how to handletter

Archives for April 2019

3 Brush Pens You May Not Have Heard Of

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Today I’m sharing a few brush pens that aren’t as commonly used by lettering artists. I’ll be demonstrating some modern calligraphy (aka hand lettering) using each of these unique brush pens.

Click to watch the video tutorial or simply read below👇

Marvy Unchida Le Pen Flex

The Lepen Flex is a new brush pen product from this brand and is similar to the ColorIn markers you often see me using. They come in lovely colors and the brush tip is very small and soft. This pen is similar looking and named to another product that they have so make sure what you’re purchasing is the “Flex” if this is the one you want.

Sharpie Brush Pens

Sharpie has a few products that can be used for brush lettering but many of them aren’t designed for hand lettering. The Sharpie Brush Pens, however, come in a big pack of colors and the tip feels somewhat unique to me. It’s very thin and bouncy which I am a huge fan of!

Fibralo Brush Pens

I recently shared the Fibralo Brush Pens in a recent pen haul but I wanted to point it out here after I recently saw someone using it. This brush pen tip is really bouncy and great for creating that bouncy style of lettering. It feels like that really great in-between size brush pen tip – not too large or too small. This pen is good for writing small or doing large lettering as well.

If you’re interested in improving your hand lettering as a beginner, check out my FREE 7 day hand lettering mini course here: http://howtohandletter.com/minicourse

How to Set Up Your Bullet Journal

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Today I’m showing you how I set up my bullet journal for a new year. You’ll see how I map out my bullet journal in a plan with me style and how I layout my monthly view.

Watch the video tutorial or simply follow my instructions below.

I’m using a white Leichtturm 1917 bullet journal along with some of my favorite pens for hand lettering:

Tombow Dual Tip in Black
Tombow Dual Tip Brush Pen in Pink
Tombow Fude Pen
Crayola Supertips
Copic Sketch Marker
Pigma Micron 05

The first page is my journal key. I keep these really simple because I know I’m going to be looking back at it every single day. I’ve used these four symbols:

◦ Task
\ Started
✗ Completed
– Reassigned to a new month

I begin by filling out my Year at a Glance page where I like to note down some important dates and events, followed by my Goals and Core Values pages. While I love making new year’s resolution’s it can be challenging to keep track of them and remember, so noting down core values which don’t change as often is helpful, too.

I also add in a Birthday’s page and a fun jar illustration for my Debt Tracker. As the month’s pass I’ll add in the amount of debt I paid off. I also like to create a Savings goal page to keep track of my financials because saving money is a big goal for me this year. I’ve drawn a few boxes on the page and each box represents $100 being saved.

Another goal I’m focused on achieving is reading the entire Bible this year, so I’ve gone ahead and created a “Books of the Bible” page to keep track of it and see it visually represented.

The next page I created was my Stats page to keep track of my YouTube channel growth. I also added a section for my Etsy store and Instagram. I am definitely a list person so seeing the accomplishments for How To Handletter over the year is so fun!

Monthly Pages Setup

I like to start with a little calendar overview of the month with a few extra boxes with some special dates, monthly goals and actionable steps. I love that I can see all of my lists on one page.

I’ve also got my fitness and health goals listed on a page for the month of May. I’ve included a water tracker, workout tracker, vitamins tracker and pounds to lose visual. These are just trackers to track what I’m doing daily, but I’m not making myself workout daily. It’s not a schedule, it’s simply a tracker.

I’ve also got a blank page setup for me to make some notes that I don’t want to forget with these titles: brain dump, video ideas and Etsy projects.

I’ve added a financial goals page for this month with a “needs vs. wants” table to fill out, sort of a wish list for things I need right away and others that could wait until I’ve saved a little. I also try to keep a spending tracker, but I’m not sure how often I’ll be able to update this throughout the month!

My House Projects page is for all those DIY and home improvement plans that are coming up with a cleaning tracker to hold me accountable.

My last two monthly pages are dedicated to daily gratitude journaling and a prayer page to track my prayers for my family, friends and the world.

I hope this was helpful for all of you who love bullet journaling as much as I do or are just getting started. If you’re looking to improve your lettering for bullet journaling, my printable worksheets are a great resource! You can find them here.

Disclaimer: How To Hand Letter is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. *Please note, when you purchase a product using my link, the cost is still the same to you. Thank you for supporting the companies that help keep How To Hand Letter going!*

4 Fun Ways to Use Stock Photo’s With iPad Lettering

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Today I’m sharing four ways I like to use stock photo’s with my iPad lettering.

