Creative Ideas - A guide to painting a simple style Christmas card

The holiday season is the perfect time to share warmth and joy with friends and family. One of the most personal ways to do this is by hand painting your Christmas cards. You don't have to be a master of art to create stunning looking Christmas cards. Just a few simple supplies and a little time is all you need. The great thing about cards in this style is it doesn't have to be perfect, it adds the the charm.

Festive hand-painted Christmas card featuring whimsical robins joyfully singing holiday tunes.

Choosing the Right Materials

Before you start painting, gather a few simple supplies to ensure you have everything to hand.

• Cardstock or Watercolour Paper

Use good quality cards if possible or you can just buy basic blank cards. The cards I used in the video are just cheap blank cards from The Works. I have used watercolour paper to paint my design on and then mounted that onto the cheaper cards.

• Paints

Watercolours offer a soft, translucent look perfect for delicate designs. Acrylic paints provide a vibrant solid colour and dry quickly. In the video I used water colours

• Brushes

Invest in a variety of brush sizes: fine-tipped brushes for details, medium brushes for filling in shapes, and flat brushes for backgrounds. You don't need to spend a fortune on your brushes, just a set of assorted sizes

• Additional Supplies

Pencil for sketching, gel pens, fine liner pen, palette for mixing colours, water container, and paper towels, Q-tips, assorted sizes of jar lids and plastic pots.

Simple Design Ideas for Beginners

If you’re new to painting, start with easy designs that still look festive and charming.

• Christmas Trees

Paint simple triangular shapes in different shades of green. Add dots or small strokes for ornaments and a star on top. I like to mix it up a little and do my trees a variety of shades.

• Robins

Using a small round lid, paint the edges and stamp a circle onto the card. Fill in the top half of the circle on the diagonal in muted browns and the bottom half a red. Use a Q-tip to create the eye,. Draw little stick feet using a fine liner black pen, draw a little beak and add little musical notes for added detail.

• Holiday Wreaths

Create circular shapes, this can easily be created with a large jar lid or yoghurt pot. You can use any colour paint you wish to make your wreath ring, using a variety of green paints, simple flicks with create the look of leaves. A Q-tip is perfect for creating the berries. This design is forgiving and allows for creative freedom.

• Snow man

Using two different sized circles to create your body and head, and I infilled the edges of the circles with blue water colour and used a Q-Tip to create the button, eyes and mouth. This is my favourite one so far this year. To see how this is done, watch the video.

Advanced Techniques to Try

Once you feel comfortable, try these techniques to add depth and interest to your cards.

• Layering Colours

Build up colours gradually by letting each layer dry before adding the next. This technique works well with watercolours and acrylics to create rich textures.

• Dry Brush Technique

Use a dry brush with a small amount of paint to add texture, such as snow on tree branches or rough bark.

• Splatter Effect

Flick paint from a brush onto the card to mimic falling snow or glitter. Use white or metallic paint for a festive touch. This looks really effective on black card

• Gold and Silver Accents

  Use metallic paints or pens to highlight parts of your design, like stars, ornaments, or text.

  
  

• Embellishments

  You can add buttons, bows, ribbon and flat back gems to add a little extra detail to your cards

  
  

Watch how I crate some of the card designs

Personalizing Your Cards

Adding a personal touch makes your cards even more special.

• Handwritten Messages

Write a heartfelt note inside the card using calligraphy pens or markers. Practice your lettering on scrap paper before writing on the card.

• Custom Names

Paint the recipient’s name on the front or inside the card. Use decorative fonts or playful lettering styles. I am not the best when it comes to writing on the front of the cards so I purchase pre printed greetings. You can type up and print off greeting on card and add those to the card fronts.

Step-by-Step Guide to Painting a Simple Christmas Card

Here’s a straightforward example to get you started with a classic Christmas tree card.

1. Sketch the Tree

   Lightly draw a triangle in the centre of the card with a pencil.

   
   

2. Paint the Tree

   Use a medium brush to fill in the triangle with green paint. Add darker green strokes for texture.

   
   

3. Add Decorations

   Use a fine brush to paint small red and yellow dots for ornaments. Add a yellow star at the top.

   
   

4. Paint the Background

   Use blue paint to create a night sky around the tree. Add white splatters for snow.

   
   

5. Write a Greeting

   Once dry, write “Merry Christmas” below the tree with a metallic pen.

   
   

Now you can see how easy it is to create your own hand painted Christmas cards, go grab some card or cards, paints, brushes and some pens and have ago.

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