Watercolor Greeting Cards

It's always nice to remind the people in your life that you love them. Even though you may not be able to be there for them in person with all that is going on, there are still things you can do to remind them you care.

One way you can remind your loved ones you are thinking of them is by crafting them homemade cards.

All you need is:

• Paper (This could be folded printer paper, card stock or whatever you have laying around; I used mixed media paper)

• Watercolors

• A cup of water (to clean your paintbrush)

• A paper towel (to dry your paintbrush)

• Envelopes

• Stamps (The USPS website has an online stamp store so there's no need to go pick these up in person!)

First off, you should fold your paper into the desired shape for your envelope size. For me, I used mixed media paper that is 5.5 by 8.5 inches so I simply folded it in half. If you are using printer paper, you can fold it into fourths for a great card size. Once this is finished you should figure out which way you want to have the recipient open the card.

It is always nice to have someone in mind before beginning your artwork that way you can make it more special for them. For example if my friend loved pink flowers I might want to paint those on the cover of her card. It's just one more way to show her you are thinking about her. If my Dad loved the ocean, which he does, I might want to paint that on the cover.

Before starting to paint, it is always a nice idea to search your surroundings for inspiration. This is the main reason I like to take my art supplies outside. I find the trees, plants and flowers around me create a calm environment for painting.

If you are using watercolors like me, don't forget to bring your cup of water and your paper towel to clean your paintbrush. After you have decorated the front of your card it will need to dry for about a half an hour.

Once the cover of your card has dried, you can write a nice note inside. It is sweet to let your loved ones know why you painted what you did, and what you were inspired by. This adds a nice touch. You should also let them know you have been thinking about them and what you have been up to.

After you have written in the card, take the envelope and put the recipient's address on the cover. You should also put your address in the upper lefthand corner of the envelope just in case they feel like writing you back!

Once the envelope is addressed, put your stamp on the upper righthand corner. This is a great opportunity to support the United States Postal Service and get creative with your stamps! The USPS Website has a ton of stamps to choose from and they all ship right to you! For mine, I ordered Scooby Doo stamps and then was gifted some awesome Earth Day stamps as well.

After your envelope is sealed with a stamp and an address it is ready to go! But if you would like to decorate the envelope with hearts or a sweet message this will add a nice touch. I always gravitate towards the more exciting looking mail myself!

After you have added all of your finishing touches, your letter is ready to go! Pop it in the mail box and you are done. I hope you enjoyed making these and that they will bring you are your loved ones closer together!