Last Updated on September 19, 2024 by Dee
Are you ready to make someone’s special day even brighter with a heartfelt, handmade touch? These Easy Watercolor Birthday Cards will not only show off your artistic flair but also bring a smile to the recipient’s face. With over 70 creative ideas, you’ll have plenty of inspiration to create simple, beautiful, and unique birthday cards using watercolors. Whether you’re painting whimsical animals, delicate flowers, or vibrant cakes, there’s something here for every skill level. Grab the FREE Printables at the end of this post!
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70+ Fun and Easy Watercolor Birthday Cards You Can DIY
This collection of watercolor birthday cards includes everything from cute animals to abstract designs. Whether you’re making a card for a friend, your mom, or even your significant other, you’ll find the perfect idea here. Creating these cards is not only fun but also a personalized way to show you care. Here’s what you’ll find in this list:
1) DIY Birthday Card
Create your own unique DIY birthday card using watercolor washes and hand-lettering. For some inspiration, check out these cute canvas painting ideas to adapt into card designs.
2) Watercolor Birthday Cards
Classic watercolor birthday cards are a hit. Experiment with different techniques. Learn more about creating stunning cards in this watercolor Christmas card art post.
3) Easy Birthday Cards DIY
If you’re short on time, easy birthday cards DIY projects like colorful balloons are a perfect option. Get more inspiration from these fun drawing ideas.
4) Birthday Cake Watercolor Card
What’s better than cake? A birthday cake watercolor card! Draw a layered cake and add candles. For more celebratory art, explore watercolor flowers to include in your cards.
5) Cupcake Watercolor Card
A cupcake watercolor card with colorful frosting is fun for kids and adults alike. Add sprinkles and cherries for extra fun.
6) Lion Watercolor Card
Go wild with a lion watercolor card! Use warm tones like yellows and oranges to create a roaring birthday wish.
7) Rhino Watercolor Card
A playful rhino watercolor card is unique and fun. Use soft purples or grays to give this animal a whimsical twist.
8) Zebra Watercolor Card
Bold black-and-white stripes make for a striking zebra watercolor card. Add a colorful background for extra flair.
9) Cat Watercolor Card
For the cat lover in your life, a cat watercolor card is perfect. Paint a cute or sophisticated feline with soft watercolor fur and expressive eyes.
10) Watercolour Flower Birthday Card
Go floral with a watercolour flower birthday card. Check out these watercolor flowers for more ideas.
11) Cute and Easy Birthday Cards
Paint cute animals, hearts, or stars for cute and easy birthday cards. These are perfect for those who love a sweet and minimalistic touch.
12) Simple Homemade Birthday Cards
Keep it simple with homemade birthday cards. Minimalist watercolors are a beautiful way to make a thoughtful statement.
13) Homemade Boyfriend Birthday Cards
Personalize homemade birthday cards for your boyfriend with his favorite animals or colors. Show him your love with your artistic skills!
14) Homemade Birthday Card for Mom
Create a thoughtful homemade birthday card for mom by painting her favorite flowers or a design that reflects her personality.
15) Kids Homemade Birthday Cards
Get your kids involved with homemade birthday cards. Simple designs like rainbows or animals will brighten up the birthday.
16) Watercolored Balloon Card
Create a bunch of colorful balloons floating skyward for a cheerful watercolored balloon card.
17) Abstract Watercolor Birthday Card
For a modern look, create an abstract watercolor birthday card using bold strokes or geometric shapes. Use the ideas from this fun drawing post for inspiration.
18) Sunflower Watercolor Card
A bright, cheerful sunflower watercolor card brings happiness and light to the recipient’s day.
19) Rainbow Watercolor Card
Add a splash of color with a simple rainbow watercolor card. Bright and uplifting, it’s a fantastic way to say “Happy Birthday.”
20) Butterfly Watercolor Card
Delicate butterflies make for a stunning butterfly watercolor card. Use soft pastels or bold shades to create a vibrant birthday greeting.
21) Ocean Waves Watercolor Card
A serene, calming ocean waves watercolor card is perfect for beach lovers. Add soft, flowing lines to create a peaceful birthday scene.
22) Starry Night Birthday Card
Create a magical starry night birthday card by painting a galaxy full of twinkling stars. Add a glowing moon for an extra special touch.
23) Flower Bouquet Watercolor Card
Paint a charming bouquet of flowers for a sophisticated flower bouquet watercolor birthday card. For ideas, check out this botanical color page post.
