25+ Hand Lettering Tutorials (Beginner Calligraphy)

Learn how to do calligraphy or hand lettering and all the fun places to use those skills in these over 25 tutorials--perfect for beginners!

Even if you don't have great penmanship (that's not a requirement), hand lettering and calligraphy are an art form that you can learn today!

Whether you are using an oblique holder, nib and ink well or using a brush tip pen, hand lettering and calligraphy become a beautiful art form that can be used anywhere.

The basic technique is to have thick downstrokes and hairline thin upstrokes with wide ovals in letters like o, g, a, q, etc.

This contrast is the general rule for stunning and dramatic calligraphy or hand lettering.

Think of Hand Lettering as "drawing letters". It's okay to draw in the thick strokes and fill them in, also called faux calligraphy, brush letter, modern lettering and bounce lettering.

Think of Calligraphy as doing all the thick and thin strokes in one pass, rather than going back over letters to fill them in.

Get practicing "faux calligraphy" and hand lettering and you'll find it a natural transition to move right into dip pen calligraphy.

BASIC ESSENTIAL LETTERING TOOLS:

affiliate links

• Speedball Hand Lettering Kit
• Tombow Dual Brush Pens
• Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens
• Calligraphy Oblique Holder and Nibs
• Glass Pens
• Dr. Ph. Martin's Iridescent Calligraphy Color
• Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White
• Brause EF Nib (My favorite Calligraphy nib)
• 32 lb. Laser Printer Paper

Sign up today for the free hand lettering templates and printable worksheets for the best practice time!

How to do Hand Lettering with Free Printable Worksheets!

Have you wanted to learn how to do hand lettering? Have you tried it already? Do you love it? If you are looking for a new skill for the new year, try hand lettering!

Let me teach you how to do hand lettering! It's a gorgeous style of writing that does not need any skill in penmanship, handwriting or even cursive.

Hand Lettering Kraft Paper: Creative Gift Wrapping!

Practice your hand-lettering skills and make amazing gift wrap for your Christmas gifts--the wrapping gets recycled anyway, so this is a great place to practice and make mistakes.

 
Create custom gift wrapping paper for your holiday gift giving (or any occasion) to make your gifts a little more special!

Let me show you how easy it is to add hand lettering to gift wrapping!

How to do Calligraphy on Envelopes!

Tis the season for mailing cards--make them look super fancy with some calligraphy!

Learn how to add gorgeous calligraphy writing on envelopes, perfect for season's greetings or weddings. These stunning envelopes are easy to send through the mail too--just have them "hand cancelled".

Let's get started on how to do calligraphy on envelopes!

How to Laser Cut Calligraphy Wood Sign with xTool M1

Make the perfect wood sign or holiday decor with your own calligraphy or hand lettering!

Watch how easy it is to transform your own lettering into a wood cutout using the xTool M1 laser cutter.

How to Make Photo Transfer Candle (Tracing Paper DIY)

Learn how to make image transfer candles using tracing paper.

This fun DIY is an easy way to make a personalized candle using a plain candle and creativity.

These pillar candles make great handmade gifts, centerpieces and look amazing!

Learn Bounce Lettering Tutorial for Beginners!

Have you give bounce lettering a try yet? 

It's basically an art form...you draw the letters and fill them in. 

This is faux calligraphy and is a great way to get comfortable learning calligraphy.

How to Make Watercolor Gift Tags with Hand Lettering!

Let me show you how easy it is to make watercolor gift tags for holiday gift giving using Tombow Dual Brush Pens.

Hand lettering is my love language, my Roman Empire, my favorite thing to do and I love big gift tags!

How to Make Chalkboard Wedding Sign!

We are full swing into wedding season, so here's a tutorial for making a chalkboard wedding sign for the big day.

My husband (Mike) and I got married 23 years ago on June 22nd. I got married in the pre-pinterest days, so there was only my imagination for decor. 

I made this chalkboard wedding sign for the perfect garden wedding. It would be awesome for a baby or wedding shower, party, celebration or any event!

Wood Slice Watercolor Lettering Sign

Here's a fun homemade craft that takes 5 minutes to make! I love quick crafts and this Wood slice watercolor mantra sign is perfect. First off, pick something you want to write on yours!

How to make a wood slice hand lettering mantra sign in just 5 minutes. 

How to Make Watercolor Christmas Ornaments Easy DIY

Learn how to make watercolor Christmas ornaments an easy DIY project.

Creating your own watercolor ornaments is a magical way to add personal charm to your tree during the holiday season, and they’re one of the most fun ideas in any collection of creative Christmas arts.

Whether you're using ornament circles, acrylic blanks, or watercolor paper coated with watercolor ground, this project is simple enough for older kids (with a bit of adult supervision) but beautiful enough for adults to treasure. 

How to Make a Rubber Stamp from an Eraser DIY

What are you doing to fill your Summertime days? 

If you need a fun craft, carving your own rubber stamps is super fun! 

Make a stamp and use it on mail, in your journal or let your kids stamp all over paper. 

This craft is a tricky one, but older kids/teenagers would love it!

Watercolor + Hand Lettering Birthday Cards DIY with Tombow!

I love making a bunch of birthday, wedding and "thinking of you" cards that will last the next year.  