Art Prints

I personally love nature but am by no means a professional photographer. I wouldn’t be able to take a photo that was of a quality good enough to be printed in a large size for my lettering. I took a look through the nature scenes until I found a photo that matched the quote I wanted to letter.

When downloading the image make sure to choose the JPEG form if you’re wanting to send them to Procreate for your iPad. You’ll simply insert the flat image to Procreate. You’ll also want to make sure you’re using a large enough canvas if you want to print them out to make sure the photo quality us clear.

I always make sure to add a new layer over the photo when lettering as it makes it easier for rearranging and resizing your hand lettering. Often when choosing art style images they can be busy and colorful so using a shadow makes your images pop. See how to do this in video tutorial above!

These make great gifts or customized art for decorating your home.

Personalized Cards

This is one of my favorite things I’ve every created! I started by searching floral backgrounds on Storyblocks and thought it would be perfect for creating some encouragement cards.

I used the same process as above to get the image onto my iPad but this time added to extra layers – a black and white rectangular block for a matted look in the middle of the image.

For my lettering, I added a new layer and used the grid brush in Procreate in the texture section This feature helps keep everything uniform and correctly sized and spaced out. Make sure to delete the grid brush layer before you print.

I made a set of three cards, tied them together with some string for a cute gift.

Social Media Images

This is probably how I use stock images the most often, to create lettering images for social media. I am personally a fan of the desktop or notebook photos but this would work with any mock ups.

I again made use of the optional grid brush layer for even lettering and added another layer for my lettering. I like to crop my images square from the beginning as this is the main format for social media images.

Watercolor Lettering

Watercolor lettering is such a fun way to add texture to your lettering and Storyblocks has a variety of watercolor backgrounds that you can use to create this look! Again, we’re adding our image to Procreate and a separate layer for lettering.

With the watercolor backgrounds I like to add two separate images side by side instead of stretching out the photo so we get all the little details. Only a little bit of the watercolor background is going to show through when using the color drop feature to turn the top layer white. Instead of lettering with the brush pen feature, you’ll be lettering with the eraser.

I hope this was helpful in giving you some ideas for what you can do with your iPad lettering. I can’t wait to see what you create using your stock photographs and iPad lettering!

Disclaimer: Thank you to Storyblocks for sponsoring this video! Click here to start a FREE 7 day trial of Storyblocks.

*Please note, when you purchase a product using my link, the cost is still the same to you. Thank you for supporting the companies that help keep How To Hand Letter going!*

Organization For Pen Lovers with Free Pen Test Worksheets!

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There is no doubt about the love that a lettering artist has with her brush pens and stationery supplies! If you find yourself testing pen after pen, you’ll love these simple storage solutions and free printable worksheets that I’ve created for you!

When I share photos of my pen stash, there are inevitably lots of questions that come! What kind of pen is that? Where did you get that storage container? Do you store your pens horizontally? Will you send me some brush pens?! These are just a few of the questions that I receive. And I get it! My pen stash has grown quite a bit since beginning my YouTube Channel.

Pen Storage Ideas

I do want to point out that you don’t need all of these pens to learn hand lettering. Before my YouTube Channel, I didn’t have a huge variety of brush pens. I honestly loved lettering with basic kids markers! But now that a big part of what I do is teach you all how to letter, I like to use the products that you are using so that I’m able to give better tips and advice.

So now my little disclaimer is out of the way, let’s get into the goods shall we?!

How to store all of that stationery?

If you have a pile of pens like I do, you’ll find that many storage solutions have their pros and cons. Maybe you are looking for a way to hold all of your pens horizontally. Or maybe you want your pens to be organized by color. Or maybe you just want something super functional that is budget-friendly.

Over the years, my pen collection has grown. Because of that, I have tested out (and still use) several different methods of pen storage. I’m going to give you some of the pros and cons to those storage solutions below!

The visually pleasing pen storage solution: Acrylic

Acrylic storage solutions can be beautiful! They show off your beautiful pens, which in turn make it easier to find the ones that you might be looking for. They also hold your pens horizontally, which can be important if you are wanting to prolong the life of certain pens.

The downside to acrylic storage is that it can be expensive. I have found that smaller pieces (like ones you may find at the dollar tree) can be great if you just have a few products, but when your pen collection grows they will quickly outgrow this small acrylic container.

