Photographs: lichtpunkt, Michael Ruder, Stuttgart

Models and Illustrations: Annika Sauerborn

Copyright
English translation copyright © 2019 by Dover Publications, Inc.
Copyright © 2017 frechverlag GmbH, 70499 Stuttgart, Germany (www.topp-kreativ.de)
All rights reserved.

Bibliographical Note
This Dover edition, first published in 2019, is a new English translation of the work originally
published in German by Topp-Kreativ, Stuttgart, in 2017. The original German edition was published
as Handlettering Schmuckelemente. The present edition is published by arrangement with Claudia
Böhme Rights & Literary Agency, Hannover, Germany (www.agency-boehme.com).

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Annika, Frau, 1983– author.
Title: An introduction to hand lettering with decorative elements/Annika Sauerborn.
Other titles: Handlettering. English
Description: Mineola, New York : Dover Publications, Inc., 2019. | Original edition published in
German as: Handlettering : das grosse Buch der Schmuckelemente. Stuttgart : Topp-Kreativ,
2017.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018044695| ISBN 9780486833934 (paperback) | ISBN 0486833933
Subjects: LCSH: Decoration and ornament—Themes, motives. | BISAC: ART / Techniques /
Calligraphy. | DESIGN / Graphic Arts / Typography. | ART / Techniques / Drawing. | CRAFTS &
HOBBIES / Scrapbooking.
Classification: LCC NK1530 .A299513 2019 | DDC 745.6/1—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018044695

Manufactured in the United States by LSC Communications

83393301 2019
www.doverpublications.com
Foreword

There’s no question about it: ornamental elements are the icing on

the cake of lettering. They are not only decorative, but they can
also fill gaps between words and serve as a frame. From a simple
line to a magnificent flourish or an opulent floral garland, anything
is possible.

Ornamental elements, like the letters themselves, can also impart a

special meaning into a message of lettering. We use hearts in things
related to love, or we may embellish a birthday greeting with
confetti. In the spring, we decorate with flowers; for Christmas, we
decorate gift tags with stars and other holiday symbols.

This book is both a hodgepodge and a treasure trove of various

decorative elements. I drew all of these by hand, from simple
borders and corners to ribbons and flowers to thematic illustrations.
To make it easy for you to copy, I show you, step-by-step, exactly
how some of the ornamental elements are created.
At the end of the book, you will find a series of alphabets, which
can be used as inspiration for your own lettering creations.

An Introduction to Hand Lettering with Decorative Elements will

make you want to take pen in hand to draw flowers, ribbons, and
letters. Above all, it should inspire you to decorate your own
lettering, which you can do with a little practice. But you can also
just browse through this book again and again to discover new
ideas.

Whatever you do with this book, have fun!

ANNIKA SAUERBORN
 Table of Contents

Foreword
Materials
Borders—Frames—Corners
Borders
Frames
Corners
Flourishes

Leaves—Flowers—Garlands
Leaves
Flowers
Garlands

Ribbons—Arrows—Patterns
Ribbons
Arrows
Hearts
Stars
Patterns
Illustrations
Seasonal Illustrations & Occasions
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Christmas

Birthday & Parties

Picnic
Kitchen
Home
Love
Wedding
Beach & Sea
Alphabets
Numbers
Gift Tags
Materials
The Correct Writing Instrument for Every Purpose

The beauty of hand lettering is that you can use it on almost any surface. In
addition to a large selection of papers, even fabrics, porcelain, glass, or
wood are not safe from lettering. Thus, everyday objects such as storage
jars, coffee cups, or shopping bags can be decorated. For each of these
materials, there is also a corresponding pen or colors.

A few basic things that you will need for hand lettering:
Pencils
(I use mostly pencils with a hardness of B or HB)
Good eraser
Pencil sharpener
Sketching paper
Ruler or triangle
(to draw guidelines)
Tracing paper
(to work out designs)
Fineliner pens

