How to Make a Scrape Card

Crayons make great scrape art cards.

Scrape cards, often called scratch art cards or scratchboard art cards, are one way to give someone a homemade greeting. This project can be made using basic art supplies. Since the design on the front of the card can be simple or elaborate, the project is suitable for crafters of all ages. You can choose to make birthday cards, thank you cards, party invitations or Christmas greetings.

Things You'll Need

• Blank white or ivory greeting card and envelope
• Crayons
• Tempera paint
• Small mixing bowl
• Dish soap
• Foam paintbrush
• Toothpick
• Stickers

Instructions

1. Color the front of the greeting card with the crayons of your choice. Make stripe, square, or swirl patterns using three to five different crayon colors. Press as hard as you can without breaking the crayons. Bright colors work best for this project, although you can experiment with several different types of color schemes.

2. Pour tempera paint into the mixing bowl, adding a few drops of dish soap to the mixture to help make the paint stick to the crayon-covered paper. Black is the traditional color for scrape cards, but you can make scratchboard art using other colors of paint too. For example, Christmas-themed scratch art cards might be pretty with dark red paint covering a crayon background of silver, white and green.

3. Cover the crayon-covered portion of your card with the tempera paint using the foam paintbrush, and wait for the paint to dry completely. In most cases, the project will need to sit overnight before your tempera paint is dry enough.

4. Use your toothpick to draw your scrape card design on the front of the card. As you scratch away the paint on the front of the card, you will reveal the crayon colors underneath. When making a scrape card, you can choose whatever design you think the recipient will enjoy. Don't forget to add a message on your card, such as "Happy Birthday," "Congratulations" or "Thank You."

5. Decorate the inside of your card and the envelope you want to mail it in with stickers and crayons.

References

• The Incredible Art Department: Scratch Art
• Craftzine: Homemade Scratch Art