Artistic Greeting Cards using Paint and Pencil by Number Kits

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Create stunning artistic greeting cards and other creative projects starting with a completed Paint by Number or Pencil by Number project.

Author: Catherine Matthews-Scanlon
 
I love sitting down to work on a new Paint by Number Watercolor or Acrylic painting, or a Pencil by Number project. There’s something very satisfying to me when I get one completed. I’ve spent quite a bit of time working on my own and collecting vintage paint by numbers from flea markets and antique stores. Lately, I’ve had to get creative when thinking of ways to use and display my completed projects since I don’t have much room left to get them framed and hang them on the wall. The best project I’ve come up with to date is to share them with others by making them into artistic greeting cards.

How to Divide Your Project into Cards:
This can pose a bit of a challenge depending on the pattern you’ve painted, but the best way I’ve come up with is to:

• Study your painting
• Decide what size card you’ll be making
• Cut a piece of acetate the same size
• Move the acetate around the painting to zoom in on which are would be the best to use for a card
• Because you have so much work into each painting, I recommend trying to get as many cards from each one as possible.

Making the Cut:
Once you’ve narrowed down the areas that are suitable to make cards from:

• Make light pencil marks at the corners of the acetate to let you know where to cut
• Get started making your cards!
  

Don't Hide Behind Your Words:
Because you’ve put a lot of work into the Paint by Number or Pencil by Number project, you will want to make it the focal point of your artistic greeting card.

• You can print a sentiment on cardstock and add it as a strip at the bottom, side or center of the card.
• For example, on the bird and cat card that I created, that area of the project looked like the perfect get well card, so a quick “hope you can come out and play soon” was the perfect addition to this pretty picture.
  

 
Creating Scrapbook Embellishments:
You can easily make embellishments for your scrapbook pages using the same process:

• The Pencil or Paint by Number can be matted on cardstock and added to your page as a picture to help tell your story.
• Another idea to consider is to cut out individual images from the project.
• If your painting has a lot of flowers, you could cut them out with sharp scissors, add a little bling to the center and attach them to the page with 3D dots.

Here are some other ways to use complete your Pencil and Paint by Number Sets:

• Follow Martha Stewart’s lead and add glitter to your paint by number set. Purchase a complete set of glitter with lots of colors and swap out the paint for glitter. Simply assign the paint number to your glitter and apply glue to the numbers you’re painting and sprinkle glitter instead of paint. Make shades of colors by mixing white glitter with a bright color. FUN!
• Paint your project as instructed and add iron-on rhinestones to add interest to your project.
• Substitute small print fabrics for paint and create a cool, retro looking paint by number project.
• Chop your canvas into 3 pieces, frame each one individually or mount on canvas to create an easy triptych.
• Learn how to create Zentangle patterns, assign a number to each pattern and doodle in each spot instead of painting with the paints that were included in your kit. There’s no telling what your completed project will look like, but I can assure you it will be cool!
  

 
There’s no limit to the different ways you can finish your Pencil and Paint by Number set, so get creative and get started.  And don't forget to share your artistic greeting cards and other creative creations in the gallery!