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  • Using Mail Art to Mellow Out

    February 10, 2022

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    — 3 Comments

    Intermediate Calligraphy, Mail Art

    I’m due to have a little girl on February 14th, and — let me tell you — the last week of waiting for a baby to arrive can be stressful! No matter how anxious I get, making mail art never fails to help me relax. That’s why I delved into making some artistic envelopes this…

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    Using Mail Art to Mellow Out

    To me, mail art is the perfect project for a few reasons. First, an envelope is only so big, so decorating it usually doesn’t take up much time. I love that there are loose parameters to follow like the address format/stamp location, and that you can let loose within those parameters! Most of all, I enjoy making something pretty for someone else. Today, I’m sharing four mail art envelopes that I made this week while waiting for the arrival of our baby #2. She could come at any time, so I embraced these envelopes as bite-sized projects to help me “mellow out” and relax. I hope that seeing them will inspire you to dive into making some mail art, too!

    1. White, Gray, and Gold Flourished Mail Art

    This envelope features plenty of swoops and flourishes, along with dots of gold watercolor to give it a magical touch. The mail art might look spontaneous, but I used a white pencil to make a draft of the calligraphy beforehand. If you have the time, make address drafts first! Doing so ensures that your address is legible, fits on the envelope, and has organic-looking flourishes.

    White, Gray, and Gold Calligraphy Envelope

    Here’s a supply list for making an envelope like this one:

    • Dark-colored envelope (I used “Dark Grey” from Cards & Pockets)
    • White mechanical pencil
    • Bleed Proof White Ink
    • Arabic gold watercolor
    • Your preferred dip pen + nib combination (I used a Brause EF66 nib in an oblique pen)
    Calligraphy Mail Art Draft
    If you can spare a couple of minutes, use a pencil to plan out the calligraphy and flourishes for your envelope art first!

    2. Lacy Butterflies Envelope Art

    Never underestimate the power of decoupage (a.k.a. gluing a piece of paper to something else — in this case, an envelope). With some scissors, glue, and a cool motif, you can elevate a humble envelope into something that’s beautiful to look at! In this case, I glued a couple of small lace butterflies to a vibrant orange #10 envelope. Next came a calligraphy draft, ink, and a couple of stamps.

    Lacy Butterflies Mail Art Envelope
    Note that one of the postage stamps that I used here is a “Forever” stamp, which ensures the envelope will make it through the postal system. The other stamp, which I cut to fit on the envelope, is just for decoration.

    Here’s a supply list for making an envelope like this one:

    • #10 envelope (I used “Tangy Orange” from Cards & Pockets)
    • Printable Illustrated Lace Butterflies
    • Scissors (mine are from Studio Carta)
    • White mechanical pencil – to make a draft
    • Bleed Proof White Ink
    • Sumi ink
    • Arabic gold watercolor
    • Your preferred dip pen + nib combination (I used a Brause EF66 nib in an oblique pen)

    3. White and Gold Spatters Mail Art

    This mail art has a bit of a celestial look because of its loops and spatters! Just like with the Lacy Butterflies Envelope Art, a Forever stamp serves to deliver this envelope safely to its destination. The second stamp has been cut to fill in space, and it’s just for decoration.

    Gold Spatters Mail Art Envelope
    Amy Style calligraphy adds playfulness and bounce to this mail art.

    Here’s a supply list for making an envelope like this one:

    • A2 envelope (I used “Ultra Black” from Cards & Pockets)
    • White mechanical pencil – to make a draft
    • Bleed Proof White Ink
    • Arabic gold watercolor – Learn how to use it to write calligraphy here
    • Your preferred dip pen + nib combination (I used a Brause EF66 nib in an oblique pen)

    Remember that you can always jazz up the back of an envelope, too. When my recipient turns this envelope over, she’ll find a flourished gold raccoon cub from the Woodland Creatures Calligraphy Flourishing Worksheet.

