As Christmas approaches, we are always on the look out for some lovely Christmas cards, and what better way to give out Christmas cards then make our own handmade watercolor Christmas cards. Before deciding how to go about making your Christmas card, you first need some inspiration, and here we have 19 gorgeous watercolor Christmas card ideas to inspire you.
Making your own Christmas card is a great way to be expressive in the festive time, as well as being thoughtful. Putting thought into gifts is the essence of giving, and what better way to give then a handmade card. This gives you many options and lets you create something that fits the receiver’s personality as well as putting your own twist on it.
Watercolor painting is very giving and easy to work with for cards because all you need is a bit of water and you are ready to go. The possibilities are endless with watercolor art and each piece can be unique, depending on the approach of watercolor technique.
These Christmas watercolor cards will give you much inspiration to make your own collection of Christmas cards. These ideas range from Christmas trees, to patterned baubles, to cute reindeers, there will be something to spark the creativity within you. Whether you prefer a minimalist style or love to layer colors for a more complex look, there’s something here for everyone.
So grab your watercolor supplies, papers and brushes, and let’s dive into these wonderful and festive 19 Christmas watercolor card ideas!
1. Dreamy christmas
Source: itsacardknocklife
Starting off with this beautiful dreamy watercolor Christmas card idea which gives total Christmas movie vibes. When you look at this card, you imagine the beginning of a cosy Christmas movie, and we love that!
This type of card can be created by first doing a washed out background in your favourite color, this artist has chosen blue to give the winter look, but you can do whatever you like. Before the paint dried, dab some paper onto the paint to remove some of the access paint and create the clouds look. Then paint the trees ontop.
2. funky christmas trees
Source: momosartworld
This type of Christmas card would be really quick and easy to make. These are funky Christmas trees which don’t require a lot of technique, and make imagination then anything else!
Make an outline for a ‘triangle’ style Christmas tree for the base and then decided on how you want to ‘fill’ in your Christmas tree by painting in different patterns with your watercolors. The watercolors will act as your makers. You can even fill in the whole triangle tree and then draw on-top like you can see in the first Christmas card from the picture.
3. colorful baubles
Source: pmk_inspired
Another quick and easy watercolor Christmas card idea with these colorful baubles. Painting these won’t require much effort other than choosing your favourite colors and making sure your baubles are round!
If you don’t have a steady hand for your round baubles, a easy way to make sure your baubles are round is to draw around a circle shaped object onto your card, that way you will have a perfect circle and all you have to do is get painting.
4. Christmas foliage
Source: phenuxela
When Christmas arrives, there are lots of foliage used for decoration, from the trees to the mistletoes to Christmas holly, so why not paint some on your Christmas cards.
This idea is a very effective and easy one, it looks complex but all you have to do is make a lovely splattered painted background of your choice and then paint the foliage on-top once the paint has dried. It’s as easy as that! Make a collection of cards using different type of Christmas foliage which this technique.
5. abstract shapes
Source: darjacadezillustrations
If you thought the other watercolor Christmas card ideas were fun to do, then this one is definitely high on the list of fun cards to make. This card idea is such a simple one, but the overall look of it look fantastic.
The possibilities with this style of card making is endless, because you can create so many different patterns with so many different shapes. This artist has chosen squares to represent presents and circles to represent baubles, you can go even further and choose triangles to represent trees and even make a foliage patterned one.
6. Christmas ornaments
Source: stacy_scraps
If you are stuck for inspiration on what to paint onto your Christmas cards, then you can never go wrong with choosing Christmas ornaments for your inspiration because they are always different, or not!
This style of watercolor Christmas cards looks like the baubles have almost been scribbled on loosely, giving it a very artistic look and then choosing the right colors that work together to paint them in.
7. simple mistletoe
Source: ninaquarelle
What is Christmas without a mistletoe? This is a very simple and artistic take on the mistletoe and it has been done beautifully. Sometimes the simple cards are the best and most effective.
This artist has chosen to focus on one portion of the mistletoe to take up the whole of the card and painted onto thick textured paper to give it a proper artistic feel. Painting something like this can even be framed for Christmas instead of using it as a Christmas card.
8. xmas tree
Source: Thecraftyangels
If you have a hard time painting Christmas trees, then this can be an easy way to create paint one. Painting Christmas trees can be daunting and making sure it looks right, but this artist has chosen a different approach.
This artist has used simple ‘leaf’ shapes, to create the look of the Christmas tree. It’s like the previous card ideas that used shapes to create present shapes and baubles. Small circles have been used for the lights too.
