Have you ever heard of the Graceful Envelope Contest? Maybe you’ve seen some of these stunning envelopes before…
The contest is held every year by the Washington (DC) Calligraphers Guild and open to worldwide entries. Participants of all ages are invited to use their calligraphy and artistic skills to interpret a given theme on an envelope, which is then mailed to the Guild. Bonus points for using stamps that fit the topic!
This year, the theme is Communication:
“Ever since Benjamin Franklin became America’s first Postmaster General, many of our most important messages arrived inside an envelope. Now your challenge is to design the outside of an envelope to highlight this—or any other—mode of communication. Your Graceful Envelope could honor the mail or the internet; the telegraph, telephone or television; person-to-person conversation or whatever kind of communication inspires your imagination.”
The deadline for 2016 is March 28th… so gather your stamps, envelopes and colouring pens, and give it a go! :)
You can read the contest rules and how to participate on the Washington Calligraphers Guild website, and check out some of the previous entries on their Flickr page. A big thank you scribefriend from bringing this wonderful contest to our attention!
32 comments so far
Oh my god, so beautiful, I wish I'd receive such a great artwork one day ...
Wow! The envelopes above are WORKS OF ART! 😱
really BEAUTIFUL
O my! I never can compete with such beautiful and stunning envelopes!
Gorgeous, but I wonder how many of them actually arrive?!
Like beautiful cards that often go astray... :-(
Lovely work! ALL of my mail art has arrived at their destination/s worldwide since 1979.
http://flyingfishinc.blogspot.com.au/
Congratulations - I didn't even receive all beautiful cards I sent to myself from my holidays!!! So nowadays I send myself not so nice ones...
Sorry to hear that :-(
OMG! What awesome talent is on show above ... If I received such a treasure in the mail I would have it framed :D
Make sure you check out the links you will have total envelope envy! Have so enjoyed this blog entry - thanks for the sm:)e!
Graceful Talent is appreciated!
The envelopes are great. I have looked at the results of the past 4 years. So many talents....
Yes, I've heard of this contest. I think it's wonderful that it exists. These envelopes are truly works of art! Maybe I will enter ... But I can't do anything like those designs, but I guess I can try. :)
I often receive really lovely envelopes from penfriends, and I keep the really special ones. I always found white envelopes boring and accordingly drew pictures on them but nothing like the ones above.
For years now I recycle calendars and art catalogues by folding my envelopes from them. Makes mail colourful and more environmental.
Great!!!!I used recycled Magazine pages. I will do it again.
The envelopes above are just gorgeous!!!!
Wow! There are some true master pieces on these pictures <3
Hope to receive some one day
AMAZING!!!!! This is my kind of art. :D Thanks for sharing! :)
Wow stunning!
Beautiful! ❤️
Amazing! Thank you.
Artwork! Fantastic.
Waw, how beautiful! Little works of art!
Wow! Amazing!!!
In my job as a mail sorter I have seen some beautiful pieces of art works on an envelope .sometimes I will show my co workers but I can't take a picture of them to show anyone else because of privacy laws and work policy.Some people are just so talented.it certainly makes my shift.
WILD AND SOOOOO CREATIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely amazing!!
Wow, beautiful!
Never heard about it(( I really enjoyed while looking through all previos works of art!
Discovering this project is a wonderful example of SERENDIPITY in action! I love Calligraphy, & I believe that hand-writing should be beautiful as well as practical &, of course, legible. It is a very HUMAN skill which is in danger of being lost, in this digital age, when everything seems to be typed. I will try different ways to decorate my envelopes in future postings. Good Luck, Friends!
So imaginative and beautiful!
Google Alan Blackman, Letters to Myself for a wonderful look at envelopes created for first day covers and the amazing calligraphy and art work on each envelope.
This is amazing!
Thank you, Postcrossing, for sharing such lovely event!
I'll try to enter, so many beautiful envelopes!
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