Envelope Art + Letter Accessories

| Allison

Hello, dears!

My, it’s been a while since my last pen pal or art post, hasn’t it? I think it’s time for some more decorated envelope inspiration today. 🙂 Enjoy browsing through my recent pen pal art, accompanied by tips for fun extra things to include in your letters as well as how to create a themed letter/extras/envelope combo.

Also, check out the end of this post to see the newest envelope collection I released on my shop! Let’s get started!

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I’m not going in any particular order, but let’s start with… *picks a slip from hat* Amie’s envelope! I painted this in gouache, after we went to a super fun bonfire night with several friends from church. Fire is interesting to paint… I definitely need to perfect my technique, heh heh. I like how this turned out, though!

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I drew this envelope from a photo I took a LONG time ago, when my family and I went on a “hot air balloon chase.” Read about it in this ancient post. I like the contrast between the simple, whimsical balloon and the more sketchy and muted background.

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PURPLE! I used one of my few off-brand alcohol-ink markers to color in this background. It didn’t get super smooth, but ah well. You get the idea. I decided to use colored pencil to fill in the galaxy bubble letters because I’d have more control, not to mention color choices. I finished off the art by adding the address and a sprinkling of white gel pen stars + details.

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I decided to carry over the galaxy theme to the rest of the letter. Here I included another old photo, some watercolor washi tape samples, a watercolored bookmark, and a galaxy painting I made.

(Also I apologize for the poor lighting in some of these pictures. I usually finish them in the evenings and for some reason can’t wait till morning before sealing the envelope… *rolls eyes*)

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Ooh, this is one of my favorites! It was partly inspired by the talented Aliki Karkoulia, who creates amazing gouache paintings with the most gorgeous color schemes, and partly inspired by a landscape I saw on a two-hour drive back home. 🙂

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I really like adding verses, quotes, etc. to the end of letters when I’m left with a whole blank side because it seems like a waste of space otherwise. XD

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This is Heather’s entire “package.” From left to right we have a verse card (you can purchase a set of 12 different ones here), the letter, a colorable postcard we take turns coloring parts of, some flower stickers, a flier from a local store, and the envelope. 🙂

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I decorated this envelope with flowers and ferns I found around the farm and then pressed. I actually found some of the flowers while I was writing Charis’ letter outside. 🙂 I think this is a neat way to send pieces of where you live to your pen pal! Just make sure to cover the envelope with packing tape or laminate of some kind so the plants don’t get damaged.

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Honestly I don’t remember which envelope art this went with, so I’m just going to stick it in here. XD I really like sending photos or little lettering/art pieces for my pen pals to add to their bulletin board or just enjoy and then store in the envelope.

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Ahh, more blue! I love the watercolor technique of starting with a blurred background and slowly adding layers until you get sharper and darker in the foreground. Simple yet beautiful.

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I love how this theme turned out. Even if your envelope art doesn’t have a theme, per se, you can easily make it into one by simply color-coordinating all your extras! And if you’re not sure what theme to do, your pen pal’s favorite color is always a good place to start. 😉 Most of the add-ins here I talked about in one of my pen pal posts: The Ultimate List of Pen Pal Ideas, Fun & Creative Pen Pal Ideas, or Spring Pen Pal Ideas.

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I’m not sure where the envelope that belongs to these quotes went either. I love exchanging quotes with pen pals! The lettering on the left one is questionable, but I just love that quote. 😛

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Sometimes simpler designs look the nicest. I really like how these cute watercolor poppies turned out! You can’t go wrong with flowers, can you? Watercolor with pen outline is one of my favorite styles to draw in.

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For some reason I just felt like drawing butterflies that time, so I did. They aren’t the most symmetrical things ever, but I just rolled with it and had fun adding details and blending the colored pencil into pretty shades of pink.

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Laura, one of my blogging friends, had the AMAZING idea to make some happy mail for elderly people at nursing homes! I don’t know if he will write back, but hopefully at least this envelope and letter brightens his day. 🙂

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My friend requested hydrangeas on the next envelope, and I was like, “HOLD ON, who said you can request themes??” :’D But I did it anyway, heh heh. Hydrangeas are quite hard to paint realistically, so I went for more of an impressionist style. 😉

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I wrote Aria’s letter in hydrangea colors: shades blue, purple, and pink. I usually just use black pen, but I like how the colored markers look! I also included… well, hold on…

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This is what I included. 🙂 I folded the scrapbook paper into a kind of cover or folder to hold all the other things. I love this idea and will probably use it again!

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Here’s another picture in case you were confused about the inside. 😉

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We have now come to the end of my pen pal envelopes. But, as promised, we shall finish with the newest collection of envelopes I added to my Etsy shop! If you’re feeling inspired to beautify your envelopes but don’t feel like spending forever on them, check out the different envelope sets I have on my shop here. They’re a great and simple way to make any mail into happy mail. 🙂

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Ahh, this might be my favorite from the set! Possibly because it’s purple; I don’t know. XD

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I themed these three designs around landscapes and wildflowers, obviously, but I also painted different times of day, from noon to the golden hour to just after sunset. Which is your favorite? Click here to see more pictures and details, or to order some yourself!

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With that, I shall close the post. Hopefully you gained a little pen pal inspiration today! I know I do after seeing other people’s envelope art and happy mail. Before you leave, I want to know…

Which envelope design was your favorite? What is your favorite thing to include or receive with a letter?

Thanks so much for reading, dears, and have a lovely day!

