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Want to create stunning hand lettered Christmas cards for those you love this holiday season? This beginner-friendly watercolor tutorial shows you how to make beautiful cards featuring painted ornaments and beautiful hand lettering.

Using simple supplies like lids, cookie cutters, and a few markers, you can create professional-looking cards that stand out from anything store-bought. So grab your lettering pens and let’s get to it!

Supply List for Hand Lettered Christmas Cards

If you want to work alongside me using the same exact template, you can purchase yours here! This lettering template is ready for immediate download and can be printed instantly. 

The rest of the supplies I used can be found on my Amazon storefront, or at your local craft store!

Paper & Tools:

• Watercolor paper (Walmart, ~$5)
• Paper cutter (optional)
• Embossing tool for scoring
• Washi tape

Paint Supplies:

• Acrylic paint in Christmas colors
• Water brush pens or regular paintbrushes
• Small dish for mixing
• Water cup

Lettering Tools:

• Tombow Fudenosuke Hard Tip brush pen
• Micron pens (Point .03 fine-tip)
• Pentel Sparkle Pop gold glitter pen
• White gel pen
• Pencil and eraser

For Ornament Shapes:

• Various lids (baby jar lids, container lids)
• Cookie cutters
• Graphite transfer paper (gray, not black)

Step #1: Prepare Your Card Base

1. Take watercolor paper and fold it in half to find the center
2. Use an embossing tool to score the fold line (creates a clean, even crease)
3. Line up with the paper cutter and cut
4. Work on the textured side of the paper

Why score? Watercolor paper is thick and will fold jaggedly without it!

Step #2: Transfer Your Lettering Template

1. Fold the template in half to match the card size
2. Position and tape the template onto the card
3. Place graphite paper between the template and the card (shiny side down)
4. Trace over lettering with pencil, pressing firmly
5. Remove template and check transfer

Sometimes, new sheets of graphite paper can leave behind a bit of runoff/residue. To avoid this, I always use the gray graphite paper from Hobby Lobby. Still works effectively, but with less smudging!

Step #3: Create the Watercolor Ornaments

First, we’ll prepare the paint mixture so that our acrylic paint becomes more watercolor-like.

1. Squeeze a small amount of acrylic paint onto the palette
2. Add water to thin (not too watery)
3. Let sit to absorb

Next, you’ll paint the border of each ornament:

1. Choose different-sized lids for variety
2. Dip the rim of lid in thinned paint
3. Stamp onto card where you want ornaments
4. Repeat with different colors at varying heights

For filling the inside of each ornament with color: 

1. Use water brush to paint inside each circle
2. Make edges slightly darker for dimension
3. Paint in circular direction following the curve
4. Blend while wet to smooth streaks

If you want, you can also use cookie cutters instead of lids for different shapes!

Step #4: Add the Hand Lettering

This project use a faux-calligraphy technique. It gives beautiful, thick-and-thin lettering without perfect brush pen control. Here’s how to do it:

1. Write letters with consistent line weight, going over what you traced in step 2 with your lettering pen
2. Go back and thicken all downstrokes (anywhere pen moves down)
3. Make sure you keep the upstrokes thin
4. Work slowly – rushing causes mistakes
5. When you’re done, go over curves again to smooth any wobbly lines

One thing to keep in mind — expect a little bit of unevenness. Watercolor paper texture creates slightly bumpy lines – this is normal and adds handmade charm!

Step #5: Add Details and Embellishments

Ornament Tops:

1. Use gold Pentel Sparkle Pop pen
2. Draw small cap at top of each ornament
3. Add circular piece above it for extra flair

Outline Ornaments:

1. Use fine-tip Micron pen
2. Outline each ornament 2-3 times loosely
3. Don’t stay perfectly on line – let it be organic
4. This creates whimsical, hand-drawn look
5. You can also draw on a bow for an extra cute touch!

FAQs About Hand Lettering Christmas Cards

Q: Do I need perfect handwriting to make hand-lettered Christmas cards?

A: No! Hand lettering is different from handwriting. Using templates and faux calligraphy technique, anyone can create beautiful lettering. Practice matters more than natural talent.

Q: Can I use regular watercolors instead of acrylic paint?

A: Yes! You can use watercolor paints, water-based markers (like Tombow Dual Brush Pens), or watered-down acrylic paint. All three methods work beautifully.

Q: What if I mess up a letter while hand lettering?

A: If it’s pencil, erase and retry. If it’s pen and one letter is too thick, make all other letters match that thickness so it looks intentional. Major mistakes? Start fresh – it’s part of the creative process!

More Hand Lettering Fun Inside the Template Library

Creating hand lettered Christmas cards is more than craft – it’s showing people they matter. These watercolor ornament cards are beginner-friendly, affordable, customizable, and create cards people will treasure.

Gather your supplies, put on Christmas music, and create something beautiful!

Want more hand-lettering templates to use on your cards? We’ve got hundreds waiting for you inside the Template Library! Follow me here to learn all the details and how to get a subscription.