Join us for the all-new Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course, happening now! →

Learn More
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • YouTube
    • Premium Membership
    • Beginner Calligraphy Course
    • Intermediate Calligraphy Course
    • Calligraphy Worksheets
    • Beginner Watercolor Course
    • The Calligraphy Book
  • Blog
    • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Worksheets
    • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Drills
    • Video Courses
    • Brush Pen Calligraphy
    • Handwriting
    • Hand-Lettering
    • Mail Printables
    • Printable Artwork
    • Procreate Worksheets
      • Cleaning Cloths
      • Erasers
      • Glass Jars
      • Inks
      • Kits
      • Mechanical Pencils
      • Nibs
      • Oblique Pens
      • Paper
      • Protectants
      • Rubber Stamps
      • Rulers
      • Straight Pens
      • Washi Tape
      • Watercolors
      • Wax Seals
  • Help
  • Cart
Log in

Your cart is currently empty!

The Postman's Knock written in calligraphy
Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In
  • My Account
    • Account Details
    • Addresses
    • Payment Methods
    • Order Receipts
    • Subscriptions
    • Printables + Worksheets
    • Video Courses
  • Help
Log in
The Postman’s Knock
  • About
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Help
  • Premium Membership
  • The Calligraphy Book
Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In
  • 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.

    How to Make a Beautiful Envelope: A Guest Post

    March 12, 2020

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Guest Post, Mail Art

    I am proud to have teamed up with More Love Letters to write a guest post for their blog! You can visit More Love Letters to find eight simple TPK tips for making a beautiful envelope. I’ve also got a weekend challenge for you, which you can find at the end of this blog post!

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)WhatsApp
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window)X
    • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)Bluesky
    • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)Threads
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Reddit
    • Click to share on Mail (Opens in new window)Mail

    Watercolor Hexagons Mail Art Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    I stumbled across More Love Letters (MLL) in 2015, and I immediately fell in love with the concept! The idea behind MLL is to connect people who can give encouragement with people who need encouragement. It doesn’t hurt that the kind words arrive via snail mail, which I’m all about!

    More Love Letters Envelope
    This is the first More Love Letters envelope I ever sent. It started life as a Trader Joe’s bag! (Aren’t handmade envelopes fun?)

    Basically, MLL puts out Letter Requests every month. The requests come from people all over the world who want to give their loved ones an emotional boost. Many of the requests are heart-breaking, but it’s empowering to know that our kind words can help to bring some sunlight into the situation.

    My Guest Post: How to Make a Beautiful Envelope

    I recently collaborated with MLL to write an article for their site. The article is called How to Make a Beautiful Envelope, and it showcases eight tips for making a lovely snail mail presentation for MLL recipients!

    Floral Illustrated Lace Motif
    One of my tips for making a beautiful envelope? Add some embellishment, like this illustrated lace!

    My hope is that the article will introduce more people to the idea of making artistic envelopes. For readers of the TPK blog, it may seem obvious that you can make and send envelopes that are little pieces of art! However, I often find that when I post mail art on Instagram, people who aren’t familiar with TPK ask if the post office will actually deliver it. (The answer is yes!)

    How to Send More Love Letters

    Elegant and Effective Letter Writing Tips | The Postman's Knock

    Sending a letter to a MLL recipient couldn’t be more simple. First, take a look at the Letter Requests. Choose the request(s) that you connect most with, and write a letter or make a card for that recipient. Cool motifs to include on the card would include illustrated flowers or illuminated letters!

    More Love Letters Envelope
    This Kaitlin Style envelope came together quickly because I didn’t use pencil guidelines. Its calm personality comes from the white and blue color scheme!

    Once you’ve written your letter, make an envelope using the address in your chosen letter request! This part is where my tips will come in. To clarify, I think that any contribution to a MLL request is amazing. However, there’s something special about getting to open an envelope that took time, effort, and artistry!

