I love experimenting with lettering for two reasons: first, lettering is functional and practical. You combine letters in order to make words, which you can then use to catch someone’s eye on a sign, mail art, or whatever else you want to make. Second, lettering comes with rules. No matter what, an “A” has to look like an “A”, a “B” has to look like a “B”, and so on and so forth. It’s much easier to be innovative when you’ve got some parameters!
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The Nikko G nib is a fantastic calligraphy nib — but did you know that it was originally developed to be a drawing nib? I’ve used it to illustrate several fun projects like a lace butterfly and a henna bluebird! The objective of today’s mail art tutorial is twofold: first, I want you to end up with an artistic envelope that you love. Second, I want you to get a basic introduction to drawing with the Nikko G because next month I plan to explore pen and ink drawing techniques a bit more with you!
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I recently found myself chatting with someone who is considering making DIY wedding invitations for her daughter’s wedding. As we talked, I found myself writing down articles for her to read on the TPK website. I gave her many scrambled tips that probably left her feeling more confused than empowered! That’s when I realized: I don’t have a blog post that breaks down DIY wedding invitations into the do-able endeavor that they are. That changes today! In this article, you’ll learn the process for making your own professional-looking invitations.
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Every Monday, I’ve been sending out a brief newsletter to TPK subscribers. It’s something I have really enjoyed because a newsletter isn’t nearly as formal as a blog post; instead, it feels more like a conversation. In the last newsletter, I asked for blog post topic feedback — in short, what do readers want more of (or less of)? A theme appeared throughout several of the feedback emails: more watercolor tutorials! So, today, I want to show you how to make this simple twig watercolor thank you card. It features a blending/salting technique that I promise you can do, and I’ll teach you how in a video toward the end of the post!
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When I’m working on any sort of calligraphy project, I always keep a calligraphy exemplar at hand. Exemplars are good to have around just in case you forget how to make a particular letter in the calligraphy style that you’re using! In today’s tutorial, I’ll teach you how to make a calligraphy exemplar with the help of a printable shortcut.
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This printable Father’s Day card fills a void that I noticed when I was browsing Father’s Day card designs in search of inspiration. What I found was that almost all Father’s Day cards fall into one of two categories: hyper-masculine or goofy. Tasteful, artistic cards are few and far between — which is why I created today’s printable.
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If you’re new to calligraphy, you may have noticed some diagonal lines on practice sheets. Those are called “slant lines”, and today we’re going to talk about what they are, why they’re useful, and when to use them.
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For the past three months, I’ve taken a day or two to indulge in a few hours of pen and ink illustration. I love using the Nikko G nib and sumi ink to make elegant, detailed pieces! In March, I made a lace butterfly, and April brought a rosy Arc de Triomphe. Today, I’m introducing May’s artwork: an elegant henna-inspired bluebird illustration.
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Both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are coming up, and no one loves handmade gifts more than moms and dads. In this post, you’ll find eight handmade gift ideas that are artistic, thoughtful, and will be cherished for years to come! All of the suggestions below are wonderful to give to any loved one, parent or not.
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In today’s tutorial, I want to share how to make a custom rubber stamp — because it’s ridiculously easy. Rubber stamps are amazing to have on hand because you can use them to add embellishment and character to your paper goods in a few seconds! I have created several stamps over the years, and I love every single one of them.
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