Please click here to view the cover image on Heather's official social channels.

Some may say that snail mail is an artifact of the past, but there’s been a recent movement to revive this (almost) lost art! I’m happy to let you know that as the world becomes more digital each day, many people are making a conscious effort to connect with others around the world. They're doing this by becoming pen pals: writing to others they haven't yet met by exchanging handwritten letters. Since this hobby is having a resurgence, I wanted to take a deep dive into this awesome world by interviewing Heather (@fruuit.bat), a talented artist and pen pal pro.

Creating Long-Distance Friendships: Interview & Tips From Heather [February 2025]

1. What inspired you to connect with people through letter writing? Do you remember your first experience?

I was inspired to start penpalling during the pandemic because I got recommended some YouTube videos about it. I remember “penpal kat” and “skyloafu” were some of the first channels I watched, and I really loved the idea! I found the penpal community on Instagram, and tried to start learning how everything works. My first experience was writing to a penpal in another country, which was super exciting! I used the stationery that I already had at home, and was able to put together a butterfly theme for the envelope and letter design.

Click above to view a video created by @penpalkat, a YouTuber and journaling content creator that inspired Heather.

2. What is the most rewarding part about being a pen pal?

The most rewarding thing about penpalling is getting to make something special for someone else. I enjoy crafting and writing, so it’s really nice to be able to share that with someone else. It’s fun to think about how my penpals will be opening the things I’m sending them! I also really enjoy writing to people I never would have met otherwise and learning about them!

3. What’s your process for finding pen pal letter ideas? Do you have any rituals or go-to methods when starting fresh?

My main process for deciding themes for letters is just looking at what stationery I have. If I find a sticker sheet or cute scrapbook paper or washi tape that I really like, I’ll try to find a way to make a theme based around it! I also sometimes make themes based on the current season or holidays, such as Halloween.

Featured above is a spooky Halloween-themed spread created by Heather featuring cobwebs and an adorable little ghost! You can view this image on Instagram here.

4. Do you have any advice for someone who wants to join the pen pal community?

If you want to start in the penpal community, I would suggest watching videos on YouTube and reading online articles about it first. It’s very important to be as safe as possible, since you are writing to strangers. Try to make sure they have a good reputation online, have a personal account mentioned in their bio, or at the very least talk to them online first. You can also get a PO box if you are worried about giving out your actual address.

There is always a risk when penpalling with strangers, but so far I personally haven’t experienced any safety issues. Once you have learned the basics, you can look through penpal accounts on Instagram. People who are interested in getting new penpals will usually put that information in their bio, and typically have a google form to fill out to see if you are a good match!

5. What are some of your favorite stationery items for letter writing and decorating? How do you like to use them?

Some of my favorite items for penpalling are stickers and washi tape! There are so many cute options that I’ve found, especially from small businesses online. It’s fun to decorate the paper I use to write the letter on, which I mainly use washi tape and stickers for.

This adorable spread was created using cute animal stickers from Stickii Club, circle accent stickers from Kawineko Shop, and a stationery-themed stamp from Saiko Stationery. You can view this image on Instagram by clicking here.

6. Where is the farthest one of your letters has gone? Have you noticed any fun cultural differences for global pen pals?

The farthest letters I’ve sent were to Australia or Russia, and one time a letter from the penpal in Russia got lost for months! When it finally showed up, I couldn’t believe it because I was convinced it was gone forever. It was super damaged but I could still read it and reply to that penpal. There are definitely a lot of cultural differences between penpals from outside the United States, especially in how schools work. I know I’ve discussed the differences between our school experiences with many international penpals. But it’s also awesome to see how similar we all are, even though we live in different countries or states!

7. Do you have any recommendations for resources or online communities where people can connect with other pen pal enthusiasts?

I definitely recommend YouTube as a starting point for looking into penpalling! A lot of penpallers have made tutorial videos for beginners. If you want to start connecting with other people, I know that the main communities are on Instagram and TikTok. The penpal community is always looking for new people to join in, so I hope anyone who wants to start their penpal journey will be able to find success and have fun!

Crafting Connections: A Showcase of Heather's Latest Creations

Heather's thoughtfully crafted letters have been on my mind ever since I first saw them. Each piece reminds me to appreciate the little things in life and made me realize how much joy there is in creating something beautiful to share with a friend. Browse through the photos below to get a glimpse into some of her works. Be sure to spread some love by clicking the photos below & supporting Heather on her socials!

Please click here to check out this gorgeous green spread shown above on Instagram!

Possibly my favorite of Heather's work, this nature-themed decorated envelope is giving gentle vibes while decorated with stickers featuring flowers and plants. It gives me an awesome vintage feel that reminds me to go touch some grass! I really love how she laid out some of her supplies to frame the photo—a Uniball One in a relaxing shade and a Tombow Dual Brush art marker.

Get a closer look at this Genshin Impact themed letter, featuring quotes from and stickers of the character Diluc.

I have such a soft spot for anime and gaming-themed journaling spreads so I was ecstatic to see this envelope decorated all over with Diluc from Genshin. Everything seems super cohesive in a way that I didn't even know was possible outside of digital art. I love the bright reds and grid patterns, as well as the little details from the quote to the white chains around the corners. This one is making me want to get out my stationery and make a Sylus (Love & Deepspace) themed spread!

You can view this adorable letter, decorated with grapefruits and flowers, on Instagram by clicking here.

I'm loving the fruit motif on this one! It reminds me a lot of the summers I spent with my mom since grapefruit used to be one of her favorite treats to beat the heat. The bright pink and orange pastel shades are just so much fun to look at. Not to mention, the cute washi tapes and stickers around the letter make me so happy.

Ready to Connect? Now It’s Your Turn!

The new year is the perfect time to embrace slow communication and meaningful connections. We hope that this interview inspired you to get started with your own pen pal journey! When you do, we'd love to see what you can create. Feel free to tag us (@saikostationery) so we can share it with our community!

If you enjoyed this blog post, please consider supporting us by taking a look at what we currently have in stock. As always, this post is not sponsored so your support allow us to continue creating artist highlights and stationery reviews.

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