Addressing Envelopes with Calligraphy

Calligraphy on envelopes! This is what drew me to calligraphy in the first place, and it is still my very favorite thing to do.

Topics Covered:

• Consistency in letter forms
• Using a Lightbox with your favorite guidelines
• Using a Phantom Liner
• Judging your spacing for centering
• Common addressing anxieties
• Flourishing to take up space/balance
• Knowing where to start on your envelope
• Suggestions for talking to clients about postage
• And other resources and tips spread throughout!

Want to join us for class? It's offered on-demand and now available to enrolled students. Enjoy this video and printable worksheets today!

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Materials Needed: 

• Envelopes. I recommend Paper Source and Cards and Pockets for smooth quality envelopes. In the video, I am using Crane and Co’s Lettra which is slightly more challenging to write on, but has a lovely texture. It is 100% cotton. I found my box of Lettra envelopes on Amazon.  I recommend using light color envelopes for practicing.
• Your favorite nib. In the video, I use both a Hunt 101 (on the practice paper), and I use a Hunt 22 on the Crane envelope). A Gillott 404 is a great nib for textured paper.
• Calligraphy ink- I used sumi ink in this video. All the envelopes I suggested take every ink I have tried on them from walnut and watercolor to gouache and sumi.
• Your favorite guidelines. You can cut these to size and insert them in your light colored envelopes. Guidelines with slant lines on them will help you practice your consistency.
• Light pad (especially for light colored envelopes!) Mine is the tiktecklab A4 size that I found Amazon for about $20.

Homework Challenge

Want to see our students homework? Search the hashtag #kcaaddressingenvelopes on Instagram to see samples from this week's homework. Our students who participate in this challenge get entered into a drawing to win prizes.

Instructor: Allison McClanahan

Website: wildwoodcp.com

Instagram: @wildwoodcalligraphyandpost