Festive Printmaking: Handmade Christmas Cards in Lino
Course overview
Send something truly personal this Christmas with cards you’ve designed and printed yourself. In this friendly, practical three-hour workshop at Reading College, you’ll learn lino printing, a traditional printmaking technique that’s surprisingly easy to pick up.
With guidance from your tutor, you’ll design and carve a simple festive image into a lino block, learn how to ink and print your design, and produce a small edition of unique Christmas cards to take home. By the end of the session, you will have gained an introduction to relief printmaking and created a collection of personalised cards ready to send to family and friends.
During this workshop, you will:
- Learn the basics of lino printing and relief printmaking
- Create a simple festive design suitable for printing
- Transfer your design onto a lino block
- Safely use lino-cutting tools to carve your image
- Apply ink and prepare your block for printing
- Produce a series of printed Christmas cards
- Gain confidence in using printmaking equipment and materials.
There are no tests or exams. Your tutor will give demonstrations, guidance and individual feedback throughout, and you’ll see your progress in your finished lino block and printed cards.
All specialist materials and equipment are provided, including lino and carving tools. Please bring:
- Your own refreshments
- An apron, or wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting a little ink on
- A folder or large envelope to carry your cards home, as the ink may still be slightly tacky
- Optional: a sketchbook and pencil for sketching ideas
Enjoyed lino printing? Try our Christmas Gift Wrap Printing Workshop: Botanical Monoprinting to make matching wrapping paper, or continue your creative journey with one of our other adult art courses at Reading College.
This workshop is ideal for complete beginners, and you don’t need any printmaking or drawing experience.
Lino printing uses sharp carving tools, so your tutor will give you full health and safety guidance at the start of the session.
You’ll leave with your carved lino block and around 5-10 handmade Christmas cards. As you keep your block, you can print more cards at home, or use your new skills on future courses.
Alternatively enrol by phone quoting 3ADCRUA01R
Meet the tutors
We want our learners to feel welcome, safe and at ease when attending our classes, especially if this is your first time attending an adult education class or if you're coming back to education after a break.
If you're interested in one of courses, meet our tutors first! You'll see they have similar passions and interests and, most importantly, the right qualifications to help you make the most of your time and money.
