FB - in Penpal lingo is 'Friendship Booklet' not 'Facebook'. :)
Penpals are a great way to learn about other people and other countries. A fun way to find penpals is through Friendship Books. Friendship books can be something simple like stapling some pages together to something more creative like Decos which are decorated friendship books. The purpose of friendship books is to find penpals and to share a little about you and your interests. ADD ME TO Your FAVORITES
A small book that is created by one person as a gift for a friend. They have colorful covers usually cardstock and are filled with blank sheets of paper.
The books are mailed between penpals with each person adding their name, address, interests collections, etc. When the book is full, it is mailed to the person whom it was made for and that person now has a full booklet of penpals who would like to write back.
Make a sturdy cover using Cardstock or Pretty paper. You will then be adding Decoration Tape, Contact paper, or Clear Packaging tape to this in the last step.
Use what you have in your craft stash to decorate the cover.
- Stickers
- Magazine cut-outs
- Die cuts
- Printable pictures
- Drawings
- Ribbon
- scrapbook embellishments
- IMAGINATION is key
You will be adding your friends label [the person who this is being made for] as well as Your label [the person who made the booklet] on the Left side of the inside booklet.
Information to include:
- Name
- Mailing address or email to contact you
- Birthday, Anniversary, etc.
- NPW, NSW, Whether you are looking for new penpals or swappers [See Abbreviations]
- Your interests [TV, Movies, Characters, Collections, Hobbies etc.]
- What you swap [list types of books/bags/collections you swap]
You can decorate your booklet with just about anything:
- stickers
- diecuts
- drawings
- magazine cut outs
- recycled book pictures
- scrapbook emellishments
- ribbon
- yarn
- crochet appliques
Pretty Paper FB
Step 5: Cover with Tape or Contact Paper
Deco Tape, Packaging Tape or Contact Paper
Deco Tapes are perfect for decorating the outside of friendship books. They come in all sizes and characters. My favorites are the kawaii foods and gnomes made in Japan.
This is the last step in your Fb making Process:
- Use packaging tape [clear]
- Use clear contact paper
- Use Deco tape on the outside of your cover
- Laminate [machine or no heat laminating]
Just make sure your cover is sturdy and can last shipping world-wide for at least a year.
1. *Search some empty space in FB, and write your name and address (collections or interests, whether you are searching for new penpals or new swappers).
2. *After signing, read the FB. If you find someone you'd be interested in corresponding with, copy their information into your address book and write them a letter of Introduction. (most pals don't like form letters so write a personal letter)
3. *Send it on to another snail mail pal, who isn't already listed. (be sure the person you send it to hasn't signed the booklet already)
4. *If you receive a FB, which is full after you sign it, send it to its owner. Usually that person's name is in the cover of FB with words ' Made for'. (there are Yahoogroups which keep track of address updates) If you can not mail it home, contact the 'Maker' of the FB.
5. *Pass it on as soon as possible; don't let it lay in your shelf for months. If you can, send it on in a week!!!! (Join a group for regular swaps)
6. *You must not write to someone, who doesn't want new penpals. (for Abbreviation-Definitions Click HERE)
Penpals: Everything you Need to know
From a fellow Pal
I swap Fbs with Lara all the time. This is an 'Encyclopedia' of information for those new to the penpal world. It gives detailed information on what to swap, why, and How. She gives links to a number of popular Yahoo swapping groups as well as Penpal sites.
Start Swapping those friendship booklets with your real life pals, your email pals, your penpals, and even Swap-Bot is starting to host swaps for FBs.
You can start by joining in on a Yahoo Group or even just answer an ad in a Penpal Zine.
Friendship books are fun to make and fun to swap.
You can join Round Robins or even join a yahoo group and make different Fbs for people with different themes.
This is a group I moderate. This group is for Swap-Bot swappers who enjoy penpalling and swapping FBs, Slams, Label-Sticker Bags, Crams, Friendship Sheets(FSS) and StickerBooks aka Sticker slams.
If you love to swap and live in the USA, then this is the group for you! You can also find us on yahoo groups! We swap friendship books, decos, friendship sheets, slams, bags, stickers, stationery, notepads, kawaii, deco tapes, just about anything you can think of!
These books must be in booklet form made out of cardstock, not too big, front covered with patterned scrapbook paper, and decorated with either stickers or printed images via the internet, ribbons, embellishments, confettis, sequins, all put together on the cover in an artistic way and covered with plastic clear shelf liners or clear packing tape to withstand the travel worldwide. No staples showing on the front of the covers. The best way to staple an fb is on the crease of the booklet.
Nothing better than chatting with others who enjoy making FBs almost as much as you do. Join a themed swap, a FB challenge, Find a friend, discover new creative outlets.
A community to get new pen-pals and FB swappers. A perfect havan for FB swappers and pen-palling enthusiasts alike!!!! Please feel welcome to come and hang around!
Make some envelopes or send a printable project to a friend as a tuck-in surprise. Kooohkies even has printable FBs so all you'll need to do is add your contact information and re-enforce the cover with contact paper or Tape.
PenPalPalace.com - Pen pals, Pen friends, Epals, l more...0 points
PenPalPalace.com - Pen pals, Pen friends, Epals, learn english - search for, find and meet international penpals, penfriends and make new penpal, epal and e-mail friends throughout the world with this free, quick and easy method.0 points
A site for those new to penpalling. Lots of inform more...0 points
A site for those new to penpalling. Lots of information on definitions to crams, fbs, decos, friendship sheets, label bags, sticker bags, and more0 points