Letter Writers Alliance

You'll need Adobe Acrobat to open and print these files. Chances are you already have one of the many
free versions available on your computer. If not, no worries, you can download it for free here.
(This link to the corporate site opens in a new window, so turn off your blockers.
We can't be held responsible if they have naughty stuff on their site, though I doubt they would.)

Have a little fun with your penpal by sending them this joke application form. Especially useful for when you have been a little...slow responding to a letter (or letters). This tongue in cheek form will put a smile on their face and have them forgiving your slow response rate in seconds.

This is not a form required for our pen pal swap, its just for your amusement.

8.5" x 11", black ink, 120 kb
Download .pdf

Tools Needed:
• sharp sissors or a craft knife
• penpal

Cole Imperi, of Simplicity Embellished, is an avid letter-writer since the age of 12 and made LWA members a series of postcards as a download. Here is what she has to say about the download she made:

"Inspired by my collection of vintage postcards and a trip I took to Australia several years ago, I thought combining both might make for a fun project."

Cole set-up the file to print double sided and cut dow to sizen. We suggest printing on cover stock and rounding the corners. Thanks Cole!

8.5" x 11", color ink, 172 kb
Download .pdf

For those that cannot print double-sided, we made one of the postcard designs as a single-sided print that you fold and glue together. Let us know if you want the other designs this way and we will try to get to it!
Download .pdf
( 8.5" x 11", color ink, 2 mb)

Tools Needed:
• sharp sissors or a craft knife
• glue (optional)
• penpal

Use this Mr. Zip wrap when mailing a bundle of letters or when dressing up a single envelope.

8.5" x 11", color ink, 3.9 mb
Download .pdf

Tools Needed:
• sharp sissors or a craft knife
• letters to mail

Tell your pen pal just how great they are with these three award badges! Simply cut out the awards, fold the badge over a safety pin (diagram included with download) and secure with tape on the backside. Pin the awards onto the lapel of amazing letter writers or mail to your awesome pen pal. Repeat as necessary.

8.5" x 11", color inks, 72 kb
Download .pdf

Tools Needed:
• sharp sissors or a craft knife
• saftey pin
• a steady hand and/or patience

It is highly recommended that you print this on cardstock or other thick paper.

Spread the LWA mission statement post-wide. Printed on one side of a letter-sized paper is cut out and folded in half to make a double-sided postcard.

8.5" x 11", black ink, 500 kb
Download .pdf

Tools Needed:
• sissors or a craft knife
• glue or tape
• optional: a Postcrossing ID (link opens new window)

Encode your top secret letters and messages with a pair of handy cipher wheels (or "cypher," depending on what side of the pond you are from). This download contains two wheels, one for you and one for the receiver of the message. Directions on how to construct and use the wheels are included.

8.5" x 11", black ink, 656 kb
Download .pdf

Tools Needed:
• sissors or a craft knife
• a brad / butterfly clip
.. (available at craft stores)
• a penchant for mischief

Inspired by vintage airmail stationery, this writing paper folds to make its own envelope. Write your letter on the inside, fold and mail. Print different color papers for different styles.

8.5" x 11" sized stationery, 52 kb

Download .pdf

Personalize your own LWA stationery. Comes in .pdf format for you to type in your own name in whatever font or size you wish.

Please note: You need Adobe Acrobat Pro (see: not free version) to be able to add your name to this file. It's a bummer, we know. It's the only way we know to have a cross-platform file that can be edited. Sorry for those who don't have this souped-up version for Acrobat!

8.5" x 11", black ink, 228 kb

Download .pdf

Pdf help:
What do I have to do to type in my name?

Use these bright colored labels on your envelopes, box of received letters or on your cat. No, not on your cat, you'll lose an eye. Cut out with an xacto knife or scissors. But be careful, we wouldn't want you to lose the other eye too.

10 labels on 8.5" x 11", 48 kb

Download .pdf

Pdf tip:
Use studio tac, a Xyron machine or even a glue stick to adhere the labels onto whatever you wish. Donovan & I personally love our Xyron machine. Instant stickers!

Inspired by our post on V-mail a wonderful LWA reader, Sarah R., recreated the stationery used during WWII to communicate to soldiers. Thanks to Sarah for making this .pdf and for sharing it with LWAers.

8.5" x 11" sized stationery, 172 kb

Download .pdf

Read the post that inspired the download!
PDF file created by Sarah R.

These are the free downloads available on the "funstuff" section on 16 Sparrows. No, these aren't exclusive to LWA members, but we figured we should put all the downloads here so LWAers don't have to go to different sections for all our downloads. Now, aren't we thoughtful?


• Valuable Doc. Envelope (96 kb) Make-it-yourself envelope with the declaration "Contains Valuable Document" on the front and space for you to write addresses.	• Private Eye ID Card (280 KB) Double-sided ID card for all your gum-shoe dreams. Inspired by a 1960s Private Investigator's identification card (see original here).	• Notecards (80 kb) 8 notecards with two silhouettes. Great to write little love notes or even to use as gift tags

• Greeting Card (44kb) Pdf file for you to download, print and send to someone special.	• Mailing Labels (796 kb) 6 mailing labels for you to affix to your favorite envelope & mail to your favorite friend.	• Striped Labels (52 kb) Similar to the mailing labels for LWA, but you get both color combos!