Wedding Blog

DIY-ing the calligraphy the invitation envelopes was no easy feat. In all, it took over 50 hours to complete the calligraphy - and that’s not including the 20-odd hours I put into learning how to do it properly. With that in mind, calligraphy is NOT for the the faint of heart, but can be replicated with many different script fonts on your printer, and can even be done fast-and-dirty style with calligraphy markers. However, if you are willing to put in the bride-hours, calligraphy is an immensely satisfying project - but one that is perhaps best-suited for brides with long engagements or ample spare time!

(Nibs. Image source here)

SUPPLIES

• practice paper (not too thin, nothing bumpy, but not shiny either)
• ruler, pencil and eraser
• nibs of your choice - not all nibs are the same, and you will often have to use different nibs for different parts of your calligraphy
• a dip pen (nib holder) - plastic is fine, but if you’re a nut for aesthetics, there are plenty of fancy ones out there… you could also use a fountain pen, but this guide is for dip pen users (who are much cooler )
• ink
• kleenex or toilet paper
• nail polish remover (when india ink invariably ends up on your skin)
• access to a sink (to periodically rinse your writing supplies)
• fonts that you like

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Learn
2. Practice your foundational hand
3. Practice your basic roman lettering
4. Practice your italic lettering
5. Practice your font of choice
6. Practice all of the names on your guest list in the font of choice (time consuming, but helps to avoid spacing issues and other mistakes)
7. Set up your envelopes. I didn’t use a guide because I had already glued in the DIY envelope liners, but if you think ahead, you can use one and save your nerves some strain!
8. Insert the nib of choice into your pen. Try not to jam it all the way in - it is difficult to remove a wet, sharp nib!
9. Shake your ink vigorously. Make sure the lid is closed. :/
10. Dip your nib so that it is immersed sufficiently into the ink well (ie, not past the neck of the nib)
11. Give it a few seconds to suck up the ink. If your pen needs constant dipping (ie, every two letters instead of two words), take apart the nib and pen and rinse them clean. Dry them with a kleenex, and get back to work.
12. Wipe the nib on the edge of the ink well to get rid of any excess ink. This is the same motion you use with a nail polish brush.
13. Write.
14. Wipe brow.
15. Rinse.
16. Repeat.
17. Let the envelopes dry for several hours. Don’t try to rush it - you will smudge it faster than you can say “d’oh!”

TUTORIALS

Click here for the only guide you will need if you are willing to go slowly, learn much, and practice until your fingers cramp and fall off - but have gorgeous calligraphy to show for it (what I used)

Other online guides which I did not use but you could check out:

• 101 Guide to Calligraphy
• Wikipedia on calligraphy
• Scribblers UK
• John Stevens calligraphy

HINTS

1. Start with the basics. There’s no point in trying to outdo Veer and company until you can do as the Romans do. Roman lettering, that is.
2. Learn your foundational hand. If you are truly serious about making some kick-butt calligraphy, invest your time in learning how to do it properly. Contrary to popular thought, you can’t just pick up a nib and write as if it were a ball point pen - it just doesn’t work, and all you will get for your impatience is jagged tears in your paper!
3. Practice! Practice! If you think you’ve got it, practice some more! It is much less work to put in some extra work now than to redo precious envelopes later!
4. Order more envelopes than you think you need. A lot more. I ordered 15% more than we needed, and ended up with the exact amount we needed, after calligraphy errors and address changes. Too close for comfort!
5. If your nib is dragging on your paper (which, for your sanity, should not be textured, it may be time for a new nib.
6. Study calligraphy and fonts that you like, and practice writing out names. As you become better at controlling the pen, your “hand” will start to shine through. Don’t fight it, but instead, go with the flow - it’s a lot less stressful. Our envelopes were a mix of Alejandro Paul’s “feel script,” Adine Kindberg script, and Miss Shortcake script!
7. Dip pens and nibs are EXCELLENT for illustrating! I used them to draw the “couture” map and the illustrations on our invitation suite.
8. Superball india ink is unbeatable for a shiny, crisp black ink. It dries quickly and is also water-insoluble, so you have to work fast to avoid irreparable mistakes and permanent stains on your clothing/surroundings!

Phew! I hope that helps! Does anyone have any other questions? Who else is doing DIY calligraphy?