The Postman’s Knock

December’s Coffee Date: Exploring Possibilities!

Lindsey Bugbee — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:59:06 +0000

Not familiar with Jess? You can “meet” her in this interview.

Talking about goals has always made me feel giddy, which is why you’ll always notice some sort of goal list template pop up on the TPK Blog this time of year. After all, at its core, a goal is just a project … something that has specific steps, requires a process, and gives you a reward at the end. In December’s coffee date, we leaned into that idea. We spent an hour talking about what we want 2026 to feel like and how to set intentions that actually make room for joy.

You can watch the full conversation below; then keep reading for a recap of the biggest takeaways:

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Graceful Ballerina Calligraphy Artwork + Drill Worksheet

Lindsey Bugbee — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

I’ve never revealed this, but before I started TPK, and — indeed — before I even began school, I was a ballerina. Not only that, but during my ballet career, I portrayed the Jacques, the mouse who spearheads the most ambitious of crafting sessions to ensure that Cinderella can go to the ball. Now, it may surprise you to hear that the rural Kansas ballet scene doesn’t funnel young talent straight into the Royal Ballet, but c’est la vie. (As a result, I stopped ballet a year or two later in favor of soccer.)

Short as it may have been, my ballet career burned bright. Here’s 5-year-old Lindsey as Jacques, the mouse who suggests DIYing a dress for Cinderella.

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Standing Tree Holiday Card Tutorial

Lindsey Bugbee — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:56:22 +0000

This standing tree card falls squarely into the category of “impressive yet approachable”. It’s quick to put together, relaxing to embellish, and it folds up neatly for mailing. With the help of a printable template, you can whip up several of these! Pro tip: keep one for yourself. It adds beauty and interest to any holiday display.

This card folds neatly into a snail mail-friendly shape. Just tuck it into an A7 envelope and send!

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Introducing the 2025 TPK Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet Set

Lindsey Bugbee — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 18:07:53 +0000

This year’s set focuses on approachable motifs that look impressive but unfold through simple, repeatable strokes. You’ll find three different flourished fir trees, a joyful ornament, a snowflake-inspired calligraphy medallion, and useful holiday phrases. Each section includes guided steps, traceable outlines, and plenty of room to practice! My hope is that you can sit down with a page whenever you get the chance and enjoy that meditative “ink gliding across paper” feeling.

The Loop-de-Loop Fir exercise is a simple collection of strokes that come together to make a stunning fir tree.

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November’s Coffee Date: Creative Gift Ideas

Lindsey Bugbee — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 02:01:15 +0000

Illuminated letters were one of the gifts we discussed in the chat. Many TPK readers have used the Easy Illuminated Letter Tutorial to create gorgeous handmade presents!

With the holidays right around the corner, our conversation naturally centered around DIY and handmade gifts, favorite art books, and the small creative rituals that make this season meaningful. You can watch our conversation below; then keep reading for a recap of your ideas, questions, and all the links we mentioned.

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3 Easy Ways to Address an Envelope

Lindsey Bugbee — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:39:50 +0000

When I sit down to make envelope calligraphy, it almost always turns into a multi-hour project. I love to go all-in with pencil drafts, over-the-top flourishes, and careful erasing. It’s satisfying, but not practical for sending a stack of holiday cards or invitations. So this week, I tried out three quick styles that still feel elegant and festive, and I’m sharing the results (with timestamps) and how-tos today.

This whimsical envelope took me 4 minutes and 45 seconds to address.

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Gorgeous Illustrated Autumn Pumpkin Tutorial

Lindsey Bugbee — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 21:10:42 +0000

To me, autumn means cozy focus, warm colors, and a sense of simple joy. Today’s tutorial is one I savored from start to finish, and I hope you’ll enjoy it, too. In it, you’ll create a hand-painted pumpkin filled with leaves and flourishes that you can turn into a greeting card, mail art, or a lovely autumn display for your home.

1. Gather Your Supplies

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October’s Coffee Date: Drawing Your Days with Samantha Dion Baker

Lindsey Bugbee — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:10:53 +0000

This is my favorite spread from Sam’s new book, Draw Your Adventures. I love that dress and the cozy coffee mug!

Samantha has a gift for blending the ordinary and the artful. She’s the illustrator and author behind several beloved books, including, most recently, Draw Your Adventures (affiliate link). Last Friday, Sam joined Jess and me to talk about her sketchbook practice, which emphasizes joy in the moment. You can watch our conversation below, then keep reading to find a written overview and important links:

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Macabre Mail for the Edward Gorey House

Lindsey Bugbee — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 21:16:02 +0000

My love for mail art is no secret. Embellished envelopes abound on the TPK blog, and they have their own section in The Calligraphy Book. TPK envelopes have even crept into The Graceful Envelope Contest and Scripsit Magazine. I return to this type of project again and again because it gives me so much joy! I loved every second of making my Edward Gorey House envelope, and I hope that you make one, too. Below, you’ll find the process that I used — but please feel free to use the techniques and style that work for you.

1. Brainstorm + Make a Draft

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September’s Coffee Date: Color Theory and Confidence

Lindsey Bugbee — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 18:52:09 +0000

Photo credit: Jess Greenleaf

When Jess Greenleaf and I get together, you can always expect to learn something new. Our September coffee date didn’t disappoint! We covered everything from testing inks on tricky handmade papers to the ins and outs of color theory. Along the way, we talked about building confidence as an artist, favorite pigments, watercolor techniques, and even the future of cursive writing. Then, Jess threw a giveaway curveball! The coffee date is absolutely worth a watch or a listen:

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