inkspellonyou

I'm a Lisbon-based journalist, with a childlike passion for science and nature, but I write mostly about books and city life, which includes me telling you the best plays to see in town, the best places to grab a bite and the best things to do with kids outdoors (I don't have kids yet, but I think I know pretty well what they like to do since I'm also a kid at heart).

I'm also a very curious and full-battery person (who really enjoys being outside and rollerblading). Of course, I do need a recharge every once in a while. That said, in my so-called spare time, I read comics, watch sci-fi tv shows on Netflix (or other streaming platforms), drink a lot of Portuguese cider, while listening to indie pop/rock music, and craft for my lovely pen friends.

I do Postcrossing and have penpals since 2011 when I was in high school, but I stopped during university and I absolutely regret it. Now I'm back and I know this is more a lifestyle than a passion. Writing and reading letters make my day and I have so much fun creating snail mail that I can't imagine my life without it.

My favourite crafts to make and send to people are flipbooks and pocket letters and I always try to decorate my envelopes to send my swaps in (if it's not decorated, it's probably inside a standard green Portuguese envelope that I use sometimes to send flipbooks). I don't have a personal aesthetic yet though. I do love pastels and earth tones, but my motto is to create something the other person can relate to and truly enjoys. It's more about making someone happy and less about my own liking.

I do love to receive vintage, magic, nature or space-themed snail mail. I think they are my favourite themes, even though I love to be surprised (recently someone created comic-themed snail mail for me and it's one of my favourites ever!).

I try to always add other gifts, such as pretty paper, washi samples, die-cuts, stickers, tea bags or other stuff the person I'm writing to might like. Of course, I love to receive gifts too, but that's not my focus. I just want to feel that you care and that's something you can show in many ways, beginning with a genuine letter. That said if you do want to send me extras, here are some things that I absolutely love to have around and would be so excited to receive in a swap:

✨ postcards (I only collect written and stamped) or another type of stationery;

✨ tea, because I love a cup of warm happiness;

✨ washi samples, since I'm shamelessly addicted and there's not a thing as too much washi if you ask me, but some ideas of washi patterns I might love a little extra: grid or checkered, solid pastel or earth colours, with mushrooms or other nature-themed elements, like flowers and butterflies, magic/witch or space/sky/astrological elements, for example.

✨ pretty blank labels for addresses;

✨ girl stickers or any stickers really;

✨ vintage/patterned/kraft paper and envelopes;

✨ bookmarks;

✨ cute sticky notes;

✨ anything nature, mushrooms, bee or space-themed;

✨ dried flowers and leaves;

✨ you doing you with love.

You can send me any postcard you like: I'm sure it'll be lovely. But if you want to choose something that particularly pleases me, I made a guide:

♥ if you are from France, I would love to receive postcards from here (http://www.correspondances.com/);

♥ designer cards (by names like John Lodi, Anne Taintor, Jim Benton, Holly Webber, Lila Ruby King, Cansu Yaman, for example);

♥ postcards of House of St Junior;

♥ "I ♥ ..." postcards;

♥ painted winter or autumn;

♥ black&white postcards;

♥ map, flag or landscapes postcards (not multy views) from your country/city;

♥ peace, love, infinite and hope postcards;

♥ blue things, like sky or ocean or whatever;

♥ Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel and Marilyn Monroe;

♥ wonders of the world;

♥ pin-up girls;

♥ color painted city views;

♥ book inspired, because I'm a compulsive reader and writer;

♥ Retro/ Vintage/ Art/ Typewriters/ Cameras;

♥ lighthouses;

♥ 3D/4D postcards;

♥ anything related to mail (like mailbox/envelope/postman, etc.);

♥ children book illustration/retro famous painting;

♥ Bands (as Arctic Monkeys, The Beatles, The Kooks, The Strokes, Foster The People, Guns N' Roses, Patrick Watson, Likke Li, or so);

♥ things related to New York, England, Paris, Scotland, Australia or Ireland (I really want things related to these places).

If you want, you can send me Birthday postcards in February and Christmas postcards in December.

Anyway, don't worry. I'm not particularly demanding, and I'm sure you can give me to know lots of beautiful cards that have nothing to do with what I just described above. But, please, don't send me religious cards. And don't forget to write and stamp (I only collect postcards written and stamped). You can write whatever you want me to know about you (your likes and dislikes, favourite music, books, poems, favourite quotes, etc.) and about your country and/or culture.