how to create fake calligraphy
I have always loved beautiful calligraphy.
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.
















































Kelly in Georgia
Emily,
This is beautiful! I do hand lettering and have taught calligraphy to children. Have you tried the felt tipped pens? That is what I use when working with children. Also, the cartridge pens don’t spatter as bad as the “real deal” ones. Of course, you don’t get the wonderful choice of colors with the felt tipped and cartridge pens, but they are easier to handle. I just may have to buy your lovely font for the computer! something to look forward to for the weekend!
Shelley
How great is this! Thank you so much for the tips. I remember when my mom purchased a little calligraphy kit for me for Christmas one year. I was writing on anything I could get my hands on! I’ve always wanted to relearn some of it so I could have pretty gift tags, etc. this. Is perfect for me, and I’m pinning this ASAP.
Sarah B Design
Your new font is sooo Fancy!
I love the Emily font and I can not wait until I get home to my computer to download this new one! I am getting married soon and I definitely want to try out your calligraphy technique on some of my thank you letters.
Brittney
Hi Emily! Thanks for the tutorial on calligraphy… I love your handwriting, it is just darling. Actually, I love everything about your blog! I have a blog crush on you, and I linked up over at http://vintagerevivals.blogspot.com/ and told everyone how great you are
Nancy Wallace
Hi Emily,
I love your blog and I love your generous and creative heart. I just purchased and downloaded the calligraphy font, but it seems that the only thing that downloaded were the upper and lower case letters, but not all of the fun squiggles, etc. I had downloaded another font from you some months back and the same thing happened. What do I need to do to fix this? Thanks so much!
emily
Are you using a mac? If you are typing in word, you can insert a symbol by clicking INSERT then SYMBOL then ADVANCED SYMBOLS. Then just change the font to be the fancy font and the grid of available symbols will show. Then you can insert the design you’d like. Please let me know if this doesn’t work or you need extra help … I created a short tutorial on how to insert symbols here {http://jonesdesigncompany.com/create/my-handwriting-font/} but it was on a pc. Should I create a tutorial for a mac?
angela
i would LOOOVE if you did the insert tutorial for mac.
emily
I’ll see what I can do. It looks like the extra symbols are not showing up in the symbol grid, so I’ll do a little more research to figure out where they are hidden. If anyone discovers where they are first, please let us know!
Christy
Love! You are so amazingly gifted!!
carrie
Love this post & downloaded the font – thanks!
Seriously Sassy Mama
Now this is good info. I have always wanted to fins out an easier way to do this! Time to go buy some pens.
Kellie
great tutorial, many thanks
nita
I will be give this a try. Thanks so much for the tips I have always want to be able to do this. Off to get your front….If I can’t write I can at least type.
Thank You!
Kate
This is awesome. But what I really want to know simply for curiosity sake – HOW IN THE WORLD DO PEOPLE CREATE FONTS?! I’ve always wondered.
emily
This is one great way {and its free!}:
http://kevinandamanda.com/fonts/fontsforpeas/how-to-get-your-handwriting-as-a-font/
Desiree
Great tips! Can’t wait to try it!!!
Stacey
Love the tutorial…thank you so much! You creativity is inspiring. I’d love to hear more about how you create your own custom fonts.
Patty
I love this and just purchased it! Can’t wait to use it on my pillows I am planning to make soon
Love your blog!
Manda
Very nice!
Another technique to use is printing a fancy font (like yours) very lightly onto your paper and then tracing it with a nice pen. Here’s an explanation (near the bottom of the post): http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/10/23/semi-diy-invitations-first-impressions/#more-115381
jessica
Just purchased this “fancy” font…. love it! Thank you for making it available! I also purchased the “emily” font a while back and love that, too!
Like Nancy I had a hard time finding the special symbols/words and I’m using a mac. But thanks to your response I was able to pull them up easily!
However, “with, from, the” are not showing up under symbols and also a few of the swirls. Is there another place I can find them or should they be showing up in this same spot?
Thanks so much!
Sarah
Love it! That is really the cutest thing- and no, I could never master calligraphy either. I’m terribly impatient too.
Amanda Bevington
Great idea!! I had to share a link to this post on my Facebook photography page – great idea for all of my brides who want to address their own wedding invitations ; ) Thanks for all the fun tips!!! I love your blog and look forward to your updates! Enjoy the day!!
Julie
Love it! Thanks for sharing
Art of Elegant Writing
Here’s some more calligraphy for you!!! Enjoy! Yours is beautiful too!
gina
Thank you for being so very generous with all your beautiful talents. I can’t wait to go get the right pens to start practicing ‘fake calligraphy’!! Your posts in my email are becoming a daily highlight. God bless you.
{darlene}
great tip, emily! your handwriting is exquisite!
Taylor
I purchased the other font collection from Emily and was unable to use the symbols in Microsoft Word {I have a mac}. Before I purchase this font, I want to make sure the symbols in this collection will work with my mac. Does anyone know if they do? Thanks!
