Olivia Andrews asked:


Arts and crafts is a tool that provides you with unlimited creativity, patience, skill sets and a whole lot of fun. Many times, people don’t know or they feel ignorant as how to make something decorative, creative and beautiful and as such there are different craft books available to guide you for making a particular craft.

If it is the much awaited Christmas time and you want to send some beautiful Christmas cards to your friends and relatives then why to purchase an expensive card from the market instead you can paint a Christmas card at your home that shall have a personal touch too.

To craft a painted Christmas card, you need to have a white blank card, green acrylic paint, gold liquid marker, gold glitter paint, silver glitter paint, calligraphy pen, black calligraphy ink, red calligraphy ink, water, paper towel, yellow marker, grey marker, red glitter paint, green glitter paint.

Steps to create a painted Christmas card:

1. First mix enough water with small amount of green acrylic paint to create a thin wash and thoroughly mix it.

2. Dip your brush in the wash and paint the front of the card in straight brush strokes. You have to cover the card with the wash as quickly as possible as so the stokes of your paint brush won’t show and the card has a nice even coat of the wash being created. After you finish the wash you need to blot up the excess wash from the front of your card completely. Let your card dry and then place a new piece of paper towel over the card and place a heavy book on top of the card so that it dries flat. This is necessary so that it is flat before you draw on your design.

3. Draw your design on the front of the card lightly with a pencil and then draw a faint line where you could writer your own words.

4. Once you are satisfied with the design, assign colors to each part and trace over these parts with the help of markers of the chosen colors. These colors should correspond with the paint colors that you shall use on the parts of the design later.

5. Trace over the thin lines that you drew for the words with the liquid gold marker. Let it dry and then test it by pressing a paper on the line and lift it carefully to check whether it had dried.

6. With the help of the red calligraphy pen write the words “Merry Christmas” on the gold line you have created. Practice on another sheet of paper if you feel necessary. You can also cover your words with a small piece of paper to blot it while you continue to decorate your card.

7. You can trace the design with glitter paint and then using the fine tip of the bottle or pen trace around the parts of the design in their respective colors such as yellow-gold, silver-silver, red-red, green-green. To spread the paint around the thinner than the lines created by the tips of the bottles or pens you are using just smear it with the help of a toothpick.

8. Next change the color of the calligraphy pen to black and write a message inside the card as well. Practice it on a separate piece of paper and then place a paper towel over the ink to blot so that it does not bleed to other side of the card before it dries. You can also let it dry standing up and open.



Leon

ghetifal asked:


I’m just getting into calligraphy and want to write something for a special occasion. What kind of paper should I use? Any brands of parchment or anything in particular? Also, I’m using an old Sheaffer Calligraphy Pen that came in a kit. Any suggestions for a new fountain pen or calligraphy pen or something? Any brands in particular? I don’t want to spend too much money on it though (no more than $50 for a pen for me). Thanks.

Gail

Miss walker asked:


Creating cards can be very pleasurable and relaxing.  The main material for making greeting card is paper or card. There are many types of paper to choose from but the most important thing to remember is that the card needs to be able to stand up alone. Opting for a thick card will achieve this easily. Now onto decorating, there are various types of paints, ink, accessories to attach; writing styles, drawings, markers, feathers, even using crayons or felt tip pens can give a great effect.  Your imagination is the only barrier when is comes to creating great cards.  Plus the card will always be unique because of your personal style, and the sentiment you want to convey.

Many decorate cards by using their home computer. Again you will need a thick card / paper for structure, however make sure your printer can take the card’s thickness. Each printer specifies the maximum thickness of paper or card it will take. Check this first before attempting to print, this way you will avoid the getting paper jammed. When using a computer the paper variation stretches even further, different papers give different results, so experiment. To personalize it more by using your own photographs this can create a great special touch, plus with a printer you can print everything with ease.

If you have the skill or want to try something new, using calligraphy pens can add a special touch to any card.  It takes a special talent to produce quality work using a calligraphy pen, but for beginners stick to short sentences or single words e.g.: the recipient’s name.  Such a card would convey thoughtfulness and care to the recipient. Use the right tools, calligraphy pen sets are easy to obtain from any local art or stationary store.

Get the children involved in creating cards, they will love it.  A simple piece of standard paper and a crayon can produce a great simple master piece. Push the boundaries and introduce finger paints, scrap paper, buttons, wool, magazine cut-outs, craft foams pieces, glitter, glue the list is endless. However more accessories fuel’s the imagination of the child.

Last but no means least the choice of cards produced by the large amount of card companies.  Card companies offer convenience, saving the buyer time, effort, resources and money.  They cater for all occasions, all members of the family, friends, colleagues and more. All is needed from the buyer is to choose which one to purchase, which is a job within itself.

With all the options available there is no excuse for missing that special occasion again. Which ever method you choose to take, the single most important fact is that you like the card, and the recipient will like it to.

Happy Card Making.



Pedro

love_to_knit! asked:


My calligraphy pen came with four nibs, but I can’t get ink to come out of some of them. Do each of the nibs need its own ink? Why isn’t the ink coming out?

