Maia, Daphne, and I have all been creating many, many of these gorgeous starry night cards. Each card is unique and a surprise, which adds an extra element of fun (and lots of oohing and ahing). But the actual process is super quick and easy, which making this a great technique for making multiple cards.
We’ve been using them for Christmas cards, but you could also use them for post-holiday thank you cards, Happy New Year cards, or to make a set of blank greeting cards as a gift.
Or just one-of-a-kind art worthy of framing for the wall.
HOW TO MAKE STICKER RESIST STARRY NIGHT ART CARDS
MATERIALS
- Watercolor paper
, cut into smaller squares and rectangles, about 3×4″ each
- Small star stickers (the kind used for star charts)
- Liquid watercolor paint
(we used blue and turquoise)
- Salt
- Blank cards (we made our own)
- Glue stick
- Pen or marker
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Press star stickers to watercolor paper.
Step 2: Paint over watercolor paper and stickers with liquid watercolors.
Step 3: Sprinkle salt over wet watercolor paint. We used table salt, but you can use kosher salt or other larger salt crystals for varying effects.
See how the salt crystals begin drawing water (the wet watercolors) to them, creating a dappled effect? The magic is beginning!
Step 4: Let dry completely.
Step 5: Rub salt off with your fingers, then peel away the star stickers.
Note: The Avery star labels we used worked great (picture at left). The foil star stickers Daphne received in a birthday party goody bag (pictured at right) did not create the same sticker resist effect. They were silver on the bottom of the sticker, rather than white, and didn’t adhere strongly to the paper; the watercolor paint seeped under them. The stickers were still beautiful on the cards, though, so we just left though on.
Step 5: Glue the starry night art to the front of blank cards and press under a heavy book until dry.
Step 6: Add any embellishments desired with pen or marker. I made a border around the artwork and, for Daphne’s cards, added the artist’s name and date. Maia wrote Merry Christmas, etc, on the front of hers. And, of course, add your message on the inside.
We mailed some to friends and family…
And coupled some with treat plates for teachers, etc
