Gelatin Printed Snowflake Cards: An Easy Holiday Card Tutorial

I have always lived in the Northeast, so Christmas and winter are inextricably linked to snowflakes for me. These gelatin printed snowflake cards combine one of my favorite printmaking techniques with a very simple paper mask to create handmade holiday cards that are easy to make and no two will ever be exactly alike!! Just like a flurry of real snowflakes.

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How to Make Gelatin Printed Snowflake Cards

The basic process is simple: roll acrylic paint onto your gelatin plate, remove some paint with a texture comb, add paper snowflake masks, and pull your print. Once the prints are dry, trim your favorites and turn them into cards. Watch the video for the complete step-by-step tutorial:

Supplies:

• snowflake masks (make your own or buy them)
• gelatin plate
• brayer
• acrylic paint
• texture comb (optional)
• sentiment stamp
• black ink
• white cardstock
• scissors or circle paper punch
• tape runner
• paper trimmer
• blank card
• foam adhesive

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Gelatin Printing Tips to Take Into Your Art Practice

Here are the takeaways from the video that you might want to make note of:

• Simple processes can create sophisticated results. A few basic steps—paint, texture, masks, print—can produce something that feels layered and special.
• Removing paint is just as useful as adding it. Using a comb to scrape into the paint creates texture, movement, and visual interest before you ever pull the print.
• Masks are an easy way to introduce recognizable imagery. A simple paper shape can create a strong focal point without requiring drawing or carving.
• You don’t need special equipment for every step. Masks can be cut by hand, punched, die cut, or made with an electronic cutter. Use the tools you already have.
• Variation is part of the beauty of monoprinting. Each print comes out a little differently. Rather than trying to make identical cards, let those differences be part of the design.
• Make first; edit later. Print a group, then choose the strongest ones and trim them down. You don’t have to know exactly how every print will be used while you’re making it.
• Give yourself choices. Stamping a sentiment several times means you can select the impression you like best instead of expecting perfection on the first try.
• Small finishing choices can change the whole piece. Placement, cropping, dimensional adhesive, and the addition—or omission—of a sentiment all affect the final composition.
• Not every artwork needs more. A beautiful print may already be finished. Adding another element should be a choice, not an automatic next step.
• A repeatable structure leaves room for experimentation. Keeping the basic process the same while changing color, texture, mask placement, or composition is an easy way to create a related series without making identical work.
• Practical projects can still be real art-making. A holiday card can be a place to explore printmaking, composition, layering, and personal style—not simply a craft project.

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Final Thought

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and will make some gelatin printed snowflake cards!

Check out the rest of the tutorials in this series:

• How to Make Collage Cards from Gelatin Print Paper Scraps
• Simple Mixed Media Tutorial Using Existing Supplies
• Gelatin Printed Snowflake Cards: An Easy Holiday Card Tutorial (this post)
• Stamped Christmas Tree Cards with Hand Carved Stamps
• Masked and Stenciled Cards: An Easy Layered Stencil Technique

PS: If you want to make lots and lots of gelatin printed papers, my online class, “A Year of Gelatin Printing,” is awesome and covers everything you need to know about gelatin printing!

Thanks for stopping by!