Join us for the all-new Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course, happening now! →

Learn More
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • YouTube
    • Premium Membership
    • Beginner Calligraphy Course
    • Intermediate Calligraphy Course
    • Calligraphy Worksheets
    • Beginner Watercolor Course
    • The Calligraphy Book
  • Blog
    • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Worksheets
    • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Drills
    • Video Courses
    • Brush Pen Calligraphy
    • Handwriting
    • Hand-Lettering
    • Mail Printables
    • Printable Artwork
    • Procreate Worksheets
      • Cleaning Cloths
      • Erasers
      • Glass Jars
      • Inks
      • Kits
      • Mechanical Pencils
      • Nibs
      • Oblique Pens
      • Paper
      • Protectants
      • Rubber Stamps
      • Rulers
      • Straight Pens
      • Washi Tape
      • Watercolors
      • Wax Seals
  • Help
  • Cart
Log in

Your cart is currently empty!

The Postman's Knock written in calligraphy
Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In
  • My Account
    • Account Details
    • Addresses
    • Payment Methods
    • Order Receipts
    • Subscriptions
    • Printables + Worksheets
    • Video Courses
  • Help
Log in
The Postman’s Knock
  • About
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Help
  • Premium Membership
  • The Calligraphy Book
Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In
  • 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.

    8 Absorbing Projects to Bust the Winter Blues

    February 18, 2020

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Roundup, Sketchbook

    The weather outside might be frightful, but this is a great season for creativity! After all, the cold gives you an excuse to sit still and make. Today, we’ll go over eight projects that will captivate and entertain you!

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)WhatsApp
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window)X
    • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)Bluesky
    • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)Threads
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Reddit
    • Click to share on Mail (Opens in new window)Mail

    Here in Boulder, we’re alternating between being super snowed in to mildly snowed in. As someone who doesn’t do well in the cold, I have decided that it’s best to embrace the great indoors and capitalize on my creativity! For this article, I compiled a list of recent TPK projects that are fun and engaging. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably seen all of these before (and my hat’s off to you). And if not, hopefully you’ll find something that sparks your creative energy! Here we go:

    1. Make a Sketchbook Page

    Besides chasing after my toddler, sketchbooking has been my #1 boredom-busting activity this winter. I just rolled out a couple of tutorials over how to tailor the spread pictured below to a significant day in your life! First, you make the layout; then, you add color. For more information on sketchbooking, you can see this article! (As a side note, I recently picked up a copy of Draw Your Day, and I found it to be very inspirational. Another resource to check out if sketchbooking appeals to you, for sure!)

    How to Add Color to Your “Day in the Life” Sketchbook Layout
    My “Goldilocks” sketchbook is from Shinola. So many thanks go to Jess for recommending it to me!

    2. Create Calligraphy Artwork

    When I wrote the Woman’s Silhouette Calligraphy Artwork Tutorial, I wasn’t sure how many people would attempt it. As it turns out, there are a lot of brave creative souls out there! Every rendition I saw — be it via email or Instagram — was absolutely fabulous. If you like the look of projects like this, give it a shot. My lady is framed in my bathroom, and guests compliment me on her all the time!

    Calligraphy Artwork Tutorial: Woman's Back | The Postman's Knock
    This project looks complicated! However, the free printable included in the tutorial makes this woman quite easy to create.

    3. Make a Bullet Journal

    Beware: bullet journals can make hours go by in the blink of an eye! Keeping one fires up your creativity, ignites your dreams, and helps you to plan. Recently, TPK’s Geni let us take a peek in her bullet journal. The results are incredibly inspiring! If you missed that article, it’s definitely worth a read.

    Snooping Inside a Bullet Journal - Ideas + Examples
    Geni’s bullet journals are comprehensive and inspiring! You can take a digital look at them here.

    4. Draw a Flower

    Dreaming of warmer weather? Try drawing a summery flower! I just made a neat little lily tutorial that’s getting a lot of love on Instagram. I’ve also got tutorials over how to draw geraniums, poppies, and sunflowers!

    "You Made This?!" Lily Drawing Tutorial
    I love this gold, black, and gray lily! You just need a gel pen, water, and some gold watercolor to create it.

    5. Make a Botanical Letter

    Botanical letters can easily consume a happy afternoon, and the results are gorgeous! Believe it or not, this is a great project for watercolor newbies. The simple blending techniques used to make each flower pop can be applied to future creations!

