How to Stay Connected to Your Art During the Busy Holiday Season (Creating Custom Holiday Cards!)

Feeling pulled between your art and holiday obligations? This simple card-making technique lets you do both. Create custom holiday cards by making art freely on card stock, then choosing which pieces remind you of specific people. It’s a twofer that keeps you creating while crossing gifts off your list. All you need is card stock, your usual art supplies, and crop marks to section out your favorite parts.

___________________________________________________

 

The Holiday Artist’s Dilemma

Have you been feeling too busy for your art this holiday season?

I get it. There are gifts to think about, cards to send, gatherings to attend. And meanwhile, your art is sitting there waiting.

Sometimes, it can feel like you have to choose between your creative practice and showing up for the people you love.

But what if you didn’t have to?

 

 

A Childhood Discovery

I actually discovered a solution to this when I was a kid.

I used to love being outside in our backyard, playing, creating, and lying in the grass watching dragonflies. I still love dragonflies. That watery pond area in our backyard was my favorite place.

But during the holidays, I was always being called in for chores and all the things. One of those things was making Christmas presents for everyone in my family.

Here’s what I figured out. I could make my presents based on what I loved doing anyway.

I remember this one watercolor I made of a dragonfly for my mom. It was this whole watercolor thing. It was so cool. And it was such a win because I was actually staying connected to what I love doing while I could be thinking of my mom and what she would enjoy.

It served both purposes. It was kind of like a twofer.

The Modern Version

I’m still doing this today. It’s a little different now, but the principle is exactly the same.

I make holiday cards. But here’s the key part. I don’t have any idea who each card is going to be for when I start.

 

How It Works

I have a loose sense of my people, but I like to just kind of leave it open.

I will just create something fun. This is fun for me. I’m just playing around. I might do a couple of these things on card stock, big enough paper, whatever feels right.

And then here’s where it gets interesting.

The Process

I take crop marks and start marking out sections. This is where you kind of have to plan it a little bit.

I’ll look at what I’ve created and ask myself questions like:

• Would this fit my sister?
• Is this more like my niece?
• What can I do with this section?

And it depends on what I find in the art I’ve made. What is this card? Who is this card going to be for?

I love this part because now I’m thinking about who would this match?

Creating the Final Cards

Then I have two options:

Option 1: Fold the whole thing
Cut it out larger, make sure I can fold it, and then trim it off. Now I have this really cool card with art on both sides.

Option 2: Mount a section
Take a square or rectangular section and glue it onto another piece of paper. Fold it. Then trim it all so it’s perfect.

 

What Happens After the First Glaze

Once this thing dries, I think of it as an underlayer.

I’m just starting here. I haven’t even really started working yet.

This brings it together. It reduces the value contrast. It makes the colors relate more.

And now I’m going to be thinking about my choices and decisions a little differently. Slightly more picky, a little bit more discernment. But not too much.

I will glaze several times when I’m working. Sometimes just parts. I make a lot of this glaze mixture and just keep using it at each stage. It gets more refined and more refined.

 

Why This Works

This is such a cool thing because you end up making a card and it’s so fun to make it, but then you’re thinking about the person that you want to share with, that you want to write a note to.

And it’s custom. You know, this reminds me of somebody. Maybe it’s more like this person. You get to kind of figure it out.

So you’re doing both. It’s again, it’s a twofer. You’re thinking about who you want to give a gift to, a card to, and you’re doing your art.

 

The Bigger Picture

This approach works because you’re not choosing between your art and your life. They can work together.

Your art doesn’t have to be this separate thing that you only get to when everything else is done. It can be woven into your life, into your relationships, into the way you show up for the people you love.

The holidays can actually become a catalyst for more art, not less.

Materials You’ll Need

• Card stock (any size that works for you)
• Your usual art supplies (paints, markers, collage materials, whatever you love)
• Crop marks or a ruler for sectioning
• Sharp scissors or a paper cutter for clean edges
• Additional card stock if you want to mount sections
• Glue stick or adhesive for mounting

Tips for Success

Start without expectations. Don’t think about who needs a card. Just make art that feels good to you.

Work larger than you need. This gives you more options when you start looking for sections that work.

Look for personality matches. Does this remind you of someone? Does this color palette feel like your niece? Does this energy match your friend?

Don’t overthink it. The best matches often come intuitively.

Make extras. You never know when you’ll need another card, and having a stash feels amazing.

Your Turn

I hope this card-making approach helps you stay connected to your art and everyone you love this holiday season.

The beauty of this technique is that it’s entirely flexible. You can use any medium, any style, any subject matter. The only requirement is that you’re making something you genuinely enjoy creating.

And maybe, just maybe, this holiday season doesn’t have to be about choosing between your art and your life after all.

What’s your favorite way to stay connected to your art during busy times? Share in the comments below.

I hope you get out and make some art today.