Floral Doodle Greeting Card
- Simply Jelly Jam
- Jun 2
- 4 min read
In honor of Random Acts of Cardness Day celebrated on June 5th.
In honor of Random Acts of Cardness Day celebrated on June 5th, I handmade a watercolor floral doodle greeting card!
In case it's helpful, below are the main points covered in this post:
Supplies and Stuff
These are the items I used to create my greeting card:
Paper cutter
Score tool
Scissors
Cardstock paper
Watercolor paper
Archival ink pens
Watercolor paints
Waterbrush/paintbrush
Clear sentiment stamps ("hello" and "thinking of you")
Clear acrylic stamp block
Archival black stamp ink
Double-sided permanent tape
Measure, Cut, Score
I used a sheet of light blue cardstock paper to make an A2 sized greeting card base. I cut it down to 8-1/2 inches by 5-1/2 inches and scored down the center at 4-1/4 inch.
I cut watercolor paper to make two 5-1/4 inches by 4 inches pieces. This size allowed for the light blue card base to act as a border for the watercolor pieces. One piece was used for the card front while the other was used for the inside.
I also cut a scrap piece of paper smaller than the cut watercolor pieces. I did not measure when I initially cut it, but it is approximately 3 inches by 4-/14 inches. The scrap piece served as a rectangular template for the card front design. I later cut this scrap piece to a smaller size as a template for the inside design.
Card Front Design
Once I decided where I wanted my rectangle (rectangular scrap paper) placed, I chose a spot for a "hello" sentiment. The bottom-right corner of the watercolor piece seemed fitting for what I wanted to design.
Unfortunately, the stamp ink did not completely transfer onto the thick, textured watercolor paper. I traced the inked sentiment with an archival ink pen. Doing so made the text pop against the white paper.
I used the same pen to trace the scrap piece of paper to draw a rectangle. No, I did not need the template, but I wanted to avoid a super wonky shaped rectangle that I know I am capable of drawing.
I added wavy lines around the rectangle to give a doodled look. This matched the doodled flowers I made next.
If you are unsure of how to draw flowers, I recommend doing an image or video search for "doodle flowers." I chose to keep the flowers simple using curvy lines.
I used a wet-on-wet technique for adding watercolor paint to my design. First, I saturated the paper within the rectangle. I then added a light blue background color to match the card base.
While everything was still wet, I painted the leaves green, flowers pink and added a touch of yellow. The colors bled into the background color, but it did not bother me at all. I stuck with a limited color palette for simplicity’s sake.
I set the card front design aside and worked on the inside design.
Inside Design
I stamped a "thinking of you" sentiment towards the top-left corner of the second watercolor piece. The ink transferred well, but I still traced it with an archival ink pen for a bolder look.
I cut the scrap piece of paper into a much smaller rectangle. I did not measure the cut, but it is small enough to leave plenty of empty space for a handwritten note.
The steps for drawing the rectangle and design within that shape are identical to the steps I used for the card front. I doodled the shape and flowers. I used a wet-on-wet technique for adding watercolor paint to my design.
I set the inside design aside and let it dry.
Flattening the Designs
Once the two watercolor pieces were mostly dried, I placed a stack of heavy books on top of them. By doing so, the weight of the books flattened the pieces and prevented page warping that sometimes happens with oversaturated watercolor paper.
I left the pieces alone for a few hours.
Adhering the Pieces Together
I used permanent double-sided tape to adhere the designs to the card base. Other tapes or glues would work, but I prefer the cleanliness and strength of the tape I used.
I made sure the designs were mostly centered on the front and inside of the card. I did not use a ruler for precise placement. Personally, I am too lazy to attempt perfection.
What's Next?
Whether you make your own greeting card, buy one from a store, or recycle one you received and kept for whatever reason, consider participating in Random Acts of Cardness Day! Send a random card to let someone know that you are thinking of them.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
~Simply Jelly Jam
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