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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.

    Luminous Watercolor Florals Kraft Card Tutorial

    September 2, 2021

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Floral Illustration Tutorials, Greeting Card Tutorials, Hand-Lettering, Thank You Cards, Watercolor Tutorials

    There’s just something about watercolor florals on kraft paper! The paint’s semi-transparent quality dries beautifully on the paper to result in an elegant piece. Today, I’ll show you how to use watercolors to make a lovely “thank you” card.

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    Luminous Watercolor Florals Kraft Card Tutorial

    If you’re looking for a tasteful way to say “thank you”, try making this lovely watercolor florals card. It features kraft paper, pretty watercolor, and lettering that complements the card’s floral motif. (Watercolor beginners rejoice: this tutorial is suitable for any skill level!)

    1. Gather Your Supplies

    Before you get started making this watercolor florals card, you’ll need a few key supplies. You can find a list with links below the photo.

    Supplies needed to make a floral watercolor thank you card

    • Watercolor palette with green, orange, and red tones
    • 5″ x 7″ (~12.7 cm x 17.75 cm) blank kraft greeting card
    • Finetec Arabic Gold pan
    • Bleed Proof White Ink (or white paint)
    • Blunt art syringe (to moisten watercolors, optional) + art water
    • Size 000 paintbrush + Size 1 paintbrush
    • Pencil + ruler or straight edge
    • Straight pen fitted with Nikko G nib

    2. Make a Pencil Draft

    First, use a ruler or a straight edge to make two sets of horizontal guidelines. The guidelines in each set should be about 7/8″ (~2.25 cm) apart, and the sets should have about 1/8″ (~0.3 cm) of space between them. Once you’ve got those guidelines, use George Style lettering to write “THANK YOU”.

    Making a thank you card pencil draft
    Try to center “THANK” at the top and “YOU” at the bottom. It helps to write the “A” in the center first, then “TH” and “NK”. Then, write the “O” and “Y”, then “U”.

    Now, work on using your pencil to draw a flower garden motif. The garden should include roses, tulips, branches, and leaves.

    Making a thank you card pencil draft

    Please feel free to use the photo below as a reference for your own pencil draft!

    Pencil draft of floral watercolor thank you card
    Notice that most of the florals are concentrated at the bottom of the card. A couple of curved branches help to fill up the top.

    3. Add Watercolor

    Next, use your size 1 paintbrush and a pale green tone to fill in any long, thin leaves in your motif. Use the size 000 paintbrush to paint delicate stems.

    Adding Watercolor to the Floral Kraft Greeting Card
    I used Hooker’s Green from the Winsor & Newton Cotman palette to paint these leaves.

    Then, use a red tone and an orange tone to paint any large flowers. Use a dark green and a bit of brown to start filling in large leaves.

    Adding color to the watercolor floral thank you card
    I used Winsor & Newton‘s Alizaron Crimson for the rose and Cadmium Orange for the tulips. For the leaves, I used a combination of Viridian and Burnt Umber.

    Finish up this step by filling in remaining leaves with a light green tone. Then, use your size 000 paintbrush and a burgundy tone to fill in any thyme-like branches. Finally, use Bleed Proof White ink to paint any small flowers.

    Adding color to the watercolor floral thank you card
    I used Sap Green and Indian Red to complete the watercolor portion of my card.

    4. Fill In the Lettering

    Now, use your Bleed Proof White ink (or white acrylic paint) and your size 1 paintbrush to fill in any thick strokes in your lettering.

    White lettering on a Watercolor Florals Kraft Card

    5. Use a Dip Pen to Add Accents

    At this point, you’ll use the watercolor calligraphy technique to load dark green watercolor onto your Nikko G nib. Use the green watercolor to outline the large leaves and stems on the card.

    Watercolor Florals Kraft Card with outlined leaves
    I used Hooker’s Green to draw the outlines shown here.

    Then, use that same green tone to outline around your lettering.

    Watercolor Florals Kraft Card with outlined leaves

    Once the watercolor outlines have dried, load some Arabic gold watercolor onto your nib. Use your dip pen and the gold watercolor to outline your flowers. Then, use the size 000 paintbrush to add a few random collections of gold dots, which will give the piece some dimension and interest.

    Luminous Watercolor Florals Kraft Card Tutorial

    Enjoy!

    Once all of the paint has dried, your watercolor florals card is ready to be enjoyed. Send it in a pretty envelope — if you have the time, mail art is always appropriate — and prepare for a delighted recipient!

