Build Drawing Skills with DIY Christmas Tree Cards - Painting & Drawing Tips

OMG it has really been RAINING here!!

DIY Christmas Tree Cards - fun way to fight the winter drabs!!

I think everyone must have heard by now that here on the Southwest Coast of Canada we have had LOTS of RAIN!!  I am fortunate to not live in a flooded area. But I think of those people daily and what they must be going through.  Please say a little prayer for them and send them positive thoughts.  

Between Covid restrictions, the newest variant and the dark rainy days, I feel a bit of cheer and positive thinking is needed.  I know we are into the high tech days where everything happens on our phone or iPad but I feel we need to go back a bit to the 'touch and feel' days.  

There is nothing like feeling SPECIAL. 

It's a feeling you get when you opening the mailbox and there is card just for you.  Or when you meet a friend and they hand you a card.  Even more SPECIAL if they made that card themselves!  Suddenly it means soooo much more.   

 

Definitely a feeling of Peace with this little card.  😉

Check out my Christmas Tree Christmas Cards

They are user friendly, not too intimidating, one of a kind and guaranteed to give your special people a smile.  As an added bonus they allow you to easily feed your creative spirit.  They are something you can do while watching TV or listening to your music.  I suggest you make up a little supply box that is handy to grab whenever you have a minute.  

Creating DIY Christmas Tree Cards

I like Mixed Media Cards because I can use any media on them

SPECIAL NOTE: 

I have a video "Learn to Draw with Christmas Tree Cards" that will give you more ideas on making your Christmas Tree Cards.   

 

I have 2 Card Classes Scheduled: Tuesday, Dec 7,  2-4pm  & Saturday, Dec 11, 1-12:30pm 
Small group (3), all materials supplied, Beginner to Advanced Welcome, $50 each.  Walnut Grove area of Langley.  Contact Wendy to register

1.  Materials: 

- paper and envelopes - Strathmore has packages of Mixmedia paper cut and scored with envelopes ready to go. Scrapbooking/Stamp Stores let you buy cardstock by the sheet and have small packs of envelopes that can be purchased.  Envelopes can be expensive if you go to custom sizes so stick to standard ones.  (Even business envelopes make for an interesting card shape) 

I like white paper to work on as I love to add my own colour and I like the sharp, clean lines on my white surface. 

- pencil, vinyl eraser, kneaded eraser, white acrylic pen

- permanent ink pens: Staedtler or Micron 03 & 05  Using permanent ink means you can use wet media like felts or watercolour pencils and your lines wont run

My materials - note the white pen for making tiny corrections  

- your favourite colouring medium.  I like my Intense Watercolour Pencils because they give me bright colours but I also use my coloured pencils as well

- some Bling.  The dollar store has lots of little stick on glitter shapes.  The star shape is hard to find but little round ones work great too. (note them on the top of each tree above. )

2.  Layout

Decide on the size of your card face.  Do not fold card before working on it.  Cover the backside so only your drawing surface is showing. It is important to understand the size and shape your image will be. 

Note the paper covering the back and how light the markings are for the layout.  

Draw a light drawing of your tree/trees.  The layout should be dark enough to see but light enough to easily erase.  It should not score the surface.   Use your kneaded eraser to lighten any areas that are dark.  

When drawing your tree/trees think about curvy lines.  Try to move away from the idea of symmetrical.  Light gestural lines will give you great shapes to work with.  I like to dip the top over to give it a little character or round the top to make room for a piece of glitter at the top.  

Challenge yourself to try different sizes and groupings.  A few lines will indicate snow and I love my little snowballs under the trees.  They break up the line and move the eye along.  A few breaks in your snow lines also add interest for the eye.  

Layout for 3 trees - Challenge yourself to try different combinations 

3.  Draw with your Pen

Don't sweat it!  I know it is permanent.  Your layout lines do not need to be traced over exactly, they are to help you move along the surface.  If you made your trees a bit quirky, any deviation from your layout line will not matter. 

Single patterns give you more latitude for colouring. Note ow the shadows on the tree trunks and snow add to the composition.  

Add your patterns/doodles to your trees.  I like to fill in my trees with doodle patterns.  You can see my favourite ones but there are lots more on the Internet.  I find it is nicer to keep to one pattern per tree as it makes colouring more interesting.  But certainly a personal choice here.  Do a few practice patterns on another piece of paper and then draw directly onto your card.  

You will be surprised at how freeing that is.  That sense of moving the pen freely without tracing.  (I know you wont feel that right away but if you keep moving you will.  It is a real confidence busters) 

4.  Time to Colour & Decorate

Have some fun with your colours.  Add garnishes.  Add text.  And don't forget to sign it!! (My doodle signature is in the bottom right corner.  It is different from my fine art signature.) 

5.  The Finish

You can make several cards and I do suggest you make several.  You will be more relaxed and joyful after the first one is done.   You will find that the more you make the more ideas you will have.  Your mark making will reflect your building confidence.  

If you have time make originals for everyone, if not, take your card to a shop and have it photocopied onto cardstock.  Either way, those SPECIAL people will be thrilled when they see what you have done. 

Looking for Help to start your Card Making: 

I have a video "Learn to Draw with Christmas Tree Cards" that will give you more ideas on making your Christmas Tree Cards.  

