SUMMARY
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Searching for the perfect planner can suck you into a vortex. You have to find the perfect paper type for your pens, the right pens for your paper, the right planner format for optimal productivity, and maybe you’ll even look into learning calligraphy, so your notebooks can look as #goals as the ones you see on Instagram.
We know – we’ve been there.
Despite all the time, effort, and money we put into maximizing our planners and journals and trying to make them look good, though, it’s frustrating when they don’t turn out the way we thought they would.
To help us out, Gail Anne Madalag of The MD Writes, popular journaler Aina Reyes, and Lennie Dionisio of The Curious Artisan gave us a few tips and tricks for getting started on calligraphy and adding oomph to our lackluster notebooks.
Find the right tools
Some people can make great lettering with markers, while others prefer sticking to nibs and ink. Whatever writing implement you prefer might affect what kind of paper you use, and the purpose of your notebook – be it a journal, planner, diary, or all 3 – will affect your preferred size.
Still, this doesn’t mean you should break the bank for your new hobby. Read up on reviews for materials, visit your local stationery store, or visit bazaars to learn more about what might be best for you.
Upcycle old stamps, stickers, and cards
Lennie is a huge collector of antiques, including stamps and postcards, even labels of old products. Sticking ephemera onto your journals can make them look pretty without too much effort.
Lennie also sells beautiful locally made pen holders for nibs that will inspire you to work harder on your penmanship, foiling pens for customizing your notebooks, and wax seals.
Work with your strengths
A doctor by profession, Gail found comfort in learning the rules and guidelines for Copperplate calligraphy before she developed her own style. Aina used to write in small neat print before she began to learn calligraphy – and it shows in her style too.
Their writing wasn’t perfect at first, and your journals won’t be either. Eventually, you’ll develop your own style and journaling and writing will come more naturally to you.
Attend workshops, but try to learn on your own too
If you’re thinking of learning calligraphy to up your journaling game, there are a lot of workshops in the market nowadays. Those can get you started on the right path, but it helps to use other sources to learn as well. The calligraphy and journaling community wasn’t as big when Aina and Gail started a few years ago, so they used other sources that were available to them to learn.
Be patient
Nobody learns calligraphy overnight, and no one can create works of art the first time they try. It might take months before you’re happy with your work or are brave enough to show them off to other people.
But learn to celebrate the small victories along the way – a nice page or a smooth transition between strokes is one step closer to the journal of your dreams.
– Rappler.com
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