9. cosy bauble
Source: phenuxela
A painted Christmas card that gives a very magical feel and all the aesthetic vibes! Metallic watercolor paints have been used to create this style of card giving it a very Christmas feel.
Plan out your card beforehand to create create a magical scene like this and choose your colors wisely. Attention to detail is key with this style of painting and you might want to use a very fine watercolor brush to create the trees with accuracy.
10. Abstract floral bauble
Source: frau_buchstab
This abstract style bauble is created using masking fluid with watercolors. Making fluid is a good way to create different layers on the same painting. It allows you to be free and not having to worry about paint going outside the lines.
Draw out your bauble and flowers, then paint over with making fluid. Once the masking fluid is dry, paint over with watercolor. The fun part is peeling off the masking fluid once dry!
11. Patterned baubles
Source: winonalettersanddesigns
Baubles seem to be a big inspiration for watercolor Christmas cards. These baubles are small but they have so much details in them. My favourite are the baubles with the magical Christmas scenes painted onto them.
If you have an artistic hand, create something like this because the end product is magical! Also the calligraphy used on the card goes so well with it.
12. Snowflake
Source: thecraftyangels
It wouldn’t be Christmas if we didn’t feature a snowflake card! This snowflake card is a unique spin on the traditional Christmas snowflake. It can be easily created by just using unique shapes and lines, but remember to add your own twist onto it!
13.
Source: frau_buchstab
A very ‘fine art’ style take on the mistletoe. A card which looks like it has been painted with a lot of precision and concentration but yet looks abstract and simple.
A very romantic watercolor Christmas card with the quote, ‘meet me under the mistletoe’. Use meaningful quotes on your cards for your loved ones to make it extra special. The different font styles used on this card is another way to bring some character to your card.
14. Leafy bauble
Source: phenuxela
Another bauble Christmas card but this one looks very illustrate and painted with a lot of thought. A card like this will likely have been drawn out first to make sure all the leafs flow in a good pattern within the bauble.
This can be replicated with any other pattern or shape inside the bauble and it will still look great. I love how the pattern is almost just a silhouette inside the bauble.
15. Christmas scene
Source: phenuxela
Another card with a magical Christmas scene painted on! These type of cards you can never go wrong with and if you ever get stuck for ideas, just go for this. That’s if you are good at painted such scenes, I’m more of an abstract watercolor girly myself 😉
I love the gold leafs frame around the edge of this Christmas scene, it gives it more sparkle as well as making it more Christmasy.
16. lettered card
Source: theletteringpeacock
If you want to go a different route with your Christmas cards and focus more on lettering, then something like this will work really well. Cards can look good with only quotes too inside of full on illustrations.
This lettered style card is a combination of lettering and illustration which shows that both work well hand in hand. You don’t have to paint on leafs and berries but choose anything Christmas related to make your own taste.
17. Colorful xmas trees
Source: jilldhawkins
This is a different approach to watercolor Christmas cards from what we have seen so far because it’s more crafty. The artist has used double sided sticky foam to create a 3D look with these Christmas trees and stuck them onto crafted card stock.
If you want to go the extra mile with your Christmas cards then get crafty with this style by painting out your Christmas trees first and then sticking them onto card stock. It’s a simple process but it looks very fancy.
18. illustrated reindeer
Source: artbynieman
Sometimes all you need is a cute little illustration for your Christmas card! Draw a Christmas character of your choice for the front of your Christmas card and paint it in with watercolor.
Drawing doesn’t have to be daunting or precise, but even a quick sketch can turn into a stunning card once some color is added.
19. moutain scene
Source: pb_creations
This card is truly a work of art! If you are good at details paintings and fine art, then something like this moutain scene would look beautiful on a card.
Making a card like this would start off with the background layer of the sky and moon, then once that has dried up, you can go in with a fine liner to draw the mountains and paint in the trees. Don’t forget the white stars in the sky!
We have reached our list of 19 inspiring watercolor Christmas cards and we hope you have found much inspiration in these cards for your own creations! There are so many different ways to create beautiful cards, all you need is an artistic eye and a bit of paint.
If you loved these card ideas, check out our other watercolor and craft posts below:
23 Amazing Watercolor Flower Painting Ideas To Inspire Your Painting.
22 Colorful Painted Pot Ideas For Your Plants.
20 Amazing Painted Pumpkin Ideas To Get Creative With Your Fall Decor.
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