There’s something lovely about writing a card to someone and being able to say, “I painted this for you.”
If you’ve got watercolours at home and aren’t quite sure how to use them yet, a little Christmas card is a lovely place to start. You’ve only got a small square of paper to think about, and by the end you’ve made something you can pop in an envelope and give to someone you love.
I’ve painted six little cards for A Tiny Watercolour Christmas, and from Monday 16 November I’ll be sharing the free step-by-step tutorials so you can paint them with me.
Pick one card to start with
There’s a Christmas pudding, three baubles, a whimsical tree, a mistletoe card that says Peace, a festive. Christmas weather and a pile of Christmas presents all for you to choose from.
If you’re wondering which one to try first, I’d pick the Christmas pudding. It starts with a simple rounded shape, and the little sprig of holly makes it feel Christmassy with just a few brush marks. It’s a nice one to paint twice if you want to see how the colours change when you use a little more or a little less water.
Sketch it or use a traceable
You can sketch your card first or use one of my free printable traceables to get the outline onto your paper. If you’re mainly here to get comfortable with your paints, having the shapes ready means you can sit down and get straight to the part you want to practise.
I paint the cards in real time so you can see how wet my brush is, when I let a layer dry and how I add the little finishing details. Pause whenever you need to. I’ll be right there when you press play again.
Make an afternoon of it
Grab some watercolour paper, a round brush, a pencil, a jar of water and whatever paints you already have. You can paint straight onto a watercolour card or paint on a small piece of paper and stick it onto a blank card once it’s dry.
If you’re painting with children or grandchildren, try making the same card together and letting everyone choose their own colours. You might end up with a pink Christmas pudding or a tree full of purple baubles. That’s part of the fun. The hardest bit might be deciding who gets which card!
Tiny painting builds big confidence. And if making one little card leaves you thinking, “I’d love to paint another,” that’s a lovely place to be.
