Everyday Skills

The Cautious Calligrapher: 6 Things You Can Do to Protect Your Work and Your Workspace

March 26, 2019 by Lindsey Bugbee 31 Comments
Beginner’s Calligraphy· Calligraphy· Dip Pen Calligraphy· Everyday Skills

Lindsey Writing | The Postman's Knock — The best way to prevent accidents: work at a clutter-free table!

When it comes to being cautious with my work, I’ve learned a lot of things the hard way! From smudges to ink spills to water-damaged mail, a lot of disasters have befallen this girl. While I can’t claim consistent savviness in preventing facepalm-worthy situations, I try my best! In today’s article, I’m (hopefully) going to help you avoid some of the mistakes that I’ve made in the past. Keep these tips in mind next time you sit down to write!
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What’s the Difference Between Cursive and Calligraphy?

February 15, 2019 by Lindsey Bugbee 32 Comments
Calligraphy· Everyday Skills· Video

For me, “What’s the difference between cursive and calligraphy?” is one of those questions that I hear and I think I have a ready answer for. Then, the more I consider it, the more complicated the answer gets. I suppose that cursive can be calligraphy, and calligraphy can be cursive, which makes the differences between the two more interesting. I made a (very short) YouTube video for today’s post, but if you prefer text and photos, feel free to scroll past the video!
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How to Address an Envelope – Simple + Chic (YouTube Tutorial)

January 3, 2019 by Lindsey Bugbee 92 Comments
Everyday Skills· Faux Calligraphy· Hand-Lettering· Tutorials· Video

When I started the TPK blog in 2012, I tried to focus on long and complicated project tutorials. I always skipped the simple stuff because I thought it would bore people! The older I get, though, the more I realize that sometimes simple projects are all we need to wind down after a long day because they don’t require a lot of energy. It’s a bonus if a project can be used in a “real world” context — like sending snail mail! With that in mind, today I’m going to show you how to address an envelope.
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How to Wrap a Gift with Artistic Flair

December 14, 2018 by Lindsey Bugbee 58 Comments
Christmas· Everyday Skills· Gifts· Holiday· Tutorials· Video

When I want to learn something, I’m always thrilled when I can find a video over how to do it. It’s easier to catch on to a concept when you can observe a demonstration! With that in mind, I filmed a tutorial to show you how to wrap a gift with artistic flair this holiday season. You can watch that video below (or on YouTube):
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How to Write in Cursive + a Free Exemplar

February 16, 2018 by Lindsey Bugbee 128 Comments
Everyday Skills· Free Printables· Handwriting· Printable Goodies· Tutorials· Worksheets

In the US, teaching cursive to students is a hot topic. Do we dedicate our tax dollars to teaching an arguably impractical skill, or do we honor tradition and keep cursive writing alive? The different sides taken in this debate are starting to show in my inbox as teenage calligraphy learners — who were never taught how to write in cursive — ask whether not knowing cursive will affect their ability to learn dip pen calligraphy.
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8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet)

March 10, 2017 by Lindsey Bugbee 314 Comments
Everyday Skills· Free Printables· Handwriting· Printable Goodies· Tutorials· Worksheets

People often assume that calligraphy and handwriting are synonymous, but they’re not. In general, calligraphy is comprised of stylized, embellished letters — it’s more art than writing, really. Conversely, handwriting refers to the style and technique that you use to jot things down day to day. Handwriting needs to be quicker and more practical than calligraphy. While everyone has their own personal handwriting style, there’s always room for improvement! In this post, you’ll find eight tips to help you improve your handwriting.
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