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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 Times Readers Rocked TPK Tutorials

    May 19, 2022

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Roundup, Tutorials

    TPK tutorials are the lifeblood of The Postman’s Knock blog. Today, I’m sharing a handful of eye-catching reader creations that I found on Instagram!

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    Calligraphy ampersand art by @nhbydesign
    @nhbydesign created this elegant ampersand art from the Calligraphy Ampersand Art Tutorial.

    Whenever I need motivation to add to the library of tutorials here on the TPK blog, I browse TPK’s tagged photos on Instagram. There, I’m always delighted to find incredible examples of work created from TPK tutorials! Today, I’m sharing some of my favorites with you.

    1. The “Cheater’s” Illuminated Letter Tutorial

    More than any other tutorial, I see “Cheater’s” Illuminated Letter Tutorial results on Instagram! That’s probably because it’s a quick project that involves printable templates. And, honestly, who doesn’t love a project that involves a lot of gold?

    Reader-created illuminated letters
    These illuminated letters were created by TPK readers using The “Cheater’s” Illuminated Letter Tutorial. Clockwise from the top left, creation credit goes to: @beginnershand, @theletteringpeacock, @fierceworkingmama, @lizzielanefarm, @pipscalligraphy, and @mistyobarr.

    READ THE CHEATER’S ILLUMINATED LETTER TUTORIAL


     2. Circus Lettering Tutorial

    These readers harnessed the power of Circus Lettering to make bold, playful envelope motifs. Unique postage stamps help to make this mail art even cooler!

    Circus lettering by @sweetpaper.us + @thescriptedpost
    These envelopes were created by @sweetpaper.us (left) + @thescriptedpost (right) using the “Circus Lettering” Tutorial.

    READ THE CIRCUS LETTERING TUTORIAL


    3. Calligraphy Artwork Tutorial: Woman’s Silhouette

    I love the Woman’s Silhouette Calligraphy Artwork Tutorial. In fact, the original lady that I created for the tutorial still hangs in my guest bathroom! Some readers have stuck to creating the original woman from the tutorial. Others have gone rogue with the concept to create impressive works.

    Calligraphy silhouette artwork by @noisyyellowfellow and @karielizabethdesign
    The Marilyn Monroe piece is by @noisyyellowfellow; isn’t it cool?! @karielizabethdesign did a great job with the original tutorial instructions.

    READ THE WOMAN’S SILHOUETTE CALLIGRAPHY ARTWORK TUTORIAL


    4. Calligraphy Birthday Card Tutorial

    The Calligraphy Birthday Card Tutorial walks you through how to use calligraphy to make a gorgeous birthday card! The two renditions of the tutorial pictured below have fabulous color schemes and great calligraphy.

    Calligraphy birthday cards by @bernice_lettersandthings and @califlorniastudio
    These calligraphy birthday cards were created by @bernice_lettersandthings and @calliflorniastudio.

    READ THE CALLIGRAPHY BIRTHDAY CARD TUTORIAL


    5. Illustrated Lace Butterfly Card Tutorial

    The Illustrated Lace Butterfly Card Tutorial is nice when you’re pressed for time because it relies on a printable. Then, you add paper and a note to make the card your own! Pages from sheet music, vintage books, and decorative papers all look good.

    Lace butterfly cards by @kelatcocoblueboutique and @thejoyfulwritinggirl
    The four lace butterfly cards on the left were created by @kelatcocoblueboutique using sheet music and pages from vintage books. @thejoyfulwritinggirl opted to use decorated paper with a nostalgic flair.

    READ THE ILLUSTRATED LACE BUTTERFLY TUTORIAL


    6. Octopus Calligraphy Art Tutorial

    When you’re looking for a project that’s sketchbook-worthy, try the Octopus Calligraphy Art Tutorial! The tutorial comes with a free printable octopus outline to keep things fun and easy.

    These flourished octopuses were created by @everiedesigns and @michiko.craft
    @everiedesigns (left) and @michiko.craft (right) created these flourished octopuses.

