Inside the Secret Penpal Scavenger Hunt 2016

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

For the second year in a row, I took part in my awesome pen pal Fabrizia‘s Secret Penpal Scavenger Hunt. It’s so fun! You’re matched with someone and you are to pick a few things off a list to send to them. Turns out I got lucky in that I know both who I sent to and who I received from, which I thought was cute and exciting. This year’s hunt was to pick five things from this list:

  • the City Explorer’s Kit: take a day off and collect little things of your city for your partner. Can include, but not limited to: maps, flowers & leaves, postcards, tiny souvenirs, photos, interesting newspaper clippings & pamphlets, etc  Just don’t grab a bunch of random junk within arm’s reach, put some effort in it;
  • Something that represent you: for example – are you an artist? Send your partner a little painting. Do you love to knit? Send your partner a hat.. and so on;
  • A mix CD with your favorite tunes. (Pro Tip: create a cover for it);
  • the Postal Freak’s Kit: Can include, but not limited to: postal goodies such as address labels, used stamps, envelopes, stationery, a mail art kit etc.
  • the Bad Day Survival Kit: assemble a kit of nice things that may help your partner to feel better when they’re having a bad day. (Ideas: your favorite candy, a poem/story, bubble bath, a list of  happy songs/movies etc);
  • Something you can wear;
  • Something not square or rectangular;
  • something to use when traveling;
  • Something seasonal;
  • Something to read;
  • And an extra little gift.

I was excited to be matched with one of Toronto’s letter writing champions, Andrea Raymond-Wong, aka @dreyray and @qandaletterbox. For her, I chose to send a bad day survival kit, something not square or rectangular, something to read, a postal freak’s kit and something that represents me.

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

All packaged up and ready to go!

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

Something to read – one of my favourite books – and a gift – macaron erasers! Andrea is a big fan of letters and sweets, so I thought these were perfect!

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

The Postal Freak’s Kit – some stationery packs, scrap paper, lil ephemera and a bunch of cards from Kikki K and Target. Andrea is all about the cards. I wanted to find some she might not have already!

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

Target cards are the best!

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

Something to represent me – my perzines – and something not square or rectangular – an arrow!

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

The Bad Day Survival Kit – a box full of different kinds of sweet tea and macaron-flavoured chocolate bar from David’s Tea! It took a lot of willpower not to consume these myself.

Now here’s the package I received from the awesome Michelle aka @mopeshroom! Michelle is a fellow letter writer and zinester. She sent a note along with the package saying she knew just what to get me, and I have to totally agree! Thank you so much Michelle, I love everything <3

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

So this was the gift – an amazing notebook made out of an old book! Also this fabric of the houses was in the package too. So gorgeous.

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

So pretty.

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

I thought this was hilaaaarious.

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

Spacey hand warmers and glow in the dark stars? Heck yes.

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

So! Many! Awesome! Papers!

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

Zines!

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

How cool is this? It shows how much effort Michelle put in, too.

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

the secret penpal scavenger hunt via paper trail diary

I can’t wait to hang this up in my new home!

Thanks again to Fab for hosting another great swap!

8 comments

  1. Fab says:

    Thank you for sharing, Jess! And again for taking part to the swap 🙂 I knew you would have made someone really happy!! I love what you put together for Andrea.. although I hope you didn’t know each other already before the swap and that it didn’t ruin the mystery bit!
    And OMG I also love what you received! That embroidery hoop is <3

    • Jessica says:

      Thank you for hosting again! Hehe we do know each other, but it’s ok! Was so fun! And I definitely texted a mutual friend asking for tips 😉

  2. Filicia says:

    oh my oh my! the package that you sent and received are equally beautiful! all those pretty papers omg i wish i can grab it right away from my laptop screen haha. the target and kkiki.k card omg! also, the embroidery omg, isn’t that so amazing?! and the bad day survival kit that you sent out. ha, i think i pretty much love everything from this post! haha

    Cheers,
    filicia

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