I have 2 Card Classes Scheduled: Tuesday, Dec 7,  2-4pm  & Saturday, Dec 11, 10-12:30pm 
Small group (3), all materials supplied, Beginner to Advanced Welcome, $50 each.  Walnut Grove area of Langley.  Contact Wendy to register

Looking to Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

Contact Me for:

1. Private Drawing Lesson: (3 Sessions 2.5 hr each $250)

Do you want your animals to breath, your flowers to sparkle or your people to walk?  Whatever subject your like to paint or draw I can build a drawing program for you.  Private Lessons allow you to focus on the skills you wish to develop.  Wendy is a experienced teacher, providing a calm, relaxing experience as you learn how to use the principles of drawing.  Beginner to Advanced are welcome.  Special rates for younger students.  More info here.

Be sure to like and share my posts.  You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email 

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy

Looking to BUILD Confidence and Skill in Drawing - Painting & Drawing Tips

Are you hesitant when you go to draw?

Do you find yourself doing sketchy, broken lines rather than clean swooping stroke? 

Do you have to do everything in pencil first before committing to ink or paint?  

Does your confidence sag when you’re faced with drawing something?

Creating Christmas Cards: Fun. Skill builder.  Confidence Booster. Best of All "Friends Dazzeler".  

Well doesn’t have to be that way. . . .
Of course everyone will tell you, just practice.  That’s the problem, it is hard to practice when your Inner voice is screaming at you.  I know.  I have been there.  I am a self taught artist.  I know how hard it is to draw something when you are constantly criticizing yourself because it looks AWFUL.  Well, I can tell you, me and my inner voice always agreed on that!!

I found practice was way easier if I was doing something interesting and I felt it was successful.  It made me want to try more. Do more.  

I know we are trapped at home right now but this is a perfect time to try something new.  I guarantee this will perk you up, build confidence in your drawing skills and totally dazzle your family and friends.  

Make your own Christmas Cards . . . .

These are not just any Christmas Cards, these are cards to help with your drawing.  I have lots of things to ensure your success.  See my video DIY Awesome Christmas Cards for  ideas, examples, and more.  

 Materials: 

1.Permanent Fine Tip Pens- Micron or Staedler Size 03 & 05.  This allows you to colour with felts, watercolour, and other wet media without ink running.  They also come in a variety of colours. 

Micron and Staedler pigment pens are permanent so won't run if you add a wet media.  They come in different sizes and colours.   

2.  Cardstock/Watercolour Paper for Cards: I use cardstock if colouring with dry media otherwise I get Strathmore Watercolour Cards.  They are creased, cut to size and have matching envelopes.  They come in packs of 10, 25 or 50.  A scrapbooking store has great cardstock in lots of colours and different size envelopes if you want only a small number. Art Stores & Amazon will carry the Strathmore Cards.  

These come in mixed media as well.  

3.  Pencil, putty eraser, vinyl eraser, and colouring materials. Coloured pencils, watercolour pencils, felts or watercolours.  Both Watercolour Cards and Mixed Media Card papers will work for your wet mediums.  Don't forget a few glitter bits from the Dollar Store.  They are even self sticking!!

This card gives me a Happy feeling - The red strip on the side just adds extra pazazz (See my video to learn about this)

4. Inspiration - Christmas Card Activity Sheet - this a FREE Activity Sheet to get you started.  I have mixed candles, poinsettias, holly and doodle patterns to make my cards.  You are welcome to download it and get drawing.  I am sure once you create a few cards you will be inspired to try other things.  

My FREE Christmas Card Activity Sheet is full of ideas to get you started.  

Things to think about as you draw:

1.  Work towards drawing freehand.  I know at first you will want to do pencil first and then ink.  No problem.  But as you work stretch yourself by leaving more and more of the detail to freehand drawing.  

Being aware of your working space makes for better compositions

2. Frame your space. You will be working with your card flat.  It is important to understand your space so use a coloured sheet to block out the back of the card.  

3.  Try a few doodle patterns.  Doodle patterns are made from small parts that work together to make a pattern.  Drawing them freehand goes a long way to build confidence.  Try scallops on edges, little open circles, simple three petal flowers.  They can be powerful in perking up an empty space.  I live the power of a simple line or dot.  

4.  Sign them.  Be sure and own your work.  Add a signature.  I have my own Doodle Signature for my Doodle work and another for my other work. 

Get more information on my video: DIY Awesome Christmas Cards  and be sure and download the FREE Christmas Card Activity Sheet .  Now get ready to have some fun!  

Christmas Shopping Online with FREE Shipping in Canada!!

HOLIDAY SPECIAL - 15% on all sales

FREE SHIPPING IN CANADA TIL DEC 15

Lots of One-of-a-Kind items, original art, art prints, art cards, jewelry, pottery, painted scarves, and more. Anything that inspires an artist to create.  
Get your Christmas Shopping Done and Shipped Free 

Art by Wendy Original Work, Art Cards & Prints, Memo Pads and Doodle Cards will be available   

Looking to Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

  Online Coaching/Teaching  (3 sessions 30 minutes each $75)

Are You and Your Inner Critic looking to expand your discussions.  Here's how it works: Send me a few pictures of your paintings.  I will prepare material to facilitate a discussion.  We meet on Zoom for our sessions and discuss your work. I am a sounding board and coach with suggestions, techniques and tips to help you meet your goals and move your art forward.  More info here.   Looking forward to working with you.  

  
Many find this post helpful: Turn your Inner Critic into your BFF

Be sure to like and share my posts.  You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email 

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy