My local art group met in December and we created artwork on paper using batik techniques. Batik uses wax to apply the design and then the piece is dyed in multiple layers. Usually this is done on fabric. We were trying an idea we had seen in Cloth, Paper, Scissors to apply the wax to paper with tjanting tools and then paint with ink.

Here is everyone getting started.

And a little closer look. We all did a variety of designs.

This is where Paula was setting up some ink to paint her designs. I didn’t get any photos after that because I got too involved in the process. I was working on some small Christmas designs so I would have some cards to give people. When I was creating them, I decided they would have to be like ugly Christmas sweaters because they were pretty ugly. The tjanting tool I was using was quite large and the wax came out very quickly so the details were lost. And I was pretty messy with the wax. After the wax dries on the paper, the ink is applied. Once the ink dries, the paper is placed between newsprint and ironed to remove the wax. We used soy wax so it melts easily and at a lower temperature than beeswax.

And here are the results after ironing and cropping. I used the type of cards that the design fits into a small frame except for one tree which I didn’t want to trim down. I actually like the ones that look more abstract where the detail was lost. And they weren’t as ugly as I thought they were going to be. I have used them all up and perhaps, I will try this again to make more cards. It was a fairly quick process.

Do you make your own holiday cards? We’d love to see if you do. You can share them over on our free forum.