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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.

    TPK’s Top Hits of 2020

    December 29, 2020

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Roundup

    Today, we’re taking a look at 2020 reader favorites! From everyone’s favorite nib to the most downloaded free printable, this list will tell you what was popular this year on TPK.

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    TPK's Top Hits of 2020

    For me, this time of year offers a chance for personal reflection. I especially love to think about the highlights of my year so I can go into the new year feeling accomplished and invigorated! For today’s article, I decided to do the same for TPK. This post highlights the seven “top hits” of 2020 — plus my personal favorite 2020 tutorial.

    1. Most Read Blog Post of 2020: All of TPK’s Free Calligraphy Worksheets: A Master List

    Not Your Average Calligraphy Drills Sheet | The Postman's Knock

    In March of 2020, I put together a master list of TPK’s free calligraphy worksheets. Unsurprisingly, that blog post ended up being the most popular of 2020. In it, you’ll find every calligraphy-related worksheet on the site. Whenever a new worksheet comes on the scene, I add it to the list!

    READ THE BLOG POST

    2. Most Popular eCourse of 2020: The Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course

    Can You Really Learn Calligraphy Online?

    The TPK Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course is an online version of my Boulder, CO, workshops. This year, of course, the online course soared in popularity since we couldn’t get together to do anything in person! With its calming exercises and detailed videos, this course has taught many a learner how to use a pen — and several have gone on to successfully tackle the Intermediate Course afterwards.

    CHECK OUT THE ECOURSE

    3. Most Downloaded Free Printable of 2020: Improve Your Cursive Worksheet Set

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

    Nearly 200,000 people have downloaded this free worksheet set. That tells me that a lot of us are interested in improving our handwriting! I piggybacked off of the Improve Your Cursive worksheet set with a Cursive Exemplar and My Grandmother’s Handwriting Worksheet, but nothing has touched the popularity of the original cursive worksheet!

    DOWNLOAD THIS WORKSHEET

    4. Most Popular Calligraphy Nib of 2020: Nikko G

    The Best Beginner Calligraphy Nib: The Nikko G | The Postman's Knock

    Thousands of Nikko G nibs found new homes in TPK readers’ calligraphy collections this year. The Nikko G was, by far, the most-ordered nib of 2020. Considering its beginner-friendly nature and its versatility (you can use it to make illustrations or calligraphy), that doesn’t come as a surprise!

    DISCOVER THE NIKKO G NIB

    5. Reader Favorite Tutorial of 2020: Coronavirus Quarantine Sketchbook

    Sharing My Quarantine Sketchbook Page

    The Coronavirus Quarantine Sketchbook Inspiration tutorial enjoyed a lot of popularity on Pinterest this year. I imagine that looking at the page resonated with a lot of people because of the worldwide shared quarantine experience. Plus, sketchbooking provides a great way to record memories! (In fact, until I looked at this page again, I had forgotten that I fractured my foot earlier this year!)

    READ THE TUTORIAL

    6. Most Popular Ink of 2020: Finetec Arabic Gold Pan

    Finetec Gold Watercolors | The Postman's Knock

    The Finetec Arabic Gold pan was the most popular ink in the TPK Supplies Shop this year. People love the opaque metallic “ink” for its versatility (you can use it on dark- or light-colored papers), its low cost, and the fact that it’s super portable. You can find a list of TPK projects that use Finetec watercolors here.

    GET THE GOLD

    7. Most Downloaded Calligraphy Worksheet of 2020: Amy Style Calligraphy

    Amy Style Calligraphy Worksheet

    In my opinion, the Amy Style calligraphy worksheet is the most approachable set for those who are new to calligraphy. Since its release five years ago, this worksheet set has consistently been an annual favorite. 2020 was no exception!

    CHECK OUT THE WORKSHEET

    8. My Favorite 2020 Tutorial: How to Make a Gorgeous Calligraphy Family Tree

    Adding Finetec Gold to the Calligraphy Family Tree

    The How to Make a Gorgeous Calligraphy Family Tree tutorial was my personal favorite this year! I love how the combination of vivid black ink, gold accents, and handmade cotton paper come together to create a stunning and deeply personal piece. I also enjoyed getting to do a little bit of family research! The project may look intimidating, but a pencil draft provides insurance against any mess-ups.

    LEARN HOW TO MAKE A FAMILY TREE


    I hope that you enjoyed reading through this list of TPK’s top hits of 2020! It was fun to get to look at the numbers and find out what the favorites were this year. Thanks very much for your support and readership in 2020, and here’s hoping for a fabulous 2021!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

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About The Postman’s Knock (TPK)

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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❤️ Valentine’s Day calligraphy drills ❤️ ❤️ Valentine’s Day calligraphy drills ❤️ I’m using a Nikko G nib, a straight pen, and Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bombay ink (red). Drills are good because they help you to practice your stroke contrast, writing rhythm, and spacing. You don’t have to do them *all* the time (projects also help you practice!), but I find them to be pretty relaxing ... even more so when they’re part of a worksheet, and all you really need to do is follow directions. 

