Watercolor Trees Cut-Outs For Crafting And Collage

Watercolor trees cut-outs are so wonderful to have on hand anytime for crafting, collage or art journals, ah yes or maybe even for a little gift tag? So friends, practice painting watercolor trees, improve their shapes a bit if need be when you cut them out, and then set aside to use in a million ways. A little garland would be very sweet in a child’s room and of course you can always bring them out for Tu B’Shevat, or even glue wires or skewers to the back and use them as cake toppers, which could be amazing together with a few tiny woodland creatures!

Look at photos of trees for reference, try to keep it loose and enjoy! My first trees looked more like feathers, so not to worry if it takes you a while to arrive at something you like, just flip over the page and keep at it! I recommend going medium sized, maybe 6″ tall or so for the first ones, and then if you arrive at some general shapes that you love, go bigger!

Trees are such a wonderful part of our world, and knowing how to paint them is a an amazing addition to your creative tool kit!

I’ll admit, I didn’t look at any photos for these, but next time I certainly will. I’ve created these trees to use in a watercolor wedding count-down art journal, and for now have enough trees and need to move onto something else, but I’ll come back to it, promise!

Fast forward two years later, I am editing this post and decided to share with you a few photos of how I used these trees as collage elements in the wedding countdown journal, which by the way was a huge success! The sweet couple are almost married two years, and have an adorable one year old to boot. Now waiting for my daughter to find her soulmate so I can make her a watercolor wedding countdown journal!

How To Use Watercolor Tree Cut-Outs As Collage Elements

As you can see from the photo below, if you paint watercolor elements on white watercolor paper, and then use the same paper as the base, it is hard to tell that the pieces are actually collaged! I took two of the trees seen above and simply made pots for them, which I just love, even 2 years later! I did improve the shape of the tree on the right, which originally was looking way too square, by simply painting more leaves on the page after it was glued down. The page was designed for writing on, which is why it might look a little bit empty, hopefully the bride to be added some words!

In the photo below, I’ve collaged a tree onto a background of a simple watercolor sky which is also quite successful because the same blues were used. I think I must have darkened that tree a bit so it would pop on top of the cloudy sky, as the original looks much lighter. And the matching blue tulip on the next page, cute as can be!

I hope these examples of how I used the watercolor trees cut-outs has sparked some interest in you to start creating with watercolors and mixed media, looking back it has certainly inspired me to try it again!

I’ll be honest, it has been more than a year since I’ve painted, not to say I have not been creative, I have been crafting up a storm, for a new grandson and with my 20 crafting students. This has left little time for “art” but I must get back to it soon, and watercolor painting is a great way to get your feet wet, maybe even with some watercolor trees!