Tuesday Tutorial – Try brush script to create your own filler cards

It really is quite simple to create your own filler cards and tags using the gorgeous pattern paper and journalling cards from the Pocket Life kits and your own brush script lettering.

First decide on a phrase or word you'd like to use (or a few) and write them out on paper so you can check your spelling. There’s nothing worse than scripting something beautiful and then realising it is spelt wrong!

Then grab your brush and take out some scratch paper to practise on. You’ll want to write out your phrase a few times before starting on your final card. I usually try 2-3 different versions (or more) before I find one I’m happy with. You can use water-colour paint, mists, inks – any liquid medium should work just fine. You could even use a brush marker and skip all the mess (but where's the fun in that!).

Once you’re happy with your scripting style, you can start on your final card. Take your time and enjoy the process. You'll need to let go of perfection and embrace the messiness that can sometimes occur. But, thats what life’s all about, isn’t it?!

Or, if you REALLY can’t embrace the mess, you can take a less risky route and scan or photograph your practise sheet and print them onto your card. Viola, perfect!

Tips for beautiful brush script:

1. Practise, practise, practise! This is my number one tip for a reason. Like any new skill, the more you practise the better you will get.
2. Try a variety of different mediums and brushes until you find something you feel comfortable and confident with.
3. Find and embrace your own style. Classes and inspiration from Instagram and Pinterest can be helpful for finding styles you like but embracing your own style will always give you the best results.
4. Just give it a go, there really is no right or wrong!

I hope you'll give this a go and I'd really love to see what you come up!

In My Studio with Diane

I was SO excited to see my brush script words as part of the stamps in this month’s kits here at Citrus Twist Kits. I’ve always admired hand lettering and really wanted to give it a go but had always felt too intimidated to try. But one day I picked up a brush and just gave it a go. It was not pretty. But I persevered and slowly I felt like I was getting better.

Now I try to make sure I practise a few times a week (in fact, I’ve just started the 100 Day Project where I brush script something new everyday, you can see the results over on my Instagram). Swapping my keyboard for a brush has become a habit for me, a quiet time to think, a time to slow down and feel inspired by the words I’m writing.

My favourite tools for scripting are: watercolour paints, acrylic ink, a variety of brushes in a range of sizes but my favourite is a No 2 Round by DAS, water brushes, a LOT of paper and a LOT of time.

For each finished piece, I usually have 2-5 practice goes before picking the best composition. Then I photograph it and edit the photo to adjust the contrast or colours. To create a digital version for stamps and design work, I scan the paper and make any final adjustments in Photoshop.

Have you ever tried brush script? My advice would be: give it a go! Practise, practise, practise and enjoy the process!