The Elevated Envelope

 A collection of mail art

If you're in the mood for mail, or perhaps need a little art therapy to help get you through the last weeks of winter (and, you know, everything else that's going on), maybe it's time for a little mail art?

The wonderful Elevated Envelope Mail Art Exchange has returned! 

My very first (and very favourite) mail art swap, The Elevated Envelope is the brainchild/lovechild of Tara Bliven, an American designer now living in Ireland. Not a "stuff swap", this project asks you to transform a humble envelope into a piece of art. Forget what your mother taught you. When it comes to mail art, it's what's on the outside that counts!

Sign up for The Elevated Envelope and exchange beautiful mail with artists, creative and mail lovers from all over the world. It's a wonderful source of inspiration and connection, and a great creativity booster too. Participation is free, but do keep in mind you'll need to pay for materials and postage.

Returning just in time for Spring, this year's theme is Equinox. 

Sign-ups for 2022's edition close on Monday, February 28th. 

Find all the details and sign up here.

Fun fact, when Tara took a break from this mail art swap a few years ago, I missed it so much, I was inspired to start Pretty Postal.  

Pretty Postal Kitchen Table Mail


It's that time again... time for a new Pretty Postal mail swap. This time round, we're challenging our fellow mail lovers to exchange thoughtful mail based around the theme of food and memory. It's the perfect time of year to get cozy and create some beautiful mail. And if you've been here long, you know I think blank envelopes and cards are a wonderful canvas for creativity!

This particular swap is only open to previous Pretty Postal swappers... so if you've completed one of our previous swaps, we do hope you'll sign up for this one too. Sign-ups are open until Friday, November 22nd. You can find all the details over on the Pretty Postal site.

Pretty Postal Monochromatic Mail Swap


It's been a long, grey winter and I don't know about you, but I could use a boost of spirit lifting colour. Luckily, it's the perfect time for another Pretty Postal mail swap ...

The Monochromatic Mail Swap invites you to create pretty mail using a single colour family of your choice. I'm feeling rather partial towards pinks and reds, but sunny yellows or even classic black and white would be fun too.

Pretty Postal swaps connect you with 2 to 4 other creatives across the country and around the world to exchange well-crafted mail on a chosen theme. Since 2016, we've brightened mailboxes with nearly 2000 pieces of mail!

For full details on this swap and how to sign up, click here.