Handwritten letters seem to be becoming a thing of the past, as computers take over pens and ink.

You know that times are changing when schools stop teaching penmanship and allow new age technology to do it for us. But even though the world replaces the old with the new, some things are timeless. It’s like the experience one has opening an old book; the feel of it in one’s hands, the turning of its yellowed pages, each one unveiling a little more of its story. It is the same experience when the tip of the pen is immersed in ink and brought to a blank piece of paper to begin telling a story of its own.

Writing is an experience that invites creativity and brings us back to a place in time that is irreplaceable.

The more letters one writes, the better their creativity and penmanship becomes. Allow yourself to be transported to a world where words come alive and set out on an adventure to be able to tell wondrous tales. Start by finding a pen pal or write to your family and friends. Make it fun! Try making your own stationary; buy a quill pen and your favorite color ink. You can even buy a personalized stamp to seal your letters.

Tea Dyeing Paper

What you will need:

• >>Three pieces of white printing paper
• >>Six white envelopes
• >>Two tea bags
• >>Wax paper
• >>½  Cup boiled water
• >>Heat-safe bowl
• >>Scissors

Instructions:

• 1. Place wax paper down to cover the surface that you’re working on. Lay out your papers and envelopes.
• 2. Boil ½ a cup of water on the stove in a tea kettle and place in a heat safe bowl.
• 3. Dunk the tea bag a few times in the boiling water; wring the tea bag out and begin to drag the tea bag across the paper until the entire surface is stained.
• 4. Let the paper and envelopes air dry and flip them from time to time.
• 5. Once completely dry cut your paper in half so that you have six pieces of paper and six envelopes.

Other great ways to practice writing might be keeping a journal and writing down your daily thoughts, taking a creative writing course or finding a book on creative writing online or at your local bookstore and learning a few things on your own.

Play, experiment and have fun with words as you discover and develop your skills!

~

Stefanie DeWysockie is the owner of Taken Back to Nature, LLC, and a holistic health practitioner, yoga and prenatal yoga instructor, writer and author. She loves nature and creating; she makes skin care products without harmful chemicals or preservatives and works in her field as a health and fitness counselor. You can follow her at www.takenbacktonature.com or www.facebook.com/holistichealthnow.

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Ed: K.Macku/Kate Bartolotta