Paint-Your-Own Watercolor Christmas Cards (Free 5x7 Printable Set!)
Every Christmas season, I find myself reaching for my watercolor palette as a way to slow down and savor the quieter moments of the holidays. I love the peaceful, unhurried feeling that comes with brushing soft color onto paper. But I’ve also learned something about myself:
I love watercoloring most when I’m simply present in the moment—not rushing through calligraphy or detailed sketching unless I truly feel like it.
If sketching out your own cards or practicing calligraphy brings you joy, that is a wonderful and meaningful part of the creative process. But for those days when you want to skip straight to the painting—without losing any of the handmade charm—I created something special to share with you.
This year, I designed a set of six lightly sketched 5x7 watercolor Christmas cards you can print at home and paint at your own pace. They’re simple, gentle outlines—just enough to guide you, while still leaving room for your own creative touches. And because I want this project to be a moment of calm for you, I’m offering the whole set as a freebie here at StoryWood Press.
A Quiet, Creative Tradition
One of the sweetest parts of making these cards has been painting them with my son.
He’s 10, and he approaches art with such creativity and joy. We’ve both enjoyed sitting together, letting the colors blend, and just creating for the sake of creating for people we love. There’s no rush, no pressure—just a cozy shared activity that helps us slow down and enjoy this season.
I’ll share a few of our finished cards below so you can see how they turn out. Each one looks a little different, and that’s part of what makes them special.
Printing Notes for a Smooth Painting Experience
These card templates are formatted at 5x7, a lovely size that works beautifully with watercolor paper or mixed-media paper.
A few helpful tips:
If you enjoy using 5x7 watercolor notecards, these sketches are ready for that exact size.
But if you don’t have 5x7 sheets, you can simply cut down what you have and adjust your printer settings.
I tried this with my Epson color printer, and it worked very well.The sketch lines are intentionally light so they fade gently into the background once painted.
Use whatever supplies make the process enjoyable for you. I’ll link the watercolor cards I used, along with brushes and paints, in case they’re helpful.
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These lightly drawn cards are meant to support a calm, creative moment—something you can enjoy slowly, whether alone or alongside a child or friend.
I hope these little sketches bring a sense of peace and creativity to your holiday season. And if you paint them, I would love to see what you make.
Warmly,
Kari at StoryWood Press