Have you ever read Flat Stanley?

Flat Stanley is an adorable book about a little boy named (you guessed it), Stanley, who has a bulletin board fall on him (it's above his bed) and he wakes up flat. The cool thing about being flat is that he gets to visit a friend far away by being sent in the mail. Actually, many editions of Flat Stanley come with a rip out postcard of Stanley so you can send him in the mail too.

Why do I bring up Stanley? First, because it is an awesome book! Second, because there are a lot of cool flat things that you can send in the mail that will make someone's day! Just a little added something to an already great gesture (handwritten letter) - doesn't need to cost a lot or anything at all. Here are some cool ideas and some of my faves.

Flat stuff

• photos, postcards, hand-drawn pictures/doodles/cartoons.

• cartoons (from the newspaper or Internet) I like Savage Chickens: cartoons on sticky notes by Dan Savage.
• an article that is interesting or funny or totally relevant to someone's life (a great way to get more use out of that magazine you bought too - recycle/reuse).
• a favourite recipe - you can even get special notecards for this but just the thought of sending off a tried and true fave recipe is so great!
• stickers, temporary tattoos, rub-on transfers.
• coupons you can't use but know someone else who can (or just leave them on the shelf, in the store, by the product - how nice is that!).
• iron ons.
• a perfume sample (from a magazine) of someone's favourite scent.

Bumpier but still relatively flat (warning some of these may cost extra for postage)

• a favourite tea bag (love Good Earth for its spiciness and no caffeine, Lady Grey and Earl Grey - such a lovely couple).
• zines (available in cool bookstores like Powell's and on the 'net) I like Stolen Sharpie Revolution 2 and The Super Cat Crazy Dance.
• a few fun shaped sticky notes from your pad (hearts, stars, apples, whatever).
• a single serving drink mix - hot or cold depending on the season.
• origami or how-to instructions with a couple pieces of cool paper.
• soap leaves.
• facial masks or bubble bath in those little squishy envelopes at the drugstore.

Go stuff some envelopes :) and if you have additional ideas throw them in the comments attached to this post.

Mail alert:  3 x local (Surrey), 1 x out of province (Ontario), 1 x USA (Iowa), and 1 x international (Norway).
30/1000