All Pen pals NEED address labels and Anna is here to help you.
Check out some CURRENT Address Labels here!
By Anna Brooker, England
One thing pen pals all have in common is that we all use address labels. Oh, we may not have them when we first start out, but as time goes by they become indispensable to us. Eventually, many of us become “label addicts,” searching for just the right label...one that says something about ourselves, whether it be cute or funny, or just a pretty script. We seem to search for something as distinct as our own personality is.
I’ve come across quite a variety of labels while swapping friendship books. Seeing a label is one thing though, trying to buy them is another.
I’m sure most of you are familiar with the Current Catalog; in fact, I’ll bet a lot of you have bought something from them at one time or another. I don’t know many pals who haven’t been able to resist the temptation. So where else does one get labels that are “different?” I’ve checked around and believe it or not there are all kinds of neat places to get labels.
An obvious source, as we all know, is the mail order catalog. There are quite a number of mail order businesses in operation presently. More than you’re probably aware of. I get more catalogs than most; my husband jokes that my name is Resident and his is Occupant! Glancing through these catalogs, I’ve seen everything from plain generic labels, which are inexpensive and come in large quantities, to hand lettered and painted labels that are almost too pretty to use. This latter type does tend to be pricey, though.
If you’ve ever ordered anything from a catalog, you’ve probably realized that these businesses swap mailing lists in an effort to get more customers. Consequently, you start to receive more booklets in the mail, which might not be so bad if you like that sort of thing (and I do!) Some people, however, would rather choose the company rather than have the company choose them. How do you find some of these obscure businesses? One way is to get a copy of a magazine called “Catalog of Catalogs.” This periodical is merely a listing of businesses that offer mail order catalogs. It’s a great source of information and your news agent should have it with the other magazines. There are also books that list all web sites knownas “Web Yellow Pages,” another valuable resource for finding mail order companies on line.
A trip to your local printer’s shop could prove fruitful in finding labels you can’t live without. If you’ve been to stores like Staples and Office Max, you will know they have personalized stationery available. If you look closely at the sample books, you will see a lot of them offer matching address labels that may be purchased separately or together with your favorite writing paper. Oftentimes, because they are a “special order” item, you may choose the script as well as the ink color If there isn’t a printer’s shop close-by, why not check out your local department store? Some larger department stores have stationery departments, and also Bridal Registries which do personalized stationery. Have a look at some of the items they have available and you may be surprised. Of course, choosing this venue may be on the expensive side, but if it’s quality you’re looking for, these are the places to check. There are sure to be a number of listings in your local telephone directory to give you a head start.
If you’re daring, you could even try your hand at making your own labels. There are a lot of aids available to help with this especially if you own a computer. There are various programs you can buy to create labels, as well as white or colored labels to print them on.
If you don't happen to have a computer, but do have access to a copy machine, there are several differnet size labels you can buy to create your own labels and just copy the quantity you need. This gives you the opportunity to make several different types for variety.
If you'd rather not bother with the copy machine, you can always just decorate your own labels with brightly colored pens, rubber stamps, and stickers to create a personal look. I've seen several ads that offer a fairly large selection of graphics to choose from as well as multicolored labels and even different ink colors. They are reasonably priced too. These ads are certainly worth a second look.
Being a pen pal means being a detective sometimes to get just the right look for your letters. There are so many different resources at our fingertips. Don't be afraid to ask for a sample and price quotes. All are gift catalogs but Current and Colorful Images cater to the writer.
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