Something to consider before putting all your envelopes into one chronological scrapbook...
when I started exchanging mail - over 20 years ago - I put everything in scrapbooks - and oh.my.gosh.... it was taking up so much space that I had to pull everything apart and reorganize. I have tossed some of them - but my method for organizing them has changed a lot. There are different categories, like holidays and other themes - but there is also a stack of the Best in Show - from all different categories - but they are my favorites. I also have some sets that showcase particular styles. And then there is the rogues gallery - wacky, but lovable for a variety of reasons.
Sometimes, with a particular person, I keep all of their mail together - because of who they are.
I keep the collection in 4 plastic drawers with labeled dividers. When the drawers are stuffed, I spend some time *sifting* - I remove some from the collection and pass them along to people who are just getting started in envelope exchanges and who appreciate having some nice examples.
Since it is mail, it is nice to be able to handle them.
I do have a couple notebooks - with the mail in plastic sleeves - that I take to classes where they need to be protected from so many hands.
I need to decide who gets the collection when I go to that great scriptorium in the sky....
I have a friend who needed to save space, so she sliced all four edges of the the envelope and just kept the fronts. It's a very clever way to condense the collection.
