Decorating Your Amazing Case with Lettering Artist Timo Strauss

Decorate a case that is just as personal as your planner. Lettering artist Timo Strauss (@timoostrich) shows you how to transform your Amazing Case into a fantastic one-off piece with the help of lettering.

#Inspiration

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We love the Amazing Case, not only because you can wash it in the washing machine to give them a new look (or because you might have spilled coffee on them... oops!). Another fantastic feature of these eco-friendly paper leather cases is that you can turn them into beautiful and unique pieces, in just a few moments. Because let’s be honest: If you’ve invested so much time and love into personalizing your planner, you’ll probably also want your case to be unique. And for that, all you need is pens and a little inspiration.

You could decorate your case with colorful patterns, cute drawings or your favorite quote - whatever suits you and your planner or Mixbook.

Haven't ordered a new calendar yet? Create your Personal Planner here!



To help us decorate our Amazing Cases, we’ve teamed up with lettering artist Timo Strauss from Hamburg, who shares his fantastic work of lettering art on his Instagram account @timoostrich. Timo caught the lettering bug about four years ago, after having dabbled a bit in sketchnoting (a form of creative note-taking) first.

- I’ve always found working with words and letters quite exciting, and that pushed me to delve deeper into the world of lettering.



Fast-forward to today, and Timo’s hobby has not only become his job, but has also grown into a real passion.

- Lettering is such a creative and meditative craft; it’s extremely useful and just great fun all around! Timo says, oozing with enthusiasm.

Even if he’s always painted and drawn a lot, according to Timo, that isn’t really what matters most.

- Talent can help you learn something new quickly. But talent can never replace the magic of regular practice - and anyone can do that!



Don't get discouraged if you’re not immediately satisfied with your first few attempts at lettering!

- Remember that our hands often have to get used to the delicate movements of writing again. Nowadays we hardly ever write anything by hand, and you really notice that when you suddenly try to draw fine lines or dainty details, explains Timo.

But, as the saying goes, practice makes perfect! If you need some help with practicing, have a look at our video course Lettering for Beginners or download our free brush lettering guide and practice sheets here.

Timo finds inspiration for his lettering in nature, or from other artists who share their work on social media. But he’s no stranger to the ups and down in the creative process: “Sometimes, you just have to take a break, leave your pens, and come back a little later...” Take a look at Timo's creations on our Amazing Cases, and let them inspire you to make your own unique piece! You can find even more lettering inspiration on his website.



Timo has decorated a few of our Amazing Cases in his gorgeous signature style. For the lettering he used the uni-ball Signo Broad in white - a great contrast to the black paper leather. But of course there are no limits to your creativity! Perhaps you’d rather decorate a light brown case with a pink or black pen? Go for it! You are the artist!

Click here to go to all the beautiful pens!

You don't have to be a lettering professional to start decorating and personalizing your own case. Here are Timo's top 3 tips for to get you going:

1. Make a few sketches beforehand and gradually develop the final draft.
2. Draw your design on the case with a pencil first. That way you can correct and tweak it as needed.
3. You need a steady hand and a little practice for your lettering piece. But never fear! “Since the surface isn’t smooth, it is actually very easy to write on,” says Timo.





Have fun decorating your new accessory for your planner or Mixbook! Click here to see our range of Amazing Cases and to order your own.