Olivia Stoffel displays her entry for the Graceful Envelope contest. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)

Inspired by her family’s past efforts to create a winning entry for “The Graceful Envelope,” a contest sponsored by the Washington Calligraphers Guild and the National Association of Letter Carriers, parent volunteer Liza Sullebarger approached fourth-grade teacher Chris Snell with the idea of letting his whole class decorate standard-size business envelopes with this year’s contest theme, “A Mailable Feast”. Armed with stamps, colored pencils, and calligraphy pens, each student created his or her own interpretation of a feast.

For Ryan Robinson, a feast of spaceships and planets met the mandate of the theme, while Heather Downing drew an illustration of a dining room with an elaborate chandelier. Jane Sullebarger used a Disney stamp from Lady and the Tramp showing two dogs eating pasta as a springboard for her envelope’s design, and Zane Atwood illustrated his with Army camouflage and “lots of squiggly lines and stuff.” The best part about the whole contest was coming up with an original idea for the design, according to Atwood. Sullebarger agreed with this, adding, “It really became a piece of art.”

“It brings out your inner self, your inner color,” Robinson said of the project.

Mr. Snell’s fourth-graders hand-deliver letters to USPS mail carrier Dee Rocco. Left to right:  Heather Flokos, Ariel Dwyer, Katie Frost, Heather Downing, Olivia Stoffel, Ben Stone, Adam Lorenz-Kruk, Pat Pesa, and Zane Atwood hand in their letters.

This year marks the 13th year of the Graceful Envelope contest, which was started by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Postal Museum in 1995. The Smithsonian administered the contest for several years before turning it over to the Washington Calligraphers Guild in 2001. Just four years ago, the National Association of Letter Carriers agreed to partner with the guild to sponsor the contest and exhibit the winners. Mr. Snell’s class entered the contest in the “child” category, for participants in kindergarten through grade five. Children in grades six through 12 can enter in the junior category, and there is a separate category for adults, as well. The winning entries will be on display at the National Association of Letter Carriers headquarters in Washington, D.C., in July.

All the children will receive a letter confirming receipt of their entry that also thanks them for participating in the contest, something that impressed all the students. “Even if you don’t win it’s still fun because you get a letter from the government,” Sullebarger said.

For more information on the Graceful Envelope contest, visit www.calligraphersguild.org/envelope.html.