Maria

KEMC asked:


I bougth this calligraphy pen, do you know where i can learn how to use the pen, write nice and neat, free lessons possible online?
u guys rnt helping, ill just google it

Stacey

toastedguitars asked:


I’m just getting into calligraphy and I got a glass pen and some ink for Christmas – I’ve used pens with normal nibs and I’ve practiced my writing and all that, but now I have this glass pen and I am stuck. How is it supposed to work? I’m having difficulty…

Minnie

Kelly Mellott asked:


ften referred to as the “most important day of your life,” your wedding day should be perfect and exactly what you imagined it to be. And what better way to insure that everything turns out precisely how you wanted it without breaking the bank than to have a DIY wedding? Becoming increasingly popular, the handmade wedding (also called a homemade wedding or do-it-yourself wedding) is a great way to save money, bond with your bridesmaids or spouse-to-be as you create all the wedding elements, and still have the wedding of your dreams. Here at FaveCrafts.com, our Wedding Craft Editors have put together this comprehensive guide to our favorite homemade wedding centerpiece ideas, do it yourself wedding invitations, how to make your own wedding cake, and other great wedding craft ideas!

Favorite handmade Wedding Invitations:

Create these gorgeous wedding invitations using craft punches and calligraphy pens.

By Sue Eldred for Uchida of America, Corp.

Materials:



Clever Lever Super Jumbo Scalloped Heart Punch

Clever Lever Jumbo Daisy Punch

Clever Lever Standard Daisy Punch

DecoColor™ Extra Fine Silver

DecoColro™ Silver Calligraphy Pen

Paper Trimming Buddy: Straight Blade

Mini Glue Tape

Wedding Faded Paisley (Dé ja Views )

Vellum 40 lb.

Adhesive Pearls (K & Company)

Black & Grey Cardstock

Accu-Cut Die A-7 Card Foldout #4

Xyron Sticker Machine with Permanent Adhesive

Glue Stick



Steps:



Cut Invitation base out of black cardstock using an Accu-Cut Die Cutting Machine and the Accu-Cut Die A-7 Card Foldout #4.



Size computer generated Wedding Information so that it can be cut 4 ½” x 6 ½. Print Wedding information onto 40lb. Vellum and run through Xyron Sticker Machine to get an even coat of adhesive on the back of the vellum. Adhere to the Wedding Faded Paisley scrapbook paper and cut to 4 ½” x 6 ½”. Add glue tape to back of paisley paper and adhere to a piece of dk. grey cardstock 4 ¾” x 6 ¾”. Adhere to inside of black wedding invitation base.



Cut a 1” x 11” strip of Wedding Faded Paisley, adhere to 1 ¼” x 11” piece of black cardstock, then adhere layers to a 1 ½” x 11” piece of grey cardstock. Gently fold around invitation so that each end of the layers meet in the middle of the invitation. Adhere ends together.



Punch two Super Scalloped Hearts one from the Silver Wedding Texture scrapbook paper the other from black cardstock. Glue the two hearts together. Using the Silver Calligraphy Pen, add a thin silver line around the front of the scrapbook heart. Add small dots with the Extra Fine Silver Deco Pen in each scallop.



Punch two daisies from both the standard and jumbo daisy punches. Adhere both daisy sets together so that you can see all petals. Glue smaller daisy on top of larger daisy, add small adhesive pearl to middle of daisy. Adhere to middle of the Invitation Band to cover seam.



Do It Yourself Wedding Centerpiece Tips and Video

Click here for great tips and ideas for DIY wedding centerpieces ­- http://www.favecrafts.com/Wedding-Crafts/Homemade-Wedding-Centerpieces-DIY-Budget-Receptions

How-to Make Pick a Vase for a Floral Wedding Centerpiece

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA_bT_oICG8

Make your Own Wedding Cake Tips and Video

Click here for great tips and ideas on how to make your own wedding cake – http://www.favecrafts.com/Wedding-Crafts/Homemade-Wedding-The-Cake-DIY-Thrifty-Reception

DIY Wedding Cake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBZ1lMrP43g



Minnie

sreejith asked:


The Calligraphy pens can be traced back to the ancient civilization. The ancient civilization used a stylus on the clay tablets; these were generally used by the Sumerians and the Babylonians. The Ancient Romans also used a tool for writing which was the stylus with the wax tablets. The Chinese Calligraphy was complex and renowned in those times; they used a brush instead of a tool for the Calligraphy pen. Reed pens and quills were also used as a calligraphy pen by monks and saints in the middle age era.

As years went by the Calligraphy pens also went through a few changes. The reed pens actually used inks in them, bamboo or bulrushes were used by the middle age people. Quills replaced the reed pens in the medieval age till steel tips were, they could be shaped often when it blunts off. Metal nibbed calligraphy pens were used in ancient Rome, the metal stylus was scribed into thin wax sheets. Glass Calligraphy pens were used in the 16th century in Venice; they were used to create a steady monocline mark. They were deemed a delicate and fine tool.

The Chinese Calligraphy pen was nothing similar to their western contemporaries; they followed a complex and intricate form of Calligraphy and the tools used were also unique. They use Calligraphy brush instead of a pen; the brush looks simple for a person who is unaware of its detailed methods of manufacturing, it is made either from goat’s hair or wolfs hair. The brush itself is made of two or more layers, the first layer being an inner core which consists of a string of short hairs; they are surrounded by an outer layer of long hairs that end at the tip of the brush. These brush are stiff and strong producing sharp strokes.



Peter

Sleepless asked:


Lately I’ve been trying to figure out how to make a reed pen. What material should I use? Is there anything inside of the hollow part of the pen? I’m interested in calligraphy (I’ve just started researching and checking out books about it)and I want to practice to get better. The type of calligraphy I want to write is Early Gothic calligraphy.

For a reed pen do you just dip it in the ink and write or is there more to it?

Darren

mtnlady asked:


I’ve never tried calligraphy before, but I’m interested in dabbling with it.

What might be a good pen for a not-very-serious beginner? And where could I find it? If it’s something fun for me, I might make more of an investment. But for now I’d like to keep the purchase under or around $30.

Thanks for your insight!

Lisa