DIY Scratch Off Tickets!

I love scratch off tickets, always have. I remember begging my parents to let me scratch off theirs when I was little. Now that I'm an adult I can't think of something more fun to receive with an order than a scratch off card with a coupon code so I decided to make some of my own for Circus Bear Vintage. I designed these simple cards in photoshop then had them printed with Overnight Prints.

To make your own scratch off tickets you'll need;
dish soap (any brand should do, but if you're curious I'm using Ajax)
acrylic paint (any color and brand of your choice)
paint brush
packing tape
painters tape
scrap paper

Let's get started!

1 // Prepare your mixture. Two parts paint for every one part dish soap. Mix it up good, but try not to stir too aggressively - you don't want too many little bubbles.
2 // Grab a piece of scrap paper and tape