These throwback tutorials — all favorites of mine — are from 2015 or earlier. Considering that there are several hundred posts on the TPK blog, chances are you haven’t seen at least a couple of the 10 tutorials on this list!
There are over 400 blog posts on the TPK website right now — four hundred!! With a number like that, it’s impossible for some gems not to get lost in the mix. Here are my top ten favorite “throwback” (circa two years or older) tutorials that you may not have seen:
The How to Create Watercolor Flowers Tutorial was the most popular tutorial on the TPK website for two years! It owes its success to a fun, approachable technique and soothing color suggestions. As long as you have a set of watercolors and some hardy paper (preferably watercolor paper), you can paint some impressive flowers.
The Brown Paper Tablecloth for the Holidays post is especially relevant at this time of year! It serves a dual purpose: you can protect your table and allow guests to explore their creativity. Hardy brown paper can be found at stores like The Home Depot. (I recently purchased some in the paint section!)
The Modern DIY Silhouette Tutorial is a great way to tap into your creativity! As I mention in the tutorial, the silhouette can be of anything or anyone. This is a beginner-friendly project because it involves tracing and casual doodles. Try creating a silhouette on an envelope to make mail art or just use the silhouette concept to make frameable art for your home.
I have always really liked the Typography Envelope Art Tutorial because the result is so intricate and visually stimulating. Everything is traceable except for the letters, so it’s not difficult to make your own version!
In 2014, I went through a phase where I thought that I needed to write really long blog posts to engage readers’ attention! If I were writing the 10 Ways to Draw Laurel Wreaths post today, I would probably break it up into three parts. This ol’ long post is a classic, though, so it will stay like it is! I’d skim it until you come to the part that covers the laurel wreath that you are interested in making.
It’s been a few years since I wrote the How to Make a Coat of Arms tutorial, and I still need (and truly want) to make one for my own family! Once I create my coat of arms, I’d love to use it on stickers and stationery. It’s also cool to frame and display the design in your home!
The concepts in the Four Fresh Snail Mail Ideas post are inspiring for people who love to send and receive mail! I especially love the idea of using a strip of fabric as a sash to hold everything together. This is one of those tutorials that I forgot about until recently, and I’ve discovered a renewed love for it!
2015 was the year that I loved using “fresh” as an adjective — no regrets! The Five Fresh Gift Tag Ideas post will absolutely come in handy as we move further into the holiday season. My favorite is the “Orange Grove Gift Tag”. It takes a while to draw the letters on it, though, so only use it for short names!
If you want to make any art/mail/gift tag instantly cool, you can add a feather motif! The Three Simple Illustration Tutorials: Feathers post shows you how to use different mediums and techniques to create feathers that stand out. My favorite? The Dotted Tribal Feather, for sure. I love it on mail art!
You can create seriously eye-catching calligraphy with gouache, which is basically opaque watercolor. The How to Use Gouache to Write Calligraphy post will educate you on which gouache to purchase (it matters), how to prepare it for use, and how to store it.
I hope that you found some new favorites in today’s collection! The prose and the photos in the posts may not be quite as polished as you’re used to, but the ideas are — I think — cool and inspirational. If you have any questions about any of these tutorials, or you have one that you wish would have made the list, feel free to contribute in the comments! In the meantime, have a great week, and I’ll be back with a new tutorial this weekend.
Warmly,
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