Join us for the all-new Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course, happening now! →

Learn More
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • YouTube
    • Premium Membership
    • Beginner Calligraphy Course
    • Intermediate Calligraphy Course
    • Calligraphy Worksheets
    • Beginner Watercolor Course
    • The Calligraphy Book
  • Blog
    • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Worksheets
    • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Drills
    • Video Courses
    • Brush Pen Calligraphy
    • Handwriting
    • Hand-Lettering
    • Mail Printables
    • Printable Artwork
    • Procreate Worksheets
      • Cleaning Cloths
      • Erasers
      • Glass Jars
      • Inks
      • Kits
      • Mechanical Pencils
      • Nibs
      • Oblique Pens
      • Paper
      • Protectants
      • Rubber Stamps
      • Rulers
      • Straight Pens
      • Washi Tape
      • Watercolors
      • Wax Seals
  • Help
  • Cart
Log in

Your cart is currently empty!

The Postman's Knock written in calligraphy
Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In
  • My Account
    • Account Details
    • Addresses
    • Payment Methods
    • Order Receipts
    • Subscriptions
    • Printables + Worksheets
    • Video Courses
  • Help
Log in
The Postman’s Knock
  • About
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Help
  • Premium Membership
  • The Calligraphy Book
Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In
  • 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.

    How to Wrap a Gift with Artistic Flair

    December 14, 2018

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Christmas, Everyday Skills, Gifts, Holiday, Tutorials, Video

    In this article, I’ll show you how to wrap a gift that stands out from the rest! As you’ll see, some unique wrapping paper, sealing wax, and ribbon can go a long way in making a gorgeous gift presentation.

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)WhatsApp
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window)X
    • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)Bluesky
    • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)Threads
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Reddit
    • Click to share on Mail (Opens in new window)Mail

    6 Artistic DIY Gift Ideas | The Postman's Knock

    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):

    Wrapping Paper

    As I mentioned in the video, unique wrapping paper makes for a unique gift! If you’re wrapping a small gift, try using the artistic pattern printouts in The Letter Writer’s Complete Resource as wrapping paper. Alternatively, you can use whatever you have laying around the house! I’ve wrapped gifts in everything from restaurant menus to newspaper.

    Printable Patterns from The Letter Writer's Complete Resource | The Postman's Knock
    The Letter Writer’s Complete Resource includes several hand-drawn patterns that make for great wrapping paper! I love printing them off on 32# laserjet paper, which has a high-quality, professional feel to it.

    Calligraphy

    Calligraphy adds an elegant, artistic touch to any gift! In the video, I used Janet Style calligraphy to write the recipient’s name. I love that calligraphy style for gifts because it’s pretty and traditional! If you’re not comfortable with a dip pen, though, don’t worry that your gifts won’t look nice. You can always use the faux calligraphy technique or hand-lettering!

    Gift with Calligraphy | The Postman's Knock
    This gift has a bohemian feel because of the handmade paper that I used to wrap it. I echoed that feel with whimsical Kaitlin Style calligraphy!

    Wax Seal

    I love using a wax seal to put the final touch on gifts! You can find a large selection of reasonably priced wax stamps and sealing wax at Nostalgic Impressions. Nostalgic Impressions also carries the glue gun that I used in the video! If you’re looking for artistic (but fairly pricey) wax stamps, try Artisaire.

    Calligraphy Kit Collaboration with The Paper Seahorse | The Postman's Knock
    The Paper Seahorse always seals our calligraphy kits with a tasteful wax stamp depicting a seahorse!

    A Few Helpful Tips to Successfully Wrap a Gift

    Some gifts can be tricky to wrap, so take it slow and be patient with yourself if things don’t go as planned! In that case, just take a deep breath, carefully unwrap the gift, and start again. Remember, too, that you don’t have to wrap a complicated gift every time. Eye-catching wrapping paper can go a long way, and an unconventional addition — like a small sprig of winter greenery — can make your gift presentation pop!

    Floral Artistic Gift Tags | The Postman's Knock
    No sealing wax? No problem! Try adding some winter greenery instead.

