Festive linocut cards

How lovely it is to receive a handmade card! If you are learning linocut, you probably already have plans to make your own, so I thought I’d create a short, festive blog post with some of the tips I share in my workshops.

If you are thinking of buying some tools and equipment for the task, these are my favourites:

• Caligo safe wash relief ink. Professional, oil-based inks that wash up with soap and water.
• Cranfield traditional oil-based relief ink in GOLD. This is the most dreamy, gorgeous ink that looks like gold leaf when it dries. Cleans up with vegetable oil, soap and water (if it’s being stubborn, use some white spirit).
• Abig wooden handled lino cutter set.
• Speedball soft rubber roller with the maroon handle. Great value for money.
• Grey hessian backed lino.
• For a baren, you can use the back of a wooden or metal spoon to transfer your print.
• You will need a smooth surface for rolling ink. When I started, I was using the lid of an ice cream tub! A tile or the glass from an old picture frame is even better.
• Choose blank cards that have a smooth surface, unless you are particularly after a rustic textured effect. For that, I like using Kraft cards.

The tools and equipment can be purchased from Jackson's Art or Handprinted UK

Design your card with the following in mind

Balance the amount of light and dark in the image to improve composition.

Use tracing paper to flip your image, ESPECIALLY if using text, which will reverse when printing.

It is easier to carve out white lines in a dark background than it is to carve the area around a black line.

For dots (e.g. snowflakes) you can use a U shaped cutting blade. Push it into the lino at 45 degrees and then spin the lino around to leave a dot. Practice on a scrap until you’ve got the hang of it.

If you have white areas to clear, carve along the edges of everything with a small V shaped tool, then use a larger U cutter to scoop out the background. Work away from your carved edges in case you slip, to avoid spoiling your design. Start in the corners and carve outwards.

Tips for finishing

Double check which side of the card is the front before printing! Use a scrap of paper between your card and your wooden spoon (or whatever you’re using as a baren) to stop ink smudging on the inside of your card.

Blot your cards with scrap paper while the ink is still wet. This takes away the excess and speeds up drying time.

You can hand colour small areas, for example a robin’s chest, with a water-based paint after your ink is dry. This only works for oil-based relief inks which don’t run when wet.

Try not to get water on the back of your lino when cleaning, or it might warp. It’s not a disaster if this happens, but it might be harder to ink up next time if it’s bowed.

If using the inks suggested, allow between 3 days to a week for your cards to dry, depending on how warm your room is.

I hope you have a wonderful time making your own cards. Get together with friends and a glass of mulled wine, and really let go of any perfectionism or expectations before you begin. Please send me a picture of what you create. I love seeing what people come up with!