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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.

    Staggered Floral Trifold Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso

    March 17, 2022

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Birthday Cards, Floral Illustration Tutorials, Greeting Card Tutorials, Guest Post, Mother’s Day Cards, Thank You Cards, Tutorials, Watercolor

    In today’s tutorial, artist Phyllis Macaluso will show you how to make a gorgeous floral trifold card. If you’ve been wanting to learn how to use a wedge brush, you’ll especially love this project!

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    Staggered Floral Trifold Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso

    When Phyllis Macaluso sets out to make out a card, she always comes up with something interactive and beautiful. Take the trifold card in that you’ll learn how to make in today’s tutorial: it’s the paper version of a bouquet! Interactive and gorgeous. Today, Phyllis will walk you through how to make this card through a series of instructions, photos, and a free printable.

    1. Gather Your Supplies

    You’ll need a small collection of supplies in order to create this trifold card; they are listed below with links:

    Supplies for Tiered Trifold Floral Card

    • 8.5″ x 11″ (~21.6 cm x 28 cm) piece of watercolor paper
    • Pencil + eraser
    • Ruler
    • Scissors
    • Bone folder
    • Watercolor palette of your choice + a wedge (aka “triangular”) brush (affiliate link)
    • Optional: pointed pen + ink to write a greeting
    • Phyllis’ project handout

    2. Divide + Cut Your Watercolor Paper

    First, orient your watercolor paper horizontally. Then, use your pencil and your ruler to divide the page into three equal parts. Next, draw a diagonal line that runs about 2″ (5 cm) from the top of the left side of the page to about 5″ (12.7 cm) from the bottom of the right side of the page. Cut along that diagonal line.

    Cut Watercolor Paper
    Your diagonal measurements don’t need to be exact! The numbers I’ve given you are just an estimate.

    3. Crease the Paper

    Now, use a bone folder to crease the watercolor paper like an accordion, as shown:

    Floral Tiered Trifold Card
    Making one crease that goes in and one crease that goes out helps the card’s parts to nest nicely into one another.

    4. Paint Flowers

    Now, use your pencil and a compass to draw half circles along the top of each third of the card. (If you don’t have a compass, you can free-hand draw the circles.)

    Making a draft for a floral tiered greeting card

    Then, use your wedge brush and the instructions on pages 5-6 in Phyllis’ handout to paint gorgeous floral bundles!

    Painting florals with a wedge brush
    Use your circular guidelines as guide to contour your flowers. (It’s okay to go a little bit past the circles, but not too far!) Again, instructions for drawing these flowers can be found in Phyllis’ handout.

    Keep on painting until the top half of your three sections are full of flowers.

    Florals on a trifold card

    Important: Make sure you paint florals on both sides of the card! Otherwise, when you fold the card up, one panel won’t have florals on it.

    5. Cut

    Now, use your scissors to cut the top of the card in an irregular pattern that echoes the contours of your florals and leaves.

    Cutting Out the Floral Cards

    Once you finish cutting, your card will look something like this:

    Staggered Floral Trifold Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso

    6. Fold!

    Now, fold the three sections of your card neatly together, and secure the card with a piece of twine and a tag, if desired. Use a pointed pen to write the greeting of your choice on the tag!

    Phyllis is modeling one of TPK’s “Pretty in Pink” Brause EF66 obliques in the photo. Feel free to use your favorite pointed pen to write on the tag — perhaps in green watercolor calligraphy to match the card’s foliage!

    Modification Note

    If you’re in a bit of a hurry and you don’t want to paint flowers on both sides of your card, there’s a shortcut you can take. Grab the piece of paper you cut at a diagonal from the top of your paper in step 2, and paint flowers on one side of it. Then, cut out the flowers.

    Staggered Floral Trifold Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso

    Next, glue the flowers onto the card. Alternate the direction that the flowers face to ensure that all of your pretty florals are visible when the card is closed.

    Staggered Floral Trifold Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso

    Then, enjoy your lovely card!

    Staggered Floral Trifold Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso
    The two cards shown without twine in this photo were created using the cut and glue method. The card in the foreground features flowers that are painted on both sides.

    This floral trifold card is a versatile piece that you could use for virtually any occasion. It would make a great birthday card, an elegant way to say “thank you”, or, if you’re thinking ahead, a lovely Mother’s Day card. You can do like Phyllis and make several at once so they’re on deck when you need a quick and pretty greeting card solution! Just write out a greeting on the tag, stick your card in a #10 envelope, and you’re all set.

    Thanks very much to Phyllis for coming up with such a gorgeous tutorial, and thank you for reading! Have a lovely and creative weekend!

    Warmly,

    If you liked this tutorial, you can view Phyllis Macaluso’s other TPK tutorials here. If you’re on Instagram, you can follow Phyllis at @fpmmac.

    *This post contains affiliate links to Amazon

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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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4 responses

  1. Florette Avatar
    Florette
    July 7, 2023

    This looks amazing! Great job!

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  2. Jill Avatar
    Jill
    May 24, 2022

    These are beautiful and I can’t wait to give it a try!!

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  3. Katie Avatar
    Katie
    April 2, 2022

    This is so beautiful and amazing!! I’d love to try it for some upcoming birthdays and Mother’s Day.

    Is there a way to get similar results with the florals WITHOUT using a wedge brush? I have a bunch of brushes but not that one (yet) and there isn’t enough time to order one to make the cards. Off the wall question, I know, but really curious. 🙂

    Thank you for the tutorial and everything else you do!

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  4. Loan Avatar
    Loan
    March 19, 2022

    I love everything by Phyllis,; she is so talented. Thank you for this gorgeous tutorial.

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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
✍️ 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
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