    The completed letter!
    I drew a “B” in my sketchbook, but you can tailor the tutorial to suit any letter! (I’ve also done a “J” in the past.)

    6. Create a Cactus

    … Because what’s cooler than a lush cactus with vibrant flowers? Put an inspirational quote on it to add a punch of personality!

    Watercolor Cactus + Quote Artwork Tutorial | The Postman's Knock
    You can find a tutorial over how to make this fun cactus here!

    7. Make Some Mail Art

    This mail art was inspired by Mexican tiles. The tile designs are simple, so they’re easy to draw (and my tutorial walks you through how to draw each one)! Put the tiles together, and the result is a visual feast.

    (Seriously Gorgeous!) Talavera Mexican Tile Mail Art Tutorial | The Postman's Knock
    This mail art concept is great because it only requires three supplies: a pencil, a pen, and an envelope! The pizazz comes from the technique, not the materials.

    8. Illuminate a Letter

    The only thing better than an artistic initial? An artistic initial that incorporates a lot of gold. I’ve seen successful renditions of both the original illuminated letter tutorial and the next level tutorial popping up all over Instagram! This is a project that a lot of people connect with and are able to do well.

    The Cheater's Illuminated Letter Tutorial
    This is the simpler of the two illuminated letter tutorials, but it results in a fabulous project! I noticed that several people on Instagram incorporated these letters into gifts.

    I hope that you liked this summary of recent creative projects! Sometimes, it’s nice to lay everything out all at once and get to pick and choose what you might like to make. If you liked this round-up article of creative projects, you can find a few others here on the TPK site. They include:

    • Top 10 TPK Watercolor Tutorials
    • My 8 Favorite TPK Art Tutorials
    • Top 6 TPK Birthday Card Tutorials

    Thanks very much for reading, and we’ll reconvene this weekend with a neat little tutorial!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)WhatsApp
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window)X
    • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)Bluesky
    • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)Threads
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Reddit
    • Click to share on Mail (Opens in new window)Mail
Sketchbooking

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.

Join TPK’s free mailing list

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow TPK on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed
  • Mail
Previous post: Top 8 Beginner Calligraphy Problems
Next post: SURPRISE! Free + Premium Limited Edition “Smiley Style” Calligraphy Worksheets

All-time favorite posts

  • The Beginner's Guide to Modern Calligraphy

    The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy

    1.5m views
  • 8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet) | The Postman's Knock

    8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet)

    859.7k views
  • Painting with Watercolors for Beginners

    Painting with Watercolors for Beginners

    819.8k views
  • Free Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet

    Free Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet

    482.5k views
  • How to Write Faux Calligraphy (Video Tutorial + Free Worksheet)

    363.7k views
  • 11 Calming Calligraphy Drills Printable | The Postman's Knock

    Celebrating Six Years of the “11 Calming Calligraphy Drills” Worksheet (Free Download)

    291.5k views
  • Lovely Loose Watercolor Flowers Tutorial

    Lovely Loose Watercolor Flowers Tutorial

    205.1k views
  • The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit

    The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit

    186.4k views

Latest posts

  • November’s Coffee Date: Creative Gift IdeasNovember 11, 2025
  • Simple calligraphy envelopes
    3 Easy Ways to Address an EnvelopeNovember 5, 2025
  • Gorgeous Illustrated Autumn Pumpkin Tutorial
    Gorgeous Illustrated Autumn Pumpkin TutorialOctober 22, 2025
  • Spread from "Draw Your Adventures"
    October’s Coffee Date: Drawing Your Days with Samantha Dion BakerOctober 20, 2025

Browse by category

Browse by date

31 responses

  1. Jamie Cain Avatar
    Jamie Cain
    March 18, 2020

    It is SO awesome that you provide all these fun ideas to do during our “down” time. I am going to take advantage of this rare event, and come out more creative, and less anxious! Thank you!

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      April 2, 2020

      Aw, that’s great to hear! Keep on creating 🙂

      Log in to Reply
  2. Dara Avatar
    Dara
    March 7, 2020

    Good reminder to use my sketchbook more often!