    Weekend Challenge

    This weekend, I challenge you to make a MLL envelope. Post your envelope on Instagram using the hashtag #TPKMLL so we can see what you came up with! I am participating in this challenge, too, and will share what I made on Sunday morning (@thepostmansknock).

    8 Creativity-Infused Ways to Celebrate Happiness Happens Month | The Postman's Knock
    This would be a great card to send! Believe it or not, it’s a printable.

    Remember, there are tons of greeting card and mail art tutorials here on TPK if you’re in need of inspiration. Let’s have fun spreading kindness this weekend and getting to exercise our creativity!


    Thanks so much for reading! I’m so excited to see what those who choose to participate in the challenge come up with!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)WhatsApp
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window)X
    • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)Bluesky
    • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)Threads
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Reddit
    • Click to share on Mail (Opens in new window)Mail
Sketchbooking

About The Postman’s Knock (TPK)

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.

Join TPK’s free mailing list

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow TPK on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed
  • Mail
Previous post: Fabulous Floral Calligraphy Flourishes: Guest Tutorial by Jodean Cooper
Next post: 10 “Stuck at Home” Project Suggestions

All-time favorite posts

  • The Beginner's Guide to Modern Calligraphy

    The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy

    1.5m views
  • 8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet) | The Postman's Knock

    8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet)

    875.3k views
  • Painting with Watercolors for Beginners

    Painting with Watercolors for Beginners

    831.4k views
  • Free Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet

    Free Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet

    483.5k views
  • How to Write Faux Calligraphy (Video Tutorial + Free Worksheet)

    364.2k views
  • 11 Calming Calligraphy Drills Printable | The Postman's Knock

    Celebrating Six Years of the “11 Calming Calligraphy Drills” Worksheet (Free Download)

    292.9k views
  • Lovely Loose Watercolor Flowers Tutorial

    Lovely Loose Watercolor Flowers Tutorial

    205.9k views
  • The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit

    The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit

    187k views

Latest posts

  • Poppies-themed weekly planner
    Artistic Poppies Printable Weekly PlannerJanuary 14, 2026
  • Thoughtful camera angles help you understand exactly what to do.
    🎉 The New Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course is Here!January 13, 2026
  • Back to Basics: Using the X-Acto KnifeJanuary 8, 2026
  • Andy Warhol Quote Written in Calligraphy
    2025 at TPK: A Year in ReviewDecember 31, 2025

Browse by category

Browse by date

15 responses

  1. Victoria Wodarcyk Avatar
    Victoria Wodarcyk
    March 12, 2020

    Any one of your envelopes would be a joy to receive.

    Log in to Reply
  2. Pat Smith Avatar
    Pat Smith
    March 12, 2020

    Love this! I enjoy receiving and sending beautiful envelopes. Thank you!!!

    Log in to Reply
  3. Palak Avatar
    Palak
    March 12, 2020

    Great tips!

    Log in to Reply
  4. Niguida Avatar
    Niguida
    March 12, 2020

    J’aime tellement la deuxième enveloppe !

    Log in to Reply
  5. Liz Avatar
    Liz
    March 12, 2020

    How could anyone throw out such a gorgeous envelope? Simply beautiful! I shall give it a try for my next project 😀

    Log in to Reply
  6. Patty Avatar
    Patty
    March 12, 2020

    This is a beautiful idea to encourage another person. Thanks for letting us know about MLL!

    Log in to Reply
  7. Mary Katherine Avatar
    Mary Katherine
    March 12, 2020

    I love pretty envelopes—it’s the reason I started teaching myself calligraphy to begin with! I found your blog after a lot of trial and error, and seeing that you’ve struggled with the same basic things makes me feel like I have a friend!

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      April 2, 2020

      This community is FULL of friends! 💛

      Log in to Reply
  8. LeAnn Lea Avatar
    LeAnn Lea
    March 12, 2020

    I love decorated envelopes!!!!❤️

    Log in to Reply
  9. Karina turcios Avatar
    Karina turcios
    March 12, 2020

    Just beautiful! This is a helpful post as I need to do a couple envelopes!

