by
The TPK 2024 Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet Set is officially available! Today, I’m walking you through exactly how to create the “Be Merry” greeting on page 3 in a detailed video tutorial. Enjoy!
Eight years ago, a TPK Blog reader reached out around this time of year asking for a resource that would help her to write holiday calligraphy phrases for cards and envelopes. That’s how the very first TPK holiday calligraphy worksheet came about, and worksheets have been an annual tradition ever since. Each year’s worksheet has a different “flavor” — 2020 mainly focused on flourishing, and 2021 was all about holiday-themed calligraphy drills, for example. (You can read about and compare the different holiday calligraphy worksheets here.)
Earlier this year, I asked owners of past TPK holiday worksheet editions for feedback. What did they want to see in this year’s worksheet set? A majority of worksheet owners requested motifs that look good on a holiday card. Others suggested specific imagery, like a flourished cardinal. People generally wanted exercises that are easy to follow, relaxing, and inspirational. This year’s worksheet checks all those boxes!
The worksheet starts with holiday embellishments, which will give you inspiration for enhancing any holiday paper good (think: envelopes, cards, gift tags, place cards). Then, you’ll learn how to make a festive “Be Merry” motif, which I’ll walk you through in today’s video demo as well. Next, you’ll practice writing four common holiday phrases in different calligraphy styles (“Season’s Greetings”, “Happy Holidays!”, “Merry Everything”, and “Let it snow!”).
After you finish practicing the phrases, you’ll learn how to make a quick “Let it snow!” tree with that particular phrase. (Hint: Make the tree on a card, and you’ve got an instant unique holiday greeting.)
Finally, you’ll finish up with two flourish-based exercises: a partridge and a cardinal. They were designed with greeting cards in mind, but they’d also look great as part of a holiday sketchbook page or as envelope art.
My favorite part of this year’s worksheet set is the “Be Merry” Embellished Greeting. It might not seem like it, but motifs like the one below are extremely forgiving. There’s so much going on that observers won’t notice shaky strokes or wobbly snowflakes.
Part of my goal in creating this TPK Premium community is to facilitate both education and relaxation. So, let’s make the calming and — yes, somewhat challenging — “Be Merry” embellished greeting together! In the video demonstration below, I’ll walk you through how to make a tented black holiday card with gold calligraphy. If you create a pencil draft like I did, and I recommend that you do (at least for your first “Be Merry” card), the project will take about 30-45 minutes.
It might only be the beginning of November, but you’ll be glad that you created holiday paper goods in advance. When the “holidaze” gets into full swing, it can be tough to find time to do anything! So, it’s a good idea to make cards and creations now. If you don’t have time to make a “Be Merry!” card, the “Let it snow!” tree project from the worksheet set is an excellent quick alternative.
If you like to practice calligraphy using the Procreate app on your iPad, you can get the TPK Holiday Calligraphy 2024 Worksheet PROCREATE Edition. Just purchase the listing, download the .procreate file to your iPad, and open it using the Procreate app.
The Procreate version of the worksheet set is great for those who want to practice their pressure exertion while writing. Those digital writing skills, believe it or not, can translate into very real results when you’re using a pointed pen. Digital calligraphy practice is also nice for when it’s not practical to use your calligraphy supplies — e.g. when you’re traveling or young, ink spill-prone curious hands are lurking nearby. As we’ll discuss later this month in The Beginner’s Guide to Procreate, the Procreate app can be really useful for a number of things, from planning out interior design possibilities to making calligraphy layouts. Don’t worry: I will explain it all in a way that’s understandable for all of my self-proclaimed luddites.
I hope that you enjoy this year’s worksheet set! If you have any suggestions for next year, please feel free to share them. I’m always appreciative for inspiration, and I know that Premium members are an especially creative group. Thanks so much for reading, and we’ll reconvene this Sunday with an artistic kitchen remodel show-and-tell!
Have a lovely week,
inspiration in your inbox
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.
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.
