a new challenge: design a Christmas Card


old Christmas card design, Vivien Blackburn

Christmas Card Challenge

I thought it might be time for a new challenge?

Do you design your own Christmas cards? or fancy doing it for the first time? If so, please post a link to your design in the comments as you design them, and I'll do a round up of your designs and a link to your blog at the beginning of December :>) - you've got lots of time.

I usually design a card for me to print out each year but also do separate hand made ones for painting friends and family.

There is something special about cards from friends who have created their own.

Tips and ideas:

160gsm card will go through most printers and is strong enough to stand up.

Collage is great for personalised cards as it's quick and the simplicity can have a real impact and a contemporary edge.

Watercolour paper is of course perfect for those wanting to use w'col.

Doodle ideas in a sketchbook or scraps of paper and then work out the best and simplest ways of expressing them.

Do you want a religious theme? a non-religious but seasonal theme? Cold weather scene? Cartoon? warm by the fire cosiness? glitter and shine? contemporary/abstract? realist scene? Impressionist snowy landscapes? Photographs? cute? edgy? more gravitas?


Photoshop or other graphics programmes are great to play about with images and text for printed cards. You can design a card totally within the computer or scan/photograph elements to combine and play with creatively - no limits :>)


With cards any and every medium can be used, no worries about archival quality :>)

For collage collect scraps of gorgeous hand made papers, tissue, fabric, metallic shiny papers, sweetie wrappers - and hand painted papers (much more interesting than colours cut from magazines) - then play!



links to some of the cards I've previously shown:

Digital image

Collage cards

Are you going to join in ?

update:

see the comments - ideas are rolling in already :>)

and check out the paper folding ideas on the youtube links on Gesa's blog they look as though they'd be fun to play with

Comments

Julie Dunion said…
This sounds like brilliant fun. Will definitely have a go. :-)
4:16 pm
Unknown said…
Hi Vivien, as one who often uses images for greeting cards I am quite practiced at this one. A couple more tips, you can buy high gloss printable greeting cards at Rymans stationers and they (as well as many other places) also sell plain greetings cards. That way you can simply print your image on gloss paper and matt them onto a nice blank card.
Chrissy
7:58 pm
Maree Clarkson said…
I'm going to join you on this one Vivien! I do my own personal Xmas Cards every year and have actually already started some for this year. Hope to see some lovely inspirational work in this one!

Regards
8:29 pm
Maree Clarkson said…
This is an exciting challenge Vivien! Will certainly e joining in.
9:48 am
Maree Clarkson said…
Hi Vivien, here's my link for the Christmas Card Challenge : http://artandcreativity-maree.blogspot.com/2009/10/free-xmas-card.html
9:50 am
Jeanette Jobson said…
I like the concept and have meant to do my own cards for years, but never get around to it except for a couple for family.

No promises, but I will try to get something done. I have a few ideas floating around my head.
2:16 pm
vivien said…
Good - some interest :>) I look forward seeing what you each do :>)

Good ideas Chrissy
6:08 pm
Sydney Harper said…
I keep saying I'm going to make my Christmas cards but I've only made one or two. Things should be calmer for me going forward so I'll try.
3:50 am
Jeanette Jobson said…
Here's a card - done almost accidentally as it wasn't planned. One idea led to another and voila!

http://illustratedlife.blogspot.com/2009/11/merry-christmas-hares-finished.html
1:17 am
Billie Crain said…
Vivien, here's my offering for the Xmas card challenge. Hope you like it.:)

http://artbycrain.blogspot.com/2009/12/snowflake-fliesxmas-card.html
7:09 pm
vivien said…
absolutely wonderful Billie! a great concept! :>)

and love the hares too Jeanette - beautifully done :>)

I'll do the round up nearer Christmas so people please keep adding
9:05 pm
Billie Crain said…
I popped out another card, Vivien:)

http://artbycrain.blogspot.com/2009/12/crabby-cat-christmas.html
9:18 pm
Gesa said…
Vivien, I read this post a long time ago and it pushed me towards doing this one:

http://gesah-study.blogspot.com/2009/12/larchwood-card.html

- which was a very enjoyable process, so: many thanks for the inspiration!

All the best!
Gesa
8:29 pm
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