Mail Art

There are a lot of different ways to make mail art. It seems quite a few of you are intimidating by decorating an envelope and that makes me sad! When I first started writing letters, before I had ever heard the term "mail art", I had a few pen pals who would decorate their envelopes. They would doodle on the envelopes, paste pictures or write the address creatively. Barely a teenager and totally fascinated by the idea of sending something other than a plain envelope through the post, I would try replicate those envelopes. If the idea of collaging an envelope makes you want to cry, don't fret! There are a lot of simple ways to decorate an envelope.

Decorating an envelope with beautiful postage wasn't something that occurred to me until fairly recently. It is quite honestly the easiest way to make an envelope pop. Vintage postage has a great appeal and is certainly a delight to receive. The USPS is releasing some great stamps this year and I look forward to what they will release in future years. I like to purchase all of my stamps online as there is a better selection and I can take my time looking through everything. One of the main ways I decorate an envelope using postage is by purchasing lower denominational stamps and using them like stickers! By doing this I usually am putting on more postage than necessary but you can't put a price on art, right? Haha.

Although I can't draw for the life of me, a nice drawing or doodle is a great way to personalize an envelope or postcard. My favorite postcards to receive from Postcrossing are ones that feature a quick doodle or a drawing that someone has tailored to my interests. Wax seals are a treat to see on an envelope, especially when the post office manages to leave them intact! Unfortunately I do not own any wax seals but hope to purchase some this year. Mail themed rubber stamps are always a good idea.

What does mail art mean to you? What are some staples you use to decorate envelopes?