how to handletter

calligraphy for beginners

Tombow Dual Brush Pens Tutorial

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Tombow Dual Brush Pen Tutorials

Today I’m sharing how I hand letter with Tombow Dual Tip Brush Pens along with fun techniques you can do with these pens.

Watch the video tutorial or read my tips for calligraphy, blending and techniques for your Tombows!

My first tip is often overlooked – paper! These brush pens tend to fray easily so if you are using paper that has any sort of texture or roughness, you are going to want to switch over to a high-quality, smooth paper.

I personally use the HP Premium Choice Laserjet Paper. I’ve been using it for the longest time and love it. It is more of a printer type of paper so it’s also less expensive.

How To Hold Your Pen

I hold my brush pen at a slight angle and keep it this way while lettering. The thick and thin strokes don’t come by holding your pen at different angles, this is achieved through the pressure you apply.

You can practice this technique through basic up and down drills. I also have my very own hand lettering practice worksheets that will help you improve your lettering style.

What I Love About These Pens

I tend to press really hard with my pens when creating down strokes – I tend to get a lot of comments asking if I often break the pens! But no, these pens are very durable and always bounce back which is why so many artists recommend them.

They also create a wonderful ombre effect when lettering and can also be vibrant depending on which colors you choose. The tips are soft and flexible so it can be challenging if you are still in the beginning stages of you hand lettering journey – it’s going to take some practice!

The fun part about using the Tombow Dual Brush Pens is that you can create multiple effects with them.

Watercolor Background

You can create a watercolor background by using a small piece of plastic (think plastic wrap or sandwich bag). I also use my Aquash Waterbrush and a piece of watercolor paper.

Color your piece of plastic using one or multiple Tombow colors. Add a few droplets of water to your paper and gently place the plastic over it. Press in the color and move it around before carefully removing the plastic to wait for it to dry. Once it’s completely dry you’re able to hand letter over it.

Blending Techniques

Next, let’s talk about blending using colorless blending pens. I have a whole video on how to do this, check it out here if you’d like to learn more.

Essentially, you write your word in a light color and fill in the top of each letter in the contrasting, darker color. You then use the colorless blending pen to “pull down” the darker color to create an ombre effect.

Other blending techniques require a piece plastic wrap or plastic bag. I like to color the bag in a darker shade and pick up the color using a lighter pen before writing for a blended look. There are so many color combos to try.

The last blending technique is one of my favorites and is super unique. Using a dark and light pen, place the tips together. I like to place the lighter one at the bottom to let gravity help a little. The darker ink will transfer into the lighter marker.  This means when you write you get that desired blended look without having to dip your pen in ink or use the colorless blending pen.

Don’t worry about all this blending and mixing of your pens either – they are self-cleaning! Simply use a scrap piece of paper to rub them off when you’re finished.

Watercolor Lettering

I also like to apply some water to my hand lettering when using Tombow Brush Pens to create a look very close to watercolor lettering. It’s super easy to do using the Aquash Waterbrush and is far easier than using actual watercolors! This has to be one of my favorite ways to use these pens.

Watercolor Doodles

I am obviously not an artist but I often like to shade some simple flowers. I like adding water to create that blended look without having streaky markings.

I hope this was helpful for you and that you were able to find some new ways to use your Tombow Dual Tip Brush Pens! If you’re new to hand lettering and would like to learn more, check out my FREE mini-course for all the tips on getting started.

Hand Lettering with Molotow Liquid Chrome Markers

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Molotow Liquid Chrome Markers for Hand Lettering

Today I’m sharing my review of the silver Molotow Liquid Chrome Markers while I test them out for you on some different surfaces. Watch the video or read below to find out why I love these so much!

These are fun to use for creating pretty monoline hand lettering so I thought I’d share them with you!

When I had seen them used on Instagram, they appeared to be incredibly shiny. But after experimenting on black card stock they seemed to soak in and loose some of their shine. They still work so beautifully and even though they loose some of their gloss, you still do get a desired effect on envelopes and other kinds of paper.

After some thought I noticed that what others had been using them on were more solid surfaces where the ink wouldn’t soak in as easily – think green leaves and plastic surfaces!

When hand lettering with these markers you’ll notice that I tap them into the paper before lettering as these need pressure to get the ink flowing. You might choose to do this on a separate sheet of paper before writing on your final piece if you’d like it to be perfect.

In the video you’ll see me use the thicker marker on a piece of clear acrylic and they work beautifully! While they do still look great on paper, these kinds of surfaces and materials showcase their true potential and glossiness. Using these on hard or plastic surfaces get the best results.

