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  • Thank You Notes and Envelopes: Making It Fun

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    , , , , , ,

    Creating thank you notes for Europe-based calligraphers receiving The Calligraphy Book made my week! I always look forward to designing beautiful envelopes and crafting personal messages. Today, I’ll share my process for making thank you card envelopes that are both elegant and fun to create, along with tips for writing meaningful notes inside.

    Thank you card envelopes with pointed pen calligraphy and lettering
    Today’s thank you notes and envelopes were created to thank Europe-based calligraphers who agreed to receive advance copies of The Calligraphy Book.

    Some people dread writing thank you notes, but I’m not one of them—and as a TPK Blog reader, I suspect that you aren’t either. Thank you notes provide a wonderful opportunity to give someone the gift of acknowledgment, along with a keepsake. Plus, you get to have fun creating a pretty envelope! Today, I’m sharing inspiration for designing beautiful thank you notes and envelopes, along with tips for what to write inside the notes themselves.

    Concept 1: Elegantly Bejeweled Calligraphy Envelope

    When you set out to create an envelope for someone, consider their personality. My friend Simon is elegant, polite, and calm. This envelope concept seeks to reflect that with its pleasing, not-too-cluttered aesthetic.

    A thank you card with "Simon" written on it, embellished with crystals

    To make it, gather:

    Then, use your parallel glider and your pencil to make three horizontal guidelines and a smattering of 55 degree slant lines on your envelope. Use those guidelines to calligraph your recipient’s name.

    Pencil draft of calligraphy written on an envelope
    You can learn how to write name-only calligraphy on an envelope in this tutorial.

    Next, use your pointed pen and ink to trace over the name.

    The name "Simon" written in pointed pen calligraphy using iron gall ink

    Finish up by erasing your pencil guidelines. Then, add three self-adhesive crystals to random downstrokes within the name. And voilà: an elegantly bejeweled envelope for an elegant person.

    "Simon" written in calligraphy on a white envelope

    Concept 2: Intertwined Script and Block Lettering Envelope

    The intertwined script and block lettering concept is one that Nico Ng pioneered for a TPK tutorial last year. I love the bold but interesting look, and I knew it would be perfect for calligrapher Paul Antonio.

    Calligraphed envelope with intertwined script and gold

    To make an envelope like this one, you’ll need:

    Start by using your parallel glider to help you draw the recipient’s first or last name (whichever is shortest) in bold block letters.

    All-caps block lettering with the name "PAUL"
    These letters that I drew are fundamentally simple: they’re all 3/8″ (~1 cm) apart, with 3/8″ (~1 cm) line widths.

    Next, use bouncy, all-lowercase calligraphy to write the recipient’s second name. Judiciously weave calligraphy flourishes around the letters when you have the chance.

    Pencil draft of a hand-lettered first name with intertwined script

    Then, use your pointed pen to write over the calligraphy in sumi ink first. Be sure not to trace over a couple of strokes to give the appearance that the calligraphy is interwoven with the lettering. Once the ink dries, paint over the letters with gold watercolor and a small paintbrush. To fill in teeny-tiny spaces, use this technique to draw with your watercolor.

    Intertwined calligraphy and hand-lettering

    Once you’re certain that your watercolor has dried, use a nice eraser to get rid of any pencil guidelines. Be sure to take a moment to enjoy your handiwork and how it dances in the light!

    Gold watercolor in the sun

    Concept 3: Simple Blue Calligraphy with Crystals

    Lyndsey Gribble is the owner of Wild Seas Calligraphy, so it seemed appropriate to make her something blue with a hint of sparkle. This concept is simple, but undeniably lovely to look at.

    Blue calligraphy with crystals

    To make an envelope like this one, gather the following:

    Then, use your parallel glider and your pencil to make one horizontal guideline and several 50 degree slant lines on your envelope. Use those guidelines to calligraph the recipient’s name. Don’t forget to add a couple of elegant flourishes where you can.

    A pencil draft of calligraphy written on an envelope

    Next, use your pointed pen to trace over the pencil draft with the Indigo Blue ink.

    The name "Lyndsey" written in McCaffery's Indigo Blue ink

    Once the ink dries, erase any pencil guidelines and apply two crystals to the name. One crystal should be near the front of the name, and the other near the back. And there you have it: a simple but pretty name with just a bit of bling.

    Blue calligraphy with crystals

    Concept 4: Flourishes and Dots

    This envelope concept is for my maximalists: people who appreciate copious flourishes, plenty of gold, and accent dots. That’s fitting for Robert Bree, founder of The Flourish Club!

    Gold and black flourishes on an envelope

    To make an envelope like this one, you’ll need:

    Start by calligraphing your recipient’s name on your envelope at an angle. (You can use pencil guidelines to do this if you want to.) Then, start to draw various flourishes all around the name.

    A pencil draft of flourishes on an envelope
    If you’re intimidated by flourishing, check out the Real-Time Calligraphy Flourishing + Learning Resources article.

    Once you’re happy with your layout, trace over everything with iron gall ink. For added drama, try reinforcing a couple of the downstrokes to make them extra thick.

    Flourished envelope featuring iron gall ink

    Then, apply gold watercolor to your nib using this technique, and add several gold complementary flourishes. Try to avoid adding gold to the name itself to help the name stand out.

    "Robert Bree" flourished in calligraphy

    Tips for Writing the Best Thank You Notes

    When it comes to thank you notes, making the envelope is the easy part. When it’s time to sit down and write the actual note, it can be tough to find the right words. You want your message to feel heartfelt and sincere, but sometimes it’s hard to express gratefulness without sounding too formal or generic. The following four tips should help you to write a thank you note that’s as special as its envelope.

    Thank you cards written by hand in cursive
    • Avoid generic phrases: Try not to rely on overused phrases like “Thank you for everything.” Make the message unique to the person and situation.
    • Be specific about what you’re grateful for: Mention exactly what you’re thanking them for, whether it’s a gift, kind gesture, or their support. Explicitly stating the reason for your gratitude makes the message more meaningful.
    Handwritten thank you note in an envelope
    This notecard set is made by G. Lalo in Paris (affiliate link). I like the set because it’s high-quality and sumptuous but also simple.
    • Reference shared experiences: If you’re thanking someone for an event or experience, mention a specific moment that stood out to you. That will help to make the note feel more genuine.
    • Write by hand: A handwritten message feels more personal and thoughtful than a typed one, and it shows that you took the time. If it’s too intimidating to hand-write a message on the spot, type out a draft first, then hand write the note.
    Thank you card envelopes with pointed pen calligraphy and lettering

    Whether you’re thanking someone for a gift, an act of kindness, or simply their support, taking the time to create thoughtful thank you notes can make all the difference. I hope these tips inspire your next project and help you enjoy the process of creating something beautiful and meaningful. Until next time, happy writing!

    Warmly,