hand lettering
I do a lot of hand lettering for titles. I have die cuts machines and rub ons and foam stamps and rubber stamps and paint and ink and and and… but sometimes, it’s just so nice to be able to whip out a hand-lettered title and move on. No paint to clean up, no stamps to wipe off, no die cut letters to adhere.
My number one piece of advice for those who are timid about hand lettering is this: Stop thinking so hard! Let your wrist relax, loosen up your grip on your pen, and write fast. Seriously, when you try to be slow and precise, it never looks as good. Just stop thinking about it and WRITE.
One of my favorite lettering styles is what I call Stretch. (Clever name, ain’t it? LOL!) Use your regular cursive (that’s important. YOUR regular cursive. Don’t try to imitate anyone else’s.), but instead of going immediately from letter to letter, stretch that connecting stroke out a ways. It’ll be difficult to train your brain at first, because your hand automatically loops up for the next letter. Pay attention (just this once, I’m asking you to think about it), and remember to streeeetttttttccccchhhhhh out that last stroke. Exaggerate it all you want. But you don’t have too; even a little stretch goes a long way.
My second piece of advice? Practice, practice, practice. 
I did. Still do.
November 11th, 2006 at 8:58 am
Got any book suggestions for learning some Hand Lettering styles? ‘Cause I’ve tried and tried and I still can’t get my lettering to look good. Even when I relax or practice! =)
November 11th, 2006 at 1:49 pm
I’ve always loved your lettering styles…loved the ones you came up with for the countries in Sherilyn’s Europe album.
It looks like you’ve read Heidi Swapp’s Love Your Handwriting book….it’s a great one if you haven’t.
As always, lovely pages!
November 11th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
Ia m terrified to do this. I will practice, grrrr. I love the way you write
November 11th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
Loved your and Elaine’s hand lettering class at the retreat and I love the way you letter!
November 11th, 2006 at 6:08 pm
Wonderful advice. I’m going to give it a try. I don’t HATE my handwriting, but usually find something about it that I don’t like. I do need to just relax about it and give it a try. I have so many pens anyway, so why don’t I use them?
November 12th, 2006 at 10:57 am
I struggle with this one. My regular handwritting is nice, but my hand lettered titles never look anything but sloppy and amateurish.
November 14th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
I love your Texas Lingo, makes me miss the south!