It is commonly stated that it’s what’s on the inside that counts. In this same vein, while what goes inside them always gets a lot of attention, envelopes are often ignored. They are viewed in the same way as cardboard boxes. They are simply a vessel to carry what is inside them. Why spend time on something that will simply be ripped open?
However, that is a gross misconception. The envelope is the first thing a recipient sees. Before they can open it up and get to the card inside, the envelope can be what determines their level of excitement. A beautifully decorated envelope will build anticipation and enhance the recipient’s entire experience.
Easy Ways To Decorate An Envelope
Most people would think to decorate a million other things first before decorating an envelope. As such, it may be tough to even begin the process of envelope decorating. You may be at a complete loss as to how to go about it. While envelope decorating can be done literally any way you would like, here are some easy ways to create a decorative envelope.
If you are sending a Mother’s Day card, use fine-tipped markers to draw an arch of flowers alongside the recipient’s address. Just make sure not to obscure any part of the address so that the card can safely make it to its destination.
Perhaps you’re sending a birthday card to someone who loves all things vintage and enjoys thrift shopping as a pastime. Simply take a tea bag and let it seep in boiling water for a few minutes. Then, take the teabag, tap it against the glass so it’s not dripping too much and use it to paint the envelope. You may need to re-dip the tea bag a few times in order to have enough color to stain the entire envelope.
Allow the envelope to fully dry before writing anything on it. When it has dried completely, use a black calligraphy pen to write both the return address and recipient address. If you want to get really authentic with the vintage vibe, you can carefully drip some red colored wax onto the envelope’s flap and use any coin to press down and create a seal.
Cute Ways To Decorate An Envelope
If you’re looking to add a touch of cute whimsy to your envelope, some ribbon can do the trick. Use a pair of scissors to cut strips of ribbon to fit each edge of your envelope. Glue the strips onto the sides of your envelope to create a truly unique border design. Make sure to also paste the ribbon along the edges of the envelope flap. For a truly original look, combine different prints and colors of ribbon.
If you don’t want to create a border around your envelope, you can also use ribbon to create a rectangular box around the recipient’s address. Don’t have a bag full of ribbons at your disposal? Have no fear, you can use a sheet of light colored paper to cut out a luggage shaped tag that is large enough to write the recipient’s name and address on. Simply glue it onto the center of the envelope and draw a string coming out of the tag.
Want another cute way to further decorate your envelope? Simply take a colored sheet of paper and cut it into a house-sized shape so that it fits inside the envelope, with the triangular portion fitting against the inner side of the envelope flap. Next, use markers or paint to draw small designs all over the cut-out piece of paper. Alternatively, you can use a metallic sheet of paper for a really eye-catching visual.
When you have finished decorating, carefully glue the paper inside the envelope and against the envelope flap. Now, when your recipient opens their envelope, they will be greeted with a cute and unexpected design.
Decorating Christmas Envelopes
One of the most popular seasons for card giving is Christmas time. Holiday cards are in abundance during the holiday season. Make your cards stand out from the crowd with beautifully decorated Christmas envelopes.
Red and green are the two optimal color choices when it comes to decorating Christmas themed envelopes. Begin by printing mini Christmas trees and cutting them out. If you’re more artistic, you can draw the trees by yourself. Once you have written the recipient’s address, paste the Christmas trees all around it. Use tiny pieces of red ribbon to decorate the trees. Alternatively, use fine-tipped markers to draw mini ornaments.
Also commonly associated with the Christmas season are candy canes. The red and white diagonal stripes immediately bring to mind all types of festive activities. To incorporate this idea onto your envelope, begin by writing the recipient’s address. Make sure to write it more towards the right side of the envelope. Once you have done so, use a pencil to draw a horizontal line right above the recipient’s name. Leave about half an inch of space and draw a second horizontal line above the first one.
Next, draw a vertical line to the left of the recipient’s information. Again, leave approximately half an inch of space and draw a second vertical line parallel to the first one. Use a fine-tipped marker to begin drawing diagonal red lines. The space you leave between each red line will act as the white lines.
When you have finished, you will have an envelope that looks as if it’s been wrapped with candy cane ribbon. To make it even more of a statement piece, use red or green ribbon where the lines intersect to create a small bow. If you prefer, you can also draw the bow.
Additional Envelope Decoration Ideas
The options are truly endless when it comes to envelope decoration. To create something truly unique, you can take dried flower petals, break them apart into smaller pieces and glue them onto your envelope to recreate a flower image. You can also use them to create a heart. This delicate feminine decor would be perfect for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.
If your envelope is black or any other darker color, you can use a whiteout pen to carefully draw any design directly onto your envelope. You can draw snowflakes for a holiday themed card, stars for a child obsessed with outer space, or little ghosts for the lover of all things spooky. This unexpected contrast will be sure to make a statement.
Whatever your design choice may be, you cannot go wrong if you cater it towards your recipient’s likes and interests. Just imagine their faces when they receive the envelope in the mail. With its beautifully decorated exterior, they won’t even need to get to the card to already be delighted with its arrival. Allow your friends and family to take joy in the little moments and get creative with your envelope decorating.