24) Mountain Scene Watercolor Card
Capture the beauty of nature with a mountain scene watercolor card, perfect for any outdoor enthusiast.
25) Tropical Watercolor Card
Bright, vibrant tropical leaves will give your tropical watercolor card a summery vibe that’s perfect for warm-weather birthdays.
26) Ice Cream Watercolor Card
Paint a colorful ice cream cone for a sweet ice cream watercolor card. This design is perfect for kids or adults who love dessert!
27) Giraffe Watercolor Card
A playful giraffe watercolor card will add a whimsical touch to the birthday celebration.
28) Balloon Dog Watercolor Card
For a quirky, playful card, paint a balloon dog watercolor card. Fun and lighthearted!
29) Heart-Shaped Watercolor Card
Show your love with a heart-shaped watercolor card. Paint hearts in various sizes and colors for a heartfelt birthday message.
30) Cup of Tea Watercolor Card
A calming cup of tea design can create a cozy, thoughtful birthday card for someone who enjoys quiet moments.
31) Forest Watercolor Card
A peaceful forest watercolor card featuring tall trees brings a serene and thoughtful touch to your birthday message.
32) Simple Stripes Watercolor Card
Use bold, simple stripes to create a simple stripes watercolor birthday card that’s minimalist yet striking.
33) Elephant Watercolor Card
An elephant watercolor card adds a playful, animal-loving vibe to the birthday wishes. This is great for kids or animal lovers.
34) Confetti Watercolor Card
Splash colorful confetti all over the card to make a confetti watercolor birthday card that’s fun and festive.
35) Dandelion Wish Watercolor Card
Paint a delicate dandelion puff blowing in the wind to symbolize birthday wishes on a dandelion watercolor card.
36) Bear Watercolor Card
Create a cute bear watercolor card for a warm and cuddly birthday greeting. Add balloons or party hats to make it festive.
37) Lemon Watercolor Card
A bright, zesty lemon watercolor card brings a refreshing twist to birthday wishes. Perfect for summer birthdays.
38) Bunny Watercolor Card
Paint a whimsical bunny holding balloons for an adorable bunny watercolor card. Great for kids or spring-themed birthdays.
39) Pineapple Watercolor Card
A bright, tropical pineapple watercolor card screams fun and is perfect for summer celebrations.
40) Fireworks Watercolor Card
Create a celebratory fireworks watercolor birthday card to make the birthday feel even more special.
41) Donut Watercolor Card
Paint a colorful donut with sprinkles for a sweet donut watercolor card. Great for dessert lovers!
42) Cactus Watercolor Card
A fun cactus watercolor card brings a quirky and delightful element to your birthday greeting.
43) Sunrise Watercolor Card
A beautiful sunrise watercolor card is perfect for a warm and hopeful birthday message.
44) Fox Watercolor Card
A cute fox watercolor card brings woodland charm to the celebration. Perfect for nature lovers.
45) Dragonfly Watercolor Card
A delicate dragonfly watercolor card adds an ethereal beauty, making it a thoughtful and serene birthday design.
46) Panda Watercolor Card
A sweet panda watercolor card adds a touch of playful charm and is great for kids’ birthday cards.
47) Watermelon Watercolor Card
Paint juicy watermelon slices for a fresh and fun watermelon watercolor card that’s perfect for a summer birthday.
48) Bicycle Watercolor Card
A whimsical bicycle watercolor card adds a sense of adventure and fun to your birthday message.
49) Tree Watercolor Card
A tree watercolor card offers a peaceful and grounding touch, great for a nature lover’s birthday.
50) Sailboat Watercolor Card
A sailboat watercolor card gliding across calm waters brings a serene and thoughtful birthday greeting.
51) Mason Jar Watercolor Card
Paint a mason jar filled with flowers for a rustic and charming mason jar watercolor card.
52) Kite Watercolor Card
A colorful kite watercolor card soaring in the sky makes for a fun and playful design.
53) Hot Air Balloon Watercolor Card
A whimsical hot air balloon watercolor card floating among the clouds creates a dreamy birthday design.
54) Flamingo Watercolor Card
A flamingo watercolor card with bright pinks and blues is fun and perfect for summer birthdays.
55) Dragon Watercolor Card
For a mystical birthday card, paint a dragon watercolor card that’s both fierce and whimsical.
56) Foxglove Watercolor Card
Add a delicate touch with a foxglove watercolor card, ideal for someone who loves floral designs.
57) Palm Trees Watercolor Card
A palm trees watercolor card brings tropical vibes and is great for a beach-themed birthday celebration.
