Creating holiday watercolor greeting cards combines your artistic expression along with your heartfelt intentions. Whether you’re a dabbler or a novice on this watercolor journey, going from blank card to a beautiful keepsake is a feeling like none other. Each brushstroke is a step closer to sharing joy and creativity with loved ones.
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Essential Materials for Watercolor Greeting Cards
Before you begin, gathering the right materials helps you achieve the best results. Focusing on good supplies ensures your process is enjoyable and your watercolor greeting cards are fun and festive.
Choosing the Right Paper
Watercolor paper comes in various textures and weights, and the choice can make an impact on your artwork. Cold-pressed paper, (my personal preference) with its slightly textured surface, is ideal for a beginner, and will help with those, fun washes and all of those new techniques you will be learning.
Hot-pressed paper provides a smoother finish, perfect for detailed work. As a beginner, when I started, I found hot-pressed to be difficult to master, but, I encourage you to try it and see for yourself if you plan to try your hand at detail in your art.
Watercolor Paints and Brushes
Choosing the right paints and brushes is important, but if you are a beginner, starting with round brushes is a good option. I always recommend A #2 and #6 round.
Watercolor paints are available in tubes or pans. Pan sets are portable and convenient. Pan paints are my paints of choice because of their ease of use and said convenience. I like to be able to take my paints on the go, especially when I travel. My pan paints never let me down.
Tubes are great as well, and I do use them to refill my most popular pans that run out. For more reading check out my article on Pan vs Tube Watercolor Showdown.
Brushes come in all shapes and sizes. For greeting cards, round brushes hold water well and suit both broad washes and fine details. Flat brushes work wonders for bold strokes and washes.
When I am on the go, I also take water brushes with me. Water brushes have a barrel inside where you fill them with water and you are all set to go with a pre loaded brush. Great for travel! They come in all sizes and styles.
Most of my tutorials I use round brushes. The sizes I use most are #2 and #6 round as stated above. Check out Watercolor Brush 101.
Additional Supplies
Gather additional tools like painter’s tape to create clean edges. Use palettes for mixing colors, (most pan paints have built in palettes) and have two water containers: one to clean brushes and another to dilute paints. These little additions can make the painting process smoother and more organized. Also, paper towels and/or cloths for the eco friendly folks.
You will always find me with a paper towel in my left hand while I paint to dab my brushes or to blot my paper.
If you are looking for some affordable supplies, I have an article just for you!
Design Ideas for Holiday Cards
Designing holiday cards invites creativity and personal flair. From the classics to modern elegance, there’s no limit to what you can create.
Classic Holiday Themes
Traditional themes evoke a sense of nostalgia and warmth. Think of snowflakes, holly, cozy fireplaces, or twinkling ornaments. These familiar sights symbolize the holiday season, and painting them can be a delightful trip down memory lane.
Modern and Minimalist Styles
For a contemporary touch, consider minimalist designs. Use negative space effectively, focusing on clean lines and subtle colors. A simple silhouette of a Christmas tree or a monochrome wreath can convey elegance and sophistication.
Incorporating Personal Touches
Personal touches transform cards into cherished mementos. You might add the recipient’s name or a short, meaningful message. Hand-painted illustrations, like a child’s favorite toy or a beloved pet in a holiday setting, can deliver a unique and personal touch.
Techniques for Watercolor Painting
Understanding different techniques enhances your watercolor greeting cards making skills, offering ways to add texture and depth.
Wet on Wet vs. Wet on Dry
The wet on wet technique involves applying wet paint onto a pre-wet surface, resulting in soft, flowing colors perfect for backgrounds or skies. In contrast, wet on dry involves applying paint onto a dry surface, offering crisp edges and defined shapes. Knowing when and how to use these techniques can elevate your art.
Layering and Blending Colors
Layering allows for building depth and complexity. Start with lighter shades, then gradually add darker hues once each layer dries. This creates a rich, deep effect. Blending helps in achieving smooth transitions between colors. Mastering these skills turns simple designs into vibrant masterpieces.
Adding Details with Fine Brushes
Use fine brushes for intricate details. They’re ideal for adding finishing touches like tree ornaments, snowflakes, or delicate patterns. The precision offered by fine brushes helps transform simple designs into polished, professional-looking artwork.
For more on watercolor techniques, You can read Five Essential Watercolor Techniques For Beginners.
Finishing Touches and Personalization
The final steps involve adding personalized elements and packaging your cards exquisitely, ensuring they’re ready to make an impression.
Sealing Your Watercolor Greeting Cards
If you want preserve your card or are worried it may be damaged in the sending of the card, you can purchase a product called Dorland’s Wax. All you need to do is rub it over your painting (once your watercolor is completely dry) and then buff it off and it gives it a nice protective coating.
With that said, please follow the manufacturer’s directions.
Writing Heartfelt Messages
Write your messages to fit each watercolor greeting cards theme. Whether it’s a classic holiday greeting or a personalized note, a thoughtful message resonates deeply with the recipient. Get creative, let your words flow, and match them to the artwork’s mood.
Having Prints Made
You have several options! You can either scan your watercolor and upload it to Canva and create your own prints and make your own cards and print onto cardstock, or, take your watercolor to a local printer and have them print your watercolor onto cards and make the prints/cards for you.
This way, you can send the same print to all of your friends and family.
Creating holiday greeting cards is more than just a creative task, it’s a heartfelt pursuit of sharing your joy of watercolor. Every card and every brushstroke is a token of love and creativity. Spread a little holiday cheer with your watercolor magic!
Stay Colorful, Stay Creative and HAVE FUN!
Laurie
