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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.

    Five Banner Tutorials – Free Printable

    February 2, 2018

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Dip Pen Calligraphy, Free Printables, Hand-Lettering, Inspiration, Printable Goodies, Tutorials

    Banners can help you to emphasize a word or phrase in a tasteful way! In today’s post, you’ll find a printable that will teach you how to draw five different types of banners. You can use those banners for mail art projects, logo design, general artwork, or whatever else you’re working on!

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    Five Banner Tutorials | The Postman's Knock

    If you like calligraphy and/or hand-lettering, knowing how to draw a banner is bound to come in handy eventually. In this post, you’ll find some tips for drawing banners, plus you can download the free Five Banner Tutorials printable!

    Tip #1 – Write Your Lettering First

    Banners are often used to emphasize text or lettering. If you plan on having lettering in your banner, write the lettering first. That way, you can center the banner to fit the lettering.

    Watercolor Hexagons Mail Art Tutorial | The Postman's Knock
    I free-hand sketched some pencil guidelines here, then wrote the name using Flourish Formal Style calligraphy.

    Tip #2 – Always Make a Banner Pencil Draft

    No matter how diligently you follow the examples in the Five Banner Tutorials printable, there’s always a possibility for error. If you have the time, you should use a pencil to make a draft of your banner around the lettering or calligraphy.

    Watercolor Hexagons Mail Art Tutorial | The Postman's Knock
    Make sure you use light pressure to draw your pencil draft! You never know what parts of the banner you’ll need to erase.

    Tip #3 – Include Breaks in the Banner for Ascenders or Descenders

    If some of the letters in your word have particularly tall ascenders or low-hanging descenders, include breaks in the outline of your banner to accommodate them. Doing so will prevent your banner from being too large.

    Watercolor Hexagons Mail Art Tutorial | The Postman's Knock
    Notice that I left breaks in this banner to accommodate the letters “N” and the “A”. To see how this envelope turned out, you can check out the Watercolor Hexagons Mail Art Tutorial!

    Tip #4 – Don’t Skip the Shading

    All of the banners in your Five Banners Tutorial printable include some sort of shading. Adding lines, dots, or a blended shadow helps to distinguish the back of the banner from the front and give it some dimension.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock
    The densely spaced, curved horizontal lines in this banner help to give the illusion of dimension.

    Tip #5 – Add a Touch of Color

    Banners look even more vibrant if you give them a little bit of color! I like to add fairly dark watercolor to the back ribbons in my banners, then use light watercolor around the edges on the front ribbon(s).

    Flourish Formal Style Calligraphy Mail Art | The Postman's Knock
    You can use watercolors, colored pencils, crayons, or other media to add shading to your banner. This will help the banner to stand out even more!

    6. Enjoy the Free Printable!

    I suggest printing the Five Banners Tutorial off on any paper you have handy. Since you don’t have to write on this printable, the paper quality really doesn’t matter. Use the printable as a reference next time you want to make some mail art, a banner for a cake, a bullet journal page — whatever!

    Five Banner Tutorials | The Postman's Knock
    No need to print this off on fancy paper — whatever you have on your printer right now will work!

    You can find the printable for free by clicking here. Try giving each of the banners a go, and don’t be afraid to make your own modifications! Some experimentation and confidence go a long way in creating striking and artistic banners.

    Thanks very much for reading TPK, and enjoy your weekend!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

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About The Postman’s Knock (TPK)

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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108 responses

  1. Greta Avatar
    Greta
    February 2, 2018

    Very useful for beginners! Thanks 🙂

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    1. Greta Avatar
      Greta
      February 2, 2018

      My favorites are the arc and flat

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  2. monika Avatar
    monika
    February 2, 2018

    Wavy is my fav! It looks so stylish perfect for bouncy lettering in it.
    Thanks!

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  3. paola vargas Avatar
    paola vargas
    February 2, 2018

    loved the wavy banner!

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  4. Rongkui Avatar
    Rongkui
    February 2, 2018

    The double wavy is my favorite. Looks awesome and can fit in two pieces of info.

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  5. Kathleen N Avatar
    Kathleen N
    February 2, 2018

    The wavy is may fave! Easy and looks so fancy. Thanks, Lindsey!

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  6. Kayla Avatar
    Kayla
    February 2, 2018

    I love the double wavy ones! Thanks for the awesome printable!

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  7. Victoria Avatar
    Victoria
    February 2, 2018

    I have already used the wavy banner on my Christmas cards when I used your ornament tutorial. I’ll print this and practice all versions so that I’ll have them at the ready for my next card.

    Log in to Reply
  8. Ashley Avatar
    Ashley
    February 2, 2018

    I really like the wavy banners

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  9. Barbara Richards Avatar
    Barbara Richards
    February 2, 2018

    I think these banners are great! They just make the envelope look classier somehow, and I especially like the wavy banner, but I have used all of them at some point!

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  10. Anne Marie Woodward Avatar
    Anne Marie Woodward
    February 2, 2018

    Banners are such a great way to jazz up envelopes. The recipient is always so impressed. I love these!

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Just back in the TPK Supplies Shop: Finetec Arabic Just back in the TPK Supplies Shop: Finetec Arabic Gold watercolor pans (and the fabulous Finetec Golds palette). ✨ Gold makes *anything* gorgeous, but use it to make a calligraphy medallion, and it’s just next-level. 🤩 (Tutorial for this particular medallion can be found in the Dancing Pen Calligraphy Medallions Worksheet Set). 

To find the golds + the worksheet, visit the link in my bio, then navigate to “Shop”. Happy weekend! 

