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  • Welcome to TPK! This is your first of 2 free articles. For unlimited access to tutorials and articles, join TPK Premium for less than the cost of a latte.

    DIY Mail Art Envelope Template

    September 28, 2013

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Free Printables, Mail Art, Printable Envelope Templates, Printable Goodies

      I know I keep going on and on about envelopes. I believe this is my fifth DIY envelope post … which is disconcerting. Call me out if my next blog post is envelope-focused, too. Then we’ll really know I have a problem! But what can I say? I’m a sucker for pretty packaging, andContinue…

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    Printable Mail Art Envelope Templates | The Postman's Knock

    I know I keep going on and on about envelopes. I believe this is my fifth DIY envelope post … which is disconcerting. Call me out if my next blog post is envelope-focused, too. Then we’ll really know I have a problem! But what can I say? I’m a sucker for pretty packaging, and I love sharing ways to make someone’s world a little bit prettier with you!

    Today I have a special treat for you — a DIY mail art envelope template. I just created a set of three to put in my shop, and I’d love to share one of the three with you.

    DIY Mail Art Envelope Template | The Postman's Knock

    The template I am sharing today is the photography template. This template makes for an amazing envelope for someone who loves cameras, movies, or just funky illustration! You can download this mail art envelope template by clicking here: Photography DIY Envelope Template.

    DIY Mail Art Envelope Template | The Postman's Knock

    Once you download the template, you can either put a piece of regular paper or card stock in your printer {I recommend kraft card stock}, or if you want to create the ultimate cheap DIY project, cut an 8.5″x11″ piece out of a grocery sack and put that in the printer. {This was my original plan until I found card stock lurking in the closet.} Then print the template on the card stock or grocery sack, and you’ll have something that looks like this:

    DIY Mail Art Envelope Template | The Postman's Knock

    If you do not select “fit to page” on your printer options {I recommend NOT selecting “fit to page”}, then the side flaps won’t fully print out — you can see an example of that on the image above. That’s perfectly fine and in fact ideal as it makes for a bigger envelope. You’ll know where to cut because only a little bit of the tab doesn’t print out, and it should be obvious where to cut.

    Once you print out the template, you’ll just fold in all the flaps. Fold in the bottom flap first, the side flaps second, and the top flap third. Glue the side flaps to the bottom flap. You can either seal the top flap {once your card/letter is inside} with regular Elmer’s glue, or you can make my four-ingredient vanilla lick-to-seal envelope glue.

    DIY Mail Art Envelope Template | The Postman's Knock

    {The template for this envelope is available for download here.}

    Your end result will be a lovely and intricate 6.25″x4.5″ mail art envelope … ready to be written on and sent! If you like the other two templates and wish to purchase them, you can find them in the TPK catalog. Have a wonderful weekend!

     

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Sketchbooking

About the author

Hi, I’m Lindsey Bugbee, the illustrator, calligrapher, and author behind The Postman’s Knock (TPK). Since 2012, the TPK Blog has been a vibrant creative space filled with tutorials and lessons on modern calligraphy, hand lettering, and illustration. After publishing The Calligraphy Book, I wanted to elevate the quality of content even further—so I launched TPK Premium. You can join here to receive access to some of the internet’s best creative inspiration and project tutorials.

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Previous post: How to Create a Handmade Envelope from a Paper Bag
Next post: DIY Printable Halloween Goody Bags

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11 responses

  1. kayteau Avatar
    kayteau
    February 28, 2023

    Thanks for the freebies and the tutoriasls!

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      March 3, 2023

      Sure thing! I am so glad that you enjoy!

      Log in to Reply
  2. lisa Avatar
    lisa
    October 1, 2016

    i thought it was free?

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      October 1, 2016

      Hi Lisa! Apologies; this post is three years old and has some kinks in it. 🙂 The Photography themed template is free; there is a download link under the second photo!

