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  • Welcome to TPK! This is your first of 2 free articles. For unlimited access to tutorials and articles, join TPK Premium for less than the cost of a latte.

    10 “Stuck at Home” Project Suggestions

    March 17, 2020

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Roundup

    As coronavirus runs rampant, many of us are at home practicing social distancing. While this isn’t the ideal circumstance for a vacation, it does present the free time to take on projects you may not normally allow yourself to indulge in. In today’s article, I’ll outline ten creative endeavors that can help to pass the…

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    10 "Stuck at Home" Project Suggestions

    I look forward to the day when this blog post is outdated! For now, though, many of us are taking shelter indoors — to protect ourselves and others — as COVID-19 rocks the world. If you plan to spend a lot of time at home for the next couple of weeks, I’ve got a list of 10 “stuck at home” project suggestions! Bonus: many of these can also be done with kids who are home from school.

    1. Channel Your Inner Planner

    At a time when things feel a little bit out of control, you can whip things into shape in your own universe! You know that closet you never have time to organize or that room you’ve been meaning to paint? Now is the time to tackle those types of projects.

    Free Illustrated Printable Weekly Planner | The Postman's Knock
    You can find this printable weekly planner by clicking here.

    There are several productivity-focused printables on the TPK website. They include:

    • (Free!) Gorgeous Watercolor Printable Weekly Planner
    • Artistic Printable Meal Planner
    • Illustrated Printable Menu Planner

    2. Start a Sketchbook Journal

    You don’t have to identify as an artist to start a sketchbook journal! For many of us, this is an opportune time to process thoughts and emotions, and a sketchbook journal can help you to do that. Whether you opt to make actual sketches, simple patterns, or decoupage, you’ll appreciate the zen that sketchbooking can bring!

    A Shinola Sketchbook
    This sketchbook spread features a simple pattern (made with a Muji pen and Finetec gold dots) and a botanical letter.

    The TPK blog has several articles about how to start or add to a sketchbook:

    • How to Make a Sketchbook Journal (and Why You Should!)
    • Inspirational Sketchbook Pages
    • A Foolproof “Day in the Life” Sketchbook Layout Formula

    3. (Finally) Start a Blog

    If you’ve been thinking about starting a blog or a website, this is a good opportunity to do that! Starting a blog takes time and energy up front, but that makes it the perfect “stuck at home” project.

    Lindsey on the Computer | The Postman's Knock

    A couple of years ago, I wrote a three-part series explaining exactly how to start a blog. There are also tips on how to come up with content!

    • Six Steps to Starting a Creative Blog
    • Five Creative Blogging Tips
    • Six Tips for Writing a Blog Post

    4. Start an Etsy Shop

    If you don’t want to commit to making a full-blown website, this would be a good time to start an Etsy shop! I’d set aside a week to tackle this goal. Plan out your shop offerings on the first day, use the second and third day to make products, then dedicate a day or two to photography. Then, start your shop and write your listing descriptions!

    The Invitation That Started It All | The Postman's Knock
    TPK actually got its start on Etsy in 2012 — this customized “BabyQ” invitation was the first product I ever offered!

    Here are some articles that can help you get started. Many focus on selling calligraphy, but the tips apply to other items as well:

    • How to Make Extra Income Selling Calligraphy
    • 8 Tips for Starting a Calligraphy Business
    • 10 Items That I Successfully Sold on Etsy: A Throwback Post

    *If these articles interest you, also check out all of the posts tagged “Entrepreneur” on the blog! The idea for this “stay at home” project was spurred by this article, which I saw on CNBC and found interesting.

    5. Get Ahead on Greeting Cards

    Maybe I’m the only one with this problem, but I suffer from a shortage of greeting cards. I always need birthday/thank you cards, in particular! Make a few now, while you have time, and you’ll be glad you did later.