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      March 8, 2020

      Always a great practice 🙂

      Log in to Reply
  3. Kuria Avatar
    Kuria
    March 3, 2020

    I love the idea of a sketchbook page and the botanical letter! I’m trying to get better at using a sketchbook again and these are great ideas 😀

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      March 4, 2020

      Yes!! I hope you are able to use your sketchbook some more with a little inspiration! 🙂

      Log in to Reply
  4. Teresa Hassard Avatar
    Teresa Hassard
    March 3, 2020

    I love the “cheater’s” illuminated letter. I have all my supplies now and will attempt!

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      March 4, 2020

      Yay, so exciting! Good luck! 🙂

      Log in to Reply
  5. Stephanie Tru Avatar
    Stephanie Tru
    March 2, 2020

    Lindsey–your illuminated letters, sketch book pages, and botanical letters always inspire me–thank you for all these ideas.

    Log in to Reply
  6. Pam Avatar
    Pam
    March 2, 2020

    Awesome bullet journal and I love the tutorial on botanical letters. Thank you. I’m still practicing, someday I hope to get the “feel” for smooth writing!

    Log in to Reply
Older Comments
1 2 3

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Sorry! Only TPK Premium members can comment on articles and tutorials. You can become a member here. Already a member? Sign in.

The other day, I was thinking about sending out ho The other day, I was thinking about sending out holiday cards, and I immediately dismissed the thought with, “I have zero time to calligraph envelopes for those.” ✍️

... But is that true? I put it to the test for the latest article on the TPK Blog. Using some time-saving tricks I’ve learned over the years (like using a watery ink, a bouncy calligraphy style, and minimal pencil guidelines), I timed myself making three envelope concepts. Two of them took 5 minutes or less. The most time-intensive took 5 minutes, 30 seconds. The envelopes still turned out looking elegant, especially with the help of some artistic postage stamp collages. 💌

For clear step-by-step tutorials detailing how to make these envelopes and sourcing pretty postage, visit the TPK Blog (link in bio, then navigate to “Blog”)!

#snailmail #mail #calligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #happymail #snailmailrevolution #mailbox #postage #vintagepostage
After I chose this music to accompany this reel, i After I chose this music to accompany this reel, it dawned on me: drawing a calligraphy medallion is like, well, Belle’s arc with the Beast. 

At first, it’s a bit of a weird situation. Strange shapes, questionable structure, possibly some growling (à la “YOU WILL JOIN ME FOR DINNER. That’s not a request!”) when the inevitable ink smudge happens. You keep thinking, “I’m not sure why I’m doing this ... should I hop on Felipe and gallop away?” 🐎

But something shifts as the medallion starts to come to life. And when you finish that last detail and pull back, the music swells. Light bursts from your paper like it did from Beast’s digits as he transformed into a stunningly beautiful prince. ✨ You’re practically in a ballroom celebrating, and, wait, did your furniture just turn into an adoring crowd that’s celebrating your fortitude and skill?

(And now you know how my mind works 🧠 ... I love a good metaphor, no matter how weak it may be!) 

To learn how to make a calligraphy medallion, just search for “calligraphy medallion” on the TPK site (link in bio). You’ll find both free Blog tutorials and detailed premium worksheets.

... I’ll show myself out now. 🙈

#pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphy #handwritten #pointedpen #dippen #calligraphymedallion #calligraphydrill #calligraphypractice
My favorite autumn projects are the ones that remi My favorite autumn projects are the ones that remind you how cozy this season can be. 🍂 This project definitely fits the bill ... create it with a hot, comforting drink nearby and an excellent audiobook, and you’re in for a treat! ☕️ ✍️ The tutorial on the TPK Blog (link in bio, then navigate to Blog) is super detailed, with mini tutorial videos to guide you every step of the way.

#autumnart #watercolortutorial #arttutorial #handpainted #paintingtutorial #pointedpen #dippen #flourishing
Happy Halloween! 👻 This year, I’m pretending Happy Halloween! 👻 This year, I’m pretending to be ... someone who writes calligraphy quickly! (No, just kidding — not about the video being sped up, but the choice of costume. I actually picked up a skeleton PJ set at Goodwill. 💀)

Even if you won’t be indulging in candy, remember to treat yourself this season, starting this weekend! The holiday season can be hectic, and it’s important to claim some relaxing time for yourself. Cheers to the “holidaze”! 🥂

#halloweencalligraphy #calligraphy #pointedpen #dippen #handwritten #writingvideo #calligraphyvideo
🎃 This is the last week that Halloween calligra 🎃 This is the last week that Halloween calligraphy drills will be available at TPK! Find what you like in the shop, download, then print it out on a pointed pen-friendly paper. Then, let the (happily!) spooky vibes take over while you practice your strokes. ✍️👻

➡ Link in bio to visit the TPK site.