This is one of those markers that just feel so comfortable for lettering, and I love using them for monoline lettering.

Want To Learn How to Hand Letter?

If you have been wanting to learn how to hand letter, I’ve created a FREE 7 day mini-course just for you! It’s a series of 7 different lessons that you can do on your own time with practice sheets for improving those thick and thin strokes, plus accompanying videos and lessons.  This mini-course is perfect for beginners wanting to learn the basics of hand lettering or improve their current lettering style.

Sign up Here!

How To Hand Letter with Watercolors as a Beginner

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Watercolor Lettering for Beginners

Today I’m sharing a Beginner Watercolor Lettering Tutorial for tips and tricks for hand lettering with watercolors. Instead of going too in depth, I’m giving a quick overview of where to start, what to use and some basic tips for getting started.

Watch the video or follow my tips below to find out how to start hand lettering with watercolors✍️

Types of Watercolors

I’m focusing on the watercolors that I love using for hand lettering. I have a pretty big collection of watercolors at this point but will share my favorites:

Pan Watercolors

The first sets come in a pan. I feel that these are especially great for beginners as they are easy to find and can be inexpensive, depending on which ones you choose.

Watercolors for hand lettering is less about the watercolor product you use and more about how well you get to know how to use your set of watercolors. I personally use the Prima Watercolors Pan and the Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Pan and have been able to create some beautiful watercolor lettering pieces!

Tube Watercolors

My favorite are, again, the Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor tubes. I originally started with a more inexpensive set from Walmart which worked well except for them having a chemical smell – so I decided to invest in this set.

They are highly pigmented so you easily get a vibrant color. If you are looking to get the same coloring and vibrancy each time you hand letter, these are a great option.

Concentrated Liquid Watercolors

These are great for creating vibrant and bold watercoloring. They are personally not my favorite because they are already in liquid form and I actually like adding water and watching my colors blend together as in the other watercolor products.

These do color smoothly so I guess it just depends on your preference! I use the Dr. PH Martin Radiant Liquid Watercolors and they come in an array of bright colors.

Brushes for Watercolor Hand Lettering

When purchasing a round brush they can vary from super inexpensive to incredibly pricey. I’d recommend starting somewhere in the middle as a beginner. A quality brush that tapers at the end is important – the Winsor & Newton Round Brushes in size 0 and 1 are great.

My personal preference with watercolor lettering, however, is to use the Pental Aquash Waterbrush. I’ve tried so many types of water brushes and made it my mission to try every water brush I can find – and so far none of them compare to this one!

There is a bit of a learning curve with using these brushes as if you squeeze too hard the water tends to leak, but honestly, there is a learning curve with watercolor lettering anyways.

Let’s Talk Paper

Obviously, a watercolor paper is your best option for watercolor lettering. In my opinion, you can also use a regular thick paper for practicing as well. Hand Lettering is so different from creating a big watercolor artwork – we don’t add tons of water and have to continuously practice. It would become too expensive to use watercolor paper each time.

For beginner practicing, I recommend using HP Premium Choice Laserjet Paper and when creating a hand lettered piece for your final project you can move on to Canson Watercolor Paper.

The Process of Watercolor Lettering

Instead of loading your brush with water and dunking it in the watercolors like you did when you were a kid, I’d recommend rather activating each color with a little water first with a dropper or a different brush.

Then let it sit for a few moments before applying your actual brush.

I also use two sets of water (a clean and dirty glass) so that I don’t end up mixing colors. I love using my smaller round brushes for block style lettering and my water brush for script hand lettering.

Remember to go slow with your watercolor lettering. My videos are sped up and I get that it can be frustrating to see how “quickly” I hand letter but know I’m speeding it up to make my videos shorter😉

My last tip is to get to know your products. If something isn’t working for you don’t assume that you need more expensive watercolors or brushes, give your supplies some time.

I hope these tips were helpful for you! ❤️ If you’d like to learn more about hand lettering and get some extra practice in, be sure to check out my hand lettering worksheets for beginners: http://etsy.com/shop/howtohandletter 

7 Header Ideas for Your Bullet Journal

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Bullet Journal Header Ideas

Today I’m sharing 7 different sample headers for your bullet journal! They are simple yet beautiful.  Pretty handwriting can make your bullet journal look amazing without spending hours on each monthly setup.

Watch the video for bullet journal header inspiration and find the materials listed below👇

Monday’s Header

Using the Tombow Dual Tip Brush Pen for a bold print and a Micron Pen for the detailed mini script overlay. It gives a romantic and beautiful look – especially in the pretty pink color!

Tuesday’s Header

Using the Crayola Supertips Markers for a simple hand lettered heading easily achieving those thick and thin strokes with this beginners marker. Learn how to hand letter with my very own beginner’s course!

