How to Add Brush Lettering to Handmade Cards

Last Updated: September 21, 2024

Handmade cards are a beautiful way to show someone you care, and adding brush lettering can take your creations from 0 to 100 instantly. There are plenty of creative ways to incorporate brush lettering into your handmade cards and other DIY projects. 

Cute handmade greeting card with colorful stenciled background and faux brush lettering on the card front, made with Altenew Mega Brush Alpha Stamp Set

Mega Brush Alpha Stamp Set

In this blog post, we'll explore some tips and tricks for adding brush lettering to your handmade cards, from using sentiment stamps to experimenting with water-based brush pens. Plus, we’ve got a brand-new online class that focuses on brush lettering and how you can add it to any of your paper crafting projects. Let’s get started!

Tips & Tricks to Use Alphabet Stamps on Handmade Cards

What is brush lettering?

Styled photo of someone practicing brush lettering using Altenew watercolor brush markersFlat lay photo of a few brush lettering practice sheets, brush strokes, and Altenew water-based brush pens

Brush lettering is also known as modern calligraphy because of its similarity to this ancient writing style. It consists of a downward stroke, which is done with a heavy pressure, and an upward stroke, which is done with a light pressure.

6 Easy Ways to Add Brush Lettering to Your Handmade Cards

1. Use alphabet stamps or sentiment stamps with a calligraphy font.

One easy way to add brush lettering to your handmade cards is by using sentiment or alphabet stamps with a calligraphy font. These stamps are designed to mimic the look of hand-lettered calligraphy, making it easy to add a professional-looking touch to cards, scrapbook layouts, journal pages, and other DIY crafts. Here are some of our fan-favorite sentiment stamps with a calligraphy font.

Altenew's Mega Brush Alpha Stamp Set placed on the Stampwheel's clear flip plateSide view of a DIY greeting card with brush-lettered alphabet stamped on the background and die-cut of a globe with some blooms
Simple handmade Christmas card with a red Christmas tree and stamped sentiment using Altenew calligraphy alpha stamp setDIY thank you card with a cute ball of flowers and the sentiment "thank you" stamped on the side

Simply ink up the stamp with your chosen color, press it onto your card, and voila! You have a beautiful brush-lettered sentiment without any of the hassle of actually hand-lettering it yourself. The best thing about it? Nobody needs to know you didn’t do actual brush lettering! Your secret is safe with us. *wink*

Top view of someone doing practice brush strokes for brush lettering beginners

What is calligraphy? 

Calligraphy is an ancient writing style that dates back thousands of years and is rooted in various cultures such as Chinese, Arabic, etc. This writing style uses special tools and techniques to create beautiful letterforms that emphasize artistic expression and the aesthetics of writing. Throughout history, it has been used for religious texts, official documents, and decorative art.

Styled photo of a bunch of paintbrushes and brush pens on a clear mugStyled photo of Altenew's Islands of Fiji Dual-Tip Brush Pens

2. Experiment with different brush pens.

If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, consider experimenting with water-based brush pens. These pens are perfect for creating bold, vibrant brush lettering on your cards. Here are some of our highly recommended brush pens for brush lettering.

DIY postcard with watercolor wash background and stamped brush lettering

Just Because Builder Stamp Set

To use them, simply apply pressure to create thick downstrokes and release pressure for thin upstrokes, just like you would with a traditional paintbrush. The water-based ink also allows you to blend and layer easily, so you have even more creative freedom when adding brush lettering to handmade cards.

DIY birthday card with stamped flowers and the name "Julia"

What to use for brush lettering?

For beginners in brush lettering, it’s easy to get sucked into the world of brush lettering pens and markers. Fortunately, you don't need an extensive collection of expensive or fancy brush pens to get started. A few good-quality, dual-tipped brush pens are all you really need to begin your journey. Of course, if your budget allows, you can certainly invest in higher-end, branded options. Ultimately, it's all about finding what works best for you!

DIY thank you card with matching envelope, made with Altenew stamps and dies

3. Add brush lettering to envelopes.

Don't limit your brush lettering to just the inside of your card—consider personalizing the envelope as well! Adding hand-lettered addresses or names to the front of your card's envelope is a thoughtful and personal touch that will make your handmade cards stand out. Experiment with different styles and colors to create an envelope as beautiful as the card inside.

Brush lettering on black cardstock using Altenew's Metallic Watercolor Pan SetDIY note card with a motivational brush-lettered quote and a matching red envelope with the recipient's hand-lettered name and address, made by Kristina Werner using Altenew Metallic Watercolors

Kristina Werner used our Metallic Watercolors to create this gorgeous brush lettering on her card’s envelope. We highly recommend giving this a try - especially on black cardstock!

Handmade wedding card invitation with stamped flowers at the bottom and the bride's and groom's names stamped using Altenew Calligraphy Alpha Stamp Set

4. Customize handmade cards and invitations with brush-lettered names.

For an extra special touch, customize your handmade cards and invitations with the hand-lettered names of the recipients.

Clean and simple customized thank you card with the recipient's name stamped using Altenew Calligraphy Alpha Stamp SetThe inside of a handmade birthday card stamped with a brush-lettered birthday greeting using Altenew Calligraphy Alpha Stamp Set

The next time you create DIY wedding invitations, birthday cards, or thank you notes, add the recipient's name in beautiful brush lettering - either on the card front, inside, or on the envelope. If hand-lettering each name feels daunting, you can always use any of our alphabet sentiments with calligraphy fonts (mentioned above).

