Do you always have the best intentions of a well thought out gift for your loved one, then bang! The holiday just sneaks right up on you!! Don’t fret, you can still impress those you care about with hand made thank you cards to show your true appreciation.
Sure, I could order cards online with same-day delivery, but slowing down, unplugging and taking a few minutes to reflect on what and whom I appreciate does wonders for calming my otherwise vibrating mind and seemingly chaotic life.
Join Molly Murrah to learn painting techniques that will get you working and playing with watercolors! Learn More.
Materials needed:
1 pack of water color paper 6 x 9 inch
Water color paint set
Assorted brushes Paper towels and water container for brush cleaning
White crayon (optional)
Bone folder (optional but really handy)
Envelopes
I wanted to end up with cards that folded open from the bottom, rather than like a book, so working on the lower half of my 6 x 9-inch sheet of paper, I painted the word, “thanks.” It was my own simple, somewhat sloppy (yet, endearing?) handwriting, and I loved it already.
Working in a second color, I painted some accent stars to draw attention away from the quality of my handwriting (as I was just warming up,) OR maybe I wanted to keep decorating and adding elements to make the card look super special and because I was enjoying the process.
For the second type of thank you card, I borrowed a white crayon from my toddler, and wrote out my thanks in white crayon, on the white paper. As I’d been painting, my hand writing had improved SOME, but unless you are naturally gifted with beautiful penmanship, I found that all-caps or block letters was the safest bet for a legible greeting.
After mixing up a color I was happy with, I loaded my brush with water and paint. I ran the brush right over the nearly invisible words. The wax resists the paint, and the result is simple and lovely.
Make a set of them using different colors of paint, and presto, you also have a belated holiday GIFT for those friends you missed during the holiday rush.
Let all of the painted cards dry completely before you fold them in half. If you’ve never used a bone folder, it’s a fantastic tool for achieving a sharp and clean fold.
Pair your cards with blank envelopes, grab a pen, and scrawl out your words of thanks for all the stuff you received this year. Pop these babies in the mail, and brighten someone’s day. Creating watercolor thank you cards is a surprisingly relaxing and potentially addictive way to spend an afternoon.
Need some holiday gift inspiration this year? Shop our gift guides and find the perfect present for the creator in your life – no wrapping paper required.
