Inspirational #10 Envelope Art Examples

Earlier this week, I shared a Women’s History Appreciation Worksheet. So far, I’ve filled out ten copies … and I’m not done yet! I’ve really enjoyed having that excuse to let the important women in my life know how much I care about them. Of course, once the worksheet is filled out, it’s time to make a pretty envelope, which brings me to today’s article! In it, I’ll show you the six envelopes that I’ve created so far to send out my worksheets.

About the #10 Envelope

The humble #10 envelope (4-1/8″ tall x 9-1/2″ wide) is often considered to be a business envelope. It’s the size of envelope that shows up in our mailbox carrying invoices, junk mail, and memos. Get your hands on a version of this envelope that’s made out of high-quality paper, however, and you’re on your way to making eye-catching #10 envelope art!

To send out my Women’s History Appreciation worksheets, I chose several different #10 envelope colors. I also decided to write in different calligraphy styles and switch up my inks to keep things fresh! Here’s what I came up with:

1. Kraft, Gold, and Black Envelope

I used a Brause EF66 nib to write Kaitlin Style calligraphy with plenty of flourish on this envelope. A combination of sumi ink and Arabic gold watercolor helps the calligraphy to stand out. The stamps feature a mix of contemporary and vintage finds (read more about where to find stamps and how to combine them in this article).

2. Decoupaged #10 Envelope Art

To make this envelope, I began by decoupaging artwork from a 2013 calendar by Stasia Burrington. Then, I used iron gall ink, Copperplate(-ish) calligraphy, and a Brause EF66 nib to write the recipient’s address. The return address lightens things up with George Style lettering and Kaitlin Style calligraphy. The postage stamps are from USPS.com.

3. Black, White, and Green Envelope

I used a Brause EF66 nib and sumi ink to write flourished Kaitlin Style calligraphy on this envelope. After I finished, the envelope still needed a little bit of pizazz, so I used white ink to emphasize the downstrokes. This envelope has a lot going on, lettering-wise, so only one postage stamp is visually necessary! The stamp is from USPS.com.

4. Copperplate Envelope

I used iron gall ink, Copperplate calligraphy, and a Brause EF66 nib to write this recipient’s address. I’ve been experimenting with Copperplate lately and trying to figure out how I feel about it! This envelope felt pretty “plain Jane”, so I decided to infuse some personality into it with a vintage postage stamp collage.

5. Turquoise, White, and Black Envelope

You can’t tell from the photo, but this is a shimmery envelope with a slippery surface. I’m not a fan of these types of envelopes because they’re a bit difficult to write on. There’s not a lot of tooth to the paper! However, I really liked the color of this envelope, and I know the recipient will, too. I used a Brause Rose nib (in an oblique pen) and white ink to write in flourished Kaitlin Style calligraphy. To make the calligraphy “pop”, I used a black gel pen to add a shadow to the right of every thick downstroke. The stamp is from USPS.com.

6. Pink and Green Envelope

To make this envelope, I used a Brause EF66 nib to write the recipient’s name in Janet Style calligraphy with green ink. Then, I used a Nikko G nib to write the address (the Nikko G is good for writing small letters because of its medium flex). The result was a bit plain, so I enhanced the envelope with plenty of vintage postage stamps. Then, to add more personality, I used a toothbrush to make spatters of Finetec gold watercolor. That was a big upgrade because now the envelope sparkles in the sunlight!

---

I hope that this collection of #10 envelope art examples gives you some inspiration for your own mailing endeavors! These envelopes go to show that you can make cool envelopes without spending a ton of time on them. All you need are some eye-catching postage stamps, a couple of ink colors, and creativity! For additional time-saving mail inspiration, see the Six Calligraphy Envelopes, Two Hours article.

Happy mailing and have a great weekend!

Warmly,