How to Draw an Ancient Letter

To make a big impression with theme party invitations, you can draw an ancient letter shaped like a scroll. There's no need to buy overpriced party invitations when you can easily make your own. With relatively few supplies, you can create opulent invitations fit for royalty.

Instructions

1. Buy heavy parchment-colored paper in a 30-lb. weight or higher. You can use regular paper in a pinch, but heavy parchment paper looks much more authentic.

2. Purchase a fine-tipped calligraphy marker. Sold in any art supply store, these handy markers have a special angled tip. They produce fancy lettering that resembles ancient brush strokes even when the user is unfamiliar with calligraphy.

3. Write out your letter lightly in pencil. You can study lettering styles online, or simply exaggerate the letters by elongating some of the tips. Add symbols and imagery within the text that correlate to the ancient civilization you intend to portray. For example, Incas often used suns in their imagery, while Egyptians frequently used eyes.

4. Think of your ancient letter as a piece of art. Tweak the lettering and imagery until you're satisfied with the results and then carefully draw over the pencil with the calligraphy marker. When you're finished, allow the marker to dry thoroughly.

5. Tear a ¼ inch to ½ inch strip off the outer edge of the entire letter to give it a raw edge. (In ancient times, there were no razor sharp paper cutters.)

6. Roll up each end of the paper, meeting both ends in the middle like a scroll. Crumple the paper slightly. Unroll and smooth the letter, then re-roll it again. Repeat this step a number of times to give the paper the appearance of an aged scroll.

7. Tie off with a ribbon to give the ancient letter a regal look.

Tips & Warnings

• Test the calligraphy marker on a hidden corner of the paper to make certain it won't bleed. If it bleeds through, you can use a regular ink pen instead.