Send something beautiful - Emily Hogarth

In the age of information, a tangible love letter, postcard or a little handmade card, or an invitation or crafted gift sent through the post can speak a thousand emails or texts. Imagine receiving a hand-crafted pop-up or papercut card that has been designed especially for you-perhaps with your name or a special motif incorporated; a composite postcard sent in installments that completes the picture over time; hand-printed wrapping paper or an origami box of customized treats; a revolving and papercut CD sleeve that reveals part of a hidden message with each turn; or a calligraphic love letter enclosed in a exquisitely-lined and hand-folded envelope. It's hard to resist such obvious attention to detail, originality, hand-crafted skill and old school charm. The art of creating and then giving or sending something beautiful can also be a real joy, as this book reveals.

Whether you're looking for new ways to correspond, want a change from technological communication for a while, or just love crafting with paper, Send Something Beautiful is for you. It includes a huge array of paper crafting and engineering techniques, plus 25 inspiring projects to help you spoil or impress your penpals, friends, family or loved ones. The book itself also makes the perfect gift and includes basic and original templates to draw from or cut out.

The arts of both papercraft and of correspondence enjoy a romantic and fascinating past-from paper peep shows to pop up books to love letters and the Mail Art movement-all captured within the preliminary introduction and in fact files throughout the book.

And to make sure your thoughts make it through the post, there's a handy universal guide to finding out about postal regulations and factoring in cost before you drop your gift or letter into the mailbox.