Wednesday’s Header

Using the Tombow Dual Tip Brush Pen using the bullet tip side to create a fun and simple banner and filling it with a quick mini hand lettered day of the week!

Thursday’s Header

A quick pop of color using a watercolor marker with a hand lettered font overlay. A quick and easy addition to add a little something to your bullet journal.

Friday’s Header

Using the Tombow Fudenosuke to create a wide spaced printed Friday and completing it with the Tombow Dual Tip for a light background detail (and faux calligraphy!).

Saturday’s Header

Using my favorite Tombow Dual Tip Brush Pen again, I created a simple scripted hand lettered header. When in doubt, keep it simple!

Sunday’s Header

Using the same pen’s bullet tip, I created this header using faux calligraphy style – perfect for beginners!

Want to learn how to turn your handwriting into beautiful hand lettering? Check out my printable lettering worksheets by clicking here: http://etsy.me/2kLILEh

Hand Lettering with Chalk Markers

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How to Hand Letter using Chalk Markers

Today I’m sharing TWO ways to use the Versa Chalk markers. Chalkboard lettering is one of the first ways that I began creative lettering using giant sidewalk chalk and it is so much fun. Watch the video tutorial below to see how stunning these chalk markers are👇

The Versa Chalk markers are mess-free, super bright and the colors are amazing for my muted-tone loving self!

These markers are dual-tipped – they come bullet tipped and chisel tipped. The bullet tip is perfect for lettering and calligraphy so I recommend starting with this side.

I used the Versa Slate Chalkboard in my video tutorial. It’s super heavy and has a lot of texture on the board. You might choose a smoother board surface if you’re going to be lettering often because I did find this chalkboard was hard on my smaller markers.

It is, however, so pretty! If you’re looking for a statement piece and what to use your lettering and a chalkboard for decorating – this is a must-have!

You simply wipe your chalkboard surface with a wet rag (make sure its lint-free!) and wait for it to dry before using the surface again. If you use it while it’s still wet, you’ll notice the markers do bleed.

I even used these on my dry erase calendar and they worked perfectly! I recommend using the fine tipped version because they are easier to use in the small places on a calendar.

✕

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Hand Lettering with Watercolors

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how to hand letter with watercolors as a beginner

Hand lettering with watercolors is one of my favorite ways to hand letter and it is especially good for beginners! Watercolors are so easy to use and I find them so forgiving when you’re first getting started. Today I’m trying out my new watercolor product, the Prima Watercolors, and thought I’d let you tag along.

Watch the video tutorial below to see that results of the pretty color watercolor pack and find the products I used below👇

I’ve lettered the names of each of the featured colors in the pack using my favorite Pental Arts Aquash Water Brush and they come in the prettiest pastel shades.

You’ll also need to make sure to use a high quality paper when watercolor lettering so the paper doesn’t warp from the liquid. You can find my go-to paper here.

Check out my lettering worksheets that are sized for watercolor lettering practice here:  https://etsy.me/2FYgRQm

6 Tips for Neat and Even Handlettering

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6 tips for neat and even better hand lettering

Have you struggled with creating even spacing, sizing and lettering in your hand lettering? It can be really difficult as a beginner! I know we focus a lot on letter formation, but spacing and sizing can often be a struggle spot. I wanted to share some things that I think might be helpful for you! Here are 6 quick tips for getting your letters even and proportionate.

Step 1: Practice Using Lined Paper

The first thing I would recommend is to practice using lined paper. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy, although I wouldn’t recommend using rough paper on brush pens due to fraying. But using lined paper can help to keep you writing all of your letters to be the same size. 

The lined paper that I’m using is just one that I created, and I am happy to share this one with you for free! Simply find the form at the bottom of this page titled “READY TO START?”.

I personally just print them out right on my home printer, but like I mentioned, I would recommend a smoother paper if you’re using brush pens that could get frayed. I personally use HP Premium Paper because it’s amazingly smooth yet very affordable!

Beginner Brush Lettering Even Letters 1

Step 2: Think Of Letters As Individual Strokes

Step two is to Think of letters as individual strokes and not one long word. When we write the word all in one thought or one stroke, it can be hard to get consistent sizing because we’re worrying about so many things. For example, I may be focusing on our thick and thin strokes, which letter comes next or  keeping my pen going so that I don’t get a choppy connection. But when you take it stroke by stroke, you can focus more on the little details that can make such a big difference in your handlettering. 

