How to Make 5 EASY Peasy Watercolor CHRISTMAS CARDS + Video!

Would you like to get the ‘Watercolour Look’ without the ‘Watercolour Stress’? ….well, you can, grab a cuppa and check out my ideas!

Welcome to my Same But Different Christmas Card Series 2022! In this series, I give you multiple ideas in one video to use your supplies. Today, I wanted to debunk the theory that you have to be an artist to get the watercolour look. Get ready to be inspired!!

Therese Calvird - Same But Different Christmas Card Series 2022 - Easy Watercolor Christmas Cards (card video) (13)

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Therese Calvird - Same But Different Christmas Card Series 2022 - Easy Watercolor Christmas Cards (card video) (13)

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Idea #1 – Background Wash

My first 2 cards feature a simple background wash of colour.

I used a wet on wet technique so that my colours mixed together to create more variation. Simply start by painting clean water onto some watercolour cardstock in the shape that you want the finished design to be and then drop the colours in and watch the magic.
Note: Be sure to choose colours that mix well together for this technique.

Therese Calvird - Same But Different Christmas Card Series 2022 - Easy Watercolor Christmas Cards (card video) (13)

These backgrounds are perfect for silhouette stamps such as these from the Plentiful Pine Set.

Therese Calvird - Same But Different Christmas Card Series 2022 - Easy Watercolor Christmas Cards (card video) (13)

And, for all of today’s designs I used Gansai Tambi paints but, you could use whatever products you have on hand.

PRO TIP: If you don’t have any watercolor paints, did you know that you can use waterbased dye inks, and in particular the Distress Inks are perfect for this?

Therese Calvird - Same But Different Christmas Card Series 2022 - Easy Watercolor Christmas Cards (card video) (13)

For my second example I decided to show how an outline stamp, such as this Mondo Amaryllis, can have a dramatic look!

PRO TIP: You can add some highlights to a portion of the image, such as I did, using the Glitter Pens!

Therese Calvird - Same But Different Christmas Card Series 2022 - Easy Watercolor Christmas Cards (card video) (13)

Idea #2 – Loose Watercolouring

Why not try a simple wash of colour over a stamped design? This looks fabulous with foliage images such as I have used today but you can also use this technique with ‘critter’ stamps too.

After stamping the image, I added clean water to each of the leaves and then dropped in the colours. I let the colours mix while they were wet, but found that they dried too light. This was easy to fix by adding a second layer of colour over top.

Therese Calvird - Same But Different Christmas Card Series 2022 - Easy Watercolor Christmas Cards (card video) (13)

BONUS IDEA: Running out of time, these cards can serve double duty and become the tag for a present as well (I love a huge gift tag)!

Therese Calvird - Same But Different Christmas Card Series 2022 - Easy Watercolor Christmas Cards (card video) (13)

And, this Mistletoe Wreath, was super easy to colour… imagine if I had coloured each leaf separately, it would have taken forever lol.

Therese Calvird - Same But Different Christmas Card Series 2022 - Easy Watercolor Christmas Cards (card video) (13)

All of today’s designs were treated with a little splatter of Antique Gold, but you could leave this step out if you prefer.

Therese Calvird - Same But Different Christmas Card Series 2022 - Easy Watercolor Christmas Cards (card video) (13)

Idea #3 – Easy Basic Watercolouring

My final card is coloured simlarly to the previous 2 cards, except this time, I ‘stayed inside the lines’… mostly.

I added clean water to the image first, but typically used a ‘drier’ brush. This gave me more control, but I was still able to allow the colours to mix.

Therese Calvird - Same But Different Christmas Card Series 2022 - Easy Watercolor Christmas Cards (card video) (13)

I also added some simple shading, this was easy. I allowed time for the image to dry and added stronger shades of the same colours to the areas where I thought the shadows would be.

PRO TIP: Use a heat tool to speed up the drying time.

Therese Calvird - Same But Different Christmas Card Series 2022 - Easy Watercolor Christmas Cards (card video) (13)

You can see how I created these cards in my video here or Watch it in HD on YouTube.


AND have you joined my email list yet? Keep up to date with what has been going on here and what’s coming up too. I have the most amazing group of friends who I know you will love just as much as I do! Join through the link in my sidebar, and you will also get my bonus FREE Floral Colour Combo!

I hope you are inspired to use some ‘small stamps’ on your Holiday designs. And I’d love you to let me know which card is your favourite!

Also, just in case you want to do a little shopping I’ve added the links below (some of them are affiliate links which means that I will receive a small portion of the sale at no extra cost to you). I truly appreciate your support of my card adventures!

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Other Supplies: Stamps (retired) – Altenew – Festive Poinsettia
ZSCM Glitter Pens – C033 / C013. Gansai Tambi – #37 Deep Pink / #51 May Green / #57 Turquoise Green / #44 Light Brown

Affiliate links are used
Neenah Solar 110
Neenah Solar 110

SSS | AUZ | EH
Neenah Solar 80
Neenah Solar 80

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Watercolor Cardstock
Watercolor Cardstock

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Plentiful Pine
Plentiful Pine

ALT | SSS
Love & Peace
Love & Peace

PB
Mondo Amaryllis
Mondo Amaryllis

EH
Frosty Hello
Frosty Hello

PB
Modern Poinsettia
Modern Poinsettia

ALT
Mistletoe Wreath
Mistletoe Wreath

ALT | SSS | EH
Mondo Holly
Mondo Holly

EH
Essential Circles
Essential Circles

EH
Essentials Arches
Essentials Arches

EH
Nocturne
Nocturne

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Contour Ink
Contour Ink

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Gansai Tambi 24
Gansai Tambi 24

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Watercolor Brushes Round
Watercolor Brushes Round

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Antique Gold Spray
Antique Gold Spray

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ZSCM Glitter Pens
ZSCM Glitter Pens

OTH
Fashion Gold
Fashion Gold

AUZ | OTH
Gold Twine
Gold Twine

EH
Craft Knife
Craft Knife

SSS
Scissors
Scissors

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Bone Folder Altenew
Bone Folder Altenew

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Mini Score Board
Mini Score Board

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Cutting Mat
Cutting Mat

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MISTI Alignment Panels
MISTI Alignment Panels

AUZ | OTH
MISTI Sticky Mats
MISTI Sticky Mats

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MISTI
MISTI

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Mini MISTI
Mini MISTI

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Magnets
Magnets

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Chuckie (pressure) Tool
Chuckie (pressure) Tool

OTH
Gemini Junior
Gemini Junior

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Tape 1/4
Tape 1/4

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Tape 1/2
Tape 1/2

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Bearly Art Glue
Bearly Art Glue

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Foam Tape
Foam Tape

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Glue Tape
Glue Tape

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Pink Tape
Pink Tape

AUZ

12 thoughts on “How to Make 5 EASY Peasy Watercolor CHRISTMAS CARDS + Video!

  1. I love the way you did all of these, Therese. Such simple watercoloring but wonderful and artistic.

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