Join us for the all-new Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course, happening now! →

Learn More
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • YouTube
    • Premium Membership
    • Beginner Calligraphy Course
    • Intermediate Calligraphy Course
    • Calligraphy Worksheets
    • Beginner Watercolor Course
    • The Calligraphy Book
  • Blog
    • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Worksheets
    • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Drills
    • Video Courses
    • Brush Pen Calligraphy
    • Handwriting
    • Hand-Lettering
    • Mail Printables
    • Printable Artwork
    • Procreate Worksheets
      • Cleaning Cloths
      • Erasers
      • Glass Jars
      • Inks
      • Kits
      • Mechanical Pencils
      • Nibs
      • Oblique Pens
      • Paper
      • Protectants
      • Rubber Stamps
      • Rulers
      • Straight Pens
      • Washi Tape
      • Watercolors
      • Wax Seals
  • Help
  • Cart
Log in

Your cart is currently empty!

The Postman's Knock written in calligraphy
Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In
  • My Account
    • Account Details
    • Addresses
    • Payment Methods
    • Order Receipts
    • Subscriptions
    • Printables + Worksheets
    • Video Courses
  • Help
Log in
The Postman’s Knock
  • About
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Help
  • Premium Membership
  • The Calligraphy Book
Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In
  • 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.

    Teapot-Themed Mother’s Day Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso

    April 23, 2020

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Guest Post, Mother’s Day Cards

    Phyllis Macaluso has done it again with this clever, pretty little card ensemble! In the tutorial below, you’ll learn how to make an embellished paper teapot, teabag, and tea tag that combine to make a beautiful Mother’s Day card.

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)WhatsApp
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window)X
    • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)Bluesky
    • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)Threads
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Reddit
    • Click to share on Mail (Opens in new window)Mail
    Teapot-Themed Mother's Day Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso
    In this tutorial, Phyllis Macaluso will show you how to make this fantastic tea-themed Mother’s Day card set!

    Without a doubt, Phyllis Macaluso is the queen of creative cards. Her cards always feature some sort of interactive element and a clever, captivating design! Today, she’s going to show us how to make a beautiful tea-themed Mother’s Day card.

    1. Gather Your Supplies

    To get started, you’ll need a few key supplies, listed below this photo.

    Teapot-Themed Mother's Day Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso

    • Cardstock (in the colors of your choice)
    • Printed version of the Teapot Card Printable Packet
    • Ribbon or thread
    • Pen + nib of your choice (a Pretty in Pink oblique pen + Brause EF66 nib is pictured here)
    • White ink 
    • Scissors
    • X-Acto knife
    • Glue

    2. Print the Project Template

    Print out a copy of the project template (page 1 of the Teapot Card Printable Packet) on whatever printer paper you’ve got. Then, get out a piece of cardstock in a color that appeals to you.

    Teapot-Themed Mother's Day Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso

    3. Trace and Cut

    Cut out your tea-themed templates, then trace around them over your chosen piece of cardstock.

    Teapot-Themed Mother's Day Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso

    Phyllis has generously provided us with a hand-painted floral motif if you’d prefer to trace over that. You can find it in the Teapot Card Printable Packet!

    Teapot-Themed Mother's Day Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso

    4. Decorate Your Teapot

    Fold the bottom half of your teapot up. Then, focus on adding a design to the front of the teapot. You can use watercolor paint, white ink, or just decoupage a motif! If you use Phyllis’s printable floral motif, no further decoration is necessary.

    Teapot-Themed Mother's Day Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso

    6. Add a Message

    Use your dip pen and ink to add a message to the outside of the card. Phyllis has included a list of tea-themed sweet sentiments in the Teapot Card Printable Packet that are perfect for this purpose! As you wait for the ink to dry, you can also decorate the envelope that you plan to put the card in.

    Teapot-Themed Mother's Day Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso
    To learn how to make fabulous floral flourishes similar to Phyllis’s, check out this tutorial! (When Phyllis took this photo, she hadn’t yet written on the outside of her cards.)

    7. Put It All Together

    Now, glue down the edges of the back of the teapot card to make a pocket. Then, fold your teabag, and glue or staple your string or ribbon to it. Finish up by folding the tea tag and gluing the other side of your ribbon inside.

