Free Calligraphy Worksheet: Heart Flourishes

Valentine’s Day is upon us, and I’m here to share with you a free printable calligraphy worksheet. Heart flourishes, anyone? These flourishes will help you work on those thick and thin strokes and your arm movement. It would also be fun to practice writing other strokes other than the usual drills and alphabet.

The strokes are labeled with arrows and numbers so it’s easy to find where the starting point is.

The gray flourishes are for you to trace. After tracing, you can proceed to the second page where you can write all on your own. This free printable calligraphy worskheet works best with a pointed nib, but you can also use a fine tip brush marker.

Click the button below to download your printable calligraphy sheet:

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Stay Home Freebie: Instagram Story Template

Favorite Netflix Shows Instagram Story Template via Happy Hands Project
Photo by Alexa Suter on Unsplash

Hey friends! Another Stay Home Freebie is here! How about a free downloadable Instagram Story Template? Ok, I must admit I’ve been tagged in these stuff too many times ever since the lockdown started (here in Singapore, it was more creatively called Circuit Breaker Measures).

I figured, the most beneficial poll for me would be recommendations for the best shows on Netflix. My days are full with work and home-based learning, but when work hours are over, I stretch my legs, sit on the couch, and check through my list on Netflix. So here’s a free Instagram Story template, so you can crowdsource more shows to add to your list and mine.

Don’t forget to tag me, @happyhandsproj, whenever you post this so I can receive as many recommendations as possible. These are tough times, people. Sharing is caring.

To use this free Instagram Story template, press and hold to save to your camera roll if on mobile. On your desktop? No problemo—simply right click, hit save and airdrop to your phone. Have fun!

Favorite Netflix Shows Instagram Story Template via Happy Hands Project

Want another freebie? Here’s a free printable coloring sheet from my last post.

Free Brush Lettering Alphabet

Free Brush Lettering Alphabet Exemplar via Happy Hands Project

Here’s a free downloadable brush lettering alphabet guide for y’all! As much as I’d like to learn how to write words and full sentences when I was starting out writing calligraphy, I learned (albeit the hard way) that memorizing your letter forms and building muscle memory is the most important thing.

Learning your ABCs should come first before writing words and sentences.

So here’s a free alphabet guide for you to download and refer to when practicing pointed pen calligraphy or brush lettering.

So how does this alphabet actually guide you in your quest for exemplary calligraphy skills? You can print this and tape it on your wall, and refer to it every time you practice. You can also load this on your device (prop up your iPad!) so you can view it while you write. This is my personal freehand style that I tend to use most of the time, either with a brush or a dip pen, and lately using an Apple Pencil. Following this style as a beginner will help you with your forms. As you become more familiar with the strokes, you will then explore different styles—maybe a different way of writing letters, or as simple as changing the slant.

So here’s the brush lettering alphabet guide I promised! As with everything on the house, it’s free for personal use and should not be redistributed nor sold. You may link back to this post if you’d like to share. And don’t forget… practice makes pretty! So flex those muscles and get writing!

P.S. Here’s the pointed pen calligraphy exemplar from a while back—check it out!

Birthday Giveaway: Brush Lettering Tools

It’s time for a celebration! Around this time each year, I host a giveaway that’s slightly bigger than those I usually have. To kick off 2019, I’m giving away a nice bundle of goodies for brush lettering lovers! It doesn’t matter how far along in your lettering journey you are. If you love brush lettering, don’t mind having additional tools to help you hone your craft, or know someone who would love a bunch of free brush lettering tools, then you should join this giveaway!

Brush Lettering Giveaway via Happy Hands Project

So what am I celebrating, exactly? Well, there’s my birthday, my wedding anniversary, and the anniversary of this baby of mine, the Happy Hands Project. When I started HHP I just wanted to share my calligraphy and lettering stories, and I can’t believe it’s still here! I’m still blogging and sharing my calligraphy and lettering passion with the world. I’ve met so many friends who share the same love for this craft and I’ve learned so much from all of you.

Here’s to another year of learning and becoming a better artist! Being a creative means learning is life-long and we’re all here to enjoy the ride.

This year’s going to be a blast (happy dance!) as I’m looking forward to accomplishing many things on my to-do list. I’ll share my big plans later on, but for now, here’s the Happy Hands Project birthday giveaway!

Brush Lettering Giveaway via Happy Hands Project

I teamed up with author and wordsmith @thepenlesswriter for this giveaway! We are giving away a copy of her recently published book, Beneath. It is a collection of some of the best motivational quotes she has written and featured on @thepenlesswriter Instagram page. If you’re looking for quotes and words to practice calligraphy or lettering with, this book is perfect.