    Calligraphy Birthday Card Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    Here are some of my favorite card tutorials:

    • Top 6 TPK Birthday Card Tutorials
    • Retro Floral Thank You Card Tutorial
    • Folded Heart Handmade Card Tutorial

    6. Learn How to Watercolor

    In my opinion, watercolors are an easy medium to use because they’re so forgiving! You can easily control a pigment’s opacity, blend colors together, and fix mistakes.

    Painting Created with Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors | The Postman's Knock

    There are several tutorials on the blog that involve watercolors, but three, in particular, are great for beginners:

    • Painting with Watercolors for Beginners
    • Painting with Watercolors for Beginners Part II
    • Herbal Watercolor Tutorial + a Free Printable

    7. Learn Calligraphy

    … Of course I’m going to include this among my suggestions for stuck at home projects! You could not pick a better time to focus on learning calligraphy. This week, I’ve noticed a lot more lesson comments on Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course videos. That means that more learners are taking the time to watch the videos and practice, so you’ll be in good company!

    Can You Really Learn Calligraphy Online?

    Through Wednesday, you can use the coupon code KEEPINGBUSY to receive 25% off the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course. Alternatively, you can peruse the blog for tons of beginner tips! Here are my three favorite articles for beginners:

    • The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy
    • How to Hold a Calligraphy Pen (Includes Videos)
    • The Lowdown on Calligraphy Nibs

    8. Improve Your Handwriting

    Maybe you don’t care about calligraphy, but you would like to improve your everyday handwriting. If so, you’ve now got time to practice your handwriting skills!

    Elegant and Effective Letter Writing Tips | The Postman's Knock

    The TPK website has a few resources that will help you out with this endeavor:

    • 8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet)
    • How to Write in Cursive + a Free Exemplar
    • How to Improve Your Signature
    • Improve Your Handwriting: A Comprehensive Online Course

    9. Practice Calligraphy Drills

    If you already know how to create calligraphy, work on improving it! This website has plenty of stimulating drills — both free and paid ($5.00) — to challenge you.

    Fabulous Fairytale Calligraphy Drills!
    You can click here to find this enchanting calligraphy drills packet.

    You can find several of TPK’s freebie calligraphy drills here, and all paid drills here.

    10. Do Tutorials!

    I’ve dedicated the past eight years to writing tutorials for this website. I can guarantee there are at least a few that will appeal to you!

    It’s not really fair to pick favorites since there are — truly — so many tutorials, but I’m going to provide you a list of my current loves anyway:

    • Gift-Worthy State Lettering Map Tutorial (shown above)
    • “You Made This?!” Lily Drawing Tutorial
    • Anything in the 8 Absorbing Projects to Bust the Winter Blues post

    I hope that this article gives you some good ideas for things to do at home while we wait this awful thing out! If you have more stuck at home project ideas (or requests), I’d love to hear them in the comments. Otherwise, I’ll have the ultimate project prepared for you on Thursday: the Illustrated Map eCourse. Thanks so much for reading, and hang in there!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

     

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About the author

Hi, I’m Lindsey Bugbee, the illustrator, calligrapher, and author behind The Postman’s Knock (TPK). Since 2012, the TPK Blog has been a vibrant creative space filled with tutorials and lessons on modern calligraphy, hand lettering, and illustration. After publishing The Calligraphy Book, I wanted to elevate the quality of content even further—so I launched TPK Premium. You can join here to receive access to some of the internet’s best creative inspiration and project tutorials.

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Previous post: How to Make a Beautiful Envelope: A Guest Post
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8 responses

  1. carlman Avatar
    carlman
    March 18, 2020

    Lindsey, You are always so generous and today is no exception! Thank you for giving me some pretty (and useful) ideas and ways to use my downtime while I (as a very senior citizen!) practice social distancing!

    Stay well.
    Sandy

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      March 18, 2020

      I’m right there with you! Definitely practicing social distancing to make sure we can all stay healthy! 🙂

      Log in to Reply
  2. msdarvelo Avatar
    msdarvelo
    March 18, 2020

    Thank you so very much for this! I’ve bookmarked a ton of your stuff and purchased some of your courses and worksheets and also your calligraphy kit! I’m going to get started this week!!

