Holiday Mail Art: 5 Ways to Decorate Christmas Card Envelopes

• Craft foam sheet
• Scrap pieces of cardboard
• Scissors
• Glue
• Crayola brush markers
• Archival ink pad in two colors (or ink brayer and paint)
• Scrap paper or butcher paper (to protect your work surface)

• Cut simple shapes from the craft foam—try stars or starbursts, circles or blocks.
• Glue the foam shape onto a slightly larger scrap of cardboard.
• Press your stamp onto the ink pad (or use a brayer to apply paint). Practice pressing the stamps on a scrap sheet of paper to get the right amount of pressure and to try different designs.
• Open and flatten the envelope and stamp your designs. Make sure to leave room for the recipient’s name and address on the front and your own return address in the upper left or on the back.
• Let your envelopes dry completely before you address them.

• Scraps of colored paper or leftover gift wrap
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Crayola brush markers
• Crayola metallic markers or paint markers
• White paint marker or Crayola silver glitter marker
• White gel pen

• Cut a super-simple shape from the paper. We made different ornament shapes and trees and tried a few first initials.
• Lay your cut paper out on the envelope to figure out your design.
• If you’re going to write or draw on the paper, do that before you glue it down—that way if you mess up, you don’t ruin the envelope.
• Use the white paint or silver glitter marker to draw simple designs—branches, stars, garland strings—on your envelope.
• Glue down your cut paper then add the address. Don’t forget to put your return address in the upper left or on the back flap.

• Crayola acrylic paint (we are big believers in a limited color palette—choose 3 colors and use white paint to make lighter shades)
• Paintbrush
• Artist masking tape (“low-tack” means it’s less sticky and won’t rip paper)
• Scissors
• Crayola brush markers
• Scrap card stock or paper

To leave the perfect space for an address: 

• Cut a square or rectangle from your scrap piece big enough to write the address. Use the masking tape to stick it to the envelope.
• Paint swatches of color on the envelope—try abstract shapes, swashes or blocks of color, squiggles and lines and dots.
• If you’re going to layer colors, make sure you let one dry before adding another.
• When it’s all completely dry, pull off the tape and paper scrap and add the address.
• With the right pen, you can write the address on a dry swash of color.

• Crayola Gold Metallic paint markers with bullet-shaped tips—not chiseled or angled—to make lines with a consistent weight (that’s called monoline lettering) or Metallic Markers
• Crayola Signature Metallic Outline Paint Markers & Project Glitter Markers or paint markers in white, red and green (or another fun, limited color palette)
• Pencil

• Before you start, lightly sketch out the name and address—and maybe any other designs you want to add. It’s easy to draw pine and holly branches and berries, stars and diamonds, accent marks and simple doves.
• Make the name the star—go big and bold, but don’t forget to leave room for the address. (Unless you’re hand-delivering a card! Then the name can be super huge.)
• Let each color dry before adding the next.

• Crayola Brush Markers or acrylic paint and brushes
• Crayola permanent markers (for addressing)
• Scrap paper

• Play around with techniques and designs—like translucent washes or snowy circles—on scrap paper or extra envelopes. Test the markers you’ll use for addresses on your backgrounds once they dry.
• Slide a piece of paper into your envelope before you paint to prevent bleed-through.
• Paint designs on your envelopes and let them dry.
• Once you’re absolutely positively certain they’re dry, add the addresses with permanent markers.

• Envelopes
• Wrapping paper
• Ruler
• Scissors or craft knife
• Glue stick
• Optional: Chipboard (cereal boxes are perfect) or poster board for templates

If you’re just doing a few liners, follow the directions below. If you decide to make a whole bunch, make a template using chipboard or poster board (first three steps). Then trace the template onto the wrapping paper and follow the last two steps.

• Open the flap of an envelope and lay it open and flat on the reverse side of a piece of wrapping paper.
• Trace the envelope shape onto the wrapping paper and cut it out.
• Cut a sliver (1/8″ or less) off each side and about 1/2″ off the bottom.
• Slip the liner into the envelope, design up, and close the envelope, creasing the liner.
• Open the envelope and glue the liner in place.