    Luminous Watercolor Florals Kraft Card Tutorial

    I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial, which is perfect for a beautiful end of summer day. Thanks very much for reading!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

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About the author

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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124 responses

  1. Kim Wynn Avatar
    Kim Wynn
    October 4, 2021

    It’s amazing how much watercolor adds to a project!! 😍 Thanks for offering a giveaway to try out some great quality colors!!

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      October 4, 2021

      Watercolors really do add some flair to our projects! They are so elegant.

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  2. Karin Warkentin Avatar
    Karin Warkentin
    October 4, 2021

    Your work is so beautiful! I really love the envelope art!

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      October 4, 2021

      Thank you so much, I’m glad you liked it!

      Log in to Reply
  3. delautj Avatar
    delautj
    September 23, 2021

    Thank you for all your tutorials, I just love them.

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      September 29, 2021

      My pleasure, so glad you like them!

      Log in to Reply
  4. Chris Cizek Avatar
    Chris Cizek
    September 23, 2021

    Love this tutorial. It is so inspiring!

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      September 29, 2021

      Thank you!

      Log in to Reply
  5. Paola Collins Gonzalez Avatar
    Paola Collins Gonzalez
    September 23, 2021

    What a beautiful design, so elegant and neat! Thank you vey much for the tutorial.

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      September 23, 2021

      You’re welcome. I hope you enjoy it!

      Log in to Reply
  6. Maria Laura Morsetti Porres Avatar
    Maria Laura Morsetti Porres
    September 23, 2021

    As always, a great tutorial. Very well explained, with beautiful photos.

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      September 23, 2021

      Thank you, Maria!

      Log in to Reply
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✍️ There’s a fresh addition to the TPK Catal ✍️ There’s a fresh addition to the TPK Catalog: The Graceful Ballerina Calligraphy Drill Worksheet 

This ballerina is unique among TPK calligraphy drills in that it’s really not that complicated. After a few simple loops, a flourished tutu, and long strokes to make the legs, you have, well, a ballerina! 🩰 The most difficult part is getting the outline right; but even that isn’t too bad because you’ve got a traceable outline included in your worksheet set.

The beauty of the flourished ballerina? She makes *anything* look elegant: cards, envelopes, gift tags, whatever. My recommendation is to feature her on your next envelope. She’ll add a “wow” factor and allow you to left-justify the address, which is always a relief (no need to bother with centering)!

To find her, visit the link in my bio, then navigate to the Blog!

#thepostmansknock #tpk #calligraphy #calligraphydrills #calligraphyworksheet #moderncalligraphy #pointedpen #pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphypractice #flourishing #flourishedart #mailart #snailmail #envelopeart #envelopecalligraphy #handlettering #creativeprocess #artistsoninstagram #balletart #ballerinadrawing #ballerinaart #inkdrawing #calligraphycommunity #stationerylove #letterwritersalliance #penandink #calligraphyinspiration #learncalligraphy #artistlife #creativeplay
✨I’ve been making these little calligraphy Chr ✨I’ve been making these little calligraphy Christmas trees for years. They’re a go-to whenever I need a quick gift tag, envelope flourish, or something festive that doesn’t require a whole afternoon.

They look fancy, but they’re really just simple strokes stacked in different patterns. Truly: once you get the rhythm down, you can make a tree in under 30 seconds. 🎄 

If you want to try them (there are six styles!), the tutorial is on the TPK Blog, and it’s called
“6 Simple Ways to Make a Calligraphy Christmas Tree.” Feel free to google it, or visit: thepostmansknock.com/6-simple-ways-to-make-a-calligraphy-christmas-tree/

It’s very beginner-friendly, video-based, and a great way to get some creativity in during a busy season. I hope you love it as much as I do. 💛

#calligraphy #moderncalligraphy #holidaycalligraphy #calligraphyart #creativelifehappylife #christmascrafts #holidaycrafts #giftwrappingideas #diychristmas #christmascards #calligraphytutorial #finetec #metallicwatercolor #papercrafts #creativepractice #thepostmansknock #holidayinspiration #blackandgold #christmasideas #holidayideas
🎁 These printable gift tags are one of my favor 🎁 These printable gift tags are one of my favorite free printables on the TPK site. Just download, print, cut them out, and — if you want to — reinforce them with a bit of cardstock.

Inside the PDF you’ll find four designs: Festive Frida, Flourished Tree, Pine Boughs, and Merry & Bright. They’re all hand-drawn, and they make even the simplest wrapping look bespoke and artistic. 🎨 

Pro tip: If you’ve got a bit of extra time, add a pop of watercolor or some gold dots; and consider mounting the tag on a contrasting piece of cardstock for extra oomph.