Beginner Brush Lettering Even Letters 1

Step 3: Write Slowly

Step 3 is to GO SLOWLY. I feel like this is such a frequently talked about topic, but so many of you have told me that watching real-time lettering is so helpful. I letter pretty slowly unless I’m using worksheets and again, it just helps me to pay attention to the details, rather than paying attention to things that could be a little bit more routine. When I’m writing quickly, I’m just trying to keep the flow of my writing going so it ends up being sloppy or messy. Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to letter as slowly as I do. But by intentionally focusing on what you’re doing, your sizing can become a lot more even and your lettering may look a lot more polished. 

Step 4: Discover The Best Pen (for you!)

Step 4 is to find the best pen… FOR YOU. And that last part, for you, is super important!! Not every pen is great for every person. In the video above I’m sharing a few pens that I find that I can create really even lettering with. Oddly enough, many of the tips are pretty similar. They are also super flexible and bounce back really well. This is just my preference and yours might look totally different than this! But pay attention to which pens you’re always grabbing first or which ones you used in the pieces that you’ve noticed your lettering looks really top notch in. 

Step 5: Use Practice Worksheets

Step 5 is to use practice worksheets! I don’t think it’s any secret that I love lettering practice worksheets! To be honest, they take quite a long time to make because I draw them by hand onto the iPad, and I wouldn’t have put all of that time into them if I didn’t think they worked! But I really do think that if you letter consistently with lettering worksheets, they can help you to develop that rhythm you need to create even letters.

Beginner Brush Lettering Even Letters 1

These are my 1000 Words worksheets where I have written out over 1000 words to practice. This worksheet bundle is HUGE and again, I try to make stuff that think will be super helpful! So even though it might feel a bit excessive to have over 1000 words to practice, I wanted people to feel like they were getting tons of great practice materials when they purchased this printable! You can find this worksheet by clicking here!

One thing that I have noticed is that over the course of my years of making lettering worksheets, my own hand lettering has become more consistently even. I can’t be 100% sure that is what has caused it, but if you go back and watch my older videos – and please don’t cringe too hard at my newbie videos! – you can see that my lettering style is just sooo different than it is now. I really started to notice that it changed around the time that I made my Simplified Lettering Beginner Bundle and it just makes me feel like I am actually becoming a product of my own lettering worksheets which is super fun!

Step 6: Don’t Try For Perfection 

And step 6, which is really important, is please please please don’t make perfection your goal in hand lettering!

I have fallen into this trap when creating products, thinking that if a couple of my letters weren’t absolutely identical that people would be upset, but I finally came to realize that this is still hand lettering! You are not using typed up fonts and you are not a computer!

Beginner Brush Lettering Even Letters 1

Don’t hold yourself to that standard because the beauty of creating hand lettering its that it’s made by you! Evenly spaced and consistently sized lettering can really help you to have a polished lettering style, but don’t mistake polished for perfection. Make sure to let your unique self shine through! 

So I hope that those 6 tips were helpful for you! Don’t forget to grab your free lined printable practice worksheet below! 

Simplified Hand Lettering Worksheets for Beginners

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Beginner Lettering Worksheet Bundle

Over the years, I’ve created several different sets of printable hand lettering worksheets in various different styles. I know that it can be difficult when you first start out with hand lettering and I am no stranger to the struggles we face as beginners.

The loops and curls that are often found in hand lettering can be tricky to accomplish when you are first getting started and the more basic fonts are not as appealing as the modern styles.  I know it can be challenging to find practice materials that are easy as a beginner while still being a specific style that is visually appealing.

I created my very own simplified hand lettered alphabet and packed it into a multiple set bundle that is everything I wish I had when I was beginning to learn hand lettering. The Simplified Lettering Beginner Bundle is your ultimate resource for getting started with hand lettering!

What Is Inside the Bundle?

You’ll get Larger and Smaller Sized lettering practice sheets for practicing with brush pens and Tombow markers as well as smaller pens.

It includes a set of Drill Worksheets. If you’re brand new to hand lettering I definitely recommend practicing with drills to get a hang of thick and thin strokes, which is one of the most difficult aspects to master in my opinion.

This is also my first lettering set that includes both lowercase and uppercase alphabet practice. I find it easier to begin with the lowercase letters and then move over to capitals. This means you can start out with drills practice, move on to mastering lowercase lettering and still get to perfect your uppercase.

I spent a lot of time coming up with a set of capital letters that were simple and still true to my modern and not-so-formal style.

Lastly, you’ll also get commonly used words to practice. One of the biggest questions I get asked is how to connect letters when hand lettering. My letters don’t generally have an entrance stroke but I rather try to make the tail of my letters connect seamlessly with the next. You’ll be able to practice this method with the commonly used words practice sheet.

