I love using HP Premium 32 lb. paper because it is great for both nib & ink and brush lettering practice! HP Premium 32 lb. paper is smoother than normal copy paper, which helps nibs last longer and reduces fraying tips on brush pens. The thicker paper also reduces feathering of ink, fountain pen ink, gouache, and watercolors. If you are looking for paper that is great for free-hand calligraphy practice, definitely check this out!

Instead of printing guide sheets and exemplars over and over again to practice, why not use tracing paper? When I am learning a new calligraphy style/script, I use tracing paper because I want to a) make sure that I am building correct muscle memory the first time around and b) keep my guide sheets clean so I can reuse them regularly.

Outside of the Hunt 101 and Hunt 512, another great beginner’s calligraphy nib is the Zebra G nib. This nib is not too stiff & not too flexible and is honestly one of my favorites to use!

Looking for a nib that can hold a lot of ink in its reservoir? Consider trying the German made Brause Steno nib (aka the Blue Pumpkin nib)! This nib has medium flex so it is perfect for beginners.

Looking for beginner’s calligraphy ink? I recommend using sumi ink because it flows easily on a calligraphy nib. If you’ve attended one of my calligraphy classes, this is the exact ink that I fill your ink pots with! If you run out and want more to practice with, follow the link below!

Looking for an ink color that isn’t black, white, or the metallic colors of sumi ink that you can find? I recomendable mixing your own custom inks by using gouache paint! Squeeze a few drops of gouache into a small ink jar, slowly add some water, and mix well until the paint reaches a creamy consistency similar to half-and-half. You’ll have a custom calligraphy ink in no time!

This watercolor set is a great for metallic calligraphy ink! Just add some water to activate the watercolor pans and mix well until the paint reaches a creamy consistency similar to half-and-half.

Though I enjoy using Tombow Dual Brush Pens, I highly recommend Fudenosuke style pens for beginners! I find that the smaller and more compact tip is easier to control than the larger dual brush pen tips. I love that this set come with a variety of colors!

Looking for some fun and bright colors to jazz up your brush lettering pieces or when you are writing in your planner? Then these Neon Tombow Fudenosuke pens are right up your alley!

This is the newest set in the Tombow Fudenosuke line and the only soft tip set! As a beginner I preferred using the hard tip Tombow Fudenosuke, but now I prefer soft tip markers because they have more flexibility and are easier for me to write with. I love the these pastels can also be layered to become opaque on dark paper!

In addition to Tombow, another brand I love for small tipped brush pen is Pentel! Similar to the Tombow Fudenosuke pens, the Pentel Brush Sign Pen tips are similar in size but are slightly more flexible.

In addition to the primary colors, Pentel released this pack of pastel colors! I actually loved these colors so much that I ended up ordering a pack of these pens from a retailer selling the Japanese version before the pack released in the US!

Another favorite of mine is Marvy Uchida‘s Le Pen Flex pens! Similar to Tombow Fudenosuke and Pentel Brush Sign pens, the Le Pen Flex is a small tipped brush pen and comes in unique colors! Out of Tombow, Pentel, and Marvy Uchida, I think these are the most flexible out of the bunch!

Not ready to buy the entire Le Pen Flex Set? Consider picking up this pack of primary colors instead!

Primary colors not your jam? This jewel Le Pen Flex set might be perfect for you!

Or consider these dreamy pastel Le Pen Flex pens!

When I am addressing envelopes, one of my favorite tools to use is a laser level! This handy tool help me to write the address in straight lines and I love that this one is affordable and powered by AA batteries.

Wanting to write in traditional calligraphy scripts but tired of drafting the guidelines? If you’re writing on a light colored paper or envelope, I highly recommend that you utilize a light box like this one! Just place your guidelines down & then your writing surface on top of that and then turn on the light box to shine the light on through!