Colorful and simple handmade card with stamped flowers and leaves at the bottom and the sentiment "believe"Clean and simple handmade birthday card idea made with die-cut leaves and metallic watercolors from Altenew

5. Try “freehand” brush lettering your sentiments.

If you're feeling confident in your brush lettering skills, why not try freehand lettering your handmade card's sentiments? We know it can be a bit intimidating, but you can always practice on a piece of paper before trying it on your actual card front. This gives you more creative freedom and adds a personal touch to your handmade creations.

Start by lightly sketching out your sentiment with a pencil, then go over it with your favorite brush pen. Don't worry about perfection – imperfections can add character and charm to your brush-lettered creations.

DIY journal notebook bookmark/nameplate made with Altenew stamps and diesCloseup shot of a clean and simple DIY greeting card with white flowers and the sentiment "you are amazing"

6. Trace over the stamped “brush lettering.”

If you still want to make your brush lettering look more realistic, stamp your sentiment using the Mega Brush Alpha Stamp Set (or any calligraphy-like sentiment stamp in your stash) on a piece of vellum with light gray ink. Use a brush pen to trace over the stamped letters, and voila!

6 DIY greeting cards made with Altenew's Mega Brush Alpha Stamp Set, stamped in green and red

Tips and Tricks for Beginners at Brush Lettering

If you're new to brush lettering, don't be intimidated! Here are a few tips and tricks to help you get started:

  • Practice basic strokes: Before you start with full words and phrases, spend some time practicing basic brush lettering strokes. This will help you get a feel for how the brush pen moves and how to create thin upstrokes and thick downstrokes.
  • Start with simple fonts: When you're just starting out, it's best to begin with simple, easy-to-master fonts. As you gain confidence, you can start experimenting with more complex styles. Jaycee has some tips and tricks in his video tutorial at the start of this blog. 
  • Use guidelines: To keep your lettering straight and consistent, consider using guidelines. You can find printable practice sheets online or create your own by drawing light lines on your paper with a ruler.
  • Embrace imperfection: Remember that brush lettering is meant to have a handmade, organic feel. Embrace imperfections, and don't be too hard on yourself if your lettering isn't perfect – that's part of the charm!
Artful Brush Lettering Class with Lhey Ralston

If you’re up for it, sign up for our upcoming Artful Brush Lettering Class with Lhey Ralston (aka Mommy Lhey Designs)! There’s so much in store for you in this exciting new online class focused on brush lettering for paper crafters, including specially curated class kits with never-before-seen products designed by Mommy Lhey! Learn more here.

Artful Brush Lettering Class with Lhey Ralston - Deluxe KitArtful Brush Lettering Class with Lhey Ralston - Regular Kit

BONUS IDEAS!

Here are a few more fun and easy ideas to add faux brush lettering to your handmade cards.

2 colorful handmade greeting cards made with patterned paper and a mini stamp set from Altenew
  • Cover your card front with any colorful patterned paper from your stash. 
  • Choose a sentiment with a calligraphy-ish font and stamp it onto the patterned paper.
  • You can even go extra by stamping the sentiment in gold pigment ink.
2 simple DIY greeting cards made with Altenew's Reach for the Stars Die Set, one card has a black background and the other has a white background
  • Use a sentiment die with a calligraphy-ish font.
  • Die cut it once out of any colored cardstock and a piece of black cardstock.
  • Adhere them together, offsetting the black die-cut a bit to give the top die-cut a shadow.
  • You can also use white instead of black cardstock.
3 easy DIY greeting cards made with Altenew's Feathered Friends Die Set and some mini stamp sets

Add Brush Lettering to Your Handmade Cards with These Tips!

Adding brush lettering is a wonderful way to sprinkle some creativity and personality into each handmade card. Whether you're using alphabet and sentiment stamps, experimenting with water-based brush pens, or trying freehand lettering, there are endless opportunities to make your DIY cards truly unique. Remember to practice, enjoy the process, and embrace the imperfections! Go ahead and grab your favorite brush pens and try brush lettering on your next project.

Close-up shot of a handmade hello card with stamped green flowers and a strip of black cardstock with brush lettering sentiment, made with Altenew's Calligraphy Alpha Stamp Set

Have you tried brush lettering? Do you have other tips and tricks? Share them in the comment section below. Find more cardmaking inspiration and ideas In the Craft Room.


2 comments


  • Altenew

    Hello, Deborah! Thank you so much for these kind and heartwarming words. We appreciate your love and support. We’re glad you enjoyed reading this content and found the tips we shared useful. Hope you’ll be able to join us in our future online classes. :)


  • Deborah Sturges

    I want to thank you for a wider explanation of what this class is all about. All the time I am “thinking”…”is this about calligraphy?” I have an online course I have started. The first part is free which was a big encouragement for me to try it out. I have always love the look of elegance calligraphy brings and how it also makes you feel elevated, special. I remember this course you are offering was on sale a couple of weeks ago, but even at that price I was not able to consider it, and at that time, I was not just what this course was about. But you have “come out of the closet” so to speak and used the word I have been looking for – calligraphy! Thank you for this last email. I looked you up all over YouTube and the internet trying to get a handle on what this class really was about. And now you have sent out this last email, I know more than ever how I would love to take this class…but to be honest, right now in my life along with my waining health, I cannot afford it. But I can wish. I have just recent started doing practice sheets of lettering and trying to make a habit of it trying to make the lettering entrance on the paper to the completion a more automatic lead of my hand. Again, thank you so much for devulging the secret you had been holding back. I feel sure you will have large classes, interested students of your artistic hand and open the door to the making of very delightful cards. Calligraphy artfully done in a card adds great warmth and appreciation from the receiver. Hope you do well. Thank you again for sharing you last email, just as you said you would do.

    Deborah


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