      Log in to Reply
  3. Fiona Reid Avatar
    Fiona Reid
    April 26, 2015

    Love it, but the stamp will cover up the beautiful work!!!! 🙁

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      April 27, 2015

      Only some of it! 🙂 There are some new templates in the TPK catalog that don’t have any artwork where the stamp goes, though … these are my new favorites!

      Log in to Reply
  4. Petra Avatar
    Petra
    December 5, 2014

    Love these templates. And agreed: using AD characters as the example is just brilliant. Love it!

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  5. Sarah Freeman Avatar
    Sarah Freeman
    February 14, 2014

    The fact that you used “Arrested Development” characters for your examples is utterly fantastic!!! I am glad I stumbled across your work on Pinterest! <3 You have a new fan!

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      February 14, 2014

      In all seriousness, I am as passionate about Arrested Development as I am about calligraphy … that show never fails to make me laugh. My absolute favorite episode is the one where George Michael ends up with a rocket strapped to his back, and Tobias is playing a mole (though not the kind the investigators intended) — and together they destroy the mini-housing development right before the offended and shocked Japanese investors’ eyes à la Godzilla. Too wonderful. 😉 I am glad to have found a kindred spirit — thanks so much for reading!

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  6. Diana Avatar
    Diana
    October 19, 2013

    As a retired Calligrapher, I have always taken great pride in decorating any and all envelopes for any and all occasions. However, with advancing age and inability to decorate envelopes as I once did, I found this template and instructions perfect! I can even add colors with pencils and glitter, if I want. Thank you for making my day a little brighter with this short cut to decorating envelopes. Keep up the good work…it brings a smile to folks you don’t even know!! ~ :o) Diana

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      October 19, 2013

      Your comment makes me so, so happy!! I’m really glad that I can help you send out some pretty envelopes — be sure to check out the witch template for Halloween — I think it’s my favorite. 🙂 I can relate to your affinity for decorating envelopes … I am sure my mailman either thinks I’m very artistic or very crazy {though the reality is he probably thinks I’m a mix of both} because everything I send out is “dressed to the nines”. I just love knowing that my recipient will get a pretty surprise … I’m sure you know the feeling.

      Thanks for commenting and making MY day a little brighter. Have a great weekend!

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🖍️ We have a million crayons laying around be 🖍️ We have a million crayons laying around because my kids love to color (right now, their pages of choice are K-Pop Demon Hunter-themed). While I’m always down for some adult coloring, I also love to letter with crayons! In the latest TPK tutorial — link in bio — you’ll learn how to make this cozy ombré wax crayon calligraphy. 🍁 Switch up the color scheme if you’re not a pumpkin spice person! This technique looks great with light blue, dark blue, and dark purple; or light green, dark green, and dark blue. #crayoncalligraphy #crayolacrayons #waxcrayons #adultcoloring #autumnart #cozylettering #handlettering #lettering
A couple of days ago, I posted a clip from Lesson A couple of days ago, I posted a clip from Lesson 1 of the new Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course (seriously, join us — enrollment is a *steal* at $5/month, and you get complimentary tutorials [that happen to complement the course] — link in bio)! People seemed to like the story in that clip, so here’s another fun story from the same lesson. Sorry, I can’t confirm who the client was! That was a project with an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement). 🤐 Still: a very fun, very cool experience ... I’m grateful that calligraphy has given me cool adventures and connected me to such an amazing community. ✍️

#calligraphystory #moderncalligraphy #learncalligraphy #beginnercalligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphy
Lesson 1 of TPK’s Beginner’s Modern Calligraph Lesson 1 of TPK’s Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course doesn’t actually start with the pointed pen! ✍️ Instead, we ease into it with faux calligraphy and then pencil calligraphy. Here’s a little preview of what the pencil calligraphy lesson looks like. ✏️

If you’ve been wanting to learn calligraphy, join us in this course. It is an absolute *steal* because it’s included with your TPK Premium membership ($5/month - cancel anytime). Once the course concludes in January, you can choose to purchase lifetime access to the videos; or just continue on with us to the next course. For more information, visit the link in my bio!

#learncalligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #moderncalligraphy #pencilcalligraphy #blackwingpencil #pencilart #letteringart #handlettering #modernlettering #artisticletters #artisticlettering
I’m editing videos for the new Beginner’s Mode I’m editing videos for the new Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course (🎉 JOIN US! link in profile for enrollment info!!) — and wanted to share this story from Lesson 1. In that lesson, we’ll chat about how to develop your motivation (this story is part of me sharing mine); and we’ll ease into our pointed pen experience with faux calligraphy and pencil calligraphy. Step by step, you’ll develop skills that will serve you for a lifetime ... and surprise and delight those around you, just like my “rent check envelopes” did! ✉️

#mailart #moderncalligraphy #learncalligraphy #storytime #calligraphy #snailmail #snailmailrevolution
Some recipes aren’t just instructions — they’re memories on a page. 💛 I spent some time illustrating one of my favorites, and it turned into the sweetest (literally) keepsake. Calligraphy, watercolor, and a little patience bring the story of a dish to life.

If you’d like to try illustrating your favorite recipe, too, I shared the full process (with helpful printables) on the TPK Blog — link in bio. ✨

#illustratedrecipe #calligraphyart #watercolorillustration #creativeproject #keepsakeart #slowcreativity #handletteringlove #moderncalligraphy #calligraphyinspiration #watercolorart
As much as cooking is an art, illustrating a recip As much as cooking is an art, illustrating a recipe takes it one step further. ✨ In TPK’s latest tutorial (link in bio), I’ll show you how to create an illustrated chocolate lava cake recipe using watercolor. You’ll find helpful PDFs and step-by-step instructions so you can follow along — or use the layout to bring one of your own favorite dishes to life.

Frame it as keepsake art, or give it as a thoughtful handmade gift this holiday season. 🎁

#illustratedrecipe #watercolorart #calligraphycommunity #foodillustration #arttutorial #watercolortutorial #creativeprojects #handmadegifts #keepsakeart #thepostmansknock
✨ One of the most beloved assignments from Lesso ✨ One of the most beloved assignments from Lesson 5 of Hand Lettering 101 was this playful project: design an artistic alphabet where no two letters look the same.

The idea? JUST PLAY. 🎨 I used watercolor and a paintbrush, but many students grabbed markers, pens, or anything colorful on hand. The results were incredible — @adriennelovesletters gave it her own flair, Isabel C. made it three times, and Laura M. created a stunning version too. (You can peek at more inside the TPK Premium Discord!)

If you’re ready to try this project yourself, you’ll find the Hand Lettering 101 eCourse waiting in the TPK Catalog. Just head to the link in my bio to be taken to the TPK website. 💌

#handlettering #watercolorlettering #moderncalligraphy #letteringpractice #creativeplay #calligraphycommunity #artinspiration #calligraphyart #watercolorart #letterlove #tpkpremium #handlettering101
Had the best time writing the latest tutorial on t Had the best time writing the latest tutorial on the TPK Blog — “Drawing Lesson: Elegant Swallows” (🔗 link in bio). If you’ve never drawn birds before, swallows are an excellent place to start. Their shapes are simple once you break them down! ✍️ 

In the tutorial, you’ll find:

🪶 Step-by-step visual instructions for drawing swallows in four different movements
🪶 The “Hand-Drawn Swallows Cheat Sheet” PDF
🪶 A detailed tutorial for making the mail art shown here

On another note, I want to extend a huge THANK YOU to TPK Premium and Premium Plus members ... your support allows me to write cool detailed tutorials like this one. 🙏 You all are amazing, and I’m so proud of our community.

#mailart #snailmail #illustration #illustrationtutorial #drawingtutorial #drawinginstructions #birdart #swallowsart #calligraphy #moderncalligraphy #pointedpen
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