    Log in to Reply
  10. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah
    March 12, 2020

    I LOVE this! Sending beautiful envelopes is my favorite which is why I started Send Mom Mail ❤ this blog post is inspiring to me!

    Log in to Reply
1 2
Newer Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Sorry! Only TPK Premium members can comment on articles and tutorials. You can become a member here. Already a member? Sign in.

There is nothing like a clean, well-organized wate There is nothing like a clean, well-organized watercolor chart. I used to make watercolor chart layouts using math and grids (which, trust me, was painful for someone like me, who doesn’t *love* numbers/measuring/calculations) ... then it occurred to me that I could use Photoshop to give myself a little boost. Much less math and fretting, which for me equals much more joy! Palette is from @greenleafblue — she made it so I could have a gorgeous palette for “The Calligraphy Book”, and this color chart definitely helped to boost the aesthetic of an already stunning supply. 🎨😍

If you’re curious about this technique for making a watercolor chart, you can search the TPK website for “watercolor chart” ... there’s a detailed blog post over how to use the template method that I’m showing you here!

#watercolorpalette #watercolorchart #colorchart #watercolorpaints #artchart
An X-Acto knife (aka a hobby knife) is one of thos An X-Acto knife (aka a hobby knife) is one of those tools that is indispensable for a lot of applications. It was designed to make precise cuts, which, of course, it does well! But, you can also use it to scrape off unwanted ink smears (pro tip: after the fact, you can smooth disturbed paper fibers with a pebble), create interesting interior cuts, trim tiny details that scissors can’t reach, make stencils and templates, refine collage elements, and gently correct small drawing or calligraphy mistakes.

I have used X-Acto knives for many TPK Blog tutorials, but up until last week, I’d never written a guide that puts the X-Acto knife front and center. That guide now exists, and you can find it by visiting the link 🔗 in my profile. Be sure to watch the tutorial video!

#xactoknife #hobbyknife #papercutting #papercutart #xactoknifeart
Just back in the TPK Supplies Shop: Finetec Arabic Just back in the TPK Supplies Shop: Finetec Arabic Gold watercolor pans (and the fabulous Finetec Golds palette). ✨ Gold makes *anything* gorgeous, but use it to make a calligraphy medallion, and it’s just next-level. 🤩 (Tutorial for this particular medallion can be found in the Dancing Pen Calligraphy Medallions Worksheet Set). 

To find the golds + the worksheet, visit the link in my bio, then navigate to “Shop”. Happy weekend! 

#goldcalligraphy #goldwatercolor #pointedpencalligraphy #fineteccoliro #goldcalligraphy
Hard to fit everything in, but this was 2025 in a Hard to fit everything in, but this was 2025 in a nutshell at TPK! 🥜

This year, I loved teaching at @thehappyevercrafter’s Workshop Week and participating in @calmingcalligraphy’s World Calligraphy as Meditation Day. And seeing the TPK calligraphy kit featured in @newyorkermag’s 2025 holiday gift guide was an unexpected (and delightful) cherry on top! 🍒

So much of what happened over the past year, though, was shaped by the TPK Premium community. Their questions and feedback helped guide Hand Lettering 101, while their encouragement fueled tutorials on topics ranging from turning red wine into calligraphy ink to illustrating recipes, painting with a wedge brush, and creating greeting cards and envelope art. 💌 That same support made it possible to create new worksheets and resources that others were able to enjoy as well, which I’m very grateful for. 

For a fuller recap (with helpful links and details) I shared a 2025 reflection on the TPK blog (link in bio).

