I've gotten a few letters lately where the person has either made the envelope or drawn on the letter itself. Do you just write prose or do you go wild with other things? I've done some popup letters, stamping and dossiers.


As well I found a letter from Jeen who must think that I broke off communications after Katrina but really it just got lost in my desk that was well done with extra bits.


Kurt

Having no artistic ability, I stick to trying to write a legible letter which is reasonably 'easy on the yee'.

I embellish the storys and find that sufficient.

Some time ago, I would add a verse or quote to the envelope flap. Not sure why I stopped doing that, but I am reviving the habit. I am not very artistic, so I need to stick with "embellish with words." /Craig

I decorate my envelopes.

Sometimes I add quotes. When I get some alphabets down, I may address them with calligraphy.

I'd also like to get a wax seal, but I haven't found a pre-made one that I like, and getting my imprint (below) made into a seal is more money than i feel like spending right now.

Depends on who's receiving the letter I'm crafting - I do more for my young nieces and nephews to keep their attention, stuff that adults wouldn't mind but probably are glad that I don't send to them.

I must have been stuck in the old school post office where mailings were supposed to be "uncluttered" but, after receiving a few that were artsy and enjoyable, I decided to try it. I saw the beautiful envelopes that Jeen posted on a thread about rubber stamping so decided to try my hand. One went out with just a rubber stamped design. The next morphed into a little story on the back. A ink stamp of clouds, with some real bluebird feathers that I found in our yard falling from the clouds and a cat's whisker all taped to the back. Unfortunately, the feathers "jumped up to the meet the tape" and re-arranged themselves. It didn't turn out as nice as I had hoped but, I guess, that's part of the process. Now I kind of look forward to that part of snail mailing. And I don't have to try to find a place to store my "artwork".

Cedar

I make all my own envelopes. Lots of fun to do and to get. Although I don't do it, I get some "illuminated" letters that are just gorgeous. Sometimes
the outside of the envelope is decorated too. And of course some do beautiful calligraphy... Once in a while I'll get a letter with a small drawing
on it. Hmmm wonder who that could be from?
Occasionally I'll get one with a wax or plastic seal but alas it's 99% likely to have been scraped off or broken even if it's on an inside envelope.

My own envelopes are in all shapes and sizes... well until I found out that a square envelope costs an extra 17 cents (before the rates went up)...
I also make my own photo cards...

But whoever said it above, it's the letter, the words, the reaching out over the miles, the chit chat about daily
life that matters. In the words of John Denver:

"Theres all the news to tell him, howd you spend your time
Whats the latest thing the neighbors say
And your mother called last friday, sunshine made her cry,"

People who say they don't know what to write about overlook the importance of just daily life events. What's for dinner? Where have you been, who do you
know, what have you read, what's good on tv, been to any good movies lately, got any pets, how's the weather over there, how 'bout them 49ers! how
about this presidential campaign! do you think we'll ever get to mars? what's your favorite food? and so it goes...

skyp

How 'bout them JINTS???

I go all juvenile-y with my envelopes, to the extent that the post office hates me. Really, I try to keep the address clean and all, but I like putting PS-type doodles on the back, and the edges, and so on.

I've seen examples of envelope art and stand in awe of them.

That sounds fun!

It depends on to whom I am writing. I may try my hand at some rubber stamping or artwork with the ladies. Men I tend to keep more plain. I tend to choose my stationary the same way.

I have a stamp that I use with gold ink. But if I forget my stamp (I usually keep it in my purse) I've been known to just write "bird" and draw a circle around it. That is the extent of my artistic ability. The recipients get the drift.

Also, if, since sealing the envelope, I've received updated information relevant to the content of the letter, I may jot it on the back.

I one had a correspondence with an inmate who drew the most ornate ballpoint designs on the envelopes.

(OT: even chatter-free, I'm having trouble posting to the server. Going on attempt 3)

I've been scolded by local postal workers, and for simple things. For example, I have long been in the habit of slashing my zeros, having often worked in places with mixed alphanumeric designations on items, and for some other reasons. I was mailing something a while back, and there were three zeros: two in my zip code, and one in the recipient's street address. I was told the machine reads those as sixes, and I should stop wasting post office time.

I found that quite strange, considering I've received letters and such, with writing ranging from lovely cursive handwriting to lettering so overly embellished (what one of my high school teachers called 'girly loops' -- disconnected letters with a curl leading in, and at least one curl leading out, all uprights were large loops, and the like) that it was difficult to read. It all gets through. I no longer sweat it.

A bit more directly on topic: I have before embellished with sketches, mostly just for fun.

The deadline has passed for this year's entries into the Graceful Envelope Contest, but check out some of previous years' winners!

Doug

Aren't there a couple of compilation volumes of past winners? Always wanted to get my hands on that.

If I can limit a snail letter to one letter-sized sheet, I fold it into its own envelope (get the template from letterfu.com).

Paragraphs usually begin with a double sized letter in a contrasting color. I sometimes twine a long Arabesque up the whole left margin. If there is room at the end, I like to draw a few crutches stuck in the ground with some guts draped over them.

That is about the extent of my artistic ability. If the recipient doesn't appreciate it, he/she can suffer a little.

Paddler

I love stickers, therefore, there are stickers on my envelopes. I try not to get all crazy with my stickers and doodles though. I want the post office to be able to get my "art" to its recipient.

I also rubberstamp so I rubber stamp my stationery as well. Especially if I'm just using a plain ol' writing tablet. I have to do something to jazz up those pale blue lines.

My envelopes are quite simple, but sometimes I will use wax seal.

I decorate letters and envelopes with rubber stamps, stickers, decorative tape, occasional glitter mist. Maybe a doodle or two. Sometimes use a corner punch on paper edges.