    Teapot-Themed Mother's Day Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso

    8. Send!

    That’s it. 🙂 At this point, you can place your completed card set into an A7 envelope and send! Don’t forget to tuck the teabag and tea tag into the pocket you made on the back of the teapot card.

    Teapot-Themed Mother's Day Card Tutorial by Phyllis Macaluso
    For a clever list of tea-themed Mother’s Day compliments, see Phyllis’s Teapot Card Printable Packet!

    About Phyllis

    Phyllis Macaluso is an incredible artist and calligrapher with a singular style. She uses minimal, delicate, Eastern-inspired brushstrokes to produce expressive floral subjects to accompany her lettering. Phyllis has a background as a schoolteacher and has a passion for teaching students! You can take a seasonal class from her online at Acorn Arts.

    About Phyllis Macaluso

    Phyllis studied extensively with skilled mentors, including Master Penmen like Bill Lilly and Harvest Crittenden. Her work has been featured in publications like Vogue Brides, Dasherie, Calligraphy Crush, and Bound and Lettered. She’s also completed commissions for companies like PBS and Sakura of America. If you love her work, you’ll be thrilled to know that she accepts freelance projects! I strongly encourage you to follow her on Instagram to be wowed and inspired on a regular basis. (And if you pop by her Instagram, be sure to give her some love for this project!)

    Thanks very, very much to Phyllis for creating this tutorial especially for TPK readers! If you like this card, I suspect you’ll also enjoy her folded heart card concept and matchbook Valentine’s Day card. Happy Mother’s Day!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)WhatsApp
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window)X
    • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)Bluesky
    • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)Threads
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Reddit
    • Click to share on Mail (Opens in new window)Mail
Sketchbooking

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.

Join TPK’s free mailing list

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow TPK on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed
  • Mail
Previous post: Calligraphy Pen Comparisons
Next post: The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit

All-time favorite posts

  • The Beginner's Guide to Modern Calligraphy

    The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy

    1.5m views
  • 8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet) | The Postman's Knock

    8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet)

    857k views
  • Painting with Watercolors for Beginners

    Painting with Watercolors for Beginners

    818.1k views
  • Free Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet

    Free Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet

    482.4k views
  • How to Write Faux Calligraphy (Video Tutorial + Free Worksheet)

    363.6k views
  • 11 Calming Calligraphy Drills Printable | The Postman's Knock

    Celebrating Six Years of the “11 Calming Calligraphy Drills” Worksheet (Free Download)

    291.3k views
  • Lovely Loose Watercolor Flowers Tutorial

    Lovely Loose Watercolor Flowers Tutorial

    205.1k views
  • The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit

    The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit

    186.3k views

Latest posts

  • Simple calligraphy envelopes
    3 Easy Ways to Address an EnvelopeNovember 5, 2025
  • Gorgeous Illustrated Autumn Pumpkin Tutorial
    Gorgeous Illustrated Autumn Pumpkin TutorialOctober 22, 2025
  • Spread from "Draw Your Adventures"
    October’s Coffee Date: Drawing Your Days with Samantha Dion BakerOctober 20, 2025
  • Envelope art with a skeleton
    Macabre Mail for the Edward Gorey HouseOctober 16, 2025

Browse by category

Browse by date

49 responses

  1. Fran P Sparks Avatar
    Fran P Sparks
    May 1, 2020

    This is lovely, the entire tea and teapot theme is not only good for one occassion, I think it would make beautiful tea invitations too. Will be making. Thank you

    Log in to Reply
  2. Josephine Tsai Avatar
    Josephine Tsai
    May 1, 2020

    A friend told me about your blog and now we’ve really enjoyed this as we’re staying in- we’re excited to do this as gifts for moms/grandmas! thanks.

    Log in to Reply
  3. Amy Novitski Avatar
    Amy Novitski
    May 1, 2020

    This is a super cute idea! I love tea!

    Log in to Reply
  4. Kim Grandbois Avatar
    Kim Grandbois
    May 1, 2020

    Perfect for my Mum this year! It will keep me busy and she will love the beautiful calligraphy.

    Log in to Reply
  5. Mélissa Lehoux Avatar
    Mélissa Lehoux
    May 1, 2020

    Absolutely gorgeous idea for a thoughtful Mother’s Day! I love the idea of the tea pot! It’s a classic! Thank you for sharing.

