I’m all about sending beautiful mail. And this goes beyond the adorable card on the inside (which, ahem, I’m assuming you already found the perfect card right here on OSBP) to include the actual envelope as a way of brightening someone’s mailbox. With the holiday season – and holiday cards – right around the corner, I thought we could all use a few tips on how to send beautiful mail, from colorful envelopes and envelope liners to quirky off-center address alignments! Let’s all step up our envelope game this year!

Card by Sugar Paper

1. Colorful Envelopes

I’m going to assume that you already have a super cute card picked out – or that you made your own. But if you can, ditch the white envelope in favor of a bright colorful envelope. It becomes a literal bright spot in an otherwise dreary mailbox.

Rose Gold Foil Envelope Liners by Bella Figura from Alice’s Birth Announcements

2. Envelope Liners

Envelope liners are a great way to signal that the contents of that envelope are particularly special. I like to use envelope liners for milestone stationery like birth announcements and wedding invitations – as well as our annual holiday cards. Vintage wallpaper and gift wrap sheets make fantastic DIY envelope liners!

Photo Credit: Antiquaria Design for Oh So Beautiful Paper

3. Creative Addresses

Now that you have the inside of the envelope sorted out it’s time to think about the outside of the envelope! It can be fun to think creatively when writing out the address – from asymmetrical alignments to incorporating brush pens (or even actual brushes!).

Calligraphy by Anne Robin Calligraphy / Vintage Stamps by Underwood Letterpress / Photo Credit: Stephanie Collins Photography

This envelope features brush watercolor lettering for the name combined with a fine tip pen for the street address. Brush lettering requires a bit of practice to get a hang of the technique but isn’t as hard as you might think!

Hand Lettered Envelope Address Ideas by Ladyfingers Letterpress

This envelope was addressed with paint pens – a wonderful way to add even more color to an envelope! A white paint pen is also the best way to address in white ink on a dark colored envelope.

DIY Colorful Rubber Stamped Envelopes

4. Adorn the Envelope

Add a bit of decoration to your addressed envelope! Playful polka dots. Bold lines. Even an illustration or two! Rubber stamps (and pencil erasers in a pinch) work well for adding a colorful pattern to any envelope.

Dip dyed envelopes by Oh So Beautiful Paper with gold address calligraphy by Meant to Be Calligraphy

If you are working with white envelopes, dip dyeing is a quick and easy way to add a pop of color to your envelopes! You can use anything from food coloring and Kool-Aid to Rit Dye, so the colors are completely customizable!

Calligraphy by Letter Love Studio / Photo Credit: Sarah Carpenter Photography

5. Pretty Stamps

The final step! Pretty postage stamps are a surefire way to elevate any envelope into a work of art. Vintage postage stamps are readily available in large quantities and look amazing when grouped together – but you can also find some really beautiful stamps from USPS these days.

Now stick your beautiful card in the mail and make someone’s day instantly brighter! Isn’t sending (and receiving) mail the absolute best?!?

This post was created in partnership with eBay. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make Oh So Beautiful Paper possible!