Pen Pal Parties & Snail Mail Gift Ideas
Intro: Your inbox is jealous of your letterbox
We’ve spent years living in our inboxes – and honestly, they’re a bit of a mess. No wonder people are falling back in love with good old-fashioned post. Pinterest is already predicting a full-on letter-writing renaissance for 2026, with searches soaring for cute stamps, penpal letters and snail mail gifts
In other words: DMs, you’re dust. It’s all about envelopes, ink and happy mail.
In this post we’ll look at:
How to host a cosy pen pal party
Fun snail mail activities you can do with friends, teens or a club
Thoughtful snail mail gift ideas
Cute stationery and pen pal goodies (including some from my own Zazzle collection)
Affiliate disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, I only recommend products I genuinely think you’ll love.
Why snail mail is having a comeback
There are a few reasons handwritten letters suddenly feel exciting again:
It feels intentional. Texts are easy to fire off. Sitting down to write a letter feels like a small act of care.
It’s creative. Washi tape, doodles, stickers, mini photos, wax seals – letter writing is basically scrapbooking in envelope form.
It’s screen-free. A pen pal session can be a gentle break from scrolling.
It’s happy post. Among all the brown bills and boring leaflets, a colourful envelope feels like a little party in your letterbox.
Pinterest data suggests that younger generations – especially Gen Z and Millennials – are leaning into letter writing and envelope art as a form of self-expression.
Floral Scented Stationery Set
This vintage style writing set has matching wax seals. this would be lovely to write on, check it out here.
What is a pen pal party?
A pen pal party is simply a get-together where the main activity is… writing and decorating post.
You can:
Write to existing pen pals
Match friends up with new pen pals
Write future-you letters or notes to family/friends who live nearby
Create “open when…” letters (e.g. Open when you’ve had a bad day)
It works brilliantly for:
Teens and tweens who love stationery
Cosy girls’ nights in
Book clubs (write to favourite authors or fictional characters!)
Hen parties / birthdays for introverts who still want something fun but low-key
3 Pack Tous Les Jours Ballpoint Pens
A good pen makes all the difference. Check out these stylish ones at Good Tuesday.
How to host a pen pal party
1. Set the vibe
Think “cosy writing salon”, not school exam:
Lighting: fairy lights and lamps rather than bright ceiling lights
Music: low-fi beats, soft indie, film soundtracks – nothing too distracting
Scent: a gentle candle or wax melt (nothing too strong near the paper)
Dress code: “jumper + slippers”, “grandma cardigans & cosy socks” or “poetcore” (big jumpers, scarves, satchels, fountain pens)
Free printable sign
Make or print this sign ‘Welcome to the Snail Mail Social Club’
2. Create a “Snail Mail Bar”
Instead of a drinks bar, set up a Snail Mail Bar on a table with:
Writing paper & envelopes
Postcards
Stickers & washi tape
Coloured pens, brush pens and gel pens
Rubber stamps and ink pads
Address labels
A pot for cute mistakes (scrap paper and mis-written cards)
You can lay out different “stations”:
Write: paper, pens, prompts
Decorate: stickers, washi, stamps
Seal: wax seal, washi, envelope art
Watercolour paper set
You can get paper sets from amazon, like this one, which I love.
3. Give guests easy writing prompts
Blank paper can be scary, so have a bowl or printable sheet with letter prompts, such as:
“Three small things that made me smile this week…”
“A book/film/podcast I need you to try…”
“If we could teleport anywhere for coffee, I’d choose…”
“My dream day (in ridiculous detail)….”
“One memory of you that still makes me laugh…”
The Art of letter writing
‘The Art of Letter Writing’ gives over fifty examples of the perfect letter for any occasion. Unsure how to break off an engagement, accept an invitation to a country house weekend, complain about a courier or write to a countess? This book contains numerous elegant and nuanced examples covering every possible social scenario.
4. Choose who to write to
A few fun options:
Classic pen pals: pair guests randomly and have them swap addresses.
Future selves: “To me in six months” letters – you collect and post them later.
Surprise letters: write to someone who wouldn’t expect it – a grandparent, old friend, or neighbour.
Bookish letters: for book clubs, write letters “from” one character to another.
5. Add snacks & drinks
Letter writing is hungry work. Go for low-mess, paper-friendly snacks:
Biscuits, mini brownies, flapjacks
Bowls of sweets (away from the paper!)
Tea, hot chocolate, mocktails in mugs or lidded cups
You can give them punny labels like:
“First Class Biscuits”
“Special Delivery Sweets”
“Air Mail Mochas”
Snail mail gift ideas
If you’ve got a friend who loves stationery or someone who’s tricky to buy for, a snail mail gift can be a lovely, personalised option.
You could build:
Pen Pal Starter Kits – letter paper, envelopes, stamps, pen, stickers, address labels, plus a little “How to Start a Pen Pal Habit” card.
Happy Mail Surprise Boxes – a mix of postcards, washi tape, tiny envelope seals and a mini notebook.
Letter Writing Night In – mug, hot chocolate sachet, cosy socks and a pack of note cards.
Stationery gift set
This Stationery gift set is great for a letter writer.
Psst… I’ve designed a “Snail Mail Social Club” range on Zazzle with matching stationery, stickers and labels you can mix and match into your own kits.
Activity ideas for your pen pal party
Mix and match a couple of these:
Envelope Art Challenge
Set a theme (e.g. “cottagecore”, “space”, “cats”)
Everyone decorates one envelope on that theme
Lay them out and do a friendly vote for “Most Extra Envelope”, “Cutest Doodle”, etc.
2. Sticker Swap Station
Ask guests to bring a sheet of stickers
Put everything in the middle and let people trade
3. Stamp Design Corner
Provide small rectangles of card
Guests design their own “fantasy postage stamps” (great for kids and artsy adults)
4. Gratitude Postbox
Put a decorated box in the middle
Everyone writes one kind anonymous note to someone at the party and posts it
At the end, give out the notes or read them out (anon) if the group’s comfortable
Simple “Snail Mail Starter Kit” checklist
You’ll need:
Writing paper or note cards
Envelopes
Pens (at least one nice one)
Stamps
Stickers / washi tape
Address labels
Optional extras: wax seal, rubber stamps, photo prints, mini confetti (flat, not messy!)
Finishing touch: post-party follow up
To keep the magic going:
Take a quick photo of everyone’s finished letters (if they’re happy with it).
Start a WhatsApp group or email chain called “Snail Mail Social Club” so people can share when their letters arrive.
Plan a second session in a couple of months – maybe a “Holiday Post” or “Birthday Cards Only” edition.