Back in August, I created a card with a soothing easy watercolour background that I really enjoyed making. I’ve put a photo of the card below. In September I was sketching out some ideas, and I really wanted to have another go at this style of background with a Christmas colourway. Time passed by, and it wasn’t until I was hit over the head by two lots of inspiration that I finally got paint on paper to create these cards. Firstly, Kristina Werner’s Simply Watercolour Christmas card class has taken me right back to my clean and simple roots. Often as not less is better than more! Secondly, I saw a piece by Catherine Cote on Instagram that reminded me of my sketch, and I thought the two styles paired well together. I’ve linked all supplies with compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.
VIDEO
Watch below or in HD on YouTube.
Easy Watercolour Christmas Cards For Beginners
KEY INGREDIENTS
- Simon Says Stamp Slimline Christmas Die
- Watercolours – I used Daniel Smith paints.
STEP BY STEP HOW TO
- Pencil a border around a slimline panel of Arches watercolour card. Draw wavy lines across the panel. Attach to a board with painter’s tape.
- Paint the stripes with a palette of Christmasy colours using Daniel Smith paints – Pyrrol Crimson, Perylene Green, Buff Titanium. Make sure each stripe is dry before painting neighbouring stripes.
- Pencil a border around the second panel of Arches watercolour card and again attach to a board with painter’s tape.
- Prepare a palette of the same watercolours making sure to have plenty of choices to dip into.
- Paint stripes of the different colours across the panel, making sure to keep the lower edge of the paint stripes wet so that the colours blend. Add in more concentrated colour in areas and droplets of water in others.
- Die-cut the Slimline Christmas die from gold mirror card and the background die element in vellum twice. Adhere the gold to the vellum with Gina K Connect Glue and then add the sentiment pieces to the panels with small pieces of foam tape.
- Adhere the panels with foam tape to card bases cut and scored from Neenah Desert Storm card 100lb weight.
- Pair with Schoolhouse Red and Cream slimline envelopes.
FURTHER EXAMPLES
This was the card my original idea was based on. I’d so enjoyed making this simple freestyle watercolour card, and I was looking for ways I could incorporate this style again. What do you think? Do you prefer this beachy look or the Christmas colours from today’s cards?
SUPPLIES
You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.
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PIN ME
Summary of the project which gives all the views of the card in one photo :D I’d love if you pinned and called by on Pinterest :D
The cards are all beautiful. I love the simplicity of the designs.
If I had to choose one design it would be the beachy colourway, but I think the colours you’ve used today are just perfect for the Christmas cards.
It just goes to show that our cards don’t need to be intricate and take hours to create to look absolutely amazing.
Thank you Debby for the inspiration to try something new and for the really useful tips you always provide.
THANK YOU for the excellent tutorial! So many great tips! I love the 3 color palette- amazing how much depth and variety you achieved by varying the concentration of the mix and letting water “do it’s thing”.
I learned a lot and I am excited to try my hand at this!
Like this watercolor technique for creating card backgrounds. You’re card examples are so lovely. Recently “inherited” some watercolor paper from a studio closing so I know I’ll be creating backgrounds such as these very soon. tfs-stay well.
You are so awesome! I absolutely love your card! Thank you for sharing your creations with us.
These cards are awesome! I am going to try this watercolor technique today. I love to see the things that inspire card artists, too, so thank you for sharing all of this!
I love when you do easy water coloured cards. As they are designs that I can try and copy. These cards are so pretty! I really liked the vellum behind both of them. You have a way with colours and just knowing what colours to make your cards really shine and stand out.
The first card with the hard watercolour lines reminds me of a famous Canadian/Yukon painter that I always loved when growing up. The tip to use a block at the top to have a slight angle is such a good idea! And the water splotches are so fun!
I have always thought foil/embossing and watercolour goes so well together. I would love to see that in a future video.