    READ THE OCTOPUS CALLIGRAPHY ART TUTORIAL


    7. Staggered Floral Trifold Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso

    People love Phyllis Macaluso tutorials, which is why I’m honored to offer a handful of them on the TPK blog! Her recent Staggered Floral Trifold Card Tutorial was particularly inspiring. Several readers tried it out with their own clever modifications.

    Floral trifold cards by @lois_sander and @willows.artsandcards
    @lois_sander created the floral trifold card on the left. I love that delicate layered string! The gold edging on @willows.artsandcards’ version (right) adds elegance and interest.

    READ THE STAGGERED FLORAL TRIFOLD CARD TUTORIAL


    8. “Joy” Elegant Gold Christmas Card Tutorial

    The “Joy” Elegant Gold Christmas Card has inspired many people to make beautiful cards! While many stick to the original “JOY” greeting, some readers have used it to convey a different message.

    Cards by @thesmudgyhand and @cursivelywritten
    @thesmudgyhand decided to use The “Joy” Elegant Gold Christmas Card concept for a birthday greeting! @cursivelywritten stuck to the original tutorial, adding gold cardstock backing to give the card more contrast.

    READ THE “JOY” ELEGANT GOLD CHRISTMAS CARD TUTORIAL


    9. Botanical Letter Tutorial

    The Botanical Letter Tutorial doesn’t present an exact botanical letter-making formula. Instead, the tutorial offers an explanation of the concept, and then people run with it! For that reason, it’s especially fun to see what artists put together. For example, people play with different mediums, opting to substitute brush pens or X-Acto knives for watercolors. Others decide to switch up the letter style. The changes always result in a personalized, cool result!

    Botanical M by @shelaylayblue; Papercut letter by @lisajaystudio
    Look closely, and you’ll see that @lisajaystudio used a papercutting technique to create the “N” on the left. @shelaylayblue created the jubilant, curly “M”.

    READ THE BOTANICAL LETTER TUTORIAL


    10. Flourished Calligraphy Reindeer Tutorial (Guest Post by Maureen Vickery)

    Shortly after Maureen Vickery wrote her Flourished Calligraphy Reindeer Tutorial for TPK, I began seeing the results of the tutorial popping up on social media. Artists included different messages in the reindeer and experimented with various mediums and colors. The holiday season is far from just around the corner. However, Maureen’s tutorial is worth keeping in mind for later this year! (Or, here’s an idea: make your holiday cards now, while we’re not in the “holidaze”.)

    Flourished reindeer created by readers
    Clockwise from the upper left, these flourished reindeer were created by @flourishing_corner, @annabellecalligraphy, and @bernice_lettersandthings.

    READ THE FLOURISHED CALLIGRAPHY REINDEER TUTORIAL


    Honorable Mention: Watercolor Maps

    While browsing on Instagram, I noticed several watercolor maps created by Watercolor Illustrated Maps 101 eCourse students. The eCourse isn’t a tutorial, but I want to give a shout-out to all of the students who have done such an amazing job with it! (For other examples of student maps, see Watercolor Illustrated Maps: A Proud Teacher Showcase.) Check out these creative maps:

    Maps created by @gifts_that_give_studio, @Wilkinjulia, @mtia_art_et_al and @cheriescolourfullife
    Clockwise from the top left (Purdue), these maps were created by @gifts_that_give_studio, @Wilkinjulia, @cheriescolourfullife and @mtia_art_et_al. Well done!

    If you want to create your own watercolor map, you need watercolors, watercolor paper, waterproof ink + a dip pen, and a pencil to start. Don’t forget to bring plenty of time and patience to the table, too. Don’t say I didn’t warn you: once you make one watercolor map, it’s hard to stop!

    ENROLL IN THE WATERCOLOR MAPS 101 eCOURSE


    I hope that perusing this article gives you the inspiration (and instructions!) to create something fun. Thanks so much for reading, and enjoy your projects!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

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About The Postman’s Knock (TPK)

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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42 responses

  1. Jocelyn Avatar
    Jocelyn
    May 23, 2022

    Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I look forward to each email I receive from you.