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      March 18, 2020

      There’s honestly no better time than the present! I suppose that’s the advantage of all this … we all seem to have just a little bit more time. 🙂

      Log in to Reply
  3. Lee Avatar
    Lee
    March 18, 2020

    Great post! Thanks for the wonderful ideas for those of us who are stuck indoors! These will keep us busy and make us very happy and satisfied. I make a lot of watercolor painted greeting cards and thanks to your tutorials and calligraphy drills, I can now do the lettering on them myself! My envelopes are beautiful too, because of your great ideas. Just love your blog! Hope you and your family stay safe and healthy!

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      March 18, 2020

      Right back at you! I’m hoping that these ideas help those who are going a little bit stir-crazy. 🙂 Boredom is a reality that a lot of us are facing right now!

      Log in to Reply
  4. Lisa Jones Avatar
    Lisa Jones
    March 18, 2020

    Great idea Lindsey! We haven’t been ‘self-isolated’ yet in Australia but these will still come in handy.

    Cheers, Lisa

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      March 18, 2020

      I’m so glad you like them! I hope things continue to be even-keeled and pretty normal Down Under. 🙂

      Log in to Reply

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There’s a brand-new tutorial on the TPK Blog tod There’s a brand-new tutorial on the TPK Blog today (link in bio)! You’ll learn how to make this rugged little trifold card, complete with layered watercolor mountains and a calligraphy quote. 🏔 The concept was inspired by a gorgeous floral card from @fpmmac — I just reimagined it with a more outdoorsy feel. Per usual, I used my favorite @greenleafblue palette to paint these earthy, moody peaks. The colors make the whole project feel grounded and bold at the same time.

Full blog access is for TPK Premium members (starting at $5/month), but non-members can still view two articles/month — so you can absolutely check this one out! Every post takes me 2–3 days to create, and I fill them with clear instructions, helpful photos, and ideas you’ll actually want to try. If you like what you see, membership opens up 900+ tutorials/articles to explore!

#thepostmansknock #watercolorcard #diycardmaking #calligraphytutorial #watercolormountains #greenleafblue #handletteringlove #diygreetingcard #moderncalligraphy #watercolorart #creativeprojects #slowcreativeliving #tpkpremium #handmadecards #craftingjoy #cardtutorial #paintedgreetingcard
This little box has been starting calligraphy jour This little box has been starting calligraphy journeys since 2019—because it takes the guesswork out of getting started. ✨ Whether you’re brand new to calligraphy or coming back after a break, everything inside is designed to help you feel inspired, confident, and ready to create.

The workbook (and its accompanying video course!) gives you structure. The supplies are special and thoughtfully chosen. And the whole thing feels like an invitation to slow down and enjoy the process.

If you’ve been thinking about learning calligraphy—or gifting someone else the nudge to try—you can find the kit in the TPK Catalog now. Just click the link in bio and navigate to “Shop.”

#moderncalligraphy #calligraphykit #tpkstyle #learncalligraphy #calligraphyforbeginners #pointedpenlove #calligraphygiftideas #dippenlove
Sometimes, the best creative projects are the ones Sometimes, the best creative projects are the ones that don’t go exactly as planned. This tree art was made with watercolors and a straw—yes, a straw! The branches take shape as you blow paint across the page, and from there, it’s all about adding leaves and a few cheerful bluebirds. 🌿💙

This technique is relaxing, a little unpredictable, and really satisfying. I hope it gives you a gentle creative reset, especially if you’ve been deep in detail-heavy work lately. 💛

You can find the full tutorial on the blog (with video + step-by-step photos)—just search “Soothing Organic Tree Art” on thepostmansknock.com, or tap the link in bio!

#watercolortutorial #watercolorillustration #artproject #creativebreak #strawpainting #birdillustration #calligraphyandillustration #tpkstyle #slowcreativity #arttimelapse #artforkidsandadults #natureinspiredart
Something magical happens when you sit down with s Something magical happens when you sit down with someone who speaks your creative language ✨ That was definitely the case when my friend Jess of @greenleafblue joined me for a live chat with TPK Premium members! We talked about everything from watercolor quirks to sketchbooks as memory-keepers, creative balance, and the joy of going analog in a digital world.

