16 Fun Ways to Practice Calligraphy (Without Getting Bored)

We’ve all heard it… you need to practice to get better at calligraphy. But if you’re like me, you tend to think of practice as something boring.

So, here are 13 FUN and unique ways to practice calligraphy so you can make progress without getting bored!

This post contains affiliate links. Learn more.

1. To do lists and grocery lists

The everyday lists you make are a great opportunity to practice your calligraphy skills in a simple way.

And make your boring to-do list look pretty at the same time!

Although it’s usually not practical to write every list item in calligraphy, you can still write the date or title in a fancy style.

Or you could split up different sections of your list with a calligraphy header.

2. Address envelopes

Addressing envelopes is a wonderful way to practice your calligraphy because it adds a beautiful and special touch to the envelopes.

I suggest writing the recipient’s name in calligraphy and then writing the address in a simple print.

That way you won’t have issues with the address being difficult to read.

To keep your lettering neat without wasting practice envelopes, you have a couple options.

• Sketch in pencil first, then erase any leftover pencil lines when you’re done.
• Draw guidelines with a pencil and ruler (if you’re comfortable with free-handing the rest).

Some calligraphers use an envelope addressing stencil, laser level, or just a piece of paper positioned beneath their writing to help with straight lines.

I use Tombow Fudenosuke brush pens to address envelopes because they’re a great size and the ink is waterproof.

3. Poems, song lyrics, or verses

Have favorite poems, song lyrics, or Bible verses that you enjoy?

Try writing them in calligraphy!

Longer pieces look especially beautiful when written in calligraphy.

Grab some lined paper or calligraphy guide sheets and write out your favorites.

This is a great way to practice keeping the letters and spacing consistent too!

Here are 3 important things to check for as you practice to make sure you’re consistent.

4. Taking notes

If you’re taking notes and you’re not in a rush, try writing headers, titles, or important points in calligraphy.

Not only does it look really good, but it’s also a great way to break up the rest of the text.

I use brush lettering often when I take notes from a Bible study or devotional book/video.

Many people take notes like this during sermons or other lectures, too.

Obviously the full-page spreads take practice, but you can start by adding a little calligraphy to your usual note taking!

5. Switch to a different color for each stroke or letter

Grab some brush pens in different colors (here are my favorites) and try something different next time you practice calligraphy.

After each stroke, switch to a different color.

Every time you lift your pen to do the next stroke, you’ll just grab a different color.

If you’re not sure where you should be lifting your pen, look at the breakdown of basic strokes in the lowercase alphabet below.

This is an excellent idea for a few reasons:

• It forces you to take a pause after every stroke
• It shows you how each letter is broken down into basic strokes

Plus you’ll have very colorful calligraphy at the end of it!

6. Seasonal quotes

Seasonal quotes are a fun way to practice brush lettering.

You can search online for quotes related to the current season and write your favorites in calligraphy.

It’s also fun to use colors that go along with the seasonal theme!

I keep an ongoing note on my phone with quotes or verses that I’d like to write.

7. Bookmarks

Here’s a fun calligraphy project idea.

Cut bookmarks out of cardstock or watercolor paper and write names or a short saying on them to personalize them.

Add a splash of watercolor paint for some color, or decorate the bookmark with decorative tape, stamps, doodles, or pieces of colored paper.

There are so many ways you can play around with this and have fun.

8. Use different writing tools

One of the best ways to keep yourself from getting bored when doing calligraphy is to change up the tool you’re using.

You can do calligraphy with a variety of different writing tools.

Some give you a slightly thicker line when you press harder, and others you’ll need to draw in the thicker lines yourself.

Here are some ideas of different pens to try:

• Pencil
• Crayola marker
• Glass dip pen
• Ballpoint pen
• White gel pen (use on dark paper)
• Watercolor brush pens
• Metallic brush pens
• Paintbrush

You can also just try a different size of brush pen, whether it’s larger or smaller than the ones you usually use.

