I want to start this post off by saying that if you experience a lot of calligraphy ink problems, there may be a simple culprit. The first may be that you have not prepared your nib for use; or you might be holding your pen too upright. If you have addressed those issues and continue to experience problems, then this post will be helpful! In it, we’ll go through four common calligraphy ink problems and how to fix them.
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If you haven’t noticed, I’m big on handmade birthday cards. They combine two things that I love: being creative and making someone happy! This “Abstract Watercolor Bubbles” birthday card is no exception … it’s fun to make and will delight its new owner. You can learn how to make one just like it in the steps below!
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I recently came across a tutorial detailing how to draw gemstones using markers and colored pencils. I was intrigued, and I immediately stopped what I was doing to try it! The results, however, were less than impressive. The gems in the tutorial looked gorgeous. Mine, in contrast, ended up being full of paper fibers … the markers were too abrasive for my 70# drawing paper.
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This fish-themed DIY card is one of my favorite card concepts on the TPK blog! There’s a lot to love about the card: it’s gender-neutral, fascinating to look at, and fun to make. It’s also endlessly customizable — feel free to switch up the colors and the design to suit your personal style! You can learn how to make this card in the steps below.
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I recently wrote a post over how to make extra income by selling your calligraphy. In that post, I recommended professional-level product photography … but, this week, I realized that I left you hanging about how to achieve that! Today, I’ll discuss my top six tips for taking photos that catch prospective clients’ attention. Don’t worry if you’ve got zero photographic talent — trust me, I was there five years ago! It just takes some patience, experimentation, and time.
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A lot of TPK blog posts have touched on how to hold a calligraphy pen … but, really, it’s a topic that deserves its own post. You see, there are so many calligraphy frustrations that stem from a problematic grip! With a few minor adjustments, you can solve everything from ink flow issues to the nib digging into the paper to arm and back pain. Whether you write with your right or left hand, the tips in this post will help you to write better and more comfortably!
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Faux calligraphy — calligraphy created with any standard writing instrument like a ballpoint pen, chalk, or marker — offers a fantastic introduction to dip pen calligraphy! Additionally, faux calligraphy is a beautiful lettering art form in its own rite. In the first half of this blog post, I’ll teach you how to create this fun, accessible form of calligraphy. In the second half, you’ll find inspiration for using it to add beauty to everything from chalkboards to mail art!
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I want to preface this post by saying that the Brause Rose nib is probably not the most beginner-friendly calligraphy tool in the world. It’s certainly the “fairest of them all” with its embossed rose and beautiful contours, but its flex can prove difficult if you’re new to calligraphy! If you’ve been practicing for a few months and you feel up for a challenge, however, I encourage you to give the Brause Rose a go. This post includes a few tips for using it, as well as a realistic idea of what to expect!
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There are a lot of great calligraphy pens on the market, and deciding on one can be a daunting undertaking! In today’s post, I’ll lay out some of my favorite straight pens, and hopefully help you to reach a decision about which is best for you! The straight pens in this post are all in a reasonable price range, widely available, and user-friendly.
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I receive a lot of questions about how to waterproof paper (and, more importantly, the calligraphy written on it!), so I thought I’d address a couple of ways to go about it in this blog post! Today, you’ll learn a couple of different ways to waterproof paper/envelopes; and we’ll also discuss whether waterproofing is vital to your envelope calligraphy endeavors.
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