Pieced Paper Cards

As a kid, I was often granted the opportunity to make cards for loved ones and friends. I took the job very seriously, designing and making custom cards with the receiver in mind.

With Valentine’s Day looming and cabin fever setting in, making homemade cards is a great way to be creative while demonstrating your appreciation for loved ones.

There is no wrong way to make a card, but for those wanting to try a method other than drawing, Pieced Painted Paper is a lot of fun and a little messy.

Begin by folding a piece of watercolor paper or thick paper like cardstock, in half.

Then, if you wish, you can color the background with a crayon and paint over it with watercolor. This method of painting over a crayon or oil pastel adds texture to your background, which in the case of this card is outer space.

Have fun painting scraps of paper in all sorts of colors. Let your paint bleed into each other. You may want to reprise the crayon method here, too, for added texture.

Once the paper has dried, cut it into shapes to be glued down.

Here you can be as abstract or figurative as you desire. Again there is no wrong way.

After gluing your cut pieces of paper into your desired composition, paint a protective coating over the entire card. I like an acrylic gloss medium, but a modpodge would work too.

Finally, when all has dried, write your love note inside and send it away!!! Nice work!