Here’s a list of my favorite brush pens.

You can grab these fall calligraphy worksheets here.

9. Journaling

Brush calligraphy is a great addition to any kind of journaling!

• Bullet journaling
• Nature journaling
• Art journaling
• Mixed media
• Bible journaling

I use brush lettering in my bullet journal ALL the time.

I’ve also had fun doing mixed media art journaling with calligraphy (inspired by this online class).

Once again, you don’t have to go all out and do everything in calligraphy.

Try just starting with titles, dates, references, or even a single word on a journaling page.

10. Participate in challenges

Feeling stuck and unmotivated with your calligraphy practice?

Try joining a lettering challenge on Instagram or Facebook!

A lettering challenge is simply a list of prompts that someone shares for every day of a month.

All you have to do is find a prompt for that day (usually a word or short quote), write it in your lettering style, and then post it using the challenge hashtag.

You’ll be able to participate with other calligraphers and maybe make some new friends!

It’s a fun way to keep up with daily practice even if you don’t know what to write that day.

You can search for hashtags like #letteringchallenge and see if there are any current ones going on.

(Not into social media? Grab my free list of art practice prompts instead! ⬇️)

11. Add doodles and embellishments to your calligraphy

A fun way to “dress up” your usual calligraphy is to add embellishments or doodles.

This can be as simple adding a shadow or drawing a sprinkling of stars around what you’ve written.

Here’s another post I wrote with 21 Fun & Easy Ways to Embellish Your Lettering and it’s packed with fun ideas and examples!

This is a great opportunity to get out all your pens and have fun with them.

12. Write on cards

The nice thing about doing calligraphy on cards is that you usually only need to write a few words at most, so it’s not a big project.

Use a pencil and ruler to sketch some guidelines and word placement.

Then you can go over it with a pen, and erase any leftover pencil afterward.

Or you can freehand it if you’re comfortable with that.

Find templates for 6 beautiful calligraphy Christmas cards in this post!

You could write names on place cards for your Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering, or send handmade birthday cards to family and friends.

This is a great way to practice your calligraphy while also using it to make others feel special!

13. Share your work

Sometimes doing your art hobby can feel lonely if you don’t have anyone to share it with.

If that’s you, maybe it’s time to start sharing your work and connecting with other calligraphers.

Here are some places where you can start sharing your artwork online and find plenty of like-minded artists to support you and give feedback:

• Facebook
• Facebook groups
• Instagram
• X
• Pinterest

You can post pictures of your calligraphy practice or projects you’re working on.

Sharing your calligraphy with others could be just the thing to motivate you to keep practicing.

You can also look for ways to connect with artists locally.

14. Gift wrapping

Do you like to wrap beautiful gifts?

Calligraphy is the perfect way to add special touch to gift wrapping.

You could write the recipient’s name directly on the package, or add a note on a gift tag.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pam – Calligrapher & Engraver (@mulberrytreeletters)

Another fun thing to do is decorate plain wrapping paper with lettering and/or doodles!

This makes for a really cute gift.

15. Menus or weekly meals

If you’re one to write menus or plan weekly meals, you can even practice calligraphy that way.

Chalkboard menus are popular, so you could get chalk markers and try your hand at that on a chalkboard sign or glass in a frame.

Or maybe just write the days of the week in calligraphy at the top of your meal plan.

You can get creative with this!

16. Decor for your home

There are many ways to use brush lettering to decorate your home.

You’ve probably seen lots of products in stores with calligraphy and lettering on them.

Well now you can try making your own!

Here are a few ideas:

• Welcome sign
• Framed quote
• Family name sign
• Seasonal wall art

The great thing is, practice doesn’t just mean doing a bunch of warmup drills.

Practice is also just doing the thing, using your skills in different ways, and gaining experience.

It doesn’t have to be boring and you can have a lot of fun while doing it.

I hope these ideas inspired you to get your pens out and do some calligraphy!