The Complete Photo Guide to Hand Lettering & Calligraphy by Abbey Sy

Here is the book summary:

Written by best-selling author and hand letterer Abbey Sy, The Complete Photo Guide to Hand Lettering and Calligraphy covers the basics and beyond for creative lettering techniques.  

The book begins with an overview of tools and materials, both traditional (pointed pen and fountain pen) and modern (including brush markers and chalk), then presents a visual glossary of letterforms, highlights the unique characteristics of the featured alphabets, and demonstrates how to draw letterforms to foster an understanding of how they’re created. The core chapters explore traditional, modern, and special effects lettering using a variety of mark-making tools, with in-depth how-to on adding flourishes and other special details, plus creative projects. There’s also an introduction to modifying and creating letterforms digitally, as well as practice sheets for the featured alphabets.
 
So whether you’ve never tried lettering before or you’d like to develop your skills and consider all your creative options, The Complete Photo Guide to Hand Lettering and Calligraphy will guide and inspire you on your lettering journey.

And now, my review:

Here are some of my thoughts on this one… I thought the author did a great job with helping to get those creative juices flowing in the marketing/creating/inspiration area of helping to influence the projects I am interested in doing.  IN addition to amazing lettering options, this author added nice drawings that can be added to dress-up whatever I am working on.  She added some card-making ideas to which I could add my lettering, too.   Beyond all those wonderful things, my favorite part of the book was the corkboard ideas and the wood slabs.  Those were very inspirational and I hope to make something soon. 

I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Photo-Guide-Lettering-Calligraphy-ebook/dp/B07DQ83998/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537393811&sr=8-1&keywords=the+complete+photo+guide+to+hand+lettering+and+calligraphy

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-complete-photo-guide-to-hand-lettering-and-calligraphy-abbey-sy/1127174133?ean=9781589239630#/

Lettering with Purpose by Brittany Luiz

Here is the book summary:

Develop your own personal artistic alphabet with Lettering with Purpose and give your writing a new shine. Personalize every aspect of your handwriting and make it truly your own!

Lettering with Purpose is a thoughtful book that will show you how to develop your own artistic alphabet. Whether you’re hoping to personalize greeting cards or just enjoy the art, hand lettering is an uplifting and compelling craft to learn. Deepen your understanding of this art form by delving into 100 reflective lettering prompts that spur the imagination. You'll never ask "What should I write?" again.

Your lettering journey will begin with lettering basics. Lettering with Purpose explains the anatomy of letters, how to pair different lettering styles, and thorough tutorials on working with a variety of mediums. You’ll be creating striking layouts and compositions in no time. The pages demonstrate lettering styles and techniques step by step, and include styles like brush calligraphy, bounce lettering, and more, plus complete alphabet ideas that include reproducible practice pages that can be used to perfect your skills.

Once your artistic bones are there, move on to adding embellishments and flourishes! Add pizzazz to your work with frames, laurels and garlands, flowers, swirls, and more. The back of the book contains fully illustrated frames on perforated paper for when you're ready to bring it all together and create your own original masterpieces. 

And now, my review:

I’m always on a search for a way to spice up my writing and this book was really inspirational for that.  The author has a lot of great ideas to get the ideas flowing.  From what type of writing utensil to use to the writing style itself, it’s all in there.  If you have projects coming up that are in need of creative designs, this book is sure to help get you started in the right direction. 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Lettering-Purpose-techniques-inspirational-hand-lettered/dp/1633223426/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513877410&sr=8-1&keywords=lettering+with+purpose

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lettering-with-purpose-brittany-luiz/1125495474?ean=9781633223424#/

How to Draw Cool Stuff by Catherine V. Holmes

Here is the book summary:

How to Draw Cool Stuff: Holidays, Seasons and Events is a step-by-step drawing guide that illustrates popular celebrations, holidays and events for your drawing pleasure. From the Chinese New Year to April Fools' Day, Father's Day to Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s Eve - this book covers over 100 fun days, holidays, seasons and events, and offers simple lessons that will teach you how to draw like a pro and get you in the spirit of whichever season it may be!

The third book in the How To Draw Cool Stuff series, this exciting new title will teach you how to create simple illustrations using basic shapes and a drawing technique that simplifies the process of drawing, all while helping you construct height, width and depth in your work. It will guide you through the creative thought process and provide plenty of ideas to get you started. The lessons in this book will also teach you how to think like an artist and remind you that you are only limited by your imagination!

And now, my review:

We really have had fun with this one.  Here’s a book that has step-by-step instructions that take you through the process of drawing something.  The set-up is that each month they have some ideas that you might want to try so it can carry you throughout the year.  You’ll take some and lose some but in the end there is a lot to choose from so we enjoyed it.  It’s time to get out some drawing paper, our nice set of pencils and try another one.  Maybe you’ll want to learn to draw a rose or a summer beach scene.  If so, this might just be the book for you.  You call pick it up at the links below.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Draw-Cool-Stuff-Holidays-ebook/dp/B01F9S7RCG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490318930&sr=8-1&keywords=How+to+draw+cool+stuff+holidays%2C+season%2C+events

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-draw-cool-stuff-catherine-v-holmes/1123820092?ean=9780692661987