    Log in to Reply
  6. Amy C Coker Avatar
    Amy C Coker
    May 1, 2020

    I appreciate all the projects you make available and have done MANY. This one will be ready for my Momma on the 10th.
    Thank you so much.

    Log in to Reply
  7. Mona Steinberg Avatar
    Mona Steinberg
    May 1, 2020

    Fun project!

    Log in to Reply
  8. Karly Avatar
    Karly
    April 30, 2020

    This is beautiful! I’ll be trying my hand at one for my mama!

    Log in to Reply
  9. Heidi Avatar
    Heidi
    April 29, 2020

    Love this tutorial. I wanted to create at least four cards to mail, to make it a little easier to cut, I created an SVG to use on my cutting machine. So flawless and beautiful. Plus, I love the color of the cardstock used. Thanks!

    Log in to Reply
  10. Lacey Avatar
    Lacey
    April 23, 2020

    I love Phyllis’ work. It’s so beautiful!

    Log in to Reply
1 2 3 … 5
Newer Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Sorry! Only TPK Premium members can comment on articles and tutorials. You can become a member here. Already a member? Sign in.

The other day, I was thinking about sending out ho The other day, I was thinking about sending out holiday cards, and I immediately dismissed the thought with, “I have zero time to calligraph envelopes for those.” ✍️

... But is that true? I put it to the test for the latest article on the TPK Blog. Using some time-saving tricks I’ve learned over the years (like using a watery ink, a bouncy calligraphy style, and minimal pencil guidelines), I timed myself making three envelope concepts. Two of them took 5 minutes or less. The most time-intensive took 5 minutes, 30 seconds. The envelopes still turned out looking elegant, especially with the help of some artistic postage stamp collages. 💌

For clear step-by-step tutorials detailing how to make these envelopes and sourcing pretty postage, visit the TPK Blog (link in bio, then navigate to “Blog”)!

#snailmail #mail #calligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #happymail #snailmailrevolution #mailbox #postage #vintagepostage
After I chose this music to accompany this reel, i After I chose this music to accompany this reel, it dawned on me: drawing a calligraphy medallion is like, well, Belle’s arc with the Beast. 

At first, it’s a bit of a weird situation. Strange shapes, questionable structure, possibly some growling (à la “YOU WILL JOIN ME FOR DINNER. That’s not a request!”) when the inevitable ink smudge happens. You keep thinking, “I’m not sure why I’m doing this ... should I hop on Felipe and gallop away?” 🐎

But something shifts as the medallion starts to come to life. And when you finish that last detail and pull back, the music swells. Light bursts from your paper like it did from Beast’s digits as he transformed into a stunningly beautiful prince. ✨ You’re practically in a ballroom celebrating, and, wait, did your furniture just turn into an adoring crowd that’s celebrating your fortitude and skill?

(And now you know how my mind works 🧠 ... I love a good metaphor, no matter how weak it may be!) 

To learn how to make a calligraphy medallion, just search for “calligraphy medallion” on the TPK site (link in bio). You’ll find both free Blog tutorials and detailed premium worksheets.

... I’ll show myself out now. 🙈

#pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphy #handwritten #pointedpen #dippen #calligraphymedallion #calligraphydrill #calligraphypractice
My favorite autumn projects are the ones that remi My favorite autumn projects are the ones that remind you how cozy this season can be. 🍂 This project definitely fits the bill ... create it with a hot, comforting drink nearby and an excellent audiobook, and you’re in for a treat! ☕️ ✍️ The tutorial on the TPK Blog (link in bio, then navigate to Blog) is super detailed, with mini tutorial videos to guide you every step of the way.

#autumnart #watercolortutorial #arttutorial #handpainted #paintingtutorial #pointedpen #dippen #flourishing
Happy Halloween! 👻 This year, I’m pretending Happy Halloween! 👻 This year, I’m pretending to be ... someone who writes calligraphy quickly! (No, just kidding — not about the video being sped up, but the choice of costume. I actually picked up a skeleton PJ set at Goodwill. 💀)

Even if you won’t be indulging in candy, remember to treat yourself this season, starting this weekend! The holiday season can be hectic, and it’s important to claim some relaxing time for yourself. Cheers to the “holidaze”! 🥂

#halloweencalligraphy #calligraphy #pointedpen #dippen #handwritten #writingvideo #calligraphyvideo
🎃 This is the last week that Halloween calligra 🎃 This is the last week that Halloween calligraphy drills will be available at TPK! Find what you like in the shop, download, then print it out on a pointed pen-friendly paper. Then, let the (happily!) spooky vibes take over while you practice your strokes. ✍️👻

➡ Link in bio to visit the TPK site.