#calligraphydrills #halloween #calligraphypractice #learncalligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #dippen #pointedpen
✍️ Learn with us! Right now, TPK Premium membe ✍️ Learn with us! Right now, TPK Premium members are working their way through a new version of The Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course. It’s an *awesome* course that’s even more thorough than the original version (which is saying a lot because the original course has 281 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ reviews)! We just had the Lesson 3 class discussion this morning, ️and I’m so impressed with how much progress students are making — and I love their observations! One person compared using the Brause EF66 nib to driving a Lexus, which I got a kick out of. 🚘 

Premium membership ($5/month) grants you complimentary access to the course through January 6th; take it live with us! Once this course wraps up, we’ll be moving on to the new Intermediate Modern Calligraphy Online Course in February. 

Find details by visiting the link in my bio. I’d love to help you build those foundational skills that will allow you to create gorgeous envelopes, place cards, invitations, quotes, correspondence, and much more! The Lesson 4 class discussion is three weeks from now, so you’ve got plenty of time to catch up. 😊

#learncalligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #writingcalligraphy #calligraphycourse #learningcalligraphy #writingcalligraphy #realtimecalligraphy
🍂 The newest tutorial on the TPK Blog walks you 🍂 The newest tutorial on the TPK Blog walks you through how to make this gorgeous illustration, step-by-step, with helpful instructional videos. To find the tutorial, visit the link in my profile, then navigate to the blog. ENJOY! 🤗

(PS - Loving the colors in the @greenleafblue Anthesis set ... I used French Orange Ochre, American Violet Hematite, Pyrrole Scarlet, and Italian Green Earth to make this pumpkin. All *fabulous* autumn tones!)
Loved chatting with @sdionbakerdesign and @greenle Loved chatting with @sdionbakerdesign and @greenleafblue last Friday! Samantha is exactly as thoughtful and creative as you’d imagine from her Draw Your… books — and this answer to Jennifer’s question says it all. ✨ Just have fun and make art!

☕ Want to watch/listen to the whole conversation? Head over to the TPK Blog to hit play on the recording! (Link in bio, then navigate to “Blog”.)

#artistchat #artist #samanthadionbaker #greenleafandblueberry #thepostmansknock #arttalk #creativity #sketchbooking #sketchbook #artadvice
The Postman’s Knock

About

  • About Lindsey
  • Get to Know TPK
  • Behind the Scenes
  • How I Learned Calligraphy

Legalese

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refunds & Return Policy
  • GDPR Data Erasure Request

Printable Worksheets

  • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Styles
  • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Drills
  • Brush Pen Calligraphy
  • Handwriting
  • Hand-Lettering

Courses

  • Beginner’s Pointed Pen Calligraphy
  • Intermediate Pointed Pen Calligraphy
  • Beginner’s Watercolors

Help

  • Contact Lindsey
  • Calligraphy FAQs
  • Calligraphy Troubleshooting

Subscribe to the Blog

Join over 125,000 creative minds who receive inspiring, value-packed emails from TPK each week. As a free subscriber, you’ll get helpful tutorials, free worksheets, and creative ideas delivered straight to your inbox—plus the occasional sneak peek or special offer.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow TPK on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed
  • Mail

© Copyright 2025 The Postman’s Knock – All rights reserved

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
  • Manage options
  • Manage services
  • Manage {vendor_count} vendors
  • Read more about these purposes
View preferences
  • {title}
  • {title}
  • {title}
Writing Copperplate Calligraphy

Unlock Exclusive Perks with Premium Plus

Fuel your inspiration and creativity with TPK Premium Plus! Members enjoy three free worksheets or learning resources every month, unlimited video course access, member-exclusive tutorials, and a 10% discount on all Supplies Shop orders.

join today ($15)
All About the Brause Rose Nib

inspiration in your inbox

Let The Postman’s Knock Spark Your Creativity

TPK’s innovative newsletters are an artistic treat. Join the 125K+ subscribers who have already discovered The Postman’s Knock, and receive 10% off your first Digital Catalog order.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.