Decorate an Envelope for a Handmade Card

Embellish Personalized Stationery with Stamping, Stenciling and More

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Jan 4, 2010 Susan Caplan

Start with an envelope made with a template or use a store-bought envelope and embellish it with embossing, stamping, texture rubbing, or stenciling.

Decorating an envelope offers a hint to the design on the card. If the card will be handed to the recipient, then a more elaborate embellishment is allowed than if the card will be mailed. Most of the suggestions here are for envelopes that will get mailed.

Creating an Envelope Template

A crafter can make an envelope using regular paper, scrapbook paper, gift wrap, or even a page from a calendar. Look online for a template or simply take apart an envelope that’s the correct size and shape and trace it onto paper (if the envelope went through the mail then it won’t be necessary to check to see if it meets standards for size). If the paper is patterned, it will be necessary to use a white mailing label for the address.

Emboss an Envelope

If hand making an envelope, emboss the paper before folding the paper and creating the envelope. Select an appropriate design found on a brass embossing stencil or a plastic stencil. Set the stencil on a light box or window. Set the envelope onto the stencil so the front of the envelope is touching the stencil. Use a stylus or a small crochet hook, to trace the outline of the shape. Assemble the envelope.

Stencil the Envelope

To stencil an envelope, set the stencil onto the envelope and press a stamp pad over the design. Trace the design with marker or, if the paper is sturdy enough, apply a light touch of paint. Add the design once or in a repeating pattern over the envelope. If the color is bright and will interfere with the post office reading the address, add a white mailing label.

Stamp the Envelope

Ink the stamp and include the design once on the envelope or continue imprinting the stamp over the paper as the ink fades. Incorporate some, or all, of the stamped design on the back flap of the envelope. Use watercolor markers to color the stamp for a multi-colored design or hand-color a pattern printed in black.

Use a Texture Rubbing Plate

An alternative to using paper with a printed design is to feature the textured pattern of a rubbing plate. This would be best with an envelope cut using a stencil so a flat sheet of paper can be used when rubbing the design.

Use a light-colored colored pencil or a regular pencil for the rubbing or plan on adding a mailing label. Avoid using crayon which may prevent a stamp or mailing label from adhering – or add the pattern to a small section of the envelope. Another option with a texture rubbing is to fold the design onto the inside of the envelope.

After hand making a card, adding a few details to the envelope completes the project. The look of the envelope can add to the recipient’s anticipation of the card within.

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The copyright of the article Decorate an Envelope for a Handmade Card in Crafts is owned by Susan Caplan. Permission to republish Decorate an Envelope for a Handmade Card in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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