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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.

    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!

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    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

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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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15 responses

  1. Victoria Wodarcyk Avatar
    Victoria Wodarcyk
    March 12, 2020

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

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  2. Pat Smith Avatar
    Pat Smith
    March 12, 2020

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

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  3. Palak Avatar
    Palak
    March 12, 2020

    Great tips!

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  4. Niguida Avatar
    Niguida
    March 12, 2020

    J’aime tellement la deuxième enveloppe !

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  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 😀

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  6. Patty Avatar
    Patty
    March 12, 2020

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

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  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!

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      April 2, 2020

      This community is FULL of friends! 💛

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  8. LeAnn Lea Avatar
    LeAnn Lea
    March 12, 2020

    I love decorated envelopes!!!!❤️

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  9. Karina turcios Avatar
    Karina turcios
    March 12, 2020

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

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  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!

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✍️ There’s a fresh addition to the TPK Catal ✍️ There’s a fresh addition to the TPK Catalog: The Graceful Ballerina Calligraphy Drill Worksheet 

This ballerina is unique among TPK calligraphy drills in that it’s really not that complicated. After a few simple loops, a flourished tutu, and long strokes to make the legs, you have, well, a ballerina! 🩰 The most difficult part is getting the outline right; but even that isn’t too bad because you’ve got a traceable outline included in your worksheet set.

The beauty of the flourished ballerina? She makes *anything* look elegant: cards, envelopes, gift tags, whatever. My recommendation is to feature her on your next envelope. She’ll add a “wow” factor and allow you to left-justify the address, which is always a relief (no need to bother with centering)!

To find her, visit the link in my bio, then navigate to the Blog!

#thepostmansknock #tpk #calligraphy #calligraphydrills #calligraphyworksheet #moderncalligraphy #pointedpen #pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphypractice #flourishing #flourishedart #mailart #snailmail #envelopeart #envelopecalligraphy #handlettering #creativeprocess #artistsoninstagram #balletart #ballerinadrawing #ballerinaart #inkdrawing #calligraphycommunity #stationerylove #letterwritersalliance #penandink #calligraphyinspiration #learncalligraphy #artistlife #creativeplay
✨I’ve been making these little calligraphy Chr ✨I’ve been making these little calligraphy Christmas trees for years. They’re a go-to whenever I need a quick gift tag, envelope flourish, or something festive that doesn’t require a whole afternoon.

They look fancy, but they’re really just simple strokes stacked in different patterns. Truly: once you get the rhythm down, you can make a tree in under 30 seconds. 🎄 

If you want to try them (there are six styles!), the tutorial is on the TPK Blog, and it’s called
“6 Simple Ways to Make a Calligraphy Christmas Tree.” Feel free to google it, or visit: thepostmansknock.com/6-simple-ways-to-make-a-calligraphy-christmas-tree/

It’s very beginner-friendly, video-based, and a great way to get some creativity in during a busy season. I hope you love it as much as I do. 💛

#calligraphy #moderncalligraphy #holidaycalligraphy #calligraphyart #creativelifehappylife #christmascrafts #holidaycrafts #giftwrappingideas #diychristmas #christmascards #calligraphytutorial #finetec #metallicwatercolor #papercrafts #creativepractice #thepostmansknock #holidayinspiration #blackandgold #christmasideas #holidayideas
🎁 These printable gift tags are one of my favor 🎁 These printable gift tags are one of my favorite free printables on the TPK site. Just download, print, cut them out, and — if you want to — reinforce them with a bit of cardstock.

Inside the PDF you’ll find four designs: Festive Frida, Flourished Tree, Pine Boughs, and Merry & Bright. They’re all hand-drawn, and they make even the simplest wrapping look bespoke and artistic. 🎨 

Pro tip: If you’ve got a bit of extra time, add a pop of watercolor or some gold dots; and consider mounting the tag on a contrasting piece of cardstock for extra oomph.

They’re free to download at: thepostmansknock.com/free-super-cool-hand-drawn-printable-gift-tags/ (or visit the link in my stories today). Happy holidays!

