DIY calligraphy thank you cards

I really wish I had come up with a better idea than over-zealously deciding to hand-make every single thank you card from our wedding. I figured "hey, I still have a few months before I start working, why not?". Silly, naive me. While I did have more free time, I didn't realize just how exhausting it would be making 100+ cards. I eventually gave up and bought some punny store cards for the last few cards. If I could do it again, I would probably draw out a few designs and get them printed.

DIY calligraphy thank you cards

Friday, September 9, 2016

birthday card

This is a birthday card I made for my cousin a while back, before I got slammed with residency. The hours have been rough (hi 16 hour shifts), the weeks have been long (hi working 13 days straight), but I'm alive! Although I thoroughly anticipated posting less once I began working, I still intend to post as much as I can. Blogging and DIYing/crafting/cooking serves as a huge way for me to relieve stress and use the other side of my brain, and it is just as important to take care of yourself mentally as it is physically!

 Back to the card- I wanted something simple but still wanted to incorporate calligraphy. I was inspired by Paper Source's summer catalog and the bright colored leaves, so I painted my own with acrylic paint. 

The stationary I used was a pack of 50 cards + colored envelopes I picked up from Target for $10. When I got them, I thought they were greeting cards that would fold open. I was a little disappointed when I saw they were just slips of paper, but they eventually grew on me. They're the perfect size to leave a short and sweet message- sometimes less words say more!

birthday card

Friday, August 5, 2016

punny father's day cards

With the free time I had before residency began, I really wanted to put a lot of time into my hobby of card-making and practice my calligraphy. This meant finding any and every excuse to make a card (many more posts on that to come soon) instead of getting store-bought ones. Although there is no lack of creative and cute cards out there (ahem Paper Source), I love making cards when I have time. Making cards for my two dads this Father's Day was no exception this handmade card bender, and I used my favorite combination: watercolors & calligraphy.

I will admit the pun was a stretch.

punny father's day cards

Sunday, July 3, 2016

handmade cards on etsy

I've always been a fan of handmade cards, but I've lately gotten into incorporating watercolor and "modern calligraphy" into my cardmaking to create simple and fun designs. Watercolor is such a versatile medium and adding black ink makes things instantly look so polished. I'm still working on the handwriting and modern calligraphy part- it definitely requires a steady hand. I think the hardest part has been trying different fonts. I'm taking a modern calligraphy workshop next month and am excited to hopefully learn a few tools of the trade there.

In the meantime, I wanted to shamelessly promote some of my work I've posted in my Etsy shop (check it out here). I go on cardmaking binges (it's so relaxing), and then later realize I don't have enough people to give these to, so I post them on Etsy! All of the cards are 100% handmade by me (totally freehand, no tracing/templates) and are all unique designs. 



handmade cards on etsy

Wednesday, November 25, 2015