Brush Lettering Giveaway via Happy Hands Project

On top of that, I’ll be giving away some of my favourite brush pens, and some watercolour tools to get you started in brush lettering using an actual paint brush. So what’s in the bag, you ask? One lucky winner will win the following items:

  • 12-pan watercolour palette
  • plastic mixing palette
  • paint brush
  • Zig gold metallic brush pen
  • Tombow dual brush pen
  • Pentel Fude Touch Brush pen
  • Pentel Artist Brush pen
  • A5 size notebook with the winner’s name in embossed lettering
  • A copy of Beneath, a collection of motivational quotes by @thepenlesswriter
  • A5 size lettering print by Happy Hands Project (not pictured)

The giveaway starts today, February 14th, and closes on Thursday, February 28th at 12 midnight Singapore time (GMT +8). The lucky winner will be chosen randomly and will be contacted via email within 72 hours of the giveaway closing. If I don’t receive an email reply from the winner within seven (7) days of the original email, I will be randomly selecting another winner.

Open internationally! This giveaway is open to everyone 18 years old and above. The prizes will be shipped via Singapore Post, so as long as I can ship to your location, you can join! Shipping of items to the winner is free of charge however, any customs fees (should it apply) will be paid for by the recipient. Good luck!

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Pentel Brush Lettering Fun Booklet

Pentel Brush Lettering Booklet via Happy Hands Project

Pentel Singapore and Happy Hands Project have collaborated to bring you a FREE (yes, free!) brush lettering booklet for every purchase of the Pentel brush sign pen set. I am truly honoured to have the opportunity to write and design a brush lettering instructional booklet for Pentel.

Pentel Brush Lettering Booklet via Happy Hands Project

When I started with brush calligraphy, I had a background on pointed pen calligraphy. It has the same concept as a brush, but handling it is different. I bought brush pens but had no idea how to use them. What I love about this Brush Lettering Fun booklet is that it is bundled with a set of Pentel brush sign pens, so you’ll have the pens and instructions on how to use them as well.

Pentel Brush Lettering Booklet via Happy Hands Project

So what’s in the booklet, you ask? It has instructions to get you started with brush lettering, along with a brand new alphabet exemplar and traceable words and illustrations.

The brush lettering booklet is currently available in Singapore, and will be available worldwide as well. It comes in limited quantities and can be found at different locations at a time, so it’s best to check Pentel Singapore’s Facebook page for updates.

Pentel Brush Lettering Booklet via Happy Hands Project

Oh, and we are currently giving away a 12-piece Pentel brush sign pen and a booklet to one lucky winner! Join our international giveway on Instagram, which closes on 24 October 2018 at 12 midnight (SGT).

All photos were used with permission from Pentel Singapore.

Free Photoshop Brushes For Halloween

Free Halloween Photoshop Brushes via Happy Hands Project

Halloween is coming! Here’s a free download for you, my lovely readers—5 wicked Photoshop brushes for Halloween, plus 2 bonus ones to make your artwork more interesting. These are hand-lettered words converted into high quality Photoshop brushes.

Free Halloween Photoshop Brushes via Happy Hands Project

You can use these brushes as overlays for your digital photos. You can use these on your blog post and Instagram photos, Halloween party invites, Halloween greeting cards, or as gift tags to go along with some hostess gifts. Calligraphy and lettering makes everything look more personal, so how about adding these hand-lettered brushes onto your design?

Free Halloween Photoshop Brushes via Happy Hands Project

Installing the Photoshop brushes in your computer is easy-peasy. On a Mac, I just double click the .abr file or drag it into Photoshop, and it’s installed. More detailed instructions can be found on this post on Creative Market.

Free Halloween Photoshop Brushes via Happy Hands Project

Can’t wait to see what you’ll come up with! As with everything that’s on the house, this Photoshop brush set is free for personal use and may not be distributed or sold. If you’d wish to share these goodies (thank you!), just link back to this blog post.

Happy Halloween in advance everyone! Booo!

 

Freebie: Brush Lettering Desktop Wallpaper

Eat Slay Love Free Desktop Wallpaper via Happy Hands Project

I have a free download for all you hustlers out there. I haven’t done a desktop wallpaper freebie in a while, and I think it’s high time to give one away! It’s time to give our desktops a makeover and at the same time have a reminder in plain sight to slay the day. Oh, and eat and love too, of course.

This lettering piece was written with my trusty Pentel brush sign pen, one of my favourites. Download and share the love!

Eat Slay Love Free Desktop Wallpaper via Happy Hands Project

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Calligraphy and Lettering Classes on Skillshare

Have you thought about taking online classes to learn lettering, calligraphy or any other creative skill? I’ve rounded up 4 of my favourite online creative classes that I’m sure will kickstart your journey on lettering or calligraphy!

I’m excited to let you guys know that Happy Hands Project has partnered with Skillshare to bring you 2 MONTHS OF FREE PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP! With a premium membership, you can stream more than 18,000 online classes on subjects like design, business, and tech. What I like most about Skillshare is that students are learning alongside more than 3 MILLION members who are as passionate as we are. Members can share their work, give each other feedback and share insights and learnings through group discussions. And I’m telling ya, it could be a pretty great experience.

Use the gift code HAPPYHANDS2 when you register to get 2 months of free premium membership.

I have taken some classes on Skillshare when I was starting out with modern calligraphy. Each class has a project to be completed at the end of the course which makes it exciting. You’d want to learn as much to be able to get that project done the right way.

