Looking for a great way to show your special someone how much you care this Valentine’s Day? Why not make your own watercolor Valentine’s Day card? With this tutorial, you will learn an easy and fun way to create a beautiful and unique watercolor card that is sure to express your appreciation for them.
Watch the Watercolor Valentines Day Card YouTube video here.
Materials Used:
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- 12×12 Scoring Board – EK Tools [Amazon]
- Fiskars Recycled Bypass Trimmer, 12 Inch [Amazon]
- Trim Slant Tip Tweezers [Amazon]
- Misti Stamp Tool Original Size Stamp Positioner [Amazon]
- Stamp Shammy – Lawn Fawn [Scrapbook.com] [Amazon]
- StazOn All-Purpose Stamp Cleaner – Tsukineko [Scrapbook.com] [Amazon]
- Ranger Archival Ink Pad, Jet Black [Scrapbook.com] [Amazon]
- Showered In Love Stamp Set – Penny Black [Scrapbook.com] [Amazon]
- Love In My Heart Stamp Set – Penny Black [Scrapbook.com] [Amazon]
- Essentials 20 Colors Cardstock Paper – Recollections [Amazon]
- Arches 140 lb. Hot Press Watercolor Pad [Blick] [Amazon]
- Scor-Pal Scor-Tape – 1/8″X27 Yards [Amazon]
- 1/2-Inch Forever In Time 3D Pop Dots Square Dual-Adhesive Foam Mount [Scrapbook.com] [Amazon]
- Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencil, Box of 36 Colors [Blick] [Amazon]
Colors Used: 212, 110, 168, 184, 180, 177 - ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape – 1.88-Inch by 60-Yard [Amazon]
- Size 8 Black Velvet Round Brush Silver Brush Limited 3000S8 [Amazon] [Blick]
Watercolor Valentine’s Day Card Tutorial:
Step 1. Choose Your Watercolor Supplies.
I got started making this watercolor Valentine’s Day card using my Albrecht Durer watercolor pencils from Faber Castell, as I found them to be an ideal tool for this project. The pencils allowed me to have control over the water and paint dispersal, making my creation process much more manageable.
I used two stamp sets from Penny Black, Love in My Heart and Showered with Love, which I stamped onto hot-pressed paper with archival ink. The hot-pressed paper provides a clean stamped impression, and the archival ink ensures that the image is waterproof.
Step 2. Stamp the Image You Want to Paint.
The centerpiece of my watercolor Valentine’s day card was a painting of two adorable little bears. I used my brush to apply the paint, starting by wetting the brush, then touching it to the tip of the pencil, and finally, using it to paint on the paper. This method allowed me to blend the colors more easily and have more control over the paint’s application. I also took care to add a little bit of water to the paper before applying the paint, being mindful that hot-pressed paper is not made to hold a lot of water.
As I painted the bears, I tried to think of the direction of my light source, imagining where the bears would be most lit up. This helped me to make decisions about where to apply heavier or lighter coats of watercolor paint, creating a more three-dimensional look. I even mixed two colors together for the second bear to achieve a darker tone while still maintaining color harmony with the first bear.
Step 3. Apply the Watercolor Painting to Your Card Base and Add a Sentiment.
Once my painting was dry, I stamped the bear image once more, to make the lines look cleaner. I then secured the painting to a pink card base using scor-tape, and added a sentiment on a small mint banner that read “Life is better when we’re together”.
Overall, I found the process of creating this watercolor Valentine’s Day card to be both fun and simple. I’m so happy with the final result. I hope that this tutorial inspired you to try your hand at making your own special watercolor card. If you’re looking for more Valentine’s Day card tutorials, I’ve made a really fun shaker card. Check it out here! And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, or Pinterest for the latest updates! You can also shop all of the handmade cards that I’ve designed here.