Pen Storage and Stationery Supplies for Handlettering

This acrylic pen organizer is something that I get asked about all of the time and unfortunately, I can’t seem to find the exact one for sale anymore. My original was purchased at Target in the bathroom organization section and has 2 removable dividers. I have to remove 1 of them in order to fit my pens, but they’re great because they are stackable. This means that I can move them around to create different heights or widths depending on what I’m storing.

The downside to this is that it’s not easy to get something out of one of the bottom compartments, because I have to remove all of the compartments above it. This is kind of a hassle, which is why it now stores pens that aren’t quite as frequently used.

Brush Pen Storage and Stationery Supplies Organization for Handlettering

The perfect solution for me was a combination of the first two, which is this acrylic makeup organizer! It’s big enough to store a lot of my pens, but it has drawers. This means that no matter what I want to get out of here, I just have to open 1 drawer to find it. I love this pen organizer and will likely be adding another to my collection. The downside… it’s expensive! I happened to find this randomly on an amazon flash sale, so it was actually a great price! But in general, these acrylic makeup organizaters and storage solutions aren’t the most budget friendly.

The exact listing that I purchased is no longer available, but here is the brand and one that looks very similar. If it’s not available, you can always scroll down to the “Compare with similar items” section to see more similar options!

The Budget Friendly Options:

One of the first ways that I stored my growing pen collection was this over the door shoe organizer. I got this particular blush pink color at Walmart a few years ago, but any kind or color will work! I do prefer the ones that have clear fronts as my pens aren’t all that tall so I can’t see exactly what I have stored in there if the fronts are fabric.

Brush Pen Storage and Stationery Supplies Organization for Handlettering

A more budget friendly version of the acrylic type of storage are these square organizers. I found these on amazon a few months back during a good sale. They are super functional, although not quite as aesthetically pleasing in my opinion. But the fact that the pens are able to be separated a bit more (and in multiple ways, depending on which option you purchase) makes them a really great pen storage option!

Brush Pen Storage and Stationery Supplies Organization for Handlettering

And another budget friendly solution that I like to use are these simple mason jars! I have them lined in a metal basket that I got from Target and they are perfect for fitting inside my cube shelf. I like this storage solution particularly for when I am filming things like Pen Hauls or other things where I will be using multiple types of brush pens. It can be hard to not end up with a desk full of pens by the end of a filming session, so this option keeps them nice and tidy!

Brush Pen Storage and Stationery Supplies Organization for Handlettering

The Space Saving Options: Pencil Cases

I’ll be honest, I don’t have a large variety of pen cases. I purchased this one, loved it, and bought a handful more! They are a great option because they are budget friendly, but also hold a ton of pens. They are also very pretty and stack really nicely. I find that if I have 3 of them with pens inside to fill them out, they fit nicely into 1 square of my larger sized cube shelf.

Brush Pen Storage and Stationery Supplies Organization for Handlettering

This pencil case isn’t 100% perfect as it was originally made for colored pencils. This means that if you have larger bodied pens, they might be difficult to get in and out. I have also found that depending on which pens I’m storing, I may only fill every other pen loop. Another option is to put every other pen in upside down.

If you are purchasing this pencil case for brush pens, please take a few minutes to watch this video that gives a more in depth review and demonstration of them. You will not regret making sure it’s quirks aren’t too much for you!

Testing Out and Comparing Your Brush Pens:

Now that we’ve got our pen collection stashed and stored, how do we keep track of them?! I do a lot of pen reviews (find my pen review playlist here!) and I want to make sure that I’m always covering some of the basic information about each brush pen.

Free Printable Pen Test WorksheetsI created this free worksheet to print off and keep track of some of the basic characteristics of brush pens like what is the tip like, what do the basic strokes look like and pros and cons of this pen. I also included some spaces for swatching the colors of your brush pen packs!

You can grab this free printable worksheet below! Printed in it’s original size, it will be great for brush pens up to your larger sized brush pens. However, I found that it works really well when printed 2 or even 4 to a page for smaller sized brush pens or fineliners. You could even cut apart the sections and glue them into your bullet journal for a super organized pen swatching journal!

I hope this was helpful for you! I am curious to know, what is your favorite way to store your brush pens?!

 

 

 

Hand Lettering Practice with Brush Pens for Beginners

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Today I’m sharing some ways you can practice hand lettering with brush pens, markers or even paint brushes. Remember that practice makes progress!

Often those who watch my video’s get frustrated as it looks too easy when sped up so today I’m sharing some real-time lettering so you can practice along with me.

