Hi! I’m Corinne, and I paint watercolour greeting cards.
Every single card I make is genuinely handpainted by me, with actual watercolours, on actual paper. No AI. No printing of generated images. No shortcuts. Just me, my paints, and a love for creating something beautiful and meaningful for the people who receive them.
Why I Started This
I’ve always loved the idea of sending beautiful, handpainted cards rather than mass-produced ones from the supermarket. Cards that feel personal, thoughtful, and made with care.
I started painting watercolours in January 2026, and I was immediately hooked. There’s something special about sitting down with paints and actually creating something with your hands. In a world where everything’s instant and digital, spending time painting a card for someone feels genuinely meaningful.
What began as a personal hobby quickly became something I wanted to share. People started asking if they could buy my cards, and I realised there’s a real appetite for genuinely handpainted work – especially as AI-generated “handmade” cards flood the market with soulless imitations.
What I Create
I paint watercolour greeting cards for all occasions – birthdays, thank yous, sympathy, congratulations, and more. Each card is an original piece, painted by hand on quality watercolour paper.
I specialise in florals because I love how watercolour captures the soft, organic nature of flowers. I also paint landscapes, seasonal scenes, and custom designs for special occasions.
My approach: I prefer loose, expressive watercolours over rigid precision. I love visible brush strokes and the beautiful unpredictability of how watercolour behaves. My cards have personality and warmth – they look handmade because they are handmade.
What I use: Professional watercolour paints (Winsor & Newton, with plans to expand into Daniel Smith and MaimeriBlu), 300gsm cold press watercolour paper, and quality brushes. I’ve invested in materials that create cards worth keeping and displaying.
What makes them special: Every card is unique. Even when I paint the same design twice, each one turns out differently. The variations in colour, the individual brush strokes, the organic flow of paint – that’s what makes handpainted cards so much more meaningful than printed ones.
Why This Blog Exists
I started this blog to share my journey creating handpainted cards and building a small creative business around them.
To document the process. From choosing materials to pricing cards to finding customers, I’m sharing what I’m learning about running a handmade card business.
To educate about watercolour. There’s so much to learn about watercolour techniques, paper types, colour mixing, and preservation. I share what I discover along the way.
To celebrate genuine craft. In a world where AI-generated “handmade” cards are flooding the market, I want to champion real human creativity and authentic handmade work.
To connect with customers. This blog gives insight into my process, shows works-in-progress, and helps people understand what goes into creating genuinely handpainted cards.
About Me (The Non-Painting Bits)
I’m in my 30s and live in the Yorkshire countryside with my young son and partner. I’m also dyslexic, so please excuse any typos – proofreading is genuinely difficult for me, and I’m very guilty of using the wrong word or missing words entirely.
I run another blog called Skinnedcartree where I’ve been writing about lifestyle, hobbies, gardening, and whatever interests me since 2012. I transitioned to full-time blogging in 2021 after nearly 20 years in retail management.
My other hobbies include gardening (I grow a lot of our own food), playing piano, and setting myself unrealistic goals that lead to complete burnout. I struggle to rest and sit still. My mind is often in overdrive, and most of the time I feel so full of ideas and creativity that I might explode.
Hence the painting. It’s a productive way to channel that creative energy whilst actually making something tangible.
My Values and Commitments
Genuine handmade work. Every card I make is painted by hand. No AI generation, no printed reproductions of AI art, no shortcuts. The imperfections and wonkiness are proof of genuine human effort.
Transparency. I’ll be honest about my skill level (still learning!), my process (messy and experimental), and my mistakes (frequent). What you see is what you get.
No AI. I’ve written extensively on this blog about why I’ll never use AI to generate card designs. Human creativity matters, and I’m committed to preserving craft skills even when algorithms would be faster and easier.
Protecting privacy. I don’t share photos of my child online and won’t use family members in content without their consent. Personal boundaries matter.
Continuous learning. I’m not an expert. I’m a beginner documenting her journey. I’ll share what I’m learning, but I won’t pretend to know more than I do.
Where to Find My Cards
I sell handpainted watercolour cards through:
Etsy: (add your shop link)
Instagram: (add your Instagram handle)
Direct orders: Email me at corinne@alittlepaintedhello.com (adjust to your actual email)
I create cards for all occasions and also take custom commissions. If you’d like a card featuring specific flowers, colours, or themes, just get in touch.
Each card is made to order and takes time to create, so please allow for production time. But you’ll receive something genuinely unique – an original piece of watercolour art that someone will actually want to keep.
The Name
“A Little Painted Hello” came from thinking about what greeting cards actually are – small painted messages you send to people. A little hello, painted by hand.
It’s simple, honest, and describes exactly what I’m trying to do. Plus, I learned my lesson from naming my first blog something nonsensical that I’m now stuck with forever. This time I went with something that actually makes sense.
Get In Touch
I’d love to hear from you, especially if you’re also learning watercolour or interested in handpainted cards.
Email: corinne@alittlepaintedhello.com (adjust this to your actual email)
Instagram: (add if you create one)
Main blog: skinnedcartree.com
Comments are open on all blog posts, and I try to respond to everything. Whether you’ve got questions about techniques, want to share your own painting journey, or just fancy a chat about cards and creativity, I’m here for it.
What You’ll Find Here
This blog covers everything related to handpainted greeting cards and building a small creative business:
- Behind-the-scenes looks at my painting process
- Watercolour techniques and tips
- Reviews of materials and supplies
- Thoughts on pricing and running a card business
- Why AI-generated cards are a problem
- How to display and preserve watercolour cards
- Custom card commissions and special projects
It’s part creative journey, part small business documentation, part passionate defence of genuine handmade craft.
A Note on Imperfection
My cards aren’t technically perfect, and they’re not meant to be.
The visible brush strokes, the natural variations in colour, the organic way watercolour behaves – these are all part of what makes handpainted cards special. They’re proof that a real person made this, not an algorithm.
In a world where AI can generate flawless images in seconds, I’m choosing the slower, human route. Because creativity isn’t about perfection. It’s about making something with care and putting genuine thought into every brush stroke.
Each card I paint is an original piece of art. That’s what you’re getting when you buy from A Little Painted Hello – something genuinely handmade, genuinely unique, and genuinely created by a person who cares about what she’s making.
Thanks for being part of this journey.
Last updated: January 2026