I always have good intentions of sending cards when I receive inspiration, there isn't always time to make a card. 

This way I have a little stash of cards, ready to hand letter when the occasion arises.  Leave the inside window blank and fill them in as needed.  

They are simple to make--and would make a great gift for a card sender too!

Watercolor Floral Gift Tags DIY

Make some quick and amazing gift tags for those last minute gifts and gift wrapping!  

These tags are perfect for any time of year...and could be made easily into cards, banners, buntings or other paper crafting projects.  

Tags are a great beginner watercolor project and perfect for practice.

Watercolor Galaxy Papercraft Card with Tombow!

Galaxy art is my absolute favorite.  It's fun to create and there is no right or wrong way to do it!  Do you make handmade cards?  I love making cards, I make masses of them--but sending them is an entirely different story.  But a stack of handmade cards makes a great handmade gift too! 

Tropical Ferns Paradise Painted Rocks

Do you paint rocks?  I love painting rocks, they are the perfect canvas...they are so available.
They are smooth and ready to paint.  Makes a great kids craft or craft to do at a birthday party.  
I decided to paint some rocks that help remind me of summer sun, tropical vibes and the sweet beachy theme!

Ceramic Mug Brush Lettering Calligraphy DIY

Use a ceramic brush pen to make a gorgeous mug!

How to Make Snowflake Holiday Cards with Tombow Dual Brush Pens

There's something so magical about making handmade cards for the holidays. 

These cute cards are perfect for sending in the mail or adding to a gift as a fancy tag or gift card holder.

Blush Mint Gold Washi Tape Valentine Cards DIY!

I love making fancy Valentine's.  One year, way back in my childhood (circa 1988), my mom helped us make the most epic handmade Valentine's.  

They had doilies, stickers, ribbon, layers, and fancy gold frames...they were a dream come true for this crafty child.  

I sat at the kitchen table for hours making one after another.

Watercolor Wash & Calligraphy Lettering Quotes

How to do a watercolor wash background with hand lettering quote!

Calligraphy Mantra Chalkboards!

Write a simple mantra on a chalkboard in hand lettering or modern calligraphy.

Waterbrush Ombre Calligraphy and Lettering!

This is one of my most favorite techniques!

Create gorgeous works of art for display, cards or just to stick on the fridge.

Calligraphy Valentines with a Watercolor Wash!

Handmade Valentines are perfection.

How to Fake Script Calligraphy!

Scrolly, scripty, flowy, gorgeous penmanship is all the rage right now!

Now the style is modern brush script, similar to copperplate or roundhand.

My mom taught me Italic Calligraphy when I was in 6th grade, she also taught me Black letter and Uncial.

Painting Calligraphy on Wood

Paint on a wood slice for elegant, yet rustic vibes.

This technique is easy to to with a paintbrush and can be painted after tracing the words on with a pencil.

How to Decorate Custom gift bags

Customize white paper bags for a birthday gift, holiday or any other reason.

These cute decorated gift bags are the perfect added touch to any gift.

Watercolor Brush Lettering and Practice Sheets

Learn how to do brush lettering (modern calligraphy) with watercolors and a paintbrush. 

Plus, alphabet practice sheets!

Watercolor and Dip Pen Calligraphy

Make hand written invitations to a party using dip pen calligraphy and some watercolor florals.

Galaxy art and Calligraphy

Paint a vibrant galaxy background and then add white calligraphy over the top for a dreamy piece of art!

Ombre Calligraphy Name Cards

Make ombre calligraphy name cards for place settings using this easy technique!

That's it!

If you've ever wanted to try the art of hand lettering, consider this your friendly nudge to jump in—because truly, the best way to start is simply to start. 

Hand lettering is the art of drawing letters, not just writing them, which means you don’t need fancy supplies or a special script ready to go. 

A ballpoint pen, regular copy paper, and a curiosity for the basics of hand lettering are enough to begin. As you explore the main categories of lettering—like block letters, serif fonts, and brush-lettered scripts—you’ll learn how thin upstrokes, thick downstrokes, and straight lines all work together to create balanced, beautiful hand-lettered pieces.

Think of it like building a solid foundation layer by layer: understanding each part of the letter, the base line, how empty space breathes around your strokes, and how a tiny curve or half moon can change the entire final piece. And the fun part? 

Your hand lettering journey can happen anywhere—your bullet journal at kitchen counter, a cozy corner, even at the library while you’re scrolling social media examples. The proper way to learn is the way that keeps you inspired.

As you grow more confident, you might want to gather a little lettering crate filled with your favorite brush pens, flexible tips, or specific tools like smooth media paper, but remember—tools don’t determine your success, practice does.

Each new technique, from controlling heavy pressure to refining thin lines, becomes a stepping stone toward your personal lettering style and the best results in your future hand lettering projects. 

No matter your skill level, there’s always something new to explore, and there are countless additional resources out there to keep you learning and experimenting. Whether you're lettering a quote, creating a gift, or simply unwinding after a long day, hand lettering is a great place to slow down, breathe, and make something lovely. 

Keep playing with basic form, keep noticing the parts of the letters, and keep trusting your hands. With patience and a little joy, every line you draw becomes meaningful—and that’s the magic of this craft.

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