One of favorite mediums to use for art are watercolor paints. To start with, they involve one of Ben’s most favorite thing in the world… Water. He loves to mix the paints together and watch his water cup change color. I used his artwork to make watercolor ornament Christmas cards.
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SUPPLIES FOR WATERCOLOR ORNAMENT CARDS
Paint Pallet
Paint Brushes
Marker
Scissors
Glue
Optional: White Crayon and/or Salt
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Draw Designs with White Crayon
First, use a white (or another light color) crayon to draw designs on a white piece of watercolor paper. I drew loops, zigzags, dots, swirls, etc. you do not have to draw anything if you do not want to.
I recommend using watercolor paper versus other paper because it can handle a lot of water. If your child is like mine, more water ends up on the paper than actual paint.
2. Prepare Paint Pallet
Next, I set up a paint pallet with different color liquid watercolor paints and a cup of water. I love this simple plastic pallet, because it is the perfect size for Ben and it is easy to clean. It has held up well through many projects. If you do not have a pallet, you can use a paper plate.
3. Paint
Now on to the fun part, let your kid paint. No other instructions. As they paint, the hidden designs will reveal themselves. Surprise!
4. Add Salt (Optional)
In addition, you can sprinkle salt onto the painting while it is still wet. It will make the paint look splotchy. Once the paint has dried, just brush the salt off the paper. This is an optional step.
5. Cut Out Circles
After the paint has dried completely, cut various size circles out of the artwork. I cut out 3 different sizes to make watercolor ornaments for Ben. Set them aside for now.
6. Cut Out and Fold Cards
Next, I cut the white cardstock paper in half to make two rectangles that measured 8 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches. I then trimmed 1/2 inch off the long side to make is 8 inches long. Then I folded the paper in half to make a card that measured 4 inches by 5 1/2 inches. I made mine this size, because I already had envelopes that fitted a 4 x 6 card.
If you do not want to make your own card form, you could purchase plain white cards at your local craft store or online.
7. Glue the Watercolor Ornament Cut-outs on to the Cards
One of the last steps is to glue the circle watercolor ornaments on to the front of the cards. Add as many or as little as you want.
8. Draw Strings and Bows
For a final touch, I drew lines from the top of the card to the top of the ornament to look like they were hanging. Lastly, I drew a bow at the top of my ornament at the bottom of the line.
For more ideas about watercolor resist painting, check out our blog post, “How to Make a Color-Resist Watercolor Spider Web.”
For another homemade Christmas card, check out my blog post: “How to Make Christmas Tree Cards Using Paint Chips.” Happy Holidays!
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All activities here are activities I feel are safe for my own children. As your child’s parents/guardians, you will need to decide what you feel is safe for your family. I always encourage contacting your child’s pediatrician for guidance if you are not sure about the safety/age appropriateness of an activity. All activities on this blog are intended to be performed with adult supervision. Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when activities call for the use of materials that could potentially be harmful, such as scissors, or items that could present a choking risk (small items), or a drowning risk (water activities), and with introducing a new food/ingredient to a child (allergies). Observe caution and safety at all times. The author and blog disclaim liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in any of these activities on this blog.