-Taylor
emily
I will post a tutorial on Monday for inserting symbols using a mac … it is done much the same as on a PC in word. You will need to click INSERT > SYMBOL > ADVANCED SYMBOL. Then be sure to select the correct font and the symbols will appear in the grid. Click on the symbol you would like and click insert.
In Adobe Illustrator, open the Gylph panel and the extra characters will show up.
laura
Fantastic – thank you! I love calligraphy too, and while I’m okay with the calligraphy pen, I appreciate the tips on how to fake it. I never knew about how to highlight the downward strokes!
Brandy P
I purchased the font but never got the download link. =( Maybe I missed it. What can I do?
emily
I’ll send it to you in an email. No worries.
Erin
Oh, I LOVE this! Thanks so much for creating and sharing. I’m using this font for party labeling at my daughter’s 1st birthday celebration. Your creativity and beautiful spirit are such an inspiration.
Catherine
I took a calligraphy class before my wedding then addressed 250 invitations. They were beautiful but would never do it again. People have even offered to pay me to do theirs. Too painful…hand, back, eyes, head….
Your version is really pretty.
.
Pam
I purchased the fancy font but am unsure how I get the font to download. I just have the receipt from paypay…. Thanks.
Pam
jami nato
um, the cutest. ever.
Jessica
Ohh so awesome! I cannot wait to purchase on my personal computer when I get home!!
Pheobe
This is pure genius! So easy to do and so simple! Thanks for sharing
-Pheobe
pballoonjournal2.blogspot.com
Auntie!
LOVE the Fancy Font!! It’s just so “fancy”!!
Pam
Thank you, Emily! You always share the best tips! I love beautiful handwriting and will try this for sure! Your fonts are all so fun, and fancy!
Patty Martinez
Hi Emily
I purchased the font but I never got the link to download. I have my receipt from paypal.
Can you help?
Patty
Audra
So here is some of my randomness…do you watch the television show Downton Abbey? The second season is on PBS now ( you can catch up online). The first season is on Netflix. It is a great show and I just thought you might like it.
Amber
LOVE THIS! Just tried it out and it worked amazingly!!! I’m using it for my boyfriend’s Valentine’s Day “coupon book”
I will link your page to my blog when I post my final product. Thank you for sharing!!!
Louise Fortune
Love this idea, I am a bit of a font freak I studied typography whilst training to be a graphic designer. I can only see one flaw in this, your handwriting has to be lovely in the first place, sadly mine is not, in the UK we aren’t taught to write cursive the same way as in the states
Lauryn
this is exactly how i do calligraphy!
my hubby got me some calligraphy pens for christmas and i got SO frustrated trying to use them. it was awful.
i still really want to learn how, but for now i use my cheater version
i posted a tutorial similar to this on my blog a while ago…but yours is MUCH better.
love your talent!
{love} lauryn @ lovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com
Steve Husting
If you have an iPhone or iPod touch, you don’t have to wait to take a calligraphy class and learn. Just download my Learn Italic Calligraphy and get more than 50 stroke-by-stroke videos of every letter and number of the alphabet, with variations, in your pocket, ready to practice on paper whenever you have time.
Errin
I purchased both of your fonts, but didn’t receive links to download them. I have my PayPal receipts and can forward them to you, if necessary. Thank-you!
Jessica
I loved this tutorial! Very easy to follow with really great results! I used it to make a few Valentines, which I’ve blogged about! Thanks so much!
http://miscmakers.com/2012/02/14/make-today-happy-valentines-day/
ROK
I like Martha’s tutorials on copperplate calligraphy, and I also bought practice books on Amazon (they are like handwriting books, with little arrows and all). I taught myself so I could address my wedding invitations. Now I look at etsy and think of the hours I spent. I have never busted the skills out again, but I may for a b-day party someday. A light box is really helpful. The ink does spatter sometimes (for us amateurs) which is frustrating when you are on the zipcode… The paper shouldn’t have too much of a “tooth” (my envelopes soaked up the ink, so I actually sprayed them all with a light coat of matte finish clear coat). Anyhoo, that’s what I know.
amber P
beautiful Emily! i need to work on my penmanship!
ALEXANDRA
wow, you brought back some memories: I used to do this in Architecture school when doodling (no PC back then) …thank you..I think I just may do it again and make myself an alphabet to use for my posters and paintings…love your site and your creative generosity …God bless!!
tiffany
thank you for sharing.. this is such a fablous diy for fancying up letters.. can’t wait to try. xo, tiffany
Katy
Emily, Would you laugh if I told you that when I saw your post (via pinterest) I wanted to learn how to do fake calligraphy?
Ink splatters, light boxes, acrylic spray, more ink splatters, hours multiplied by hours multiplied by hours of practice, preparation and trial and error. Hey, this is why I get paid the big bucks, right?
My advice, purchase this font and support your local calligrapher when you need real calligraphy. xoxo, Katy