Creative Envelope Decorating – A Complete Envelope Makeover Guide

Getting mail these days is about as exciting as watching grass grow. It’s usually bills, junk mail, or those annoying flyers that somehow find their way into your mailbox even though you swore you unsubscribed a million times. 

But what if I told you that your mail could be the highlight of your day? Yup, that plain old envelope? It’s begging for a makeover! It’s your opportunity to transform those boring mail carriers into mini-masterpieces. 

Whether you want to surprise a friend or just amp up your style with some killer stationery, decorating those envelopes is the way to go. So let’s get creative and transform those boring envelopes into something that makes people go “ooh” and “ahh!”.

Creative Envelope Making – Complete Envelope Makeover Guide

Let’s explore the Complete Guide On How to make a envelope.

1. Choosing Your Envelope Swag

First, you need to choose the Envelope Swag.

Paper Power – There’s More Than Just White

Before you even think about decorating, think about your base material! And when it comes to envelopes, you have more options than just that plain ol’ white one you grab from the office supply store. 

Embrace the texture and slightly rough appearance of Kraft paper for that handmade feel, or if boldness speaks to your soul, try a brightly coloured one! Feeling like going a bit wild? Then start off with a patterned envelope. That’s like starting a race halfway to the finish line!

Decoration Station – Get Your Sticker Fix On!

Yes, the stickers are back (they actually never left!)! The easy fix for blank spaces brings in your inner child! Seriously though, stickers are an easy way to jazz up your mail without needing any mad skills. 

Even just postage stamps with a cool theme can liven things up that’s if you’re still using the old-fashioned postal service, which hopefully you are because your friends secretly hope you will put some creativity into snail mail again. 

But if stickers are for basic crafters, let me tell you how to kick your envelopes up a notch: washi tape! Washi tape, that paper-based treasure from the heavens of sticky! 

These aren’t just plain sticky tapes – there are colours and designs and glitter ones enough to fill several drawer sets if you go down the ‘gotta have them all’ rabbit hole (ask me how I know this!). Seriously, you can create a cool border with it, stick down that stubborn envelope flap anything!

Writing Wonders – Pens, Markers and All Things Calligraphy!

Hey, let’s not forget what that envelope is meant to do hold a written note inside (that you’ll create later), and ensure that the recipient actually gets that note delivered.

And what will that recipient notice before ripping open that masterpiece you created? Yep, the handwriting, which we are hoping you spent a few hours on first, mastering that signature and maybe a special note like “Hello there, handsome” on the back (we won’t judge!). But consider the pen and ink colour! 

You wanna go luxe? Pick a metallic pen and ink and write it big and bold. Or are you in a gel pen, handwriting frame of mind (that takes me back to high school pen pals and passing notes in class!)? 

Just own it your personality shining through that less-than-perfect handwritten note is what the person on the receiving end will remember and enjoy, rather than some computer-generated generic card (we don’t have to name the companies responsible for mass-produced garbage).

2. Color Theory 101 (or Something Like That)

The Next Thing you need to choose a colour Theory. lets discuss this factor in detail.

Monochromatic Vibes – Classy Never Goes Out of Style!

You don’t have to be a total style maven or one of those color palette enthusiasts to appreciate this truth less is sometimes more. Monochrome schemes? 

They’re proof of that even for non-creative people, they’re the easy way to achieve design elegance especially when choosing an envelope makeover scheme! 

You’re gonna use different hues of the same colour for this approach. So maybe you have a midnight blue envelope (that’s kinda fancy just as is!), then write with a light blue pen, and if the stickers match, hey, we aren’t saying you have to stick to all blues, just try and stick to within the 

3. Getting Artsy

After the basics are done the next part is to make it look great. lets explore this point too.

Watercolor Madness! Making Magic on Mail!

Okay, for those who love watercolours but never seem to find the opportunity to embrace that hobby anymore, we got you.

Even if your most exciting painting these days is that cheap nail polish you dabbed on quickly, water-colouring envelopes can bring that ‘artsy moment’ back to you without having to leave your dining table. 