#calligraphydrills #halloween #calligraphypractice #learncalligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #dippen #pointedpen
✍️ Learn with us! Right now, TPK Premium membe ✍️ Learn with us! Right now, TPK Premium members are working their way through a new version of The Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course. It’s an *awesome* course that’s even more thorough than the original version (which is saying a lot because the original course has 281 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ reviews)! We just had the Lesson 3 class discussion this morning, ️and I’m so impressed with how much progress students are making — and I love their observations! One person compared using the Brause EF66 nib to driving a Lexus, which I got a kick out of. 🚘 

Premium membership ($5/month) grants you complimentary access to the course through January 6th; take it live with us! Once this course wraps up, we’ll be moving on to the new Intermediate Modern Calligraphy Online Course in February. 

Find details by visiting the link in my bio. I’d love to help you build those foundational skills that will allow you to create gorgeous envelopes, place cards, invitations, quotes, correspondence, and much more! The Lesson 4 class discussion is three weeks from now, so you’ve got plenty of time to catch up. 😊

#learncalligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #writingcalligraphy #calligraphycourse #learningcalligraphy #writingcalligraphy #realtimecalligraphy
🍂 The newest tutorial on the TPK Blog walks you 🍂 The newest tutorial on the TPK Blog walks you through how to make this gorgeous illustration, step-by-step, with helpful instructional videos. To find the tutorial, visit the link in my profile, then navigate to the blog. ENJOY! 🤗

(PS - Loving the colors in the @greenleafblue Anthesis set ... I used French Orange Ochre, American Violet Hematite, Pyrrole Scarlet, and Italian Green Earth to make this pumpkin. All *fabulous* autumn tones!)
Loved chatting with @sdionbakerdesign and @greenle Loved chatting with @sdionbakerdesign and @greenleafblue last Friday! Samantha is exactly as thoughtful and creative as you’d imagine from her Draw Your… books — and this answer to Jennifer’s question says it all. ✨ Just have fun and make art!

☕ Want to watch/listen to the whole conversation? Head over to the TPK Blog to hit play on the recording! (Link in bio, then navigate to “Blog”.)

#artistchat #artist #samanthadionbaker #greenleafandblueberry #thepostmansknock #arttalk #creativity #sketchbooking #sketchbook #artadvice
The Postman’s Knock

About

  • About Lindsey
  • Get to Know TPK
  • Behind the Scenes
  • How I Learned Calligraphy

Legalese

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refunds & Return Policy
  • GDPR Data Erasure Request

Printable Worksheets

  • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Styles
  • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Drills
  • Brush Pen Calligraphy
  • Handwriting
  • Hand-Lettering

Courses

  • Beginner’s Pointed Pen Calligraphy
  • Intermediate Pointed Pen Calligraphy
  • Beginner’s Watercolors

Help

  • Contact Lindsey
  • Calligraphy FAQs
  • Calligraphy Troubleshooting

Subscribe to the Blog

Join over 125,000 creative minds who receive inspiring, value-packed emails from TPK each week. As a free subscriber, you’ll get helpful tutorials, free worksheets, and creative ideas delivered straight to your inbox—plus the occasional sneak peek or special offer.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow TPK on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed
  • Mail

© Copyright 2025 The Postman’s Knock – All rights reserved

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
  • Manage options
  • Manage services
  • Manage {vendor_count} vendors
  • Read more about these purposes
View preferences
  • {title}
  • {title}
  • {title}
Writing Copperplate Calligraphy

Unlock Exclusive Perks with Premium Plus

Fuel your inspiration and creativity with TPK Premium Plus! Members enjoy three free worksheets or learning resources every month, unlimited video course access, member-exclusive tutorials, and a 10% discount on all Supplies Shop orders.

join today ($15)
All About the Brause Rose Nib

inspiration in your inbox

Let The Postman’s Knock Spark Your Creativity

TPK’s innovative newsletters are an artistic treat. Join the 125K+ subscribers who have already discovered The Postman’s Knock, and receive 10% off your first Digital Catalog order.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.