But usually, everything starts with paper and a pencil. Your first ideas are
sketched out and finally worked up, step-by-step. On the following pages,
I’d like to show which types of writing instruments you can use and what
they look like.
Pencils
Pencils come in different degrees of hardness. The harder the lead, the more
delicate the stroke. A soft pencil creates stronger contrasts but smears more
easily. I prefer the hardness level HB or B. These pencils are easy to erase
and don’t smudge.
Drawing with colored pencils also has its appeal, and not only because of
the colorfulness. There are also differences in quality. Therefore, it might be
wise to try out different manufacturers’ products to discover your favorite
brand of colored pencils.
Fineliner pens
Fineliners are available in different thicknesses. You can draw anything
from delicate hairlines to coarse strokes. Which pen you use depends on the
size and detail of your drawing. Anyone who draws rough sketches will find
felt-tip pens and markers helpful.
Brushes
Working with brushes requires a bit of practice. The uneven stroke of a
brush can be very charming and becoming, particularly for designing floral
ornaments. You can also fill empty spaces with watercolors and brushes and
bring them to life, especially when designing floral ornaments.
The Decorative Line
The line is a simple element in the design; therefore, it can come out
looking quite different. It can be a straight line, be composed of many
elements put together, or have elaborate embellishments. While the
decorative line in lettering often appears in the margins, it may also serve as
a border edging or a unique way to emphasize words.
Borders
The Closed Line
If we close a line, we create a surface. The closed line can frame lettering
within it. We first define the basic form, which gives our lettering a format.
This can be a rectangle, a square, an oval, a polygon, or a fantasy shape. To
make the shapes of letters stand out, the frame will either be plain or ornate.
Frames
Corners
A beautiful yet subtle way to frame lettering is to decorate only the corners.
For example, this works well on a gift tag, where there is rarely enough
space for a greeting.
Flourishes
Flourishes are very classic decorative elements that come from calligraphy.
Therefore, they fit well with cursive script and can decorate it playfully.
You can also see them with letters: capital letters are usually elaborately
decorated. Loops and curves work well to define the ends of letters and to
fill in spaces.
Leaves
For embellishment of letters, floral elements are very popular because they
fit many themes and occasions. Leaves can have a wide variety of shapes
and combine well with twigs and garlands. For my collection of leaves and
flowers, I have also been inspired by nature, which offers a wealth of forms.
What grows in your garden or on your windowsill?
Flowers
Nature once again provides the most beautiful patterns. Combine pistils
with different shapes of leaves, and create new types of flowers. You can
see some suggestions on the following page. Of course, flowers can be
wonderfully combined with leaves and branches. Such floral arrangements
can be used to frame your lettering. They’re perfect for festive occasions.
Garlands
Wreaths made of flowers, leaves, and twigs are lovely floral frames for
good luck wishes or for a particular saying. Before you begin, think about
the basic format. In this little step-by-step explanation, it is a circle. If you
draw it with a pencil, you can erase the circle afterward. As the next step,
draw twigs, leaves, and flowers. You might like to take a look at which
plants are blooming at the moment or which flowers are the gift recipient's
favorites.
Ribbons
Ribbons, banners, or flags can be used as festive ornaments in lettering.
Their advantage lies in the variety of their shapes; in addition, they can be
decorated with flowers, leaves, or flourishes. Imagine the folding of a
ribbon. It isn’t difficult to draw. On the opposite page, you’ll find a guide to
drawing ribbons.
Arrows
Hearts
Hearts are symbols of love and can vary in shape. You can use them to
subtly dot an “i” or give the entire lettering the shape of a heart. The same is
true of stars, which have changeable shapes, as you can see on the
following pages.
Stars
Patterns
Seasonal Illustrations & Occasions
In this chapter I’ve put together illustrations on a wide variety of themes
because the combination of hand-drawn letters and little illustrations is
something I find very charming. Seasonal lettering, such as in the spring or
at Christmastime, is decorated with flowers, birds, or gingerbread men and
thereby enhanced with the signs of the season. Illustrated recipes look like
miniature works of art, just as birthday greetings or an invitation to tea can
be nicely decorated with cupcakes or little cups and saucers.
The illustrations are organized by seasonal themes and occasions, which
should help you to find the right one for a particular use. In between, there
are small step-by-step guides and templates.
Nature
Autumn is also pumpkin time. Have you ever thought of drawing lettering
on a pumpkin? A lovely, seasonal, decorative idea!
Snow flakes
Birthday& Parties
Nothing is more personal than a handmade birthday card. For this particular
theme, there are many decorative design elements and not just for cards.
Gift tags or decorative little signs to be inserted into cakes can also be
embellished. Or how about a garland of letters made out of colored paper?
Picnic
Eating brings people to the table—or to a picnic blanket. Make labels for
homemade treats and hostess gifts or little signs for the buffet at your next
garden party. An illustrated recipe can be eye-catching—and much too
attractive to disappear into a recipe file, as the examples from the kitchen
show!
Kitchen
Home
Love
Wedding
Beach & Sea
Words to Fill in the Gaps
These little words, whose content isn’t very important, are often used as
decorative “gap fillers.” Because they tend to be in the background, they
allow more important words to take the stage. The “gap fillers” hold the
sentence together.
Numbers
Gift Tags
Gift tags can take a wide variety of forms. Pretty lettering, even if it just
spells out the name of the recipient, adds a lot to any present. It will be easy
to find nice paper, and the wide assortment of ribbons and cords will make
it hard for you to choose.
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