how to create fake calligraphy

I have always loved beautiful calligraphy.

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{ 1 . 2 }

Years ago, my former boss brought me back a calligraphy pen and ink from her trip to Italy. I was so excited to try it out and figured it would be super easy to turn my handwriting into calligraphy with just the flick of a nib {that’s the technical term for the metal pieces that go in the pens – not to be confused with my go-to treat, the twizzler nib}.

It didn’t go so well.

Then I met Lindsay {of Lindsay Letters – who created that fabulous O Holy Night print and will be debuting a new LOVE print here on the blog in just a few days} and figured since she is a pro, she could surely give some pointers and it wouldn’t be too hard.

Again, the pen and ink proved too complicated for my impatient hands {have you ever tried it? the ink sure does splatter!}

I have yet to learn how to use a real calligraphy pen {although it is on my list of skills to master someday} and have just stuck with my fake calligraphy technique. I thought I’d share it with you today.

First, choose a good fine tip ink pen.

I usually like these pilot precise extra fine pens the best, but just bought the foray stylemark at the office store and it’s a good one too.

Now, write your letter. You can do it in pencil first if you prefer, or just freehand.

To give your letter the calligraphy look, you will need to make all of the down strokes thicker and filled in {as if you were writing with an angled calligraphy pen}.

Every time your pen stroke goes downward {as seen with the arrows above}, just draw a close line and fill it in.

See how easy it is?

Here’s another example.  I wrote the word love in cursive:

then filled in the down strokes:

Doesn’t it look fancy?  You can transform your handwriting to make it look like calligraphy very simply and easily with just a few extra pen strokes.

If you would like a faster way to make fancy handwriting, I have created a new font for you using my own fake calligraphy.

Isn’t it cute?!! You get a full alphabet with lots of extra symbols, doodles and words.

Now its even easier to fake calligraphy.

Purchase the new fancy font by clicking the button below.

my favorite shoes for girls {with a discount!}

It has been a crazy winter weather week … more on that later.  But since I now have power and I am up before the kids I wanted to share a great discount with you {as was promised for yesterday’s post}.  Just a side note: I don’t really like when plans change {like a two day power outage} and I have no control and then I’m behind on schedule.  Please forgive me … art prints, JDC|Monthly, emails … they will come. I promise. They will just be a few days later than I’d like.

Okay, so my favorite shoes for girls. I’ve shared this company before, but I just can’t get enough of Joyfolie‘s most beautiful products.

First a preview of a few of the styles in the upcoming spring collection:

 

So pretty! Those gray stripes will be making their way into our life soon.

Because a new collection is about to debut, Jessica {the creator of Joyfolie} is offering a generous discount to JDC readers on the current collection in her shop.

Like the shimmery red julie shoe:

Love the bright print of the sabrina

The saidi is the style Audrey receive for Christmas {she loves them and so do I}

Funny how I’m not really a shoe girl myself, but I can’t get enough of cute ones for my little one.

To receive  30% off any item on the shoe page that is currently in stock use the code

JONES30

at checkout. The discount code is good until next friday {1/27} so start shopping!

west elm + stripes = love

Have you looked at the goods at West Elm lately? I am pleasantly surprised with how many things I adore on their website. My absolute favorites have a common thread: stripes.

{stripe duvet cover + shams}

{stripe favorite throw}

{hammam stripe hand towel}

{stripe bath mat}

{modern stripe porcelain tray and tumbler}

Apparently I’m also still loving gray and mustard.

You can see more at West Elm.

merry christmas

So here we are … just one week until Christmas. It seems like the lead up takes forever, and then suddenly it is upon us.

My babes are nearly out of school and we are looking forward to a nice Christmas vacation spent with family, hopefully some snow and lots and lots of treats.

I am not quite finished with gift-shopping, gift-making or gift-wrapping. Hopefully this will be a very productive week!

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I’m hoping to make a version of this sweet blankie for my baby doll loving niece.  And probably some miniature burp cloths too.

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The boys’ teachers are receiving personalized mugs that we made using this tutorial and my favorite fancy font. They turned out so great and were really quite simple to make.

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I have a few more batches of the yummiest sea salt caramels to make {and consume}.

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I’d like to wrap my gifts like this:

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{diy printables from armommy}

and this:

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{colorful monograms from martha stewart}

and maybe do a few with melted flowers and rolled fabric for embellishment like this:

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{via prettypetals}

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I think this is such a clever way to create a time capsule and we’ll be doing this project when the kids are out of school.

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I’m putting the finishing touches on the January collection for JDC | Monthly. If you are already a member, you will receive your january link on the 22nd.

If you’d like to start your new year out in an organized {and pretty} fashion, JDC | monthly is a great way to do it. You can learn more here.

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I purchased this adorable nutcracker puppet theatre and need to have the boys help me assemble {and play}.

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Sara Jane Studios has a really great Nativity paper doll set and coloring pages too.

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I love this time of year and am trying to cherish each moment with our little ones.  But I’ve got to be honest and say that amidst the projects, the shopping, the entertaining and busyness of the holiday season, my kids have not been my top priority.   It is time for me to take a break from my computer and spend a little more time just being a mommy.  So I’m going to hop off of the blog for a week or two, close my office doors and take this Christmas vacation to hang out with the family, indulge my creative side and let my babes know how important they are to me.

May you have a joy-filled Christmas with your loved ones.

our family

the nutcracker

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I took my boys to see Pacific Northwest Ballet’s The Nutcracker for the first time this year.

me & the boys

We went with a group of friends and cousins and it was the perfect way to start our Christmas season.

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I love this production – it is a classic Seattle tradition and the most delightful performance with happy music and whimsical sets designed by famed illustrator Maurice Sendak.  I could not wait to introduce this kind of art to my children.

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But this particular ballet is even more special to me because I danced in it when I was a young ballerina.

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{see my name? This program is from 1986 – when I was 8 years old and a shy little thing. This was a huge step for me to perform in front of such a large audience, but such an amazing experience.}

My first year, I was a baby girl mouse.

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The second year, I was a servant child {I am in the center with my childhood ballet friends}

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The last year, I was a soldier.

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I know I am too old to dream of being a ballerina, but that childish dream is still within me.  I love everything there is about ballet. The grace. The music. The shoes.  I did not have the flexibility in my feet to continue dancing on pointe and my parents opted not to have my feet broken and reconstructed when I was just twelve, and so my days of ballet dancing with PNB were over. But these memories are a deep part of me and I was so thankful to be able to relive the excitement of the Nutcracker with my children.

No. 1 was not so impressed. But he is almost 8 and it is getting harder and harder to impress him. Unless it has to do with Star Wars Legos or candy.

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No. 3 was maybe a little young at 4. He does love swords, though, so the mouse king was right up his alley.

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No. 2 was the best. He was wide-eyed through the whole show and even asked me at one point if he could be in the Nutcracker when he gets bigger. I said of course he could … but he would have to take ballet. He quickly changed his mind.

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Of course I want Audrey to be her own little lady, but there may be some encouragement from this mama to involve her in ballet.  Maybe one day she’ll dance in PNB’s Nutcracker.

A girl can dream, right?

If you are in the Seattle area and would like a great evening of entertainment, click here for ticket information.

PNB made a Nutcracker movie years ago, which you can rent here.

And this book has artwork by Maurice Sendak and tells the story of The Nutcracker.

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