How to make a lino stamped Christmas card

Learn how to make simple stamped Christmas cards at home.

I've always made my own cards, whether they've been painted, linocut or made from collage. A homemade Christmas card brings so much joy to friends and family.

This is a design I made a couple of years ago. I've carved the design into lino and rather than using ink and roller, I have used ink pads.

Stamps are a great way to make handmade cards as you can make lots of them!

You will need

Lino tools
Soft cut or easy carve lino
Ink pad
Blank cards
Knife or scissors, cutting matt, pens and pencils.
Optional: tracing paper, blocks to mount stamps onto and double sided tape.
Creative imagination!

Step 1

Draw or transfer your design onto the lino with a pencil.

Remember, your design needs to be reversed on the lino.

Top Tip: I use tracing paper to flip the design. By rubbing the reverse of the paper the carbon will transfer onto your lino.

If it helps, go over your design with a permanent marker.

Step 2

Begin to carve out the design.

IMPORTANT: The blades on the linoleum tools are sharp. Ensure you always cut away from your supporting hand.

Step 3

Cut out your design with a knife or scissors.

If you prefer, you can remove the area around your design with lino tools and roughly cut out the shape afterwards.

Step 4

You’re now ready to stamp your design using an ink pad.

Top Tip: I find it easier to stick the lino stamps onto blocks with double-sided tape.

Christmas wrapping paper

You could also use the stamp to make handmade wrapping paper

Feeling inspired? Share your ideas

If I’ve inspired you to get creative this Christmas, please share. Tag me on Facebook and Instagram @MichelleHughesDesign or Twitter @Design_York, or use the hashtags #MichelleHughesDesign

I'd love to create an online gallery for all your creations. Anonymous of course. If you'd like your's adding please contact me via email.

Would you like to learn how to make a linocut print?

Learn how to make linocut prints

Online courses and workshops

Learn more >

Online courses

Online self-paced learning and full access for one year so you can study at your own pace and home. You will learn how to carve a variety of mark-making techniques and print your design by hand. Detailed step-by-step guides and video tutorials will guide you through each stage of making your linocut print.

Beginners guide to linocut printing
How to make a multi-block linocut print

"I have been wanting to do some linocut printing for a long time but have always been too nervous to make the leap as I was unsure of where to begin. This course was just the thing I needed; it has taught me all the basics, inspired me and I am now confident enough to start. Thank you Michelle."

"The instructions and videos are lovely, really clear and calm presentation."

Linocut workshops

My linocut workshops are all held in my York print studio. I teach in small groups of no more than four people, so everyone gets lots of one-to-one tuition.

Introduction to linocut printing workshop
Follow on 'jigsaw' linocut printing workshop

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Need inspiration?

Find me on Pinterest @MichelleHughesDesign . You'll find sections such as 'Simple one colour linocut prints', 'Reduction linocut prints' and 'How to make a linocut print. Hands up, I'm addicted and a bit of a Pinterest hoarder!

What tools do you need to make a linocut print?

See my lino cut tools and equipment blog for everything you need to start making your very own hand-carved and hand-printed linocut prints.

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Happy linocutting!

Michelle

About the artist

Michelle Hughes is a North Yorkshire landscape artist. Much of her work depicts the Yorkshire landscape and Yorkshire coast, including the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors.

Michelle loves exploring the British countryside by bike or on foot, camera in hand, capturing ideas for her next prints. Back in her garden studio, Michelle creates simple but stylised silhouettes based on her photographs, and hand carves these shapes into lino. She hand prints with an etching press, using oil-based inks to create tonal blocks of colour. Michelle’s original linocut prints are limited editions.