Drills

Practice your up and down strokes with drill formations. One of the most important aspects to master as beginner hand letterer is thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes by applying the right amount of pressure. Watch the video to see my drills formations.

Lower Case ABC’s

I always recommend beginners start with the lower case letters of the alphabet before moving on. You can simply follow this video tutorial formations for each of the letters or use my lettering practice worksheets. They include all three practicing drills from this post.

Capital Letters ABC’s

Once you’ve mastered your up and down strokes and your lower case letters, you’ll move on to the capital letters and practice connecting

My favorite brush pens and markers used in this video include the Crayola Broad Tips, Crayola Supertips, Marvy Uchida ColorIn’s and the Tombow Dual Brush Pens. I’d highly recommend starting with the Crayola’s or a broader tipped marker if you’re just starting out as they are easier to work with as a beginner. You can read more about how to use them here.

April Handlettering Challenge

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This April handlettering challenge was created to help you work with your new 1000+ Practice Words for Small Brush Pens Worksheets! Don’t have the worksheets?! Grab them here: 1000+ Practice Words for Small Brush Pens 

These are the prompts for the April Handlettering Challenge with How to Handletter

So what exactly are the 1000+ Words Worksheets? Here are some details:

– 1000+ Practice Words broken up into categories & lettered in a simplified modern handlettering style.
– Files are PDF downloads to be printed at home (I recommend HP Premium Paper – it’s so smooth!).
– Lettering is sized to be used with a smaller style brush pen (see this video for some examples).
– Two files are included: 1 faded version to letter right onto & a darker version to use under tracing paper… you don’t need to use both. I just wanted to give you the option! There is also a bonus page of blank lined paper for freehand practice.
– Why 1000+ Words and not just 1000? Well, it’s REALLY hard to come up with a list of 1000 different words! Because of this, I kept adding more to make sure that I didn’t accidentally come up short at the final count, but I ended up being over. So… 1000+ seemed to cover all of my bases. 😉

LINK: GRAB YOUR 1000+ WORDS FOR SMALL BRUSH PENS!

Because I know that there are so many small sized brush pens, I filmed this quick video to show you a variety of them in use! Make sure to check it out if you’d like to see how the sizing compares with several popular small brush pens.

And if you’re still not sure, you can download a FREE sample page here to test out with your favorite brush pens!

Happy Lettering!

Hand Lettering for Beginners with Crayola Supertips Markers

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Crayola Supertips Markers Hand Lettering Tutorial

Today I’m sharing some tips and examples of hand lettering using the Crayola Supertips Markers in this hand lettering tutorial.

I personally love using these markers and they are especially good for beginners. They have firmer and shorter tips and are easier to control than some of the brush pens when you’re first starting out.

These markers work really well with my Large Lettering Set Worksheets (seen in the video). These are the perfect practice printables for thicker markers and pens when learning how to hand letter.

I did want to mention that these markers are meant to be used as art markers rather than calligraphy so there is some differentiation in the different color pens – some seem to get thicker down strokes for some reason. But you’ll notice as you start to use them, they tend to get softer and you’ll get thicker down strokes.

Supertips versus Broadtips

I love using both of these Crayola markers. The Supertips are smaller and come in a large array of pretty colors. They are also great for highlighting and color coding things! I purchased the 100 pack and although some of the shades look pretty similar, they are still stunning and I love them. The one thing I do find is that the Supertips seem to have a harder time getting the thinner upstrokes.

The Crayola Broadtips Markers are thicker and produce larger hand lettering with think up strokes. The look isn’t totally different to the Supertips and with both markers you can get pretty thin up strokes.

With both of these markers it’s important to rotate your pen as you are lettering. You tend to get a better look this way as the tips aren’t very flexible and won’t bounce back if you’re applying pressure. This helps you get those think up strokes.

Supertips versus Tombow Brush Pens

I am by no means saying the Crayola’s are a better quality than the Tombow Brush Pens as these are entirely different pens completely. I just wanted to note that you can still get beautiful lettering using these inexpensive materials. The Supertips do have a wider variety of colors though.

Techniques

We won’t achieve thick and thin strokes by simply rotating the marker and the same brush lettering rules still apply. You’ll need to apply pressure when forming your letters for those thick down strokes.

Hand Lettering successfully is not at all about the markers or materials that you are using and practice is what will bring you progress. Nice pens are great but they definitely don’t make or break your lettering and you can definitely create some beautiful lettering with these Crayola Markers.