For the past three months, I’ve taken a day or two to indulge in a few hours of pen and ink illustration. I love using the Nikko G nib and sumi ink to make elegant, detailed pieces! In March, I made a lace butterfly, and April brought a rosy Arc de Triomphe. Today, I’m introducing May’s artwork: an elegant henna-inspired bluebird illustration.
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Both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are coming up, and no one loves handmade gifts more than moms and dads. In this post, you’ll find eight handmade gift ideas that are artistic, thoughtful, and will be cherished for years to come! All of the suggestions below are wonderful to give to any loved one, parent or not.
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In today’s tutorial, I want to share how to make a custom rubber stamp — because it’s ridiculously easy. Rubber stamps are amazing to have on hand because you can use them to add embellishment and character to your paper goods in a few seconds! I have created several stamps over the years, and I love every single one of them.
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Earlier this month, I decided to create a promo code for Easter. To announce that promo code, I posted a video of a neat little flourished bunny on Instagram, which you can watch below. After the video was posted, I received several requests for directions over how to make the bunny. This article — which includes an instructional free printable — is the answer to those requests!
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When it comes to art and calligraphy supplies, it’s difficult not to hoard. You never know when something will help you to add the perfect finishing touch to a future project! Still, there are some supplies that tend to just sit and collect dust while others get used all the time. In today’s post, I’d like to enumerate eight art and calligraphy supplies that I — surprisingly — use all the time. These supplies aren’t the obvious hard-hitters like pens and inks, and you may be a little taken aback by some of them!
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One of the facts of life is this: the older you get, the more mothers you know. Slowly, Mother’s Day becomes a day that’s not only acknowledging your own mother: it’s also about your friend, your sister, your daughter, and many other women in your life. It’s wonderful that we all know so many fantastic moms, but it’s difficult to find the time to make a thoughtful DIY Mother’s Day card for all of them! That’s why this year I focused on making a quick card card concept that can be customized and streamlined if you want to make more than one. You can read the steps below to learn how to create it!
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Today’s “Let’s Go to Paris” greeting card tutorial offers the perfect springtime hello. It’s artistic and creative, and plays to two (arguable) truths: first of all, springtime brings out the travel bug in a lot of us. Second, Paris is absolutely stunning this time of year! To make this card, you’ll just need a printer, paper, scissors, and some glue.
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In 2012, I decided to start an Etsy shop called “The Postman’s Knock”, and I quit my day job (read the full story here). The idea behind the Etsy shop was this: I could design stationery and write out custom envelope calligraphy for people, which they would be delighted to receive when they heard “the postman’s knock” at their door. Eventually, the Etsy shop evolved into so much more than that — now, TPK is mainly a blog and learning resource — but, like everyone, I started somewhere. I tried a lot of things and put myself out there before I felt completely ready, which is just what you have to do! Here are some of the items that I used to sell, some of which you may be surprised at. Without these now-retired items, TPK as we know it wouldn’t exist!
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Today’s tutorial isn’t for the faint of heart — but I promise that you can do it! An illustrated watercolor map usually takes a couple of days to make, and it requires some artistic judgment calls. Still: the creation process is so enjoyable, and the unique results justify any time and effort spent to make it.
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I think that a lot of people would like to try making mail art, but, due to time constraints, it never happens. Just like any artistic pursuit, though, you can choose how much effort you put into your envelopes! Today’s three short tutorials will give you options for making cool pieces of mail art even when you are pressed for time.
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