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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.

    My Go-To Thoughtful Handmade Gift

    August 6, 2024

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Gifts, Printable Envelope Templates

    Today, I’ll walk you through how to create a beautiful handmade gift with flower bouquets and calligraphy cards. This thoughtful project is a perfect way to express gratitude and bring joy.

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    Flowers in vases with calligraphy envelopes

    Last week, as my son celebrated his last day of nursery school, I wanted to find a meaningful way to thank the teachers who have cared for and guided him over the past four years. So, I turned to my favorite handmade gift idea: flower bouquets and cards. I thought you might enjoy making this handmade gift too. In this post, I’ll guide you through creating beautiful, heartfelt presents that are perfect for expressing your gratitude.

    Make the Bouquets

    1. Find Vases

    Have you ever bought a brand-new vase? They can be surprisingly expensive! Here’s a little secret: your local thrift store is a treasure trove of mint condition vases at a fraction of the price. I visited my local Goodwill and discovered four unique vases, each perfectly matching the personality of my son’s teachers. These vases make a perfect addition to your handmade gift.

    Empty vases and a pitcher from the thrift store
    The grand total for all four of these vases? $13.75.

    2. Buy Flowers

    Next, head to your local grocery store or favorite flower source and pick out a couple of bouquets to fill your vases.

    Store-bought flower bouquets from Costco
    Since this is technically a gift from my son, I let him choose one of the bouquets, then I chose the other one. I picked some elegant roses, and he picked an explosion of colors.

    3. Arrange the Flowers

    Now, it’s time to arrange your flowers into beautiful bouquets. You can find plenty of tutorials online about arranging the perfect bouquet (I enjoyed this one), but the key is to get creative. Experiment with the lengths and positioning of the flowers until the bouquet feels just right to you.

    Arranging a bouquet

    Continue to play, adding flowers here and there. If you have access to additional flowers or branches, consider incorporating those as well.

    Four DIY flower bouquets ready to give as gifts
    The flowers in the green and brown vase came from our back garden. I also punctuated the colorful flowers that my son picked out with neutral accents, like hydrangeas and small branches.

    Make Cards or Notes

    1. Choose an Envelope

    If you want to go above and beyond, you can make a pretty envelope to house your card or note. Since I was short on time, I went ahead and used printable envelope templates.

    Mail art templates from The Postman's Knock
    Three of these templates are from the TPK Tutorial Printable Mail Art Templates. The koi template is from the Feathers and Fins Mail Art Bundle.
    BROWSE MAIL ART PRINTABLES

    2. Add a Name and Embellishments

    Next, write your recipient’s name on the envelope and add embellishments if desired. I used gold watercolor to give my envelope art an elegant shimmer.

    Decorated mail art envelopes
    The recipients’ names were written using iron gall ink, a Brause EF66 nib, and an oblique pen.

    3. Write Your Notes/Make a Card

    Depending on your gift occasion, you might choose to make a card (browse tutorials here) or write a simple note. I chose to write heartfelt notes to the teachers using elegant cursive handwriting.

    For tips to create the perfect neat handwritten note, see How to Make a Beautiful Handwritten Note.

    4. Seal the Envelopes

    Finish up by tucking your card or note into the envelope, then seal it how you see fit. I chose to use a wax seal and a piece of lavender from our garden.

    Envelopes sealed with a wax seal and lavender
    If you don’t have a wax seal, consider using washi tape or a pretty sticker.

    Give Your Gift

    Pair your bouquet with your envelope, and it’s time to give your thoughtful handmade gift!

    Flower bouquets paired with artistic handmade envelopes

    Here are a few tips for easy transportation:

    • Don’t fill up your vases all the way with water. Halfway full is good if you’re driving them anywhere.
    • Put the vase in a little box, then make the fit tight with wadded-up paper or some fabric. You don’t want it tipping over en route!
    • Keep the envelope separate from the vase during transportation to avoid smudging.
    Flowers in vases with calligraphy envelopes

    Next time you want to show your appreciation in a meaningful and creative way, consider creating personalized flower bouquets and calligraphy cards. This thoughtful handmade gift is perfect for expressing gratitude to anyone, and the combination of beautiful blooms and elegant notes will convey your gratitude with a personal touch.

    Thanks so much for reading the TPK Blog, and happy creating!

    Warmly,

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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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2 responses

  1. LooMie Avatar
    LooMie
    September 14, 2024

    Thanks. This is such a treasure trove of inspiration! I absolutely adore creating unique gifts too; there’s something so special about giving someone a present that’s been made with love and care. The envelopes you used for this are so cool!

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      October 28, 2024

      You are very kind to say that; thank you!

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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
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