Strathmore Cards & Envelopes 3.5X4.875 10/Pkg-Watercolor -105023

The only thing I dont like about these cards is the price. They are wonderful to make gift sets of cards with, perfect size.

I’ll use for my Christmas cards.

Excellent quality, holds washes well, and generally takes pen and ink without problems although too much pressure can break the papers surface or scuff it or cause the ink to bleed. Works with acrylics but may buckle if too much water is used*. For watercolors, I tend to use Strathmores cards (105210) made for that medium. Great for adults and kids to create their own holiday cards, greeting cards, or invitations. Note: When I use an ink that may bleed if it gets wet, I will spray it with a fixative to help protect it. If I mail it, I wrap it in plastic and send it in another envelope just in case. The paper is 80-lb. and lightly textured (looks like an orange peel). Good all purpose paper and I like deckle edges. I would never use this in a color printer -- too much lint, ink doesnt seem to adhere well, and may cause printer problems if used too often. (Check with your printers manufacturer first. Some printers can take card stock; some cannot.) *When (not if) Ive done this, I usually can unbuckle the cards by letting the card dry so the colors dont smear, then put the card on a hard surface with a plain piece of paper on top of the painted side, then put a heavy book or two on top of that for a couple of days. Also, Ive placed a warped card face down on a sheet of plain paper on top of a board, placed a dish towel over the card, and ironed it with a slightly warm (not hot) iron in a circular pattern for several minutes. Both have worked, but its easier not to flood the paper to begin with. Easy to say, so hard to do at times. :-)

Many artists paint greeting cards and then use a good print resource to gift or sell copies. Its not my way. I really like to gift originals. The thank you (#1feedback) I receive is, I am going to frame this. So, no copies for me. Others do want to paint originals and their method is to crop water color paper to paint their art on and then use inexpensive (not watercolor weight cards) to adhere their art to. Yes, they are still nice, but these cards are excellent and they are frame ready. And, the envelope is nicely weighted, tolerates some water. I enjoy being able to watercolor a small something on a back corner of the envelope. They really are cost worthy in bulk!

Used for holiday cards and metallic watercolors. White gel pens don’t work super well on this particular paper.

I recently took up watercolor painting and thought it would be fun to make my own greeting cards for birthdays etc. This was my first one in the photo, and its pretty easy to fill this space with something pretty. I thought that the paper weight was good. I did not put a ton of water on the paper but it did hold up well. The inside and outside are the same so you could paint something inside too. I just used a marker to write my message inside but in the future might paint a little something inside and out, or even on the back. The envelopes are just standard. It would be nice if they were colored, but I can live with white envelopes. I might try some different sizes next time. I just got a set of 10 of these to see how I would like them and I really love them. Thanks for reading my review

Vrry good quality. Nice, heavy paper. I love to make greeting cards with them.

These were so nice and thick. Great for making watercolor cards to give to friends.

I wanted these to make cards for friends birthdays and for family members who are ill. I do watercolor and these are perfect! These are unique, simple gifts that let family and friends know that you are thinking about them even if they are a great distance away! They also help me keep up a discipline of doing watercolor sketches on a regular basis. I plan to make an additional purchase soon.

I make my personal cards applying 4 x 6 photos and these fit the bill.