They’re free to download at: thepostmansknock.com/free-super-cool-hand-drawn-printable-gift-tags/ (or visit the link in my stories today). Happy holidays!

#handdrawn #gifttags #printablegifttags #freeprintables #holidayprintables #christmascrafts #holidaygifts #papercrafts #snailmailinspo #mailart #creativegiftwrapping #diyholiday #diygifttags #artistsoninstagram #illustrationartists #thepostmansknock #tpkcommunity #calligraphycommunity #stationerylove #creativecommunity
There’s something extra fun about a card that do There’s something extra fun about a card that doesn’t just open … it comes to life. ✨ This little stand-up tree might look fancy, but it’s totally approachable — relaxing to make, satisfying to embellish, and (my favorite part) it folds up perfectly to pop in the mail. 💌🎄

If you’re looking for a holiday project that feels creative and doable, this is *such* a good one. The printable template does half the work for you, and you can customize the rest with flourishes, white ink, ornaments, or whatever feels festive to you.

The full step-by-step tutorial is waiting for you on the TPK website; just head to the link in my bio and tap “Blog.” I think you’ll have as much fun making this as I did. ❤️

#calligraphy #calligraphytutorial #holidaycalligraphy #flourishedcalligraphy #moderncalligraphy #calligraphycommunity #calligraphypractice #calligraphyart #letteringcommunity #letteringart #papercraft #papercrafting #diycards #handmadecards #holidaycards #christmascards #christmascrafts #snailmail #snailmailrevolution #snailmaillove #creativecommunity #stationerylove #makersgonnamake #thepostmansknock
I love it when I can make simple pointed pen pract I love it when I can make simple pointed pen practice on cardstock ... and it magically turns into a festive card! Find instructions + a printable template for making this “Loop-de-Loop” tree in the TPK 2025 Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet set. 🎄 (Link in bio, then navigate to the Blog!)

#pointedpen #calligraphy #calligraphypractice #pointedpenpractice #holiday #christmastree #treedrawing #doodles #goldwatercolor
Every November since 2016, I’ve looked forward t Every November since 2016, I’ve looked forward to sitting down with a cup of something warm ☕️ and sketching out ideas for the TPK holiday worksheet. This year was no exception, and I think you’ll be pleased with the motifs! They’re designed to bring calm, beauty, and (sneaky) pointed pen practice to your holiday season. 🎄Visit the TPK Blog (link in bio, then navigate to Blog) for details!
The other day, I was thinking about sending out ho The other day, I was thinking about sending out holiday cards, and I immediately dismissed the thought with, “I have zero time to calligraph envelopes for those.” ✍️

... But is that true? I put it to the test for the latest article on the TPK Blog. Using some time-saving tricks I’ve learned over the years (like using a watery ink, a bouncy calligraphy style, and minimal pencil guidelines), I timed myself making three envelope concepts. Two of them took 5 minutes or less. The most time-intensive took 5 minutes, 30 seconds. The envelopes still turned out looking elegant, especially with the help of some artistic postage stamp collages. 💌

For clear step-by-step tutorials detailing how to make these envelopes and sourcing pretty postage, visit the TPK Blog (link in bio, then navigate to “Blog”)!

#snailmail #mail #calligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #happymail #snailmailrevolution #mailbox #postage #vintagepostage
After I chose this music to accompany this reel, i After I chose this music to accompany this reel, it dawned on me: drawing a calligraphy medallion is like, well, Belle’s arc with the Beast. 

At first, it’s a bit of a weird situation. Strange shapes, questionable structure, possibly some growling (à la “YOU WILL JOIN ME FOR DINNER. That’s not a request!”) when the inevitable ink smudge happens. You keep thinking, “I’m not sure why I’m doing this ... should I hop on Felipe and gallop away?” 🐎

But something shifts as the medallion starts to come to life. And when you finish that last detail and pull back, the music swells. Light bursts from your paper like it did from Beast’s digits as he transformed into a stunningly beautiful prince. ✨ You’re practically in a ballroom celebrating, and, wait, did your furniture just turn into an adoring crowd that’s celebrating your fortitude and skill?

(And now you know how my mind works 🧠 ... I love a good metaphor, no matter how weak it may be!) 

To learn how to make a calligraphy medallion, just search for “calligraphy medallion” on the TPK site (link in bio). You’ll find both free Blog tutorials and detailed premium worksheets.

... I’ll show myself out now. 🙈

#pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphy #handwritten #pointedpen #dippen #calligraphymedallion #calligraphydrill #calligraphypractice
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