#goldcalligraphy #goldwatercolor #pointedpencalligraphy #fineteccoliro #goldcalligraphy
Hard to fit everything in, but this was 2025 in a Hard to fit everything in, but this was 2025 in a nutshell at TPK! 🥜

This year, I loved teaching at @thehappyevercrafter’s Workshop Week and participating in @calmingcalligraphy’s World Calligraphy as Meditation Day. And seeing the TPK calligraphy kit featured in @newyorkermag’s 2025 holiday gift guide was an unexpected (and delightful) cherry on top! 🍒

So much of what happened over the past year, though, was shaped by the TPK Premium community. Their questions and feedback helped guide Hand Lettering 101, while their encouragement fueled tutorials on topics ranging from turning red wine into calligraphy ink to illustrating recipes, painting with a wedge brush, and creating greeting cards and envelope art. 💌 That same support made it possible to create new worksheets and resources that others were able to enjoy as well, which I’m very grateful for. 

For a fuller recap (with helpful links and details) I shared a 2025 reflection on the TPK blog (link in bio).

#handlettering #gracefulenvelopecontest #pointedpencalligraphy #discordcommunity #calligraphyteacher
Which is your favorite koi-themed envelope? The fi Which is your favorite koi-themed envelope? The first one (A. Moreira), which was created as a prop for “The Calligraphy Book” ... *or* the second (Nigel Wright), which was created for the photographer who took pictures of the Moreira envelope for “The Calligraphy Book”? (When I heard how much Nigel had loved the first koi envelope, I made him his own variation!) 🎏

#mailart #snailmail #mailbox #snailmailrevolution #koiart
✨ A little comparison today … because not all ✨ A little comparison today ... because not all golds behave the same.

✦ Finetec gold → bright, cheerful, and versatile
✦ Greenleaf & Blueberry faux brass → softer, muted, and stunning
✦ Yasutomo pale gold → velvety, subtle shimmer with a sensible amount of sparkle

I love having all three on hand and choosing based on the feel I want for a project. It’s tough to go wrong! ✨

#moderncalligraphy #calligraphytools #goldink #watercolorcalligraphy #letteringcommunity mailart calligraphypractice artmaterials creativeprocess handlettering
🕊️ I originally made these printable tags for 🕊️ I originally made these printable tags for gifts … but now I want them everywhere. On presents 🎁, yes; but also tucked into snail mail, sprinkled across a holiday table with happy words written inside (“joy”, “love”, “peace”), or styled on a mantle for a cozy seasonal touch 🎄. They’re simple, charming, and versatile. Find them on the TPK Blog (link in bio)!

#thepostmansknock #printableart #giftwrappingideas #snailmaillove #happymail handillustrated holidaydetails paperlove creativegifting handlettering makersofinstagram stationeryaddict thoughtfuldetails slowdownandsendmail gifttags diygifttag giftwrapping giftpresentation handwrappedgift
I experimented with using the chic poppies techniq I experimented with using the chic poppies technique (see my reel from a couple of days ago) to make pretty stationery. LOVE how it turned out! The poppies are just an elegant way to add personality and elegance to any paper good. If you’re a TPK Premium member, *definitely* check out Lesson 6 of the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course (2025 version). In it, you’ll find a detailed video demonstration that shows you how to bring these poppies to life! ✍️

#stationery #diystationery #floralillustration #penandink #handdrawn #drawing #painting #sumiink #snailmail #mail #mailart #snailmailrevolution #happymail #mailbox #calligraphy #pointedpen #dippen #rosegoldsumi
TPK’s calligraphy starter kit was just featured TPK’s calligraphy starter kit was just featured in @newyorkermag’s “A Holiday Gift Guide: Treasures That Are Old, or Old at Heart”. 🎁 I agree that it makes for a *fabulous* gift ... and it is the gift that keeps on giving, since your recipient will develop the skills to create all sorts of beautiful and satisfying projects. We’re talking gorgeous envelopes, frameable quotes that make a home feel cozy, place cards, sketchbook pages, family trees ... there are a lot of possibilities (and tutorials for those possibilities can be found on the TPK Blog)!

To get a kit, visit the link in my bio and navigate to the “SHOP” tab. If you buy a kit as a gift, let me know right after placing your order (lindsey@thepostmansknock.com). Be sure to tell me your recipient’s name, and I’ll be glad to include instructions for them over how to enroll in the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course, which comes with the $125 kit option. ✍️ Happy holidays! 

#thepostmansknock #tpk #calligraphy #moderncalligraphy #calligraphycommunity #calligraphypractice #calligraphytools #calligraphyset #calligraphykit #giftguide #holidaygiftguide #newyorkermag #smallbusinesslove #shopsmall #makersgonnamake #creativegifts #handmadegifts #artgifts #artsupplies #stationerylove #snailmailrevival #envelopecalligraphy #learncalligraphy #artistsontiktok #creativeprocess #holidayseason #giftideas2024
✨Chic Inky Poppies Mail Art✨ – This inky poppy ✨Chic Inky Poppies Mail Art✨ - This inky poppy motif is one of my all-time favorites for filling blank space with drama and elegance. To make it, you use dark ink smudges, loose leaves, and airy petals to build a border that looks intricate but comes together quickly. My go-tos for this style are sumi ink and a touch of gold watercolor for warmth. 

Want to try it yourself? Visit the TPK website (link in bio) and search for “Chic Inky Poppies Mail Art Tutorial.” Happy creating! 🌸🖋️

#thepostmansknock #tpk #mailart #mailartideas #envelopeart #snailmailrevival #snailmailing #snailmailart #envelopecalligraphy #calligraphycommunity #calligraphypractice #pointedpencalligraphy #moderncalligraphy #sumiink #goldwatercolor #penandink #creativeprocess #creativemail #illustrationart #papercraft #stationerylove #artistsoninstagram #artreels #calligraphyreels #mailartreels
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