Since I wrote a tutorial for a Mother’s Day card, I thought it would be appropriate to do the same for Father’s Day. The Mother’s Day card design is a floral wreath and can be used for many different occasions, not just Mother's Day. Check it out here.
For Father’s Day I designed a couple of different cards that are specifically for Father’s Day. They can be modified though to suit another occasion by changing the lettering portion of each. The first card features tools and the second is a grill design.
First, let’s talk about the supplies as they are almost the same for both designs.
· 140 lb cold press watercolor paper or pre-made watercolor card
· Pencil
· Kneaded eraser
· Ink (only if using dip pen)
· Dip pen with nib or any waterproof ink pen (If not using dip pen, I like micron pens)
· Watercolor paints
· Brushes
· Water jar
· Paper towel
· Exacto knife (grill design only)
· Self-healing mat (grill design only)
If you choose to use watercolor paper to make your own card, you will need a pair of scissors to cut the paper to fit a 5x7 envelopes (approximately 5 inches x 6.875 inches). Also a bone folder is useful for making sharp creases for the fold of the card.
The first card I want to share with you has a tool design featuring watercolor and ink lettering. To get started, create a pencil draft. Be sure to draw lightly as we’ll be erasing the lines once the ink is applied.
No time to draw your own? No problem, here is a free printable to trace. Just complete the form and receive your FREE template!
Next, add ink lettering to the wrench. Any lettering style will work; I chose a combination of cursive vowels and block letter consonants. Be sure the ink is completely dry before moving onto the next step.
Before the applying the watercolor, erase the pencil lines on the wrench and use a kneaded eraser to lighten any dark pencil lines on the hammer. Once the paint is added, it’s impossible to remove the pencil lines, and given the transparent nature of watercolor, if the pencil lines are too dark, they will be visible through the paint layer. There are a couple of primary ways that I use a kneaded eraser, in case you’re not sure. The first is to shape it into a cylinder (similar to a tootsie roll) and then roll it over the pencil lines to lighten. Another way is to shape a portion of it into a skinny point to erase a tiny area.
Once the lines are lightened, add a drop of water to your chosen colors on your watercolor pallet. I use a dropper, but you can use a spray bottle, a syringe or even a drop from a drenched paint brush. You can use any mix of paints you want. For my card, I kept it super simple with only Payne’s Grey and Burnt Umber.
Watercolor is best applied in layers, so I paint a light layer of each color first. I used a #4 brush for the first layer and a #1 brush for the details. Allow the paint to completely dry between layers, otherwise details added later will not be crisp. Layer by layer, add dimension and details by applying paint to shadows and creases of the hammer.
Pair your creation with a colorful envelope and you’re ready for Father’s Day!
If you have a little more time, the second card I’m sharing is really fun. It is a grill design featuring ink lettering and watercolor with a cutout flame.
To begin, draw the design using light pencil lines.
Again, if you want to skip this step, here is a free printable of the image I designed. Just fill out the form below for the FREE template!
Once your design is ready, begin by tracing the grill and handles of the spatula and fork with ink. Allow to dry completely before moving onto the next step.
Next, cut out the flame shape using an exacto knife. Be sure to use a self-healing mat under the card so as to not damage your table.Once the flame has been cut out, it’s time to add some watercolor effects.
Erase pencil lines from the ink details. Use the kneaded eraser to lighten any pencil lines from the areas that are going to be painted. Add water to your paint pallet as in the first card. For the front of the card I used a little bit of black mixed with a generous amount of water to apply a grey shade. I always start with the lightest shade possible and then build up layers to increase the degree of color that I want. This way, you aren’t surprised by a color that is too dark. Allow layers to dry between applications, otherwise the paint will bleed into the previous layer and cause a blooming effect. This is a beautiful technique when painting flowers, but not so much for the look of stainless steel. When the painting on the front is complete, allow to dry thoroughly and move onto the interior of the card.
On the inside, I used primary red, Sennelier orange and primary yellow, but you can use any shade of red, orange and yellow that you prefer. Using a larger brush, apply a wash of these colors, beginning with the yellow. If you want the colors to mix, then do not allow each color to dry before applying the next. In this example I used a horizontal stroke, but I think it would look even better if the colors were applied vertically to imply the direction of the flames. The paint should be completely dry before writing over it.
Next, being careful not to write in the area the flame will be visible through the front, add the greeting message. I chose “To the King of the Grill” with some additional flames drawn in to bring it all together.
I wasn’t thrilled about the way the edges of the color wash looked, so I added a frame around it with the same paper. This is entirely optional. I used an exacto knife to cut out a rectangle to fit over the edges of the watercolor wash. Be sure that it does not show through the front flame cutout when you close the card. Also, cut the frame to be slightly smaller than half of the card to allow for the fold.
Finally, using a pencil, with the card closed, trace the flame lightly (these lines will be erased later, so the lighter the better). Open the card and draw an outline about an eighth of an inch outside of the pencil line in ink. This is to help the ink not show through the cutout when the card is closed. After adding the ink outline, gently erase the pencil lines. Be careful not to rub too hard or the eraser will begin to remove the watercolor layers.
With that, your card is finished and ready to sign!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that it will be helpful for you this Father’s Day! If you have a chance to complete this project, I’d love to see your work! Just send me a message or visit me on Facebook or Instagram and connect with me there!
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