5 Easy Watercolor Christmas Card Ideas for a Personal Touch

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 10 July 2023 5 min read

Adding a personal touch to holiday greetings has never been more fun with these easy watercolor Christmas card ideas. There's something truly special about receiving a handmade card, especially during the festive season. Whether you're new to watercolor painting or looking to try something new, these five ideas are simple yet impactful, each adding a unique twist to traditional holiday themes. So let's get started with our first easy watercolor Christmas card idea: the classic Christmas tree card.

1. Create a Classic Christmas Tree Card

A classic Christmas tree card is a staple of holiday greetings. It's simple, yet timeless, and with a few watercolor techniques, you can easily make it your own. Here's how you can create this card:

Choose Your Watercolor Paints

First things first—you'll need to select your paints. For a traditional look, stick with classic Christmas colors: a deep green for the tree and a bold red for added details. But remember, this is your card, so feel free to choose colors that reflect your personal style or the recipient's favorite hues.

Sketch and Paint Your Tree

Next, lightly sketch your tree with a pencil. Once you're happy with the shape and size, it's time to reach for your brush. Start from the top and work your way down, creating layers of branches with your chosen green. Don't worry about perfection—part of the charm of watercolor is its loose, fluid style.

Add Sparkling Touches

Now for the fun part—adding sparkling touches to your tree! Using a smaller brush, apply dots of white paint to represent twinkling lights or ornaments. Alternatively, you can even use a silver or gold marker for extra shimmer. A touch of red paint can also be used for baubles or a tree-topper. And there you have it—the first of our easy watercolor Christmas card ideas is complete!

2. Design a Festive Snowman Scene

What's more festive than a cheerful snowman set against a snowy backdrop? This easy watercolor Christmas card idea is as fun to paint as it is to receive. Let's get started on designing our frosty friend.

Prepare Your Snowman Outline

Start by lightly sketching your snowman. Remember, snowmen come in all shapes and sizes, so feel free to get creative. Once your snowman is sketched, you can also add elements like a scarf, a top hat, or a carrot nose—whatever you think your snowman might need!

Paint a Winter Background

Next, it's time to paint a winter wonderland for our snowman to live in. Use light blue and white to create a snowy sky, and paint the ground with white to represent the snow. You can also add some trees in the background using different shades of green.

Bring Your Snowman to Life

Now that we have our winter scene, it's time to bring our snowman to life! Using a clean brush, fill in your snowman with white paint. Once the white paint dries, add your snowman's details: a black top hat, a colorful scarf, and of course, a carrot nose. With that, your festive snowman scene is complete, and we're ready to move on to our next easy watercolor Christmas card idea.

3. Craft a Colorful Ornament Card

Ornaments aren't just for trimming the tree—they also make for delightful Christmas card themes! With this easy watercolor Christmas card idea, you can create a vibrant, festive piece that's guaranteed to spread holiday cheer. So, let's dive into crafting our colorful ornament card.

Create Your Ornament Design

An ornament card offers endless opportunities for creativity. Start by sketching out your ornament shapes on the card. They can be traditional circles, elegant ovals, or even quirky star shapes. Jot down a few lines for the hangers, and you're ready to move on to the next step.

Paint With Bold Colors

Ornaments are all about color, so don't be shy—break out your boldest, brightest watercolor paints. Fill in your sketched ornaments with a medley of hues. You could stick to classic Christmas colors, like red and green, or go for a more modern look with purples, blues, and pinks. The choice is all yours!

Add Details and Highlights

Once your paint has dried, it's time to add the final touches. Use a thin brush to outline the ornaments and their hangers. You can also add highlights to make them shiny and reflective. With these finishing touches, your colorful ornament card is all set to spread some Christmas joy!

4. Paint a Peaceful Winter Landscape

For a serene and elegant touch, painting a peaceful winter landscape is an ideal choice. This is one of those easy watercolor Christmas card ideas that, although simple, can create a beautifully evocative image. So, shall we embark on this tranquil artistic journey?

Plan Your Landscape Layout

Before you start painting, visualize the landscape you want to depict. It could be a tranquil forest with snow-laden trees, a serene frozen lake, or a cozy cottage in a snow-covered field. Sketch it out lightly on the card to guide your painting process.

Paint a Winter Sky

The sky sets the mood in any landscape painting, and this winter scene is no different. Using a blend of cool blues and purples, paint a clear winter sky, making sure to leave spaces for the stars. A touch of white in places can give the impression of a crisp, moonlit night.

Add Winter Details

Now, it's time to bring your winter landscape to life. Paint the main elements of your scene using a variety of blues, whites, and grays to mimic the hues of winter. Don't forget to add in the little details—like the snowflakes falling or the smoke curling up from the cottage chimney—that truly make the scene feel real and alive.

5. Create a Modern Holiday Wreath Card

For our final easy watercolor Christmas card idea, we're going to get a little trendy. A modern holiday wreath card blends tradition with contemporary design for a fresh take on the holiday season. Ready to give your holiday cards a modern spin?

Design Your Wreath Layout

The first step is to layout your wreath design. Modern wreaths often break from the traditional full circle, so feel free to get creative. Sketch out a half or three-quarter wreath, or even a series of smaller wreaths. Remember, the idea here is to challenge the conventional, while keeping the spirit of the holiday alive.

Choose Your Wreath Colors

Next, decide on your color palette. While green may be the go-to for wreaths, modern designs often incorporate other colors. Consider pastels or even a monochromatic scheme. The key is to pick colors that will stand out and bring a fresh, modern feel to your card.

Paint and Detail Your Wreath

Now, it's time to bring your design to life. Using your chosen colors, paint the wreath on your card. Pay attention to the details and add depth to your design by playing with light and shadow. Once the paint is dry, you can add other details like bows, berries, or ornaments with a fine-tip pen or marker.

And there you have it, five easy watercolor Christmas card ideas to add a personal touch to your holiday greetings. Remember, the best part about creating these cards is the joy and relaxation you get from painting, and the happiness they will bring to the recipient. Happy painting!

If you enjoyed these watercolor Christmas card ideas and want to explore more unique techniques for creating holiday cards, be sure to check out the workshop 'Holiday Season Cards with Squeegee Art' by Clara Cristina. This workshop will teach you how to use squeegee art to design unforgettable cards that will add an extra personal touch to your holiday greetings.