CREATE YOUR SUMMER POSTCARDS WITH CARAN D’ACHE

This summer, why not trade your phone messages for a handmade postcard? In this digital era, the joy of sending and receiving a hand-drawn message is making a comeback. Make the most of your summer break to free your creativity with the help of Caran d’Ache water-soluble pencils, pastels and paint.

A colourful ice-cream, stylised seashells or a summer landscape: discover these three creative ideas suitable for artists of all ages and create a holiday souvenir to gift, or to keep!

Rather than send a text message why not take the time to create a real holiday souvenir?  A hand-drawn postcard is a simple and authentic memento. Every stroke, every colour tells a story of your break. A personal and thoughtful gesture that is always appreciated.

Creating a postcard is also allocating time just for you. Choosing a pattern, tracing shapes, playing with colours… Simple tasks that contribute to relaxation, concentration and mindfulness. A creative, gentle and energising break.

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3. Enjoy a creative break, alone or together.

Designing a postcard is an easy-to-do activity that is suitable for all. Young and old alike can express themselves freely, each in their own way. Whether you’re with your children, friends or alone, it’s a great way to build memories that will last for years.

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Cones, colourful scoops and decorated ice-lollies: a simple pattern that’s fun and easy and perfect for playing with summer colours.

What you’ll need for this craft activity:

• Studio gouache paint in tablet form

• Thick, postcard-sized piece of paper (10 x 15 cm)

• A graphite pencil

• Luminance coloured pencils

Steps:

1. With your pencil start by tracing a series of ice-creams: cones, ice-lollies, scoops… vary the shapes.

2. Paint each ice-cream using the gouache paint in bright colours: strawberry, lemon, peppermint, blueberry… You can also lightly dilute the paint for a brighter and more fluid effect.

3. Once the paint is completely dry, add the details: sprinkles, chocolate sauce or a cherry on top!

4. Finish by outlining and adding shadows with the Luminance colouring pencils to add depth and make the details pop.

Result: a colourful and mouthwatering postcard that’s just perfect for wishing someone a refreshing summer!

Seashells, pebbles, seaweed and starfish: here is a pattern that draws inspiration from the treasures found on the seashore and which evokes gentle beach days. Easy to draw, this theme is perfect for playing with shapes and colours.

What you’ll need for this craft activity:

• Caran d’Ache water-soluble coloured pencils (Supracolor™ Aquarelle or Museum Aquarelle)

• Paintbrush and water

• A graphite pencil

• Thick, fine-grain paper such as mixed media colouring postcards (10 x 15)

Steps:

1. With the graphite pencil start by drawing things you would find on a beach: seashells, pebbles, seaweed and starfish.

2. Lightly colour in the motifs using the water-soluble colouring pencils, in varying green, blue and sand colours.

3. Brush a damp paintbrush over the coloured areas to activate the watercolour effect.

4. Leave to dry for a few minutes.

You will obtain a soft and natural effect, a combination of travel book and an illustrated scrapbook, perfect for a postcard that captures the essence of the holidays.
 

A drawing inspired by your holiday’s location: a beach, a lighthouse, parasols or a famous landmark…. You choose! A different way to capture the colours of these precious times on your postcard.

What you’ll need for this craft activity:

• Caran d’Ache Neocolor™ II Aquarelle pastels that can be used dry or with a little water

• Thick, medium grain paper in postcard format (10 x 15 cm)

• A graphite pencil to sketch your outlines

• A paintbrush to create the watercolour effect

Steps:

1. Sketch your landscape with the graphite pencil: the horizon line and then place elements such as a parasol, a lighthouse or a sunset.

2. Apply the pastels in light layers, colouring each area.

3. Smudge the colours with your fingertips or a damp paintbrush, so that the colours blend.

4. When fully dry, add in the final details.

The result is a personalised and colourful postcard that you can adapt to your holiday memories.

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Summer is the season of colours: the ones around us, that inspire us and remind us of strong sensations. Make the illustration on your DIY postcard even more expressive by selecting the right colour combinations.

Opt for a palette of pastel colours (powder pink, lavender, sky blue) for a soft and poetic ambience. Or try fruity hues: mango yellow, cherry red, apricot orange will brighten your pictures and are perfect for patterns such as ice-creams or bright landscapes. Blue and green tones will evoke seaside walks, seaweed and wet pebbles, and seashell collections.

Caran d’Ache drawing instruments will enable you to explore all these hues with subtlety: Studio gouache, bright and offering full coverage, is perfect for colourful and expressive compositions: water-soluble pencils provide delicate blends and subtle water effects; the Neopastel™ II Aquarelle combines the intensity of their pigments with the freedom of technique and can be used dry or wet.

It's now up to you to create the palette that matches you: soft, bright or contrasting for holidays that are high in colours and emotions.

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