How Is The Alphabet Different?

This new alphabet is still modern and beautiful with less curves and curls. This makes it easier while still achieving a great look. I’ve even been switching my own hand lettering style to what you’ll find in these worksheets because I just love it so much.

Each worksheet also gives you a practice break down of the letters in their individual strokes so you’ll be able to practice this before connecting it all🙌🎉

I wish I had this bundle when I was starting to learn hand lettering and I am so excited to share this with all you beginner hand letterers.

3 Great Ways To Practice Handlettering

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Three Ways to Practice Hand lettering

Hey Friend!

Today I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite ways to practice hand lettering! I also wanted to share with you a free printable worksheet to help you in your handlettering practice! As a beginner or a pro in handlettering, practice time is a great way to grow your handlettering skills or keep them sharp and polished.

Step 1: Warmup Drills

The first way that I love to practice hand lettering is through warmup drills. These are simple basic strokes that help you to practice your thick and thin lines. You can use worksheets for these, but for informal practice it’s totally fine to just draw squiggly lines across your paper!

Ways to Practice Lettering Printable

Ways to Practice Lettering Printable

Step 2: Rainbow Words

The second way that I like to practice handlettering is through something that I’ve seen called “Rainbow Words” on Instagram. Rainbow words are basically when you draw each stroke (not letter, but individual stroke!) with a different color.

For this step, you could choose a set of colors or you could simply switch back and forth between two colors. The reason I love this technique of hand lettering, especially for beginners, is because it really makes you slow down and pay attention to each individual stroke of your letters. If you haven’t heard me say it before, lettering is really just a handful of basic strokes that are combined together to form letters. This type of lettering practice can help you to see those strokes by themselves, which is much less intimidating than an entire letter, word or phrase!

Ways to Practice Lettering Printable

Ways to Practice Lettering Printable

Step 3: Printable Practice Worksheets

I could not write this post without mentioning printable practice worksheets (+ leaving you with a freebie!). I love printable practice worksheets for many reasons, but let me just say that practice worksheets are great even if you are not a beginner! If you haven’t already, you can find them here!

A lot of people ask me how I get my lettering to be so evenly sized and spaced. But to be completely honest, I think a lot of it is the practice worksheets! Here’s the thing: I draw each letter in my practice worksheets by hand using right onto a tablet. I don’t use fonts (aside from typed text) for my script lettering and it takes a long time.

But as I made more and more worksheets, I noticed that my lettering was becoming more and more consistent. The biggest difference was when I created my Simplified Lettering Beginner Bundle. During that time, my lettering improved so much and became a steady and consistent style that I hadn’t had before. (You can even see this if you watch my old videos and compare before and after that worksheet release!) Eventually, I realized that I think I am a product of my own product… so fun!

I think that practicing on top of worksheets can take some of the mind-work out of lettering and allow you to really focus on the details. And those details are what can make your lettering stand out when you go to freehand your work!

Ways to Practice Lettering Printable

Ways to Practice Lettering Printable

So, if you haven’t had a chance to practice your lettering using printable worksheets, I’d encourage you to try! To help you get started, I’m offering you a free printable practice worksheet using one of my favorite lettering phrases! I hope it’s helpful for you in your lettering journey!

Happy Lettering!

How to Faux Calligraphy on the iPad Pro

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faux calligraphy on the ipad pro

When we learn to hand letter one of the most important things in our technique is making our down strokes thick and up strokes thin. This can be challenging to achieve with a brush pen or marker at first because learning pressure sensitivity takes some time.

Using the Procreate App on your iPad is a great alternative to getting your practice in. Watch the video tutorial to find out how I achieve hand lettering in this easy, faux calligraphy style 👇

I just simply write out my letters like I normally would and simply go back and fill in the down strokes to give the appearance of them being thicker. A trick is to make your brush size slightly smaller when doing this so it’s easier to get your lines just right and so that no overlapping happens.

How To Know What to Fill In

When I first started out I’d simply fill in wherever I thought it looked good but over time I have learnt to take note of how I actually form my letters. Wherever I come down with my pen or marker, this needs to be a thicker line.

It’s totally up to you whether you draw the line on the inside or outside of the letter that has been formed – I just do what looks the most natural.

Once I’ve draw the placement lines, I go and fill them in to make them solid. I also like to zoom in and neaten up the lines once I’ve finished, especially at the corners.

There is also a brush marker pen in Procreate that is pressure sensitive. You can find tons of pro hand letterers on Instagram who use this so it can be used for all levels for practicing, too.

I also have lots of Faux Calligraphy lettering worksheets for practicing this easy style with pen and paper or on your iPad.