The worksheet shown here is a freebie from TPK. Direct link can be found in the comments section! ✍️

#calligraphydrills #calligraphyworksheet #valentinesdaycalligraphy #valentinescalligraphy #calligraphypractice
WHAT a trip down memory lane, going through the 20 WHAT a trip down memory lane, going through the 2016 TPK Blog archives to make this little compilation. I loved 2016 and cannot believe it was a decade ago!! 😱 That year brought some of my favorite projects, like the calligraphy ampersand (which is still a popular tutorial), fabric wedding invitations, and George Style hand lettering. 2016 was also the year that my husband and I traveled to Brazil, which is still my favorite place I’ve ever visited. 

The year ended with a blitz of calligraphy workshops ... I taught in Portland, Berkeley, Brooklyn, and Tampa — all in close succession! November saw my family trying out brush pens (spoiler alert: only my 2-year-old niece, who is now 12, has stuck with brush pens), and December brought *the very first* TPK Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet set, which was created as the result of a reader request. 10 years later, I still make a new holiday worksheet set each year. 

Grateful for TPK’s 2016 ride, and I’m so looking forward to what 2026 holds! Thanks to everyone who has helped this creative corner of the internet continue to thrive. 🙏 🎨

#thepostmansknock #2016 #throwback #pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphy
There is nothing like a clean, well-organized wate There is nothing like a clean, well-organized watercolor chart. I used to make watercolor chart layouts using math and grids (which, trust me, was painful for someone like me, who doesn’t *love* numbers/measuring/calculations) ... then it occurred to me that I could use Photoshop to give myself a little boost. Much less math and fretting, which for me equals much more joy! Palette is from @greenleafblue — she made it so I could have a gorgeous palette for “The Calligraphy Book”, and this color chart definitely helped to boost the aesthetic of an already stunning supply. 🎨😍

If you’re curious about this technique for making a watercolor chart, you can search the TPK website for “watercolor chart” ... there’s a detailed blog post over how to use the template method that I’m showing you here!

#watercolorpalette #watercolorchart #colorchart #watercolorpaints #artchart
An X-Acto knife (aka a hobby knife) is one of thos An X-Acto knife (aka a hobby knife) is one of those tools that is indispensable for a lot of applications. It was designed to make precise cuts, which, of course, it does well! But, you can also use it to scrape off unwanted ink smears (pro tip: after the fact, you can smooth disturbed paper fibers with a pebble), create interesting interior cuts, trim tiny details that scissors can’t reach, make stencils and templates, refine collage elements, and gently correct small drawing or calligraphy mistakes.

I have used X-Acto knives for many TPK Blog tutorials, but up until last week, I’d never written a guide that puts the X-Acto knife front and center. That guide now exists, and you can find it by visiting the link 🔗 in my profile. Be sure to watch the tutorial video!

#xactoknife #hobbyknife #papercutting #papercutart #xactoknifeart
Just back in the TPK Supplies Shop: Finetec Arabic Just back in the TPK Supplies Shop: Finetec Arabic Gold watercolor pans (and the fabulous Finetec Golds palette). ✨ Gold makes *anything* gorgeous, but use it to make a calligraphy medallion, and it’s just next-level. 🤩 (Tutorial for this particular medallion can be found in the Dancing Pen Calligraphy Medallions Worksheet Set). 

To find the golds + the worksheet, visit the link in my bio, then navigate to “Shop”. Happy weekend! 

#goldcalligraphy #goldwatercolor #pointedpencalligraphy #fineteccoliro #goldcalligraphy
Hard to fit everything in, but this was 2025 in a Hard to fit everything in, but this was 2025 in a nutshell at TPK! 🥜

This year, I loved teaching at @thehappyevercrafter’s Workshop Week and participating in @calmingcalligraphy’s World Calligraphy as Meditation Day. And seeing the TPK calligraphy kit featured in @newyorkermag’s 2025 holiday gift guide was an unexpected (and delightful) cherry on top! 🍒

So much of what happened over the past year, though, was shaped by the TPK Premium community. Their questions and feedback helped guide Hand Lettering 101, while their encouragement fueled tutorials on topics ranging from turning red wine into calligraphy ink to illustrating recipes, painting with a wedge brush, and creating greeting cards and envelope art. 💌 That same support made it possible to create new worksheets and resources that others were able to enjoy as well, which I’m very grateful for. 

For a fuller recap (with helpful links and details) I shared a 2025 reflection on the TPK blog (link in bio).

#handlettering #gracefulenvelopecontest #pointedpencalligraphy #discordcommunity #calligraphyteacher
Which is your favorite koi-themed envelope? The fi Which is your favorite koi-themed envelope? The first one (A. Moreira), which was created as a prop for “The Calligraphy Book” ... *or* the second (Nigel Wright), which was created for the photographer who took pictures of the Moreira envelope for “The Calligraphy Book”? (When I heard how much Nigel had loved the first koi envelope, I made him his own variation!) 🎏

#mailart #snailmail #mailbox #snailmailrevolution #koiart
✨ A little comparison today … because not all ✨ A little comparison today ... because not all golds behave the same.

✦ Finetec gold → bright, cheerful, and versatile
✦ Greenleaf & Blueberry faux brass → softer, muted, and stunning
✦ Yasutomo pale gold → velvety, subtle shimmer with a sensible amount of sparkle

I love having all three on hand and choosing based on the feel I want for a project. It’s tough to go wrong! ✨

#moderncalligraphy #calligraphytools #goldink #watercolorcalligraphy #letteringcommunity mailart calligraphypractice artmaterials creativeprocess handlettering
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