Watercolor + Letterpress Christmas Cards
For our Christmas cards this year I did a letterpress and watercolor combo. I did a big watercolor wash across each paper and envelope by hand so each one is different. I used two different reds on the same brush to create an ombre effect. Then each sheet was letterpressed on my Vandercook letterpress using a silver metallic ink. They were then cut down, folded, and finally I mounted a family photo (we took in our back yard) on each one.
LOVE these! Did you use lega- sized paper?
ReplyDeleteI cut down the parent sheets of paper in to quarters and then printed and cut them down.
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteabsolutely stunning.
ReplyDeleteThose are absolutely beautiful. What lucky family and friends to receive such a beautiful card in the mail.
ReplyDeleteWOW!!
ReplyDeleteThese turned out BEAUTIFULLY!! I love how it's folded in three, and the water colour is so special and unique.
Well done!!
A.Co @ A.Co est. 1984
What a work of art & those are truly beautiful. If I were to receive one of those cards I would save that one for years and years.
ReplyDeletebeautiful! i unsuccessfully watercolor washed my christmas cards this year, they just ended up wrinkly :( whats your secret?
ReplyDeleteAwesome. Just Awesome!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. Really beautiful! I would love to make homemade cards, but there is no way I could have done 75 of these (which is the number of christmas cards I had to send out this year). Please tell me you didn't have so many?!? You are a rockstar if you did!
ReplyDelete@Tasha I sent out 75 but it really didn't take that long. The whole project took about 5 hours over the span of a week. To design, watercolor, print and cut.
ReplyDeleteCan you get any cooler? You and the fam look so great! What an awesome, personal Christmas card.
ReplyDeleteAmazing.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea and lovely cards! Wish I knew you in person so I could receive one! :)
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS!
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful. Tasteful and restrained--true classics with a modern edge. (That's a fancy way to say I LOVE them.)
ReplyDeleteTruly fantastic! You've inspired me for next year.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous! The ombre is so subtly Christmas-y!
ReplyDeleteThese are so beautiful,-- gorgeous!
ReplyDeletegorgeous. :)
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing! You should sell some personalized ones in your store! (Of course once you get settled in Paris!)
ReplyDeletelove these!
ReplyDeleteI too am wondering how you do these without warping the paper?
ReplyDeleteI used to be a painter and only managed it with taping down the page until it was dry, but sometimes it's not practical, so I'm wondering if you have a different method - or if you just use amazingly awesome paper and magic. ♥
so beautiful!
ReplyDeletethis is the best idea ever!! super beautiful. what kind of watercolors do you use? I love these so much!
ReplyDeletewww.sanfranciscomysong.com
Lovely.... I esp like that everone is different....
ReplyDeletexxx
ceo
beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous. You are so very talented.
ReplyDeletelove these. simple and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteso beautiful! even prettier in person :)
ReplyDeleteThey turned out beautifully! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteLOVE them! I also love the picture - where do you print your pictures that size with a border?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Fabulous cards... they look perfect! What a treat to receive in the mail too!
ReplyDeleteThis idea is just lovely...and so wonderfully personal! It's always a treat visiting your blog and seeing artistry applied with such love.
ReplyDeleteOurs came in the mail today. We LOVE it. -- M & R
ReplyDeleteah they are really beautiful!
ReplyDeletegorgeous! i'm so happy you shared them. i was curious to see.
ReplyDeletemerry christmas!
These are incredibly beautiful. You are so talented and always come up with unique & amazing ideas. So inspiring. Thanks for sharing all of the details.
ReplyDeleteThese would be one of those cards that I keep on my fridge for a few years. Awesome.
ReplyDeletejust great! and that family picture is gorgeous! merry christmas :)
ReplyDeleteWow, these are so so gorgeous. I love the watercolor.
ReplyDeleteAlso Moses' birthday bash was the best. I love the simplicity.
Theya re so amazing!
ReplyDeleteYou're friends are lucky lucky people to receive one of those!!
liked this content/ article. I would certainly recommend the same to others as well. from: http://www.picturebite.com
ReplyDeleteI'm sad I didn't do cards this year. These are way to cute.
ReplyDeletelove this! i still have to do my cards, and am wishing it was earlier in the month to do a bit of a switch-a-roo... (i'm thinking of saving my plates to next year, and then maybe add a story like you did- hunh!)
ReplyDeleteto die for.
ReplyDeletethese are absolutely gorgeous. jaw droppingly gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteIt's so lovely! I waiting till the last minute with our card this year, I'm sad I wasn't more creative. :(
ReplyDeleteYou just put my cards to shame. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteps. my word veridication is glodds... what?!
these are stunning! Next year we are definitely sending cards and i hope they will look even a tiny bit as fabulous!
ReplyDeleteperfect.
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful Jordan!
ReplyDeletei love this idea! have a nice sunday!
ReplyDeletewe loved your card. and your beautiful family.
ReplyDeletethese are so amazing and creative! i am officially a new fan! :)
ReplyDeletethese cards are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness I absolutely LOVE these. You are so talented!
ReplyDeleteI adore letterpress! Do you have your very own press? If so, where do you keep it? Do you use movable type or have plates made? (I am new to your blog via DesignMom...) I have taken a couple classes and would love to land a press in my basement. As it is I hire out. just did my third letterpress birth announcement (www.AestheticNest.com) but I would love to od my own. Gorgeous gorgeous card! I was thinking next year I want to do somethign more hand made and attach a photo rather than the ubiquitous photo card. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing more people using watercolors! So beautiful, Jordan.
ReplyDeleteThese are so gorgeous! I do my Christmas cards by hand, too, so I love finding new inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI was googling this effect and came across your blog. What kind of paper did you use? I have some leftover Lettra...do you think that would work with watercolors?
ReplyDeleteThank you! Beautiful stuff!