Just find those paint colours from your college days, find some quality water brushes, and get ready to wash colours around the entire envelope as that fifth-grade art teacher taught you! Don’t be afraid of experimenting there are techniques out there for blending different colours on your chosen surface (paper for today’s tutorial!)  the trick is just practising a bit before hitting your ‘showtime envelope’. 

And remember the point here is unique, so no matter how much your brain craves making it all exact and perfect, let it go! 

This is about fun, so the colour mixing, the accidental splashes of blue onto pink sections? All good!

Fancy Pens  Showing Off Those Writing Skills

If that cheap highlighter you use to leave office memos to your colleagues isn’t up for the fancier task of sending special letters and fancy invites, then it’s time for some pen upgrades.

There’s a world of lettering tricks that will elevate your envelopes without making them super formal and scary. 

These tools and fancy lettering techniques can be learned or practised with free videos all over YouTube. 

4. Texture Talk  Add Another Dimension

Let’s discuss something about texture now.

Not Just Paper – Fabrics and Lacy Layers

Paper, on its own? Kinda one dimensional, right? Well if your crafting kit has a few ribbon strips and fancy cut fabric swatches leftover from other creations  that’s great  reuse these days (because saving the planet and being a responsible crafter is way more appealing than adding junk to the trash mountain somewhere!) 

But what will surprise you is how those bits and pieces bring that textured element to paper creations, especially envelopes!

Let’s Take it 3-D  Unleash that Imagination!

Well, those stickers might make you squeal with glee, but adding in a layer of depth, even if it’s something as simple as a dried flat leaf that has some pattern (or even if the leaf went plain texture!) will add that oh-so-wow feel! Buttons, too.

Think sewing craft bins with odd bits and bobs and let your imagination run wild. 

5. Sticky Business  Because Tape Rocks!

Let’s explore this now.

Washi Tape Dreams  There’s No End in Sight

Washi tape. We mentioned it before, but if you haven’t bought into it yet it’s an envelope-decorating game-changer. If you wanna do more than just boring stripes there’s the chevron print (and those come in tons of colours!), as well as patterns there are animal designs and flower designs, or patterns, like polka dots and swirls! You can create that on the side panel of your envelope and really dazzle folks with your mad pattern and washi tape skills!

Go for Multi Layers  Mix Those Patterns!

So washi tape? A design element on its own! But who said it needs to stay alone? Do you know what would make an exciting element in that space near your postage stamp? A row of tiny sparkly heart-shaped stickers that shine.

And don’t forget about that glittery silver Washi tape you never used on that other failed crafting project time to make use of that too!

7. Envelope Swag  Not just Sticky Elements

let’s discuss some tips to make the envelope look more beautiful.

Tying It All Together – Ribbons and Bows (not your childhood style!)

If the ‘rustic and minimal’ style makes you giggle when thinking about putting those things on envelopes you’re probably that creative that finds the natural twine in that cupboard near your laundry supplies and thinks  I bet this would work in a design plan.

This can also play in the ‘going green’ aesthetic, where the hemp twine and the recycled paper will help the message inside look even more important because of its less environmental impact.

Clips  To Be Safe, or to Be Cool?

We all have seen those clip attachments to mail, usually ones that make you think the item inside might be super-confidential legal stuff (think those movies with a trial lawyer or scenes with someone on house arrest!). 

So how to ensure the envelope you’re about to send won’t open before its due date, and also amp up that clip to another level of cool? Well, those same office-looking clips come in various sizes (there are small and minimal ones out there now!)  and they even come in a range of metallic finishes too. 

So, does that fancy envelope and seal need an emergency closure option? Go with gold or rose gold here! It’s about choices that have that “form and function” purpose!

Final Word

What’s important to take away from this article? It’s that decorating those envelopes is easier than you might think, especially with that online access and delivery of pretty much every option you’ll read about today. 

Go buy that set of silly monster sticker packs if it makes you happy because snail mail needs saving don’t let the next generation get stuck with bill notifications on their smartphones!

Those will bring as much excitement as getting a flat tire when all you wanted to do was go see that new blockbuster movie that has had a great PR marketing push! Seriously, there’s an inner artist hidden in all of us! So, give it a try. 

What do you have to lose? Because seriously a colorful and hand-addressed mail piece? That’s going to do something much cooler and warmer than sending an eCard for a birthday, no matter how easy that app made that message.