Graceful Envelope Contest | Washington Calligraphers Guild

Past themes and winning envelopes

CALL FOR ENTRIES!
All ages welcome. No entry fee

Deadline: March 31, 2027

2027 Graceful Envelope Contest Theme:

A Moveable Feast

Sometimes foods can be special to ourselves or our family’s heritage; consider delightful or meaningful foods for you. Now, imagine how these dishes can be moved—on a tray, in a take-out container, in a grocery cart, on a train or in an oxcart, in a bento box…or maybe in a picnic basket. For this year’s Graceful Envelope Contest, highlight a favorite or traditional food, as it moves.

Download image to spread the word about the contest!

How to enter and use an outer envelope for mailing:

Who Can Enter: The contest has no entry fee and is open to adults and students everywhere, with no preference given to WCG members. Only one entry allowed per person.

Contest Entry Envelope: Create your artistic entry on a standard or handmade envelope no larger than 7x9 inches (#10 envelopes are also fine). Only the front of the envelope will be judged, so do not put your name there (or inside, because entry envelopes are never opened).

The back of Contest Entry Envelope must include this information:

the entrant’s name
address
email (students may use their teacher's email rather than their own)
division of the contest (Adult, Grades 9-12, Grades 5-8, or Grades 1-4). Students please indicate your grade (international students: please provide your age).

Outer Envelope: Automated sorting machines have had difficulty reading some artistically addressed envelopes. To prevent these problems, we recommend that entrants place their artistic contest entry envelopes inside a plain outer envelope that is clearly marked on the front with the contest address and your return address, with correct postage.

Stamps: Adult entry envelopes must have at least one stamp of any denomination that integrates with the design. Student entries mailed in bulk by teachers do not require postage, but integration of a stamp into the design does strengthen a submission. Full postage is required for the outer envelope that contains entry envelope(s).

Deadline: Entries must be postmarked by Wednesday, March 31, 2027 but we encourage entrants to mail earlier!

Address both your contest entry envelope and outer envelope to:

The Graceful Envelope Contest

P.O. Box 3688

Merrifield, VA 22116

(For international submissions, include “USA” on the cover envelope only.)
Remember to put your name, address, email and contest division* on the back of your artistic contest entry envelope.

Judging: Entries will be judged by their representation of the contest theme ("A Movable Feast"), the quality of calligraphy or artistic lettering, and effective use of color and design including incorporation of postage stamp(s).

*Entries will be judged in these divisions: Adult; Grades 9-12; Grades 5-8; Grades 1-4.
Judging will take place in late April by a trio of professional artists or art educators.
Winning entries will be displayed on the Washington Calligraphers Guild website and the artists will receive certificates.
All entries are the property of the Washington Calligraphers Guild and may be reproduced in its publications and social media.
We regret that we cannot return entries or notify those not selected.

Questions: Contact Contest Coordinator Peggy Barlett at pbarlett@emory.edu.

See past Graceful Envelope Contest winning envelopes in these WCG magazines that are available for purchase: Spring 2025 Fall 2019 Fall 2014 Spring 2009

Advice from past Graceful Envelope Contest judges:

"An envelope with a design portraying the theme in a unique way, setting it apart from the pack, with lettering that works well with the design and a stamp that looks like it belongs, would definitely be in the running. Overall, I don't believe it is the best calligrapher that will always win, nor the best drafter or painter—it is the artist who is able to use both effectively to execute the theme in the most compelling way."
—Shane Perry, former GEC juror

"My advice to entrants is to think outside the box regarding the theme of that year—reject the most obvious ideas, especially the corny ones! Really let yourself go in thinking of different approaches to the subject. I see each envelope as a miniature narrative of three parts: solid lettering; innovative design or illustration; and selection of stamp relating to theme. It is a synergy of the parts reflecting the theme that wins."
—Peggy Schiefelbein, former GEC juror