Today, I’ll show you the six pieces of #10 envelope art that I created to send out my Women’s History Appreciation Worksheets this week. The #10 envelope is normally used for business purposes, so it was nice to get playful with this normally serious envelope size!
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.
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:
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,
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