58) Ladybug Watercolor Card
A ladybug watercolor card resting on a leaf is a cute, playful way to celebrate a birthday.
59) Seashell Watercolor Card
Capture the beauty of the ocean with a seashell watercolor card for a beach lover’s birthday.
60) Rainy Day Watercolor Card
A rainy day watercolor card featuring raindrops and umbrellas creates a cozy and thoughtful birthday message.
61) Cupcake Tower Watercolor Card
Multiple cupcakes stacked into a tower make for a fun and festive cupcake tower watercolor card.
62) Astronaut Watercolor Card
Send your birthday wishes out of this world with a space-themed astronaut watercolor card.
63) Peacock Watercolor Card
A vibrant peacock watercolor card with colorful feathers adds elegance and flair to the celebration.
64) Castle Watercolor Card
A dreamy castle watercolor card brings a sense of magic and fairy-tale fun to the birthday.
65) Penguin Watercolor Card
A penguin watercolor card featuring a cute penguin with a party hat adds a playful, lighthearted touch.
66) Owl Watercolor Card
An owl watercolor card with wise, watchful eyes makes for a charming and thoughtful birthday card.
67) Galaxy Watercolor Card
Paint a swirling galaxy for an out-of-this-world galaxy watercolor card. Add stars and planets for extra magic.
68) Mermaid Watercolor Card
A magical mermaid watercolor card swimming through the ocean is great for a mystical birthday greeting.
69) Garden Watercolor Card
Paint a vibrant, colorful garden for a cheerful garden watercolor card.
70) Whale Watercolor Card
A whale watercolor card featuring a playful whale swimming in watercolor waves brings a fun, ocean-themed design.
71) Tropical Drink Watercolor Card
A tropical drink watercolor card with a colorful drink and little umbrella is perfect for a summer birthday celebration.
Creative Ways to Use Your Watercolor Birthday Cards
After you’ve created your stunning watercolor birthday cards, you might be wondering what else you can do with them. Here are some fun and creative ideas to extend the use of your artwork:
- Turn your cards into framed gifts: Your beautifully crafted cards can double as art pieces. Frame your best watercolor birthday cards and give them as a bonus gift.
- Procreate digital versions: If you’re tech-savvy, try recreating your watercolor birthday card designs in Procreate! Digital art can be printed and reused. Join Artsydee’s Patreon for drawing tutorials and exclusive Procreate brushes and stamps.
- Watercolor Invitations: Use your watercolor skills to create matching birthday watercolor invitations. It’s a unique way to tie everything together for a themed birthday event. If you’re looking to mirror your designs digitally, check out this post on how to mirror in Procreate.
Top Drawing Tools for Your Watercolor Birthday Cards
As someone who loves making these cards, I’ve found that having the right tools makes a world of difference. Below is a list of my go-to supplies for creating easy watercolor birthday cards:
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- Watercolors: Windsor & Newton is a reputable brand that offers high-quality watercolor paints. You can choose from their range of professional-grade watercolor tubes or pans, depending on your preference.
- Watercolor Paper: Look for cold-pressed, 140lb (300gsm) watercolor paper for the best results. This type of paper is durable and has a nice texture that’s ideal for watercolor painting.
- Brushes: A selection of round and flat brushes in various sizes will give you the versatility you need for different strokes and details. Sable or synthetic brushes designed for watercolor will give you the best performance.
- Palette: A mixing palette with wells for both mixing and holding your paints is essential. It can be a simple plastic one or a porcelain palette for a more luxurious feel.
- Water Container: Any clean jar or container will do, but having two for clean and dirty water can help keep your colors pure.
- Masking Fluid: This is used to cover areas of your painting that you want to keep white. Make sure to apply it with an old brush or a dedicated masking fluid brush, as it can ruin fine bristles.
- Pencils: A soft pencil, like a 2B, is great for sketching your design before painting.
- Eraser: A kneaded eraser is gentle on watercolor paper and can lift pencil lines without damaging the surface.
- Paper Towels or a Rag: These are useful for blotting your brush to control the amount of water and paint.
- Board: If you’re using watercolor paper from a pad or sheets, you might want to tape your paper down to a board to prevent warping.
Grab the Free Printable Templates HERE (below)!
To access the free watercolor birthday card templates for this post, you’ll just need to create a free account or log in with the Grow.me tool. Then, confirm by email and refresh the page, and ALL my free printables will automatically unlock in every post!
For more ideas and inspiration, check out my other posts on watercolor backgrounds or Procreate Watercolor Techniques.