Turn Your Painting into a
Personalized Holiday Card
-by Ann Tucker
It is fairly easy and not too expensive to make your own holiday greeting cards. I used special printer cards I found in my local office supply store. They cost about US$10 for 50 cards. Add in the cost of a new printer cartridge if you print a lot. It is still less than most store-bought greeting cards and it has your artwork on it. Make this for everyone on your mailing list or just a few special people. They will be delighted to receive your card.
Here’s how to turn your painting into a card:
1. Take a photo of the artwork.
2A. If you have photo editing software, crop your photo to the image you want to use.
2B. If you do not have special photo editing software, your PC comes with a very basic one called “Paint”.
To find Paint, go to the toolbar at the bottom of your screen, you should see Accessories. Paint is in there. If you have a lot of programs on your computer, you may have to go through Programs or All Programs before finding Accessories.
Open Paint. Then open the photo. Pick the select tool (the dashed rectangle) and put a rectangle around the image ( see graphic below) you want to use on the front of your card.
3. Next, decide what kind of card stock you would like to use. I like a finished card that is 4.5x5.5”. This allows me to print 2 cards on an 8.5x11” sheet. I use Avery #3379 which I found at my local office supply superstore. This makes a nice heavyweight, textured card. If you cannot find any pre-made card stock, use a slightly heavier than normal computer paper. The office supply store sells envelopes in the size of a half-sheet of paper and a quarter sheet of paper. So you should be able to find envelopes to match the cards you make. What is nice about the Avery cards I used, is that they come with matching envelopes.
4. Often note card manufacturers have templates on their website. If you use the Avery cards I use, go to Avery.com and follow the links under software and Blank Template Library to cards, then note cards. Save to your computer.
5. Place your image in the correct area of the template. (I am printing 2 cards per sheet.)
The right side is the card front and the left side is the card back. On the back, I put information about the painting.
6. Print 1 (ONE) sheet to test the line up of the image. And that you put the paper in the correct way.
Once you are happy with the way it turned out, print away!
I sent this card out last year. Many of the family and friends who received this card sent me a note that they enjoyed it. So share your artwork with family and friends this holiday season.
Get out your oil pastels and make a painting to put on your cards you send this year.
Happy Holidays!