#handlettering #gracefulenvelopecontest #pointedpencalligraphy #discordcommunity #calligraphyteacher
Which is your favorite koi-themed envelope? The fi Which is your favorite koi-themed envelope? The first one (A. Moreira), which was created as a prop for “The Calligraphy Book” ... *or* the second (Nigel Wright), which was created for the photographer who took pictures of the Moreira envelope for “The Calligraphy Book”? (When I heard how much Nigel had loved the first koi envelope, I made him his own variation!) 🎏

#mailart #snailmail #mailbox #snailmailrevolution #koiart
✨ A little comparison today … because not all ✨ A little comparison today ... because not all golds behave the same.

✦ Finetec gold → bright, cheerful, and versatile
✦ Greenleaf & Blueberry faux brass → softer, muted, and stunning
✦ Yasutomo pale gold → velvety, subtle shimmer with a sensible amount of sparkle

I love having all three on hand and choosing based on the feel I want for a project. It’s tough to go wrong! ✨

#moderncalligraphy #calligraphytools #goldink #watercolorcalligraphy #letteringcommunity mailart calligraphypractice artmaterials creativeprocess handlettering
🕊️ I originally made these printable tags for 🕊️ I originally made these printable tags for gifts … but now I want them everywhere. On presents 🎁, yes; but also tucked into snail mail, sprinkled across a holiday table with happy words written inside (“joy”, “love”, “peace”), or styled on a mantle for a cozy seasonal touch 🎄. They’re simple, charming, and versatile. Find them on the TPK Blog (link in bio)!

#thepostmansknock #printableart #giftwrappingideas #snailmaillove #happymail handillustrated holidaydetails paperlove creativegifting handlettering makersofinstagram stationeryaddict thoughtfuldetails slowdownandsendmail gifttags diygifttag giftwrapping giftpresentation handwrappedgift
I experimented with using the chic poppies techniq I experimented with using the chic poppies technique (see my reel from a couple of days ago) to make pretty stationery. LOVE how it turned out! The poppies are just an elegant way to add personality and elegance to any paper good. If you’re a TPK Premium member, *definitely* check out Lesson 6 of the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course (2025 version). In it, you’ll find a detailed video demonstration that shows you how to bring these poppies to life! ✍️

#stationery #diystationery #floralillustration #penandink #handdrawn #drawing #painting #sumiink #snailmail #mail #mailart #snailmailrevolution #happymail #mailbox #calligraphy #pointedpen #dippen #rosegoldsumi
The Postman’s Knock

About

  • About Lindsey
  • Get to Know TPK
  • Behind the Scenes
  • How I Learned Calligraphy

Legalese

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refunds & Return Policy
  • GDPR Data Erasure Request

Printable Worksheets

  • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Styles
  • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Drills
  • Brush Pen Calligraphy
  • Handwriting
  • Hand-Lettering

Courses

  • Beginner’s Pointed Pen Calligraphy
  • Intermediate Pointed Pen Calligraphy
  • Beginner’s Watercolors

Help

  • Contact Lindsey
  • Calligraphy FAQs
  • Calligraphy Troubleshooting

Subscribe to the Blog

Join over 125,000 creative minds who receive inspiring, value-packed emails from TPK each week. As a free subscriber, you’ll get helpful tutorials, free worksheets, and creative ideas delivered straight to your inbox—plus the occasional sneak peek or special offer.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow TPK on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed
  • Mail

© Copyright 2026 The Postman’s Knock – All rights reserved

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
  • Manage options
  • Manage services
  • Manage {vendor_count} vendors
  • Read more about these purposes
View preferences
  • {title}
  • {title}
  • {title}
Writing Copperplate Calligraphy

Unlock Exclusive Perks with Premium Plus

Fuel your inspiration and creativity with TPK Premium Plus! Members enjoy three free worksheets or learning resources every month, unlimited video course access, member-exclusive tutorials, and a 10% discount on all Supplies Shop orders.

join today ($15)
All About the Brause Rose Nib

inspiration in your inbox

Let The Postman’s Knock Spark Your Creativity

TPK’s innovative newsletters are an artistic treat. Join the 125K+ subscribers who have already discovered The Postman’s Knock, and receive 10% off your first Digital Catalog order.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.