letter-writing supplies and keep them within reach when she is sitting in her favorite chair. Bed caddies are also available.

10. Finally, don't forget to tuck in a book or two of postage stamps to complete your letter-writer's holiday gift. With the price for posting a first class letter going up every year, your letter-writer will appreciate the extra thought.

Show how much you appreciate the hand-written letters your loved one sends by giving holiday gifts that enhance her letter-writing experience. And tell her to write soon.