    Flourished Calligraphy Raccoon on the Back of an Envelope
    This sweet little raccoon cub was created using instructions from the Woodland Creatures Calligraphy Flourishing Worksheet.

    4. Vintage Illustrated Roses Envelope

    Like the Lacy Butterflies Envelope Art, this piece uses decoupage to stand out. To make it, I cut roses and leaves from the Medium Roses Template. Then, I glued them around the perimeter of the envelope. To finish up, I used Janet Style calligraphy to write the recipient’s name in white ink.

    Vintage Illustrated Roses Envelope Art
    If you’re writing Janet Style calligraphy, a white mechanical pencil is a must for drawing guidelines.

    Here’s a supply list for making an envelope like this one:

    • #10 envelope (I used “Gumdrop Green” from Cards & Pockets)
    • Illustrated Roses Templates for Tracing/Collage
    • Scissors (mine are from Studio Carta)
    • White mechanical pencil
    • Bleed Proof White Ink
    • Black gel pen (for adding contour to the white calligraphy)
    • Your preferred dip pen + nib combination (I used a Brause EF66 nib in an oblique pen)

    Using Mail Art to Mellow Out

    I hope that you enjoyed looking at the mail art in today’s article, and that the photos inspire you to try your hand at decorating your own envelopes! If you can’t think of anyone to write to, remember that More Love Letters is a great place to look. On that note, if you enjoyed these envelopes, I suspect that you’ll like these TPK Blog articles, too:

    • Inspirational #10 Envelope Art Examples
    • Six Calligraphy Envelopes, Two Hours
    • All of the TPK Blog tutorials in the Mail Art category

    Thanks so much for reading, and happy creating!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

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About the author

Hi! I’m Lindsey Bugbee! The designer + illustrator + calligrapher behind The Postman’s Knock (TPK). TPK is a blog focused on teaching creative techniques and offering guides to learning modern calligraphy and illustration. I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy writing it! If you are new to calligraphy, check out the Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy!

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3 responses

  1. Richard White Avatar
    Richard White
    February 21, 2022

    great

    Reply
  2. Vicki Avatar
    Vicki
    February 10, 2022

    Beautiful! Good luck with baby number two!

    Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      February 13, 2022

      Thank you! Any day now!

      Reply

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Well done, @pracheenart! I’d venture to say that Well done, @pracheenart! I’d venture to say that the “Easy Illuminated Letter Tutorial” is the most popular on the TPK site. It’s sparkly and intricate, but also very beginner-friendly because of the free alphabet printables that come with the tutorial. ✨ See the tutorial by visiting the link in my profile. Long live pretty letters! 

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Several years ago, a TPK reader sent me a blunt sy Several years ago, a TPK reader sent me a blunt syringe that she’d picked up at an art supplies shop in Japan. At first, I wondered what on earth I’d do with such a thing! Then, the usages just kept coming. Now, I always have a blunt syringe around to dilute inks with water, moisten watercolors, and turn gouache into ink!

If you’ve just been using a spoon to add water to your inks/paints, you’ll appreciate the precision that a blunt syringe offers. Like a black eraser, it’s a cheap powerhouse tool. Pick one up next time you place an order at TPK! At $1.50, it’s not really worth ordering by itself (frankly, shipping will cost more than the syringe), but it’s the perfect add-on item. Visit the link in my profile to find it!

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Mixed up such a fantastic pink gouache that I forg Mixed up such a fantastic pink gouache that I forgot how to spell “fantastic”. 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️ But who can blame me? This pink on black is soooo cool!

To make this tone, I combined Schmincke gouache tones — opaque white and madder red — in a 0.5 oz container. I added probably 1.5 teaspoons of water and let everything sit for a couple of minutes to give the gouache time to loosen up a bit. (The white, especially, comes out of the tube with a fairly solid texture.) Then, I used a chopstick to stir everything up. After that, voilà: a fabulous opaque pink! 🎨

Some people add gum arabic to their gouache; I’ve found that this isn’t necessary with the Schmincke. Since it’s intended specifically for calligraphy, it tends to cooperate as soon as you’ve mixed it in that perfect creamy viscosity. To learn more about how to use gouache to write calligraphy, visit the link in my profile.

