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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.

    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!

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    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

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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.

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31 responses

  1. Sandi Avatar
    Sandi
    March 2, 2020

    So Inspiring and Creastive! Thank you for the great ideas!

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  2. Carrie Avatar
    Carrie
    March 2, 2020

    Thank you, Lindsey, for all these beautiful ideas! Still practicing my lettering but I love your creative projects!

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  3. Karin Avatar
    Karin
    March 2, 2020

    Thank you for more wonderful ideas! Looking forward to trying a few of these this winter here in Australia 🙂

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  4. Zoe Avatar
    Zoe
    March 2, 2020

    All of these ideas are lovely for fighting the winter blues. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us!

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  5. null Avatar
    null
    March 2, 2020

    Thank you for these! Sometimes it is really hard to be creative when everything is so blah outside.

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  6. Rebecca Sedlak Avatar
    Rebecca Sedlak
    March 2, 2020

    Thank you for these occasional posts that combine lots of different ideas! I’m still working through the Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy course, but can’t wait to try some of these when I’m done! Still struggling with thin up/horizontal strokes following thick strokes, it’s like even if I take all pressure off, the ink is still flowing too much, but hopefully I can get through that soon.

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  7. Shelley Avatar
    Shelley
    March 2, 2020

    Such beautiful work! I’m looking forward to trying some of these!

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  8. Elizabeth Presley Avatar
    Elizabeth Presley
    March 2, 2020

    I already try to include calligraphy and art in my bullet journal but I’m definitely going to try the other projects in this post. That lily tutorial is gorgeous!

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  9. Felecia Eby Avatar
    Felecia Eby
    March 2, 2020

    Love this post Lindsey. Especially the illuminated letter and the sketchbook page. Thank you!

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  10. sarahbethyxoxo Avatar
    sarahbethyxoxo
    February 19, 2020

    Hi! Do you ever do workshops in the Boulder area? I’m in Westminster!

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      February 20, 2020

      I do! I’ll be publicly announcing dates next week, actually. 🙂 If you’d like to sign up for a pre-notification to secure a spot, you can email me: lindsey@thepostmansknock.com.

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✍️ There’s a fresh addition to the TPK Catal ✍️ There’s a fresh addition to the TPK Catalog: The Graceful Ballerina Calligraphy Drill Worksheet 

This ballerina is unique among TPK calligraphy drills in that it’s really not that complicated. After a few simple loops, a flourished tutu, and long strokes to make the legs, you have, well, a ballerina! 🩰 The most difficult part is getting the outline right; but even that isn’t too bad because you’ve got a traceable outline included in your worksheet set.

The beauty of the flourished ballerina? She makes *anything* look elegant: cards, envelopes, gift tags, whatever. My recommendation is to feature her on your next envelope. She’ll add a “wow” factor and allow you to left-justify the address, which is always a relief (no need to bother with centering)!

To find her, visit the link in my bio, then navigate to the Blog!

#thepostmansknock #tpk #calligraphy #calligraphydrills #calligraphyworksheet #moderncalligraphy #pointedpen #pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphypractice #flourishing #flourishedart #mailart #snailmail #envelopeart #envelopecalligraphy #handlettering #creativeprocess #artistsoninstagram #balletart #ballerinadrawing #ballerinaart #inkdrawing #calligraphycommunity #stationerylove #letterwritersalliance #penandink #calligraphyinspiration #learncalligraphy #artistlife #creativeplay
✨I’ve been making these little calligraphy Chr ✨I’ve been making these little calligraphy Christmas trees for years. They’re a go-to whenever I need a quick gift tag, envelope flourish, or something festive that doesn’t require a whole afternoon.

They look fancy, but they’re really just simple strokes stacked in different patterns. Truly: once you get the rhythm down, you can make a tree in under 30 seconds. 🎄 

If you want to try them (there are six styles!), the tutorial is on the TPK Blog, and it’s called
“6 Simple Ways to Make a Calligraphy Christmas Tree.” Feel free to google it, or visit: thepostmansknock.com/6-simple-ways-to-make-a-calligraphy-christmas-tree/

It’s very beginner-friendly, video-based, and a great way to get some creativity in during a busy season. I hope you love it as much as I do. 💛

#calligraphy #moderncalligraphy #holidaycalligraphy #calligraphyart #creativelifehappylife #christmascrafts #holidaycrafts #giftwrappingideas #diychristmas #christmascards #calligraphytutorial #finetec #metallicwatercolor #papercrafts #creativepractice #thepostmansknock #holidayinspiration #blackandgold #christmasideas #holidayideas
🎁 These printable gift tags are one of my favor 🎁 These printable gift tags are one of my favorite free printables on the TPK site. Just download, print, cut them out, and — if you want to — reinforce them with a bit of cardstock.

Inside the PDF you’ll find four designs: Festive Frida, Flourished Tree, Pine Boughs, and Merry & Bright. They’re all hand-drawn, and they make even the simplest wrapping look bespoke and artistic. 🎨 

Pro tip: If you’ve got a bit of extra time, add a pop of watercolor or some gold dots; and consider mounting the tag on a contrasting piece of cardstock for extra oomph.

They’re free to download at: thepostmansknock.com/free-super-cool-hand-drawn-printable-gift-tags/ (or visit the link in my stories today). Happy holidays!

#handdrawn #gifttags #printablegifttags #freeprintables #holidayprintables #christmascrafts #holidaygifts #papercrafts #snailmailinspo #mailart #creativegiftwrapping #diyholiday #diygifttags #artistsoninstagram #illustrationartists #thepostmansknock #tpkcommunity #calligraphycommunity #stationerylove #creativecommunity
There’s something extra fun about a card that do There’s something extra fun about a card that doesn’t just open … it comes to life. ✨ This little stand-up tree might look fancy, but it’s totally approachable — relaxing to make, satisfying to embellish, and (my favorite part) it folds up perfectly to pop in the mail. 💌🎄

If you’re looking for a holiday project that feels creative and doable, this is *such* a good one. The printable template does half the work for you, and you can customize the rest with flourishes, white ink, ornaments, or whatever feels festive to you.

The full step-by-step tutorial is waiting for you on the TPK website; just head to the link in my bio and tap “Blog.” I think you’ll have as much fun making this as I did. ❤️

#calligraphy #calligraphytutorial #holidaycalligraphy #flourishedcalligraphy #moderncalligraphy #calligraphycommunity #calligraphypractice #calligraphyart #letteringcommunity #letteringart #papercraft #papercrafting #diycards #handmadecards #holidaycards #christmascards #christmascrafts #snailmail #snailmailrevolution #snailmaillove #creativecommunity #stationerylove #makersgonnamake #thepostmansknock
I love it when I can make simple pointed pen pract I love it when I can make simple pointed pen practice on cardstock ... and it magically turns into a festive card! Find instructions + a printable template for making this “Loop-de-Loop” tree in the TPK 2025 Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet set. 🎄 (Link in bio, then navigate to the Blog!)

#pointedpen #calligraphy #calligraphypractice #pointedpenpractice #holiday #christmastree #treedrawing #doodles #goldwatercolor
Every November since 2016, I’ve looked forward t Every November since 2016, I’ve looked forward to sitting down with a cup of something warm ☕️ and sketching out ideas for the TPK holiday worksheet. This year was no exception, and I think you’ll be pleased with the motifs! They’re designed to bring calm, beauty, and (sneaky) pointed pen practice to your holiday season. 🎄Visit the TPK Blog (link in bio, then navigate to Blog) for details!
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
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