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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.





  1. Courtney at Scattering Lupines

    December 16, 2010

    LOVE these! Did you use lega- sized paper?

  2. jordan

    December 16, 2010

    I cut down the parent sheets of paper in to quarters and then printed and cut them down.

  3. Ashley

    December 16, 2010

    These are gorgeous!

  4. Jenna Robert

    December 16, 2010

    Beautiful!

  5. Kimberlee

    December 16, 2010

    absolutely stunning.

  6. a. harms

    December 16, 2010

    Those are absolutely beautiful. What lucky family and friends to receive such a beautiful card in the mail.

  7. A.Co

    December 16, 2010

    WOW!!

    These 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

  8. Full House

    December 16, 2010

    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.

  9. prac, schmac

    December 16, 2010

    beautiful! i unsuccessfully watercolor washed my christmas cards this year, they just ended up wrinkly 🙁 whats your secret?

  10. Sealicious

    December 16, 2010

    Awesome. Just Awesome!

  11. Tasha

    December 16, 2010

    Gorgeous. 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!

  12. jordan

    December 16, 2010

    @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.

  13. Happenstance

    December 16, 2010

    Can you get any cooler? You and the fam look so great! What an awesome, personal Christmas card.

  14. Amy

    December 16, 2010

    Amazing.

  15. Molly W.

    December 16, 2010

    Great idea and lovely cards! Wish I knew you in person so I could receive one! 🙂

  16. kh

    December 16, 2010

    GORGEOUS!

  17. Jules

    December 16, 2010

    They are beautiful. Tasteful and restrained–true classics with a modern edge. (That's a fancy way to say I LOVE them.)

  18. Madhavi

    December 16, 2010

    Truly fantastic! You've inspired me for next year.

  19. Kyla

    December 16, 2010

    Absolutely gorgeous! The ombre is so subtly Christmas-y!

  20. kalanicut

    December 16, 2010

    These are so beautiful,– gorgeous!

  21. Diana Hulme

    December 16, 2010

    gorgeous. 🙂

  22. Sarah Bradley

    December 16, 2010

    These are amazing! You should sell some personalized ones in your store! (Of course once you get settled in Paris!)

  23. chelsea

    December 16, 2010

    love these!

  24. April

    December 16, 2010

    I too am wondering how you do these without warping the paper?

    I 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. ♥

  25. Notes from Holly St.

    December 16, 2010

    so beautiful!

  26. Kattia

    December 16, 2010

    this is the best idea ever!! super beautiful. what kind of watercolors do you use? I love these so much!
    http://www.sanfranciscomysong.com

  27. ceo

    December 16, 2010

    Lovely…. I esp like that everone is different….

    xxx
    ceo

  28. Gretchen

    December 16, 2010

    beautiful!!!

  29. kathy

    December 16, 2010

    These are gorgeous. You are so very talented.

  30. julia

    December 16, 2010

    love these. simple and beautiful.

  31. Liz Stanley

    December 16, 2010

    so beautiful! even prettier in person 🙂

  32. Mackenzie {Design Darling}

    December 16, 2010

    They turned out beautifully! Bravo!

  33. nicole z.

    December 16, 2010

    LOVE them! I also love the picture – where do you print your pictures that size with a border?

    Thanks!

  34. Caroline

    December 16, 2010

    Fabulous cards… they look perfect! What a treat to receive in the mail too!

  35. Lissa (The Wedding Bistro at Bellenza)

    December 16, 2010

    This idea is just lovely…and so wonderfully personal! It's always a treat visiting your blog and seeing artistry applied with such love.

  36. Anonymous

    December 16, 2010

    Ours came in the mail today. We LOVE it. — M & R

  37. iheartmesa

    December 16, 2010

    ah they are really beautiful!

  38. Michelle

    December 16, 2010

    gorgeous! i'm so happy you shared them. i was curious to see.

    merry christmas!

  39. Jill

    December 16, 2010

    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.

  40. You Are My Fave

    December 16, 2010

    These would be one of those cards that I keep on my fridge for a few years. Awesome.

  41. Patricia

    December 16, 2010

    just great! and that family picture is gorgeous! merry christmas 🙂

  42. swell.life

    December 16, 2010

    Wow, these are so so gorgeous. I love the watercolor.

    Also Moses' birthday bash was the best. I love the simplicity.

  43. Sally

    December 17, 2010

    Theya re so amazing!

    You're friends are lucky lucky people to receive one of those!!

  44. picture

    December 17, 2010

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  45. picture

    December 17, 2010

    liked this content/ article. I would certainly recommend the same to others as well. from: http://www.picturebite.com

  46. Grace

    December 17, 2010

    I'm sad I didn't do cards this year. These are way to cute.

  47. kristin

    December 17, 2010

    love 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!)

  48. MaeMae Paperie

    December 18, 2010

    to die for.

  49. Miss B.

    December 18, 2010

    these are absolutely gorgeous. jaw droppingly gorgeous!

  50. Becka @ LAAA

    December 18, 2010

    It's so lovely! I waiting till the last minute with our card this year, I'm sad I wasn't more creative. 🙁

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