***Allison***

45 thoughts on “Envelope Art + Letter Accessories”

  1. Whoops, your letter hasn’t come so I guess I got a sneak peek, eh? XD I CAN’T WAIT TO GET IT and I couldn’t remember if I did request hydrangeas or if that was just a pipe dream. IT’S BEAUTIFUL AND I CAN’T WAIT TO HANG IT ABOVE MY DESK. And reply like, soon. Because I do miss writing to you. Except those pesky verse cards hang me up sometimes. heh heh. ANYHOOOOO, EEEEP I love these! I think my favorites were the ones you sent me, because, well, BLUUUEEE but anyway. Oh my goodness, I LOVE the idea of writing to people at nursing homes! That makes my heart ache. Also I love your new envelopes, and probably the second two are my favorites. 🙂

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    1. Heh, I know, that’s the problem about sharing envelope art posts – I inevitably have some art that hasn’t been received yet… HAHA. BUT YAYYY I’m so glad you liked it! And don’t worry, I sent the letter a couple days ago so it should get there soon! I KNOW, isn’t that a great idea? It was so sweet of her! Thanks so much. ❤

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  2. AHHH! I LOVE these! ❤ Your envelope to the assisted living home made me so happy! ❤ Thank you again for doing that! 😀 I am always in awe whenever I see your art. XD Wonderful post! 🙂

    -Laura ❤ 🙂

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  4. Oooh, I LOOOVED today’s post! All those envelopes are so preeetttty!!! I really like the butterfly one to Laura!…it’s sooo cool! That’s so funny that Aria requested her envelope art! LOL! And now I’m reminded that I really need to work on someone’s letter, oops XD! Thanks for the inspo!

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  5. Love these ideas!! And by the way, that galaxy package you sent me was amazing, thank you so much!! 😍🎉 I am going to try some of the theme ideas for your next letter (a new theme, of course 😂😂) The hydrangeas are gorgeous, as well as the butterflies for Laura’s! You are so creative!! These are some of my favorite posts that you write—so FUN!

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      1. By the way, you totally inspired me to make some envelope art and now I’m proud of myself cause I drew an actually pretty rose for one of my letters. 🤗😁

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  10. Oh wow, Amie’s is GORGEOUS! The fire and black background look so cool!
    I love mine too! And everything you sent of course! I love when you do quotes or Bible verses, your hand letting is always so beautiful! ❤ Oh and BTW I sent a reply this week finally. XD
    Oh putting the pressed leaves and flowers on the envelope is such a cool idea! Did you have to glue them first and then put the plastic over it?
    You sent the blue flower photo and the bluebird verse card painting to me! 😀 I think in the envelope with the yellow butterfly on it and you turned my name into a bush? XD
    I love both of Aria's! Blue is my favorite too so I love all those hues! 😀 And the one you did for Robert! Are they supposed to be like cactuses? Cacti? Whatever. XD 😛
    Man I just love everything! All the time! I'm convinced it isn't possible for you to make any art that anyone wouldn't like. Even things that aren't perfect turn out so pretty! XD

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    1. YAYYY, because I loved that too! I hardly ever do a black background on my envelopes. XD
      Aww, I’m so glad! And YAY, I can’t wait to receive it!
      Yep, I think I just glued them down with a glue stick and then put packing tap over it. 🙂
      Oh I did? HA HA, YOU’RE RIGHT. That’s why I was confused; because I shared the butterfly art in a different post. 😛
      Ahh, thanks! Well it sort of ended up looking like cacti, which I was fine with, but I mostly just made some abstract green and blue art. XD
      Oh. My. Goodness. You are SO sweet, Heather! Unfortunately I can tell you that I make some very bad art, just like any artist, no matter their skill level. But that just lets you learn from your mistakes and make something prettier next time! 😀
      Thanks again for the lovely comment, dear. ❤

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      1. Ah, smart. 🙂 I should try that sometime!
        XD XD Well I’m PRETTY sure it was in the butterfly one? Anyway I know I’m the one that got them cuz they’re hanging up on my wall. XD ❤
        Oooh, well cactus or not I really like the colors. 😀
        I know, I just still think your art in general is so pretty that I barely notice mistakes. XD
        You're welcome! 😀

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  12. I always love your pen-pal posts! Thank you for the inspiration. 🙂 About how long does it take you to put together each letter (including writing the letter, designing the envelope, and creating the fun extras)?

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    1. I’m so glad to hear that! Hmm, that’s a good question, and I honestly don’t have an answer. XD I usually write a letter over the course of several days, and then maybe make the extras on another day?? It just depends. Obviously I don’t work on it solid for any of those days, but it DOES take a while. XD

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  13. Ahhh! You’re such a great artist! I’m…well, not as good. I think I’ll post some of my works once I make a personal blog, but it will be humorous probably.
    Pen pals look like fun! I probably wouldn’t do it for online people though, because I’d be too nervous to give my address to a stranger XD

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  14. Stumbled across your site today, and I’m so glad I did! These are soooo cool!! I love it so much :)) I think I’ll send this to my best friend to see if she can do this for me…haha kidding. Definitely gonna try to do something like this! Thank you sooo much for sharing 😉

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  15. Wow, how do you have the time to create all that envelope art, Allison? It must take quite a while, and they all look very nice! My favorite design would have to be the hydrangeas one–you did a great job on it, and the flowers look quite realistic. 🙂

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    1. AWW, THANKS! I love that one too, and it’s actually SUPER simple to make. Just make a lot of watery circles with watercolor, overlapping just a tad so the colors run into each other. I may have a tutorial on that soon. 😉 I’m so glad you enjoyed the post!

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  22. All of them are amazing as usual! The plant one and the hydrangea one were my favorites. Ahh those blue ones! I loved them and blue is my fav color!!! Lots and lots of love of Sri Lanka… 🇱🇰

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