Now it’s time to check out these awesome classes!

Pen and Ink Calligraphy via Skillshare

Pen and Ink Calligraphy: The Art of the Envelope
Bryn Chernoff

Ooh, envelope calligraphy. Learn how to choose papers, mix and match ink colours, and create a neat and centred layout for a beautiful calligraphed envelope.

 

Take me to class!

Digitizing Calligraphy from Sketch to Vector-Skillshare

Digitizing Calligraphy from Sketch to Vector
Molly Suber Thorpe

After learning the basics of modern calligraphy, it’s time to make something digital out of them! Digitized calligraphy can be used in print and online in the form of logotypes, advertising, title treatments, printed stationery, and beyond. In this course Molly will walk you through four steps—sketching, flourishing, inking and finally, digitising.

Take me to class!

Hand Lettering Essentials for Beginners-Skillshare

Hand Lettering Essentials for Beginners
Mary Kate McDevitt

The distinct Mary Kate style will be taught by her in this beginners’ class. In this 2-hour class, Mary Kate reveals the first steps of hand lettering and shares how to concept, design, and letter phrases for any use—a poster, magazine, t-shirt, or anything else you might imagine. There are very useful downloadable resources, too, which will help you in conceptualizing your very first lettering piece.

Take me to class!

Storytelling Through Lettering-Skillshare

Storytelling Through Lettering: Exploring Different Styles
Martina Flor

I’ve been following Martina’s lettering work for a few years now. This class is all about different lettering techniques and styles and is perfect for beginners or advanced students of lettering that want to expand their stylistic palette when drawing letters.

Take me to class!

If you’re interested in any or all of these classes, it’s definitely worth it to check out Skillshare. Skillshare’s giving away a free trial to my lovely readers. Just sign up using my link, or use the code HAPPYHANDS2 and you’ll get 2 months of unlimited online classes for free. No commitments and you could cancel anytime.

Thanks Skillshare!

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Calligra-freebie: Calligraphy Guidelines

Free Calligraphy Guidelines via Happy Hands Project

A few weeks ago I made the ultimate calligraphy checklist available for download. Now it’s time to practice, so whip out your beginners’ tools because it’s time to start writing! Here’s another calligra-freebie—guidelines you can download for free and print so you can practice on your letter forms.

True story: I was teaching a workshop where the participant did not care about the guidelines on her practice sheets. I told her that for starters, making the base of the letters touch the baseline would make her writing legible and the sizes consistent. She replied nonchalantly, “I’m trying to bounce my lettering”. I insisted that she MUST follow the guidelines provided (nicely, of course). Let’s start by following the basic rules, people.

These free guidelines come in 2 sizes—A4 and letter. The x’s on the sides mark the x-height of the letter (which is the size of the lower case x) and the slants are based on Copperplate‘s 55° angle. It’s a challenge to keep your slants consistent, hence the slant guides. The best way to use these guidelines is to print them on your practice paper, or print one sheet and place tracing paper over it. Use paper clips to secure the sheets in place.

Is learning calligraphy one of your goals for 2018? No time to waste then, my friends. Download these guide sheets for free.

Send me the calligraphy guidelines, please!

Oh, and if you’re looking for a modern calligraphy exemplar, you can download one here.

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Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit Giveaway

Calligraphy Kit Giveaway via Happy Hands Project

How does a  modern calligraphy starter kit giveaway sound? It’s time for me to give one away for free!

It’s that time of the year again. January is a very important month for Happy Hands Project and myself because I will be celebrating three things—my birthday, the HHP blog anniversary, and my wedding anniversary!

This modern calligraphy starter kit was launched last December 2017 and has been available for sale in my Etsy shop. It took me months to finish designing everything—from the instructional booklet to the note cards to practice on. This kit has everything you need to get started in modern calligraphy. This is an absolute labour of love and I cannot wait to share a kit to ONE LUCKY WINNER.

Curious about what’s in the box? Each modern calligraphy starter kit includes the following awesome tools:

  • 1 beginners’ booklet with premium practice paper and stroke-by-stroke instructions and a full alphabet examplar
  • instructional tips & techniques
  • 1 A5 guidelines card
  • 1 A5 drills card
  • 1 wooden straight pen holder
  • 1 Palomino Blackwing pencil (my favourite!)
  • 2 pointed flexible nibs
  • 1 pot of black ink
  • 8 sheets of A5 tracing paper
  • 1 screen printed tote from the in-person workshops
  • an assortment of decorative cards
  • blank kraft gift tags
  • personalized name tag

Good luck everyone! Let’s keep on spreading the love for calligraphy and all things handmade!

RULES:
Absolutely no purchase necessary. This giveaway is open internationally. The giveaway starts on 23 January at 12am, and ends on 31 January at 12 am (Singapore time, UTC+8). One winner will be generated randomly through Rafflecopter. Should a winner fail to reply to the notification email within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be generated. Happy Hands Project will be paying for the shipping costs, but will not be responsible for any customs fees in the recipient’s country.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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