    Log in to Reply
  2. Carol G Avatar
    Carol G
    May 23, 2022

    I read a pearl of wisdom recently….”write short letters”. This really resonated with me, because I love to send and receive ‘real’ mail, and often think about writing to folks I care about but hesitate if I don’t think I have ‘enough’ to put in a letter. I’m challenging myself to be more intentional about letting people know that I’m thinking of them, even if “thinking of you-have a great day” is all I write. TPK is my go-to for envelope inspiration 💌

    Log in to Reply
  3. Jacquelyne Cotton Avatar
    Jacquelyne Cotton
    May 23, 2022

    I love seeing everyone’s work. It is inspiring to me to practice my lettering and incorporating art. I look forward to slowly branching into pointed pen.

    Log in to Reply
  4. Alexandra Baigas Avatar
    Alexandra Baigas
    May 23, 2022

    These are all so beautiful, thank you for your inspiration!!

    Log in to Reply
  5. Leah Cassady Avatar
    Leah Cassady
    May 23, 2022

    It’s inspiring to see other people’s work, I hope to become as good as them 😍

    Log in to Reply
  6. Jamie Krovontka Avatar
    Jamie Krovontka
    May 23, 2022

    These look great! I’ve done a few of them myself and enjoy sending the cards to people… they’ve been so well received!
    Thanks for the great tutorials!!

    Log in to Reply
  7. Stacy Avatar
    Stacy
    May 23, 2022

    I love all the inspiration from this post. I’ve gone back to it a couple of times already. AND it gave me some new artists to check out on Instagram. My husband graduated from Purdue, so I showed him the map and he was wowed!

    Log in to Reply
  8. Dena Brumbaugh Avatar
    Dena Brumbaugh
    May 23, 2022

    Gorgeous work!

    Log in to Reply
  9. Christina writes... Avatar
    Christina writes…
    May 20, 2022

    It was fun and inspiring to see everyone’s beautiful work. What a great idea for a post. Thank you!

    Log in to Reply
  10. Nadia Jarreau Avatar
    Nadia Jarreau
    May 19, 2022

    What a surprise seeing one of my illuminated letters on here, today! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your work and tutorials so much. This brightened my day so freaking much! Thank you for being so generous with your talent and knowledge. <3 Much love! From Nadia @lizzielanefarm

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      May 20, 2022

      You did an amazing job — the feature is well-deserved! Keep creating! 🙂

      Log in to Reply
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There is nothing like a clean, well-organized wate There is nothing like a clean, well-organized watercolor chart. I used to make watercolor chart layouts using math and grids (which, trust me, was painful for someone like me, who doesn’t *love* numbers/measuring/calculations) ... then it occurred to me that I could use Photoshop to give myself a little boost. Much less math and fretting, which for me equals much more joy! Palette is from @greenleafblue — she made it so I could have a gorgeous palette for “The Calligraphy Book”, and this color chart definitely helped to boost the aesthetic of an already stunning supply. 🎨😍

If you’re curious about this technique for making a watercolor chart, you can search the TPK website for “watercolor chart” ... there’s a detailed blog post over how to use the template method that I’m showing you here!

#watercolorpalette #watercolorchart #colorchart #watercolorpaints #artchart
An X-Acto knife (aka a hobby knife) is one of thos An X-Acto knife (aka a hobby knife) is one of those tools that is indispensable for a lot of applications. It was designed to make precise cuts, which, of course, it does well! But, you can also use it to scrape off unwanted ink smears (pro tip: after the fact, you can smooth disturbed paper fibers with a pebble), create interesting interior cuts, trim tiny details that scissors can’t reach, make stencils and templates, refine collage elements, and gently correct small drawing or calligraphy mistakes.

I have used X-Acto knives for many TPK Blog tutorials, but up until last week, I’d never written a guide that puts the X-Acto knife front and center. That guide now exists, and you can find it by visiting the link 🔗 in my profile. Be sure to watch the tutorial video!

