Calligraphy Class @ Paper Tales

Lately I’ve been really interested in modern calligraphy, because I’ve seen it all over Pinterest and on blogs.  It seemed like it would be really fun to learn calligraphy and make my own quote prints or journal cards for scrapbooking.  So when I found out that my awesome local scrapbook store Paper Tales was holding a Calligraphy class, I signed up!  The class was taught by April Joy Hill, whom I was already following in the scrapbooking world.  What a small world that she lives in San Diego!

Practicing calligraphy this weekend on Project Life journal cards.

Calligraphy class was held on Sunday 12/1 from 1-4pm.  When I had lunch with Pearl, she said she was thinking about attending the class too.  When she found out I was planning on going, she signed up too!  Here we were in class.

April the instructor, showing us the type of paper to use to practice calligraphy on.

My first time using a pointed-tip calligraphy pen!  We got a straight pen holder with a Nikko G nib.  Using black sumi ink. 

My first strokes felt weird and unnatural, lol.  I wasn’t used to holding the pen and the nib.  I practiced some basic strokes first.  Then using the basic strokes to build the lowercase alphabet.

Practice, practice, practice.

With some mess-ups along the way.

The other ladies in the class, hard at work practicing their alphabets.

After practicing the letters, I practiced putting words together. 

The instructor April and I.

I got to meet my Instagram friend Mariko!

I had a lot of fun in class and learned so much!  In fact, I sort of got obsessed with calligraphy and signed up for a Skillshare calligraphy class called Introduction to the Art of Modern Calligraphy.  I spent a bunch of time practicing yesterday.  Here’s some that I scanned into the computer.

Some more on journal cards.

I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t practiced enough to find my own style yet.  I see all the accomplished calligraphers out there doing amazing lettering, and I’m far from where I want to be.  But it is so fun to practice and explore.  I have a feeling that this hobby will stick!

Just for fun, I scanned in the “be jolly” that I wrote above, and made this 3x4 journal card in Photoshop.  I printed it onto a Project Life 3x4 blank card. 

I’m giving the journal card away as a free download!  If you like it and want to print your own, you can download it here:  listgirl 3x4 be jolly journal card. 

Please link up in the comments if you use it to make something.  I would love to see it!  I’m having so much fun with calligraphy!  :-)