[Handmade] Recommended for Year of the Rabbit New Year's cards! A roundup of reference works and ideas such as rabbit illustrations
We’ll introduce handmade creations and ideas that are useful and inspiring for Rabbit Year New Year’s cards!
When you make New Year’s cards by hand, it’s easy to wonder where to start.
So instead of thinking everything up from scratch, I’ve put together ideas you can adapt by using works uploaded to video sites as references.
From standalone elements like brush-lettering art and stamps to mix-and-match illustration styles, we’ve got you covered.
Skimming through the article might spark some inspiration!
I also selected options with ease and speed in mind, so feel free to try anything that makes you think, “I can do this!”
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[Handmade] Recommended for Year of the Rabbit New Year’s cards! A roundup of reference works and ideas like rabbit illustrations (1–10)
Versatile and easy to use! Simple, cute New Year mini illustrations
If you’re unsure about your New Year’s card design, combining rabbit motifs with traditional New Year’s items is a great idea.
For example, pairing it with kagami mochi will create a soft, gentle feel.
Drawing it together with a kadomatsu gives a more festive, glamorous vibe.
It’s also fun to include toys children love, like battledores (hagoita) or kendama.
These classic items can be adapted every year, so it’s useful to learn how to draw them.
As an extra touch, you could even draw a rabbit playing battledore.
Fluffy rabbit made with stamps
If you’ve bought a stamp for New Year’s cards but are worried about stamping it neatly, this is a must-see! Anyone can easily make lovely rabbit-themed New Year’s cards.
A single rabbit stamp can make the layout look a bit plain, so try stamping it multiple times from different angles to add more rabbits and make the design feel fuller.
Using text or background design stamps will enhance the festive look! You don’t need to use a lot of stamps—just prepare a few you like and you’re all set.
Metallic stamps will make your New Year’s cards look even more celebratory.
Give it a try!
A New Year’s card with cute parts shaped like rabbits made from chiyogami (decorative Japanese paper)
This is a stylish New Year’s card design that uses chiyogami paper to form a rabbit’s distinctive silhouette.
Using just one rabbit template is perfectly fine, but having a few different ones can broaden your expression and make it more interesting.
Try making the templates from cardboard.
Trace the template onto your favorite chiyogami, cut along the lines with scissors, and create the parts.
Even with the same patterned chiyogami, the pattern will vary depending on where you cut, so the fact that no two pieces turn out exactly the same is part of the charm!
Ink wash painting of a rabbit
Sumi-e, with its beautiful ink bleeding, is one of Japan’s traditional painting styles, isn’t it? For those who want to try turning sumi-e into a New Year’s card design, here’s a recommended subject: a sumi-e rabbit.
While it can be challenging to express depth using the varying densities of ink on the brush, the important thing is to start and give it a try.
With repeated practice, you’ll definitely get better.
I’ve heard that making the rabbit’s face wider horizontally and its ears longer makes it look cuter! Because rabbits feature lots of curves, they pair perfectly with sumi-e, so do give it a shot.
Eraser-stamp rabbit
Because eraser stamps are easy to make, some of you might be thinking you’d like to try it at least once! All you need is an eraser and a craft knife to give it a simple try, so consider this for next year’s New Year’s cards.
First, sketch your design on the eraser with a marker or other thick line.
Start by cutting along the outside of your sketch, and carve while rotating the eraser—this is the key technique.
Also, try to carve slightly outside the lines so the stamp ends up a bit larger than your sketch.
Intricate designs can be difficult for beginners, so we recommend keeping the design as simple as possible.