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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.

    Quick Butterfly-Themed Calligraphy Mother’s Day Card Tutorial

    April 18, 2023

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Greeting Card Tutorials, Mother’s Day Cards, Tutorials, Video

    Your search for the perfect handmade Mother’s Day card is over! Today, I’ll show you how to make a lovely butterfly-themed calligraphy Mother’s Day card with a surprise inside.

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    Quick Butterfly-Themed Calligraphy Mother's Day Card Tutorial
    In today’s tutorial, I’ll teach you how to make this butterfly-themed calligraphy Mother’s Day card.

    As Mother’s Day approaches, many of us are looking for a heartfelt way to show appreciation and gratitude for the special women in our lives. When we create a handmade card that mirrors the beauty and uniqueness of the mothers we love, it becomes a treasure they will cherish forever. In this tutorial, I will guide you through the steps to create an elegant butterfly-themed calligraphy Mother’s Day card. The best part? The card comes together in as little as 30 minutes.


    Video Tutorial: Quick Butterfly-Themed Calligraphy Mother’s Day Card

    For those who prefer video demonstrations, I put together the following ~6 minute long video. For a supply list and instructions, see the written tutorial!


    Written Tutorial: Quick Butterfly-Themed Calligraphy Mother’s Day Card

    To get started making this butterfly-themed Mother’s Day birthday card, you’ll need a few supplies:

    • Black cardstock (cut to 10″ x 7″/ 25.4 cm x 17.78 cm) – affiliate link
    • Medium lace butterfly from the Printable Illustrated Lace Butterflies pack – print it at 85% scale
    • White mechanical pencil
    • Bleed Proof White ink (or use a white gel pen)
    • Brause EF66 nib + oblique pen (or use a white gel pen)
    • Black eraser

    You’ll also need your glue of choice (I used UHU) and, optionally, a bone folder.

    Quick Butterfly-Themed Calligraphy Mother's Day Card Tutorial

    1. Make an Outline

    First, fold your black cardstock in half to make a greeting card. Then, print out the medium lace butterfly at 85% (see the video tutorial for instructions). Once the butterfly has printed, cut it out.

    Cut-Out Butterfly and Black Cardstock

    Next, trace around the butterfly with a white mechanical pencil to make an outline on the front of your card.

    Traced Butterfly

    2. Make a Pencil Draft of Lettering or Calligraphy

    Now, use your white mechanical pencil to draw or calligraph “Happy Mother’s Day” in several different languages. The languages I used include:

    • Feliz Día de las Madres (Spanish)
    • Bonne Fête des Mères (French)
    • Buona Festa della Mamma (Italian)
    • Feliz Dia das Mães (Portuguese)
    • Happy Mother’s Day (English)
    Butterfly-Themed Calligraphy Mother's Day Card Draft
    This step is completely customizable. Work within your preferences and your skill level!

    You can use hand-lettering or calligraphy for this step. Whatever you are most comfortable with is perfectly fine! The important thing is to completely fill in your butterfly outline.

    3. Trace Over the Lettering or Calligraphy

    Now, use Bleed Proof White ink and your pointed pen of choice (I used a Brause EF66 nib + an oblique pen) to trace over your calligraphy. Alternatively, you can use a white gel pen to make faux calligraphy or to trace over your hand-lettering.

    Quick Butterfly-Themed Calligraphy Mother's Day Card Tutorial

    Once you finish, open up the card and glue the medium lace butterfly in the center at a diagonal angle. Then, use your white gel pen to write a heartfelt message to the lucky mama who will receive your card! Finish up by erasing any white pencil guidelines once your ink has dried.


    And that’s it! An elegantly simple butterfly-themed calligraphy birthday card. This Mother’s Day, I’m pairing this card with the gift of a gorgeous framed botanical watercolor letter for my mom, Delin. If you think the mom(s) in your life would appreciate a botanical letter, I encourage you to make one. They’re so special, just like the women that we love!

    MAKE A GIFT-WORTHY BOTANICAL LETTER


    I hope that you feel inspired by today’s tutorial! Thanks so much for reading (and/or watching) and have a wonderfully creative rest of your day.

    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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Previous post: Gorgeous Botanical Letter Tutorial
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23 responses

  1. lakshmi.g85 Avatar
    lakshmi.g85
    May 10, 2023

    I made this for my mother. This is stunning!

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      May 15, 2023

      I hope that she loved it! Thank you for enjoying and passing on a great gift! 😊

      Log in to Reply
  2. Jenny P Avatar
    Jenny P
    May 9, 2023

    Beautiful work. I like the white ink on black too!

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      May 9, 2023

      I love that too! The contrast looks so good! I hope you try it out! 😃

      Log in to Reply
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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
✍️ 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!
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