One of my very first passions in life was writing. And not just writing stories or articles — writing letters to strangers around the world. Having a pen pal was a great experience and a wonderful reason to check the mail. At one point, this passion became a little expensive. I had a ton of stationery sets, and stamps were a weekly purchase. Not only would you stuff a letter into an envelope but a lot of other fun things too, like "Friendship Books," which were chock full of possible new pen pals.
You got that right. Those of us in the "pen pal community" made up little books with our personalized address labels. The goal? To acquire more pen pals. These days, a Friendship Book may seem a little irresponsible, especially if they get into the wrong hands. But back then, when we were young and foolish, they were gold. Who wouldn't want to connect with more people via letter?
These days, I still keep in contact with zero of them. Sure, I've found some familiar names on Facebook, but I'm too hesitant to actually add them. Still, I keep the memories dear to my heart. And I've also tried to strike up pen pal relationships with people I already know but haven't spoken to in a long time. Letters will always serve as wonderful keepsakes . It's just nice knowing that someone spent the time to sit down and write a letter. Time is really valuable. These days, we just happen to have more of it.
If you're a little rusty on letter writing, now's the time to get started. Here are 10 of the cutest stationery sets on Etsy that won't cost you a fortune.
Watercolor Flower Thank You Notes
Etsy seller LittleOhLouise is selling a set of watercolor flower notes that can be personalized. The good thing about a set like this is that you can use it for any occasion. When it comes to stationery, it's good to have a few options that will always be seasonally appropriate. This design is simple and mature, yet still very colorful.
Shop Now: Watercolor Flower Thank You Notes ($18, Etsy)
Family Personalized Stationery
If your whole family is interested in writing a few notes, LittleOhLouise strikes again. This set of 20 cards covers everyone and will help personalize your letter writing experience.
Shop Now: Family Personalized Stationery ($19.80, Etsy)
Personalized Notes
The Jojostudios Etsy shop has simple yet straightforward cards that'll impress your friends and family. You can even choose ink colors. If you can't decide between them, maybe you just need to invest in more than one set.
Shop Now: Personalized Notes ($16.50+, Etsy)
Cactus Stationery
Do you like plants? Then you might be all about this adorable cactus stationery from ModernPinkPaper. You can start with a set of 10, or purchase even more if you've got a lot of notes to write.
Shop Now: Cactus Stationery ($18+, Etsy)
Cat Cards
Etsy seller PennedPaperie states that this set is geared toward kids, but … is it? This looks like the perfect card to send if I — an adult (mostly) — wanted to cheer up one of the many cat lovers in my life.
Shop Now: Cat Note Cards ($14.90, Etsy)
Fill-in-the-Blank Cards
Remember Mad Libs? This is kind of like the stationery version. If you aren't great with writing long note cards but still want to say hi, this stationery set from WhenItRainsPaper is perfect, especially for all those kids stuck at home right now. If the recipient writes back, the conversation can flow from there.
Shop Now: Fill-in-the-Blank Notes ($13.50, Etsy)
Sloth Writing Set
What's your favorite animal? If it's a sloth, you're in luck. This sweet set from FireboltCreations has everything you need to get started with writing, including note cards, paper, envelopes, and stickers.
Shop Now: Sloth Stationery Set ($18.95, Etsy)
Retro Camera Cards
These note cards from seller VLHamlinDesign are a great way to help reflect on the good old days with a close friend. If that friend happens to appreciate photography, even better.
Shop Now: Retro Camera Cards ($12, Etsy)
Paper Airplane Cards
These paper airplane cards would also be great for kids, but they're charming enough for anyone to use. FindAPennyPaperCo created them and will personalize both the colors and the font.
Shop Now: Paper Airplane Stationery ($18.50, Etsy)
Taco Note Cards
Tacos are always a great way to cheer someone up. This taco-inspired note card set from TheAveraBoutique is the next best thing to the real deal.
Shop Now: Taco Note Cards ($16, Etsy)
Psst: If you choose to purchase an item on this list, LittleThings may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
