Hey everyone, it’s Kate and I’m back with some quick and easy watercolor Christmas cards! I know it might seem a little early for Christmas with Halloween around the corner, but it’s my favorite holiday so I couldn’t wait to get started.
Today, I’m using the MozArt Komirebi palette, and for our first card, we’re going to make some ornaments. I grabbed the Carmine color, which is a bright red, and punched out some circles from some scrap watercolor paper I had lying around. Using a wet brush, I filled in the circles, leaving a small bit unpainted to create a shiny highlight. It all comes together really quickly!
Now, you can use these pre-cut circles or freehand your ornaments for a more personal touch. I like the bright color of the Carmine, but feel free to experiment with different colors!
For the base of the cards, I’m using single sheets of watercolor paper. This lets me be a little looser with my painting without worrying about ruining the inside. Once the paint dries, I can attach them to any greeting card or cardstock I like.
Next, I’m using the metallic paints in the Komorebi set. I went with gold for the ornament strings, adding a touch of sparkle to the card. You could definitely add more details or decorations – the possibilities are endless!
These first few cards only took about five minutes each, making them a perfect project for anyone who’s short on time. Sometimes it’s fun to just sit down and create without overthinking it.
Moving on to card number two, I’m using a mix of Grass Green and Payne’s Grey to create a simple Christmas tree. I like to use the water dragging technique to spread the paint and create a natural look. I build up the color by going over the same areas with a damp brush, leaving some white space for highlights.
For the trunk, I used Burnt Umber, keeping it separate from the green but allowing for a little bleeding for a natural effect. To finish it off, I added a touch of Turquoise at the bottom to represent the sky.
Working with a single sheet of watercolor paper like this has really helped me loosen up and not worry too much about precision. Sometimes when I work on larger projects, I get caught up in every brushstroke, but watercolor is all about having fun and letting the paint flow!
The next card features a candle. Unfortunately, the recording messed up for this part. Similar to the ornaments, I used Carmine for the candle itself, leaving a lighter area for the reflection of light.
For the candle glow, I used the Brilliant Yellow in the palette and created a circle using the leftover circle cutout from the ornaments. I love how pigmented this paint is, but remember to go easy on it as it can spread quickly.
After adding a flame with yellow and orange, I finished it off with a Burnt Umber line for the wick. I also went back in with some gold paint to add some extra sparkle.
For the Christmas tree on card number two, I used a white gel pen to add some ornaments, giving it an extra touch of detail.
Card number four features a fun and cartoon-y Christmas tree. I used a black ultra-fine paint pen to draw the tree first, allowing me to stay within the lines while painting.
For the watercolor, I used the same Grass Green from the previous card without mixing it with anything. I like the richness of this palette, although it doesn’t have a mixing tray like some others.
I went for a darker green on one side, gradually lightening up as I moved towards the other. It’s a simple technique that adds depth to the tree.
The last card uses the Metallic Blue paint, which has a beautiful pearlescent shimmer that doesn’t quite show up on camera. This is a great example of how effective metallic paints can be for Christmas cards.
I created two simple hills with the blue, letting them touch slightly but also keeping some white space for highlights. For the trees, I used Grass Green again, creating loose triangular shapes and leaving some white for a snowy effect.
Finally, I added a touch of Payne’s Gray to the sky for a contrasting color.
The last step for card number four involved using a white gel pen to add some dots like miniature lights on the tree.
And that’s it! Five quick and easy watercolor Christmas cards that are perfect for anyone who wants to add a personal touch to their holiday greetings. These cards would be a fun activity to do with kids, and they also make great gifts from the heart.