#xactoknife #hobbyknife #papercutting #papercutart #xactoknifeart
Just back in the TPK Supplies Shop: Finetec Arabic Just back in the TPK Supplies Shop: Finetec Arabic Gold watercolor pans (and the fabulous Finetec Golds palette). ✨ Gold makes *anything* gorgeous, but use it to make a calligraphy medallion, and it’s just next-level. 🤩 (Tutorial for this particular medallion can be found in the Dancing Pen Calligraphy Medallions Worksheet Set). 

To find the golds + the worksheet, visit the link in my bio, then navigate to “Shop”. Happy weekend! 

#goldcalligraphy #goldwatercolor #pointedpencalligraphy #fineteccoliro #goldcalligraphy
Hard to fit everything in, but this was 2025 in a Hard to fit everything in, but this was 2025 in a nutshell at TPK! 🥜

This year, I loved teaching at @thehappyevercrafter’s Workshop Week and participating in @calmingcalligraphy’s World Calligraphy as Meditation Day. And seeing the TPK calligraphy kit featured in @newyorkermag’s 2025 holiday gift guide was an unexpected (and delightful) cherry on top! 🍒

So much of what happened over the past year, though, was shaped by the TPK Premium community. Their questions and feedback helped guide Hand Lettering 101, while their encouragement fueled tutorials on topics ranging from turning red wine into calligraphy ink to illustrating recipes, painting with a wedge brush, and creating greeting cards and envelope art. 💌 That same support made it possible to create new worksheets and resources that others were able to enjoy as well, which I’m very grateful for. 

For a fuller recap (with helpful links and details) I shared a 2025 reflection on the TPK blog (link in bio).

#handlettering #gracefulenvelopecontest #pointedpencalligraphy #discordcommunity #calligraphyteacher
Which is your favorite koi-themed envelope? The fi Which is your favorite koi-themed envelope? The first one (A. Moreira), which was created as a prop for “The Calligraphy Book” ... *or* the second (Nigel Wright), which was created for the photographer who took pictures of the Moreira envelope for “The Calligraphy Book”? (When I heard how much Nigel had loved the first koi envelope, I made him his own variation!) 🎏

#mailart #snailmail #mailbox #snailmailrevolution #koiart
✨ A little comparison today … because not all ✨ A little comparison today ... because not all golds behave the same.

✦ Finetec gold → bright, cheerful, and versatile
✦ Greenleaf & Blueberry faux brass → softer, muted, and stunning
✦ Yasutomo pale gold → velvety, subtle shimmer with a sensible amount of sparkle

I love having all three on hand and choosing based on the feel I want for a project. It’s tough to go wrong! ✨

#moderncalligraphy #calligraphytools #goldink #watercolorcalligraphy #letteringcommunity mailart calligraphypractice artmaterials creativeprocess handlettering
🕊️ I originally made these printable tags for 🕊️ I originally made these printable tags for gifts … but now I want them everywhere. On presents 🎁, yes; but also tucked into snail mail, sprinkled across a holiday table with happy words written inside (“joy”, “love”, “peace”), or styled on a mantle for a cozy seasonal touch 🎄. They’re simple, charming, and versatile. Find them on the TPK Blog (link in bio)!

#thepostmansknock #printableart #giftwrappingideas #snailmaillove #happymail handillustrated holidaydetails paperlove creativegifting handlettering makersofinstagram stationeryaddict thoughtfuldetails slowdownandsendmail gifttags diygifttag giftwrapping giftpresentation handwrappedgift
I experimented with using the chic poppies techniq I experimented with using the chic poppies technique (see my reel from a couple of days ago) to make pretty stationery. LOVE how it turned out! The poppies are just an elegant way to add personality and elegance to any paper good. If you’re a TPK Premium member, *definitely* check out Lesson 6 of the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course (2025 version). In it, you’ll find a detailed video demonstration that shows you how to bring these poppies to life! ✍️

#stationery #diystationery #floralillustration #penandink #handdrawn #drawing #painting #sumiink #snailmail #mail #mailart #snailmailrevolution #happymail #mailbox #calligraphy #pointedpen #dippen #rosegoldsumi
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