T H E L E T T E R M AT E
An Envelope Addressing Guide
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THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE LETTERMATE!
With this tool we encourage you to think both inside & outside the box!
(Pun intended.) So we’ve put together this handy guide for inspiration &
exploration. Happy addressing!
Online at www.thelettermate.com
Follow thelettermate on:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
03 _ Details & Inspiration
11 _ Lowercase Letters
12 _ Frequently Asked Questions
13 _ Envelope Sizes
14 _ Faux Envelopes
www.thelettermate.com
Page 02
DETAILS & INSPIRATION
You’ve just purchased your Lettermate, and now your wondering where to start...
Well, we’ve put together some tips, details, and inspiration to help kickstart your
creativity while using your Lettermate. Remember, these are only suggestions, so
roll up your sleeves and have fun with it!
ADD VARIATION
Contrast is key to adding visual interest to your work. Try combining contrasting
elements like thick & thin lines, big & small words, dark & light colors, or script &
serif fonts.
DINGBATS!?
Dingbats/ glyphs/ or ornaments such as arrows, vines, or lines are decorative
accents that can be used to add a little pizazz to your work.
Think of them as the sprinkles on an ice cream cone, the cherry on a sundae, or
the salted rim of a frozen margarita. Remember, they are there to compliment &
not over shadow your design!
Designs & Inspiration
Page 03
DRESS TO IMPRESS
Dress up your letters! Use things like serifs and bold strokes to add character
to a flat design. Use the yellow marks below as a reference.
TRYING TO KEEP EVERYTHING CENTERED?
The dots at the top of The Lettermate represent different line lengths. Shorter
lines of text (such as a name) would begin around the single or double dot mark
vs. longer lines of text (such as a street address) which would likely begin around
the double to triple dot mark.
Illustrated below is the difference between centered and left-aligned text.
SANDY BEACHES
1128 SUNSHINE AVE.
EXAMPLE 1: CENTERED
Designs & Inspiration
ANITA MANN
867 LOVER’S LANE
EXAMPLE 2: LEFT-ALIGNED
Page 04
SAMPLE: 01
Notes:
Observe where you are placing your Lettermate on the envelope, as this will
determine where your address is placed. Make sure to leave room for a stamp!
Designs & Inspiration
Page 05
SAMPLE: 02
Notes:
Use the straight edges of the Lettermate to add lines & other decorative elements
to your design. Make sure to leave room for these elements.
Designs & Inspiration
Page 06
SAMPLE: 03
Notes:
Each diecut window has a horizontal guide indicating the half way point of the open
space. Varying the height of certain letters & numbers can add visual interest.
Designs & Inspiration
Page 07
SAMPLE: 04
Notes:
Notice in this example I’ve waited to draw the descender of the “y” in “kindly”
until after The Lettermate has been removed.
Designs & Inspiration
Page 08
SAMPLE: 05
Notes:
If you would like to center your address, use the guides at the top of The
Lettermate as a reference. Centering text looks awesome, but might take a bit
more practice, so keep at it!
Designs & Inspiration
Page 09
SAMPLE: 06
Notes:
Don’t be afraid to use the whole envelope as your canvas! Get creative!
Designs & Inspiration
Page 10
LOWERCASE LETTERS
Uppercase letters fill the space of your envelope & Lettermate nicely, which is why
we recommend using them, however, lowercase letters are also an available option.
Use the examples below to see which method works best for you.
EXAMPLE 01
As you write out your address and notice a letter
with a descender (descenders are lines that drop
below the baseline) simply leave a empty spot as a
placeholder, and continue writing out your address.
(fig. 1)
Figure 1
Once complete, remove The Lettermate and fill in
your empty spaces with the outstanding letters.
(fig. 2)
Figure 2
EXAMPLE 02
Instead of skipping the entire letter, you can
simply wait to write the letter’s descender until you
have removed The Lettermate. (fig. 3 & 4)
Figure 3
Figure 4
Lowercase Letters
Page 11
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS...
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY ADDRESS DOESN’T FIT WITHIN THE DIECUT WINDOW?
No problem. If you start writing a line of text and run out of room, simply slide
your Lettermate to the right and finish writing your line of text. Do not try and
squish letters into a tiny space, trust us, it will not look good.
DO I HAVE TO CENTER MY ADDRESS?
Absolutely not. In fact, when I need to address a large amount of envelopes, I
almost always use left-aligned text. Don’t get me wrong, I love the look of centered
type, but it is a bit more time consuming to ensure everything stays perfect.
I GOT INK ON MY LETTERMATE, HOW DO I CLEAN IT OFF?
Like a truck that has been off-roading, you’re bound to get a little mud on the tires.
Smudges & stains are the mark of a well loved Lettermate, but if you insist on
keeping it clean as a whistle, use a damp paper towel to wipe off any extra ink. Do
not use any soaps or solvents on your Lettermate, as you may end up stripping off
the guide markings or translucent finish.
WHAT PENS DO YOU RECOMMEND USING?
Our favorite brands are Micron (size 05) & Zig Writer.
For white & metallic ink, we recommend Uni-Ball pens. Make sure to give your ink a
few seconds to dry to prevent smudging.
WHAT ENVELOPES DO YOU RECOMMEND USING?
We love envelopes from the Paper-Source line. They are a lovely quality, and come
in a spectrum of colors & sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Page 12
ENVELOPE SIZES
Use your Lettermate on envelopes large and small!
A7
5 . 2 5 ” x 7. 2 5 ”
S Q UA R E
5.75” x 5.75”
#10
4.125” x 9.5”
4 BA R
3.625” x 5.125”
A2
4.375” x 5.75”
A6
4.75” x 6.5”
Envelope Sizes
Page 13
FAUX ENVELOPES
Print & practice using your Lettermate on these faux envelopes!
Faux Envelopes
Page 14
Faux Envelopes
Page 15