#handdrawn #gifttags #printablegifttags #freeprintables #holidayprintables #christmascrafts #holidaygifts #papercrafts #snailmailinspo #mailart #creativegiftwrapping #diyholiday #diygifttags #artistsoninstagram #illustrationartists #thepostmansknock #tpkcommunity #calligraphycommunity #stationerylove #creativecommunity
There’s something extra fun about a card that do There’s something extra fun about a card that doesn’t just open … it comes to life. ✨ This little stand-up tree might look fancy, but it’s totally approachable — relaxing to make, satisfying to embellish, and (my favorite part) it folds up perfectly to pop in the mail. 💌🎄

If you’re looking for a holiday project that feels creative and doable, this is *such* a good one. The printable template does half the work for you, and you can customize the rest with flourishes, white ink, ornaments, or whatever feels festive to you.

The full step-by-step tutorial is waiting for you on the TPK website; just head to the link in my bio and tap “Blog.” I think you’ll have as much fun making this as I did. ❤️

#calligraphy #calligraphytutorial #holidaycalligraphy #flourishedcalligraphy #moderncalligraphy #calligraphycommunity #calligraphypractice #calligraphyart #letteringcommunity #letteringart #papercraft #papercrafting #diycards #handmadecards #holidaycards #christmascards #christmascrafts #snailmail #snailmailrevolution #snailmaillove #creativecommunity #stationerylove #makersgonnamake #thepostmansknock
I love it when I can make simple pointed pen pract I love it when I can make simple pointed pen practice on cardstock ... and it magically turns into a festive card! Find instructions + a printable template for making this “Loop-de-Loop” tree in the TPK 2025 Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet set. 🎄 (Link in bio, then navigate to the Blog!)

#pointedpen #calligraphy #calligraphypractice #pointedpenpractice #holiday #christmastree #treedrawing #doodles #goldwatercolor
Every November since 2016, I’ve looked forward t Every November since 2016, I’ve looked forward to sitting down with a cup of something warm ☕️ and sketching out ideas for the TPK holiday worksheet. This year was no exception, and I think you’ll be pleased with the motifs! They’re designed to bring calm, beauty, and (sneaky) pointed pen practice to your holiday season. 🎄Visit the TPK Blog (link in bio, then navigate to Blog) for details!
The other day, I was thinking about sending out ho The other day, I was thinking about sending out holiday cards, and I immediately dismissed the thought with, “I have zero time to calligraph envelopes for those.” ✍️

... But is that true? I put it to the test for the latest article on the TPK Blog. Using some time-saving tricks I’ve learned over the years (like using a watery ink, a bouncy calligraphy style, and minimal pencil guidelines), I timed myself making three envelope concepts. Two of them took 5 minutes or less. The most time-intensive took 5 minutes, 30 seconds. The envelopes still turned out looking elegant, especially with the help of some artistic postage stamp collages. 💌

For clear step-by-step tutorials detailing how to make these envelopes and sourcing pretty postage, visit the TPK Blog (link in bio, then navigate to “Blog”)!

#snailmail #mail #calligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #happymail #snailmailrevolution #mailbox #postage #vintagepostage
After I chose this music to accompany this reel, i After I chose this music to accompany this reel, it dawned on me: drawing a calligraphy medallion is like, well, Belle’s arc with the Beast. 

At first, it’s a bit of a weird situation. Strange shapes, questionable structure, possibly some growling (à la “YOU WILL JOIN ME FOR DINNER. That’s not a request!”) when the inevitable ink smudge happens. You keep thinking, “I’m not sure why I’m doing this ... should I hop on Felipe and gallop away?” 🐎

But something shifts as the medallion starts to come to life. And when you finish that last detail and pull back, the music swells. Light bursts from your paper like it did from Beast’s digits as he transformed into a stunningly beautiful prince. ✨ You’re practically in a ballroom celebrating, and, wait, did your furniture just turn into an adoring crowd that’s celebrating your fortitude and skill?

(And now you know how my mind works 🧠 ... I love a good metaphor, no matter how weak it may be!) 

To learn how to make a calligraphy medallion, just search for “calligraphy medallion” on the TPK site (link in bio). You’ll find both free Blog tutorials and detailed premium worksheets.

... I’ll show myself out now. 🙈

#pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphy #handwritten #pointedpen #dippen #calligraphymedallion #calligraphydrill #calligraphypractice
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