Pre-baby, I loved going to Tampa, Florida, in the winters to teach calligraphy workshops at The Paper Seahorse. The Paper Seahorse is a magical shop in a lovely converted craftsman home! The brainchild of my supremely creative friend Tona Bell, it’s filled to the brim with wonders, including Flow Magazine, Palomino pencils, and vintage typewriters. An eclectic assortment of light fixtures, artwork, and window dressings complement the merchandise!
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When I set out to learn calligraphy, I could not figure out for the life of me how artists achieved opaque metallic lettering! I tried out a few different gold and silver inks, but the metallic particles always sunk to the bottom of the jar, resulting in transparent calligraphy with a couple of glittery spots. It wasn’t ideal.
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Truth be told, my favorite part of the holidays is giving gifts! With that in mind, I’ve done a big giveaway at this time of year for the past three years! It’s a fun thing for me to do because it provides me with a way to thank you for using calligraphy worksheets, leaving nice comments on blog posts, staying in touch on social media, and/or reading TPK!
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Regardless of your calligraphy skill level, you can bet that planning out the spacing of your calligraphy on an envelope takes time, concentration, and — in most cases — frustration! Thus far, shining up a guide through a light box is the best solution that I’ve discovered for making envelope guidelines. However, that technique only works on light-colored envelopes! Darker envelopes require more patience and flexibility, plus a willingness to try new things. The latest tool I’ve tried is an acrylic envelope lettering template from Studio Oudizo (formerly known as Ollie’s Studio). Today, I want to talk to you about how this supply can come in handy!
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Once you discover watercolor calligraphy, a whole new door to creativity will open! All of a sudden, you can create calligraphy or lettering in any color. When you travel, you no longer have to risk wardrobe-ruining ink spills! You just put a palette and a dip pen in your bag, and you’re all set to go. Despite its advantages, though, watercolor calligraphy isn’t without its quirks. Here are seven tips to help you navigate the dip pen and a watercolor palette like a pro!
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2017 is quickly coming to a close, and I want to wrap it up on a nice note by conducting a few giveaways! Your readership and support makes TPK possible, and I hope that this post shows you how much that I appreciate it. Really: thanks for using the calligraphy worksheets, leaving kind comments on posts, staying in touch on social media, and/or reading my ramblings … it means a lot!
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It’s *this close* to being October, so I’ve been trying to make our house a little more festive with a few tasteful Halloween decorations. This Frida Kahlo Halloween art has helped to add some graceful spookiness to our décor, and I hope it will do the same for yours! If you’re thinking that you could never make something like this, think again. Skeleton Frida comes to you today as a free printable that you need but trace over!
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I generally create blog posts that focus on artistic projects, so today’s post offers a bit of a variation! Instead of flexing your creative muscle, you’ll be using your memory and research skills to fill out this calligraphy crossword. Be the first to solve it, and you’ll win a $50 gift certificate to Paper & Ink Arts (update: the puzzle has been solved)! Fill it out anyway, and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a set of Dr. Ph. Martin’s Iridescent inks. Read on to learn more!
You can download the calligraphy crossword puzzle for free by clicking here. The crossword will challenge you with 22 writing- and calligraphy-related vocabulary terms. Like most crossword puzzles, the answers range between simple and difficult!
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If you find yourself creating a fair amount of illustration or calligraphy, then a light box may help you to work more efficiently! In the next few paragraphs, we’ll discuss what a light box is and how you can use it to enhance your creations.
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2016 is coming to a close, which means it’s the perfect time to reflect on everything that’s happened this year. For me, that reflection has meant realizing how many creative, amazing people I have had the opportunity to interact with because of this website! I am consistently amazed by how self-motivated, positive, and artistic the people who follow TPK are; and this community motivates me to keep improving my own work!
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