5 Snail Mail Clubs for Creative Hobbies
Small projects and fresh inspiration, from watercolor painting to junk journaling.
Sometimes, all you want is a little time at home to get absorbed in a small project. We’ve picked five snail mail clubs with creative activities to try, each offering a different way to enjoy making something. A chance to experiment, learn something new, or simply enjoy the process.
01ROOTS Watercolor Kit Mail Club
Created by Millie, the artist behind ROOTS Watercolour, this club sends a floral painting kit with handmade watercolor dots in colors chosen for that month’s flower. A watercolor postcard with a drawing outline and a printed painting guide help you get started, even if you’re new to watercolor.
Why we recommend it
For anyone who’s been meaning to try watercolor but hasn’t quite started, we like how little there is to prepare. Just add a brush and water, and settle into wetting the little dots of pigment, watching the color spread, and bringing a flower to life. Over time, the finished postcards could become a little collection of flowers to look back through and see how your painting has developed.
02A Place in Time Mail Club
A Place in Time takes you travelling through history with Oreo, a border collie with a little travel bag. Each month, an illustrated card and a letter introduce a destination and the stories behind it. A matching paper template lets you build the scene as a layered matchbox diorama, creating a miniature souvenir of the journey.
Why we recommend it
A small paper craft project feels all the more inviting with Oreo to keep you company and a bit of history to discover. As you cut, fold and assemble each scene, you’re making your own souvenir of Oreo’s travels. Give it a spot on your bookshelf, where a collection of little destinations can gradually take shape.
03Purl And Pen
Eleasha brings knitting and illustration together in Purl And Pen. Each month, she knits a little square and turns it into a mini print and sticker, sent alongside illustrated stationery and a letter. A matching downloadable knitting chart lets you knit the design yourself.
Why we recommend it
Whether you already love knitting or have been meaning to try it, the little printed stitches offer an invitation to pick up your needles and start with something small. Choose your yarn, follow the chart, and enjoy watching the design you first admired on paper emerge row by row. It’s a lovely way to settle into a quiet afternoon, with something taking shape in your hands.
04Slow Cooking Recipe Club
Sammy’s Slow Cooking Recipe Club reflects her love of simple, seasonal food and recipes worth returning to. Each month brings two illustrated recipe cards and a letter sharing more about the dishes. Painted ingredients and handwritten recipes bring her practical approach to home cooking onto paper you can keep and cook from.
Why we recommend it
After a busy week, receiving one of Sammy’s illustrated recipes can make an afternoon of cooking feel like something to look forward to. It’s a chance to enjoy preparing a meal at your own pace, tasting along the way and getting absorbed in the process. Then comes the pleasure of eating what you’ve made, whether you enjoy it yourself or share it with someone you love.
05ReggieDesignCo Mail Club
An avid journaler herself, Reggie creates monthly themed collections of stickers, prints and paper goods for your journal. From retro diners to seaside summers, her designs combine bold patterns, playful illustrations and little paper treasures to cut, layer and arrange around your own photos and notes.
Why we recommend it
If you’ve been curious about junk journaling, think of it as making a collage of papers, keepsakes and memories, with no need for a perfect layout. Reggie’s monthly themes offer a starting point when you’re unsure where to begin. Add a ticket you’ve saved, a favorite photo or a few handwritten thoughts, and enjoy experimenting with how they fit together. It’s a way to spend an afternoon making room on the page for the little things you want to remember.