Okay, off to write more pink calligraphy — and hopefully it will be spelled correctly this time. 😁 Have a “fantasic” day!

#pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphy #moderncalligraphy #gouachecalligraphy #pointedpen #schmincke #calligraphygouache #calligraphypractice #dippencalligraphy #misspelling #calligraphylove #calligrapher #calligraphyart #calligraphymasters #flourishing #calligraphycommunity #calligraphylettering #pointedpenlove #pinkandblack #calligraphyaddict #pinkcalligraphy #pointedpenpractice #handwriting #thecalligraphyhub #dippen #handwritten #penmanship #handmade #modernscript #letteringchallenge
A lot of people don’t realize what a slow, inten A lot of people don’t realize what a slow, intentional process pointed pen calligraphy is. It’s not about the speed; it’s about the focus. You see the pace I’m going in this video? That’s what you need to shoot for! It’s okay to go a little bit faster or a little bit slower — calligraphy isn’t one size fits all — but pointed pen calligraphy is *never* going to reach a pace that’s similar to that of everyday handwriting. ✍️ 

Calligraphy drills are really great for figuring out what speed works best for you and sorting out your ability to make stroke contrast. This drills sheet is a free download at TPK, and I encourage you to take advantage of it! It starts with basic drills like the one I’m doing here, then it progresses to a page with a gorgeous flourished seahorse drill. Everything in the drills sheet has a marine theme because why not keep it fun? 🧜‍♀️🐟 PDF link in profile! 

Speaking of a marine theme: I absolutely love this song. My husband makes fun of me for it (“What? Are you a pirate now, or ...?”) Of course, I am jumping at the chance to include it in a reel. 😁

#pointedpen #calligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #moderncalligraphy #calligraphydrills #handlettering #lettering #pointedpendrills #penmanship #handwritten #dippen #flourishing #calligraphypractice #calligraphymasters #calligrapher #dippencalligraphy #calligraphyart #calligraphylove #freecalligraphyworksheet #calligraphycommunity #calligraphyworksheet #calligraphylettering #freecalligraphydrills #flourish #obliquepen #learncalligraphy #learnpointedpencalligraphy #pointedpenlove #fearlessflourishing #thecalligraphyhub
Did you know: this fabulous (hand-drawn!!) thank y Did you know: this fabulous (hand-drawn!!) thank you card is a FREE printable on the TPK website. You can follow the link in my profile to download it. 🥳

Once you’ve got the file, print it out on the highest quality print setting you have. Print it on the heaviest paper that your printer will allow you to use; I use an Epson paper that’s around  100# and great for printing off artwork. Then, cut out the design, fold it, and write your message on the inside. And voilà: an instant + unique thank you card!

#diycard #diythankyoucard #freedownload #penandinkillustration #illustration #handmadecards #paperlove #stationeryaddict #artprintable #cardmaking #gratitudecards #snailmaillove #printathome #craftyday #diyproject #greetingcards #thankyounotes #printablecards #cardcrafting #paperprojects #creativeexpression #stationerylove #papercrafts #inkandpaper #craftersofinstagram #paperpassion #cardlover #cardmakersofinstagram #sendmoremail
If you plan on giving a DIY gift or two this holid If you plan on giving a DIY gift or two this holiday season, now is the best time to start planning! Pretty soon, we’ll be knee-deep in the “holidaze”, when it’s impossible to get practically anything done. 

To me, this anniversary artwork (which could double as a holiday gift) is the perfect thoughtful present. It’s a conversation-starter, a memory-keeper, and a celebration all rolled into one! It’s also incredibly time-consuming to make something like this, so there’s that. 🤷‍♀️ But: the most precious commodity we have is time, which makes gifts like this one all the more special. To find instructions over how to make it — along with the help of a digital shortcut — visit the link in my profile!

