Tuesday, December 4, 2012

IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS CARDS


I had to come up with some ideas for Christmas cards yesterday since I had planned for my Tuesday morning class to do some.  I was lucky and my Strathmore blank watercolor cards came in just in time! 

Here are just a few of the ones I did - they are like Hershey kisses - you have one, then two, then three and before you know it, you have 7 or more! ha ha  And once you make you, you think of something else to do and make another, and another, and before you know it, an hour has gone by :)

I stopped painting cards for family members a few years back (I used to have an original card for each person) when it got to be too much and I was running out of ideas.



But there are always simple things you can do - like a single ornament with some extra things glued on.  (Although Sweetie says this looks like a bomb!)




Put some real or glass candy canes in a small or tall glass with some real or fake greenery (or tinsel) and paint a simple card, using black ink to draw around the candy canes if you leave the background white.






Or play with gessoed paper - did you know they make gold gesso and others of various colors.  The gold is fun to work with when you are doing ornaments.  Just paint right on the gessoed paper (once it's dried) and you can lift off anything you don't like.

















And, of course, there's always pine cones or holly with red berries or snowmen and women or...the list just goes on and on!


The class seemed to have a good time.  They each brought some ideas or drawings or photos to use, or used inspiration from the table where I'd set up snowmen and various paper and card designs and showed them photographs of snow or ice-covered things.  

I had a new student come today.  I think she had a good time and will return next time to finish another card.  She did a great job and I can't wait to see her finished painting: a single pine tree in snow with a large star in a star-spattered (using liquid miskit) evening sky.

Do you paint your own Christmas cards?  Do you have them copied and send everyone copies or give out originals?  Is it hard to come up with ideas and paint your idea on a small size?  There is nothing like getting an original card from someone - I save them all - but I know how much work that can be.




9 comments:

Anonymous said...

these are beautiful!!!! I do paint my cards, some years I painted each one, some years I do make copies of one special one, I have been painting them for a lot years, I like to change it up and I am never sure until the time comes,

Autumn Leaves said...

Lovely cards, Rhonda. Don't listen to sweetie. I could tell it was an ornament! This was the first year I painted a card. I did have copies made for mailing though. In my family, no one really appreciates art, I don't think.

Lisa Le Quelenec said...

These are gorgeous! What a joy to receive. Sweetie's comment made me chuckle.... a bomb of Christmas joy methinks.

I love to make cards for Christmas but they are rarely painted. Instead out comes glitter, ribbon, sequins and pretty paper and I collage it all together. Sometimes I have a stamp motif that I have carved in too. These cards are my opportunity to play with sparkley things ;o)

Victoria said...

These are all super gorgeous and festive!Beautifully done..fabulous colors and very uplifting! I didn't know there was gold gesso..! I have done charcoal sketches and watercolor as cards for special loved ones, and once I did a commissioned series of angels for cards..all originals..yes alot of work!( But a wonderful experience.)These are are totally beautiful ..thanks for sharing them!
Wishing you a wonderful day!
Victoria

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks so much for your comments on these, Laurie, Sherry, Lisa and Victoria!

renate said...

Hello Rhonda:) These are beautiful cards with beautiful colors! You did a great job on the tree, I love the simplicity of it. Your christmas ball doesn't look like a bomb(grrr husbands....:)

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Renate! I agree, sometimes husbands can be very blunt! ha ha

Barbra Joan said...

I do paint cards for Christmas and other events. Although I don't send more than a dozen, I enjoy it . All originals and fun to do ..
So far this year? Nothing ! LOL !
BJ

Inese said...

Nice cards, simple and very lovely.
I place my cards on Fine Art America or Artflakes, and then everyone can order them.
I like all people who love Christmas and who make this planet a better place by inspiring others.
Inese
http://inesepogagallery.com/