Jess makes some of the most beautiful handmade watercolors you’ll ever find—but her real superpower might be how she talks about creativity with honesty and depth. I walked away from our conversation feeling grounded, inspired, and ready to make something. I think you will too.

🎧 You can listen to the conversation podcast-style or watch the full video—link in profile; then look for the May 13th article!

#greenleafandblueberry #watercolorpainting #sketchbookinspiration #creativelife #analogart #arttalk #artpodcast #tpkpremium #creativeprocess #makersgonnamake
Where do you go when you need a break? Where’s y Where do you go when you need a break? Where’s your “Kokomo”? 

Hernán and I haven’t been back to Lima, his birthplace (and where most of his family still lives), since early 2018. Two small kids and a pandemic later, it seemed like the right time. After returning from an 8-day stay in *stunning* Miraflores, a district in Lima, I’m feeling rejuvenated; creatively, emotionally, and physically. It’s been a long time since I’ve taken a vacation, and I had forgotten how important it is to step away from everyday life for a while! 

It’s easy to put off taking a big break or a vacation when you are stuck in the minutiae of everyday life. I’m curious to hear what place motivates you to step away from the routine and get a mental reset! 

#PeruTravel #MirafloresLima #LimaThroughMyEyes #FamilyAndTravel #TravelToReconnect #CreativeReset #MentalReset #RestIsProductive #SlowTravelMoments #TakeABreak #InspiredByTravel #CreativeRecharge #MeaningfulTravel #WhereToNext #WhereDoYouGo #TravelForPerspective
Here’s a fun little trick for making personalize Here’s a fun little trick for making personalized wrapping paper: just grab a big sheet of paper and a bold marker (I used an oil-based Sharpie I had lying around). Write the recipient’s name and a greeting over and over on the diagonal—starting each new line right where the last one left off. Once you’ve filled the page, flip it over and wrap your gift. Instant charm. 🖋🎁 #giftwrapping #diywrappingpaper #handmadegiftwrap #calligraphyideas #markerlettering #easydiygiftwrap #personalizedgifts #giftwrappingidea #creativewrapping #letteringlove #moderncalligraphy #diygiftwrap #tpkstyle
One of the coolest things you can do with a pointe One of the coolest things you can do with a pointed pen isn’t write a word — it’s build a picture with nothing but flourishes. 🪶✨

This tropical parrot was such a joy to create, and TPK’s newest worksheet walks you through how to make your own version step by step. Whether you’re tracing to get a feel for the movement or freehand flourishing the final piece, it’s both relaxing and skill-building — a nice balance of creative play and pointed pen precision.

You don’t need to be a pointed pen expert to try it. Just take it stroke by stroke, give yourself permission to go slow, and enjoy the process. 🖋️

📩 DM me if you’d like the link to the worksheet! It’s free for TPK Premium members, $6 for non-members. 

#moderncalligraphy #pointedpenpractice #calligraphydrills #flourishingpractice #calligraphyart #flourishfriday #calligraphyworksheet #tpkstyle #calligraphycommunity #parrotart #calligraphyproject #dippenlove #creativepractice #flourishedartwork #beginnercalligraphy #intermediatecalligraphy #tropicalvibesinink
Yes, that’s a shoe. And yes, it’s made entirel Yes, that’s a shoe. And yes, it’s made entirely with calligraphic flourishes. 😄

If you’d enjoy using a sneaker as a calligraphy practice drill, let me know in the comments! I’m happy to make it happen. 👟✨ Suggestions for other motifs are also welcome and appreciated!

#moderncalligraphy #calligraphydrills #flourishingpractice #calligraphyfun #creativecalligraphy #flourishfriday #calligraphyvideo #tpkstyle #letteringcommunity #dippenlove #artmotif
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