#anniversaryart #anniversary #art #anniversarygifts #watercolorart #anniversarygift #illustration #love #watercolorwedding #weddinganniversarygift #painting #holidaygift #happyanniversary #anniversarygiftsforhim #anniversarygiftideas #diypresent #procreateart #anniversarygiftcustom #diywatercolorart #watercolorpainting #watercolortutorial #dailyart #handmade #connecticutlove #coupleart #cute #poitnedpencalligraphy #pointedpen #dippen #customartwork
** Nib on paper ASMR ** 😌 ✍️ In today’s ** Nib on paper ASMR ** 😌 ✍️ 

In today’s technology-saturated world, handwriting often gets tossed to the wayside. Some say that handwriting doesn’t really matter anymore, but I disagree. For one thing, handwriting is one of the most personal reflections of you. To hold something that someone wrote feels more intimate than looking at a photo — probably because a piece of handwriting requires active concentration and touch from its writer. (For this reason, I love looking through my late grandmother’s recipe box, with all its handwritten ingredient lists and instructions). ❤️

Furthermore, studies have shown that handwriting stimulates the brain differently than typing, promoting better retention of information and aiding in the learning process. The act of putting pen to paper can also be therapeutic, offering a mindful respite from the constant screen time and digital distractions. Plus, in an age of emails and texts, a handwritten note or letter carries an emotional weight and sentimentality that digital communication often lacks. 

Sometimes, though, people feel self-conscious about their handwriting. If that resonates with you, here are my top three tips for writing in fluid, pretty cursive:

1️⃣ Use a pen with smooth ink flow (in this video, I’m using a Pilot Falcon fountain pen; but I often use Pentel Touch or Pilot G2 05 gel pens).

2️⃣ Practice regularly with guided worksheets (TPK has a *fabulous* — and rigorous — elegant cursive worksheet; link in profile).

3️⃣ Analyze and adjust your grip and posture for comfort. A relaxed grip is key!

#CursiveHandwriting #HandwritingTips #CalligraphyLove #CursivePractice #HandwritingMatters #CursiveWriting #Penmanship #HandwritingHelp #WritingJourney #ImproveYourHandwriting #HandwritingGoals #ScriptLove #CursiveGoals #WriteBetter #ModernCalligraphy #WritingTips #HandLettering #LetteringLove #CursiveScript #HandwritingImprovement #ScriptPractice #HandwritingCoach #LoveToWrite #HandwritingSkills #Scripting #CursiveMagic #WriteDaily #HandwritingPassion #ElegantScript #ScriptTransformations”
👻 Is Halloween on your radar yet? If yes, consi 👻 Is Halloween on your radar yet? If yes, consider sending cards or making delightfully creepy artwork to start celebrating! Follow the link in my profile for Halloween inspiration, including free tutorials and worksheets + information about TPK’s premium artistic Halloween resources. 

This is a time lapse video of the trumpet vine sugar skull illustration tutorial from TPK’s “Halloween Fun Art and Calligraphy Worksheet” — which includes an optional instructional video component! I’ve included traceable templates to ensure that your illustrated skull looks gorgeous every time. 💀🌹

#HalloweenInspiration #CreepyArtwork #HalloweenCards #ArtisticHalloween #HalloweenFun #CalligraphyWorksheets #HalloweenCalligraphy #SugarSkullArt #TrumpetVine #IllustrationTutorial #HalloweenCrafts #SpookyArt #OctoberCrafts #DIYHalloween #HalloweenArtProjects #SkullIllustration #HalloweenCountdown #SpookySeason #ArtisticResources #TraceableTemplates #ArtTutorials #CreepyCreations #HalloweenCreatives #SpookySketches #HalloweenDIY #SkullArt #CelebrateHalloween #HalloweenLovers #FallCrafting #GhoulishGraphics
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