    My best tip for wrapping gifts is to pull everything tight! The wrapping paper should be taut across the gift, with crisp, confident edges. Ribbon/twine should also hug the gift tightly. The tighter you can get everything, the more professional the gift presentation will look!


    I hope that this little video tutorial + written explanation helps you to make a few beautiful gift presentations this holiday season! If you have any questions or suggestions, I invite you to contribute to the comments. It’s always fantastic to hear from you! Otherwise, continue to enjoy your holiday season, and we’ll reconvene on Monday with a newsletter you won’t want to miss. (If you’re not signed up for the TPK newsletter, you can do so by clicking here!)

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)WhatsApp
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window)X
    • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)Bluesky
    • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)Threads
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Reddit
    • Click to share on Mail (Opens in new window)Mail
Sketchbooking

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.

Join TPK’s free mailing list

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow TPK on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed
  • Mail
Previous post: Three Different Ways to Draw a Snowflake
Next post: TPK 2018 Holiday Giveaways

All-time favorite posts

  • The Beginner's Guide to Modern Calligraphy

    The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy

    1.5m views
  • 8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet) | The Postman's Knock

    8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet)

    876.2k views
  • Painting with Watercolors for Beginners

    Painting with Watercolors for Beginners

    832.6k views
  • Free Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet

    Free Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet

    483.5k views
  • How to Write Faux Calligraphy (Video Tutorial + Free Worksheet)

    364.2k views
  • 11 Calming Calligraphy Drills Printable | The Postman's Knock

    Celebrating Six Years of the “11 Calming Calligraphy Drills” Worksheet (Free Download)

    293.2k views
  • Lovely Loose Watercolor Flowers Tutorial

    Lovely Loose Watercolor Flowers Tutorial

    206k views
  • The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit

    The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit

    187k views

Latest posts

  • Finetec Gold Watercolor: Everything You Need to Know
    ✨ Everything You Need to Know About Gold WatercolorJanuary 17, 2026
  • Poppies-themed weekly planner
    Artistic Poppies Printable Weekly PlannerJanuary 14, 2026
  • Thoughtful camera angles help you understand exactly what to do.
    🎉 The New Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course is Here!January 13, 2026
  • Back to Basics: Using the X-Acto KnifeJanuary 8, 2026

Browse by category

Browse by date

59 responses

  1. Ee Von Hon Avatar
    Ee Von Hon
    January 7, 2019

    My favourite part but I don’t have enough packages to wrap unfortunately!

    Log in to Reply
  2. Vanessa Davis Avatar
    Vanessa Davis
    January 7, 2019

    This is is creative!

    Log in to Reply
  3. mojobeenster Avatar
    mojobeenster
    January 7, 2019

    This was a timely subject for me, as my sister, her husband and both daughters all have their birthdays between Dec 25 and Jan 28th. And I never double up Birthday and Christmas gifts. !

    Log in to Reply
  4. dawn_slp Avatar
    dawn_slp
    January 7, 2019

    I can see any gift wrapped like these being photographed before it’s opened. I know I would!

    Log in to Reply
  5. Collese Dahlberg Avatar
    Collese Dahlberg
    January 3, 2019

    I’ve always loved giving a beautifully wrapped gift, but never would have thought to use a wax seal. That took me back to the 70’s. Thank you.

    Log in to Reply
  6. kit Avatar
    kit
    January 1, 2019

    Wax seals are such a nice touch. I have one for weddings to make cards extra special. I am thinking of getting one for birthday or everyday use. Thanks for the other tips. I would love to incorporate more calligraphy once I improve.

    Log in to Reply
  7. Shu Avatar
    Shu
    January 1, 2019

    Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

    Log in to Reply
  8. Bianca Huinac Avatar
    Bianca Huinac
    December 31, 2018

    I love this so much! I love personalizing the presents I give instead of just putting them in a regular gift bag. I’ve been decorating plain bags and packages myself and using handwritten calligraphy notes and now i think I’ll be adding a wax seal!

    Log in to Reply
  9. Dorina D Avatar
    Dorina D
    December 31, 2018

    Love this idea. Gonna have to try it next year for birthdays in January.

    Log in to Reply
  10. Sue Gatherum-Goss Avatar
    Sue Gatherum-Goss
    December 31, 2018

    Thanks so much for these tips and also the beautiful paper to print. I love the sealing wax through a hot glue gun. 🙂 I will definitely be trying that one out.

    Log in to Reply
Older Comments
1 … 3 4 5 6
Newer Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Sorry! Only TPK Premium members can comment on articles and tutorials. You can become a member here. Already a member? Sign in.

There is nothing like a clean, well-organized wate There is nothing like a clean, well-organized watercolor chart. I used to make watercolor chart layouts using math and grids (which, trust me, was painful for someone like me, who doesn’t *love* numbers/measuring/calculations) ... then it occurred to me that I could use Photoshop to give myself a little boost. Much less math and fretting, which for me equals much more joy! Palette is from @greenleafblue — she made it so I could have a gorgeous palette for “The Calligraphy Book”, and this color chart definitely helped to boost the aesthetic of an already stunning supply. 🎨😍

If you’re curious about this technique for making a watercolor chart, you can search the TPK website for “watercolor chart” ... there’s a detailed blog post over how to use the template method that I’m showing you here!

#watercolorpalette #watercolorchart #colorchart #watercolorpaints #artchart
An X-Acto knife (aka a hobby knife) is one of thos An X-Acto knife (aka a hobby knife) is one of those tools that is indispensable for a lot of applications. It was designed to make precise cuts, which, of course, it does well! But, you can also use it to scrape off unwanted ink smears (pro tip: after the fact, you can smooth disturbed paper fibers with a pebble), create interesting interior cuts, trim tiny details that scissors can’t reach, make stencils and templates, refine collage elements, and gently correct small drawing or calligraphy mistakes.

I have used X-Acto knives for many TPK Blog tutorials, but up until last week, I’d never written a guide that puts the X-Acto knife front and center. That guide now exists, and you can find it by visiting the link 🔗 in my profile. Be sure to watch the tutorial video!

#xactoknife #hobbyknife #papercutting #papercutart #xactoknifeart
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
The Postman’s Knock

About

  • About Lindsey
  • Get to Know TPK
  • Behind the Scenes
  • How I Learned Calligraphy

Legalese

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refunds & Return Policy
  • GDPR Data Erasure Request

Printable Worksheets

  • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Styles
  • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Drills
  • Brush Pen Calligraphy
  • Handwriting
  • Hand-Lettering

Courses

  • Beginner’s Pointed Pen Calligraphy
  • Intermediate Pointed Pen Calligraphy
  • Beginner’s Watercolors

Help

  • Contact Lindsey
  • Calligraphy FAQs
  • Calligraphy Troubleshooting

Subscribe to the Blog

Join over 125,000 creative minds who receive inspiring, value-packed emails from TPK each week. As a free subscriber, you’ll get helpful tutorials, free worksheets, and creative ideas delivered straight to your inbox—plus the occasional sneak peek or special offer.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow TPK on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed
  • Mail

© Copyright 2026 The Postman’s Knock – All rights reserved

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
  • Manage options
  • Manage services
  • Manage {vendor_count} vendors
  • Read more about these purposes
View preferences
  • {title}
  • {title}
  • {title}
Writing Copperplate Calligraphy

Unlock Exclusive Perks with Premium Plus

Fuel your inspiration and creativity with TPK Premium Plus! Members enjoy three free worksheets or learning resources every month, unlimited video course access, member-exclusive tutorials, and a 10% discount on all Supplies Shop orders.

join today ($15)
All About the Brause Rose Nib

inspiration in your inbox

Let The Postman’s Knock Spark Your Creativity

TPK’s innovative newsletters are an artistic treat. Join the 125K+ subscribers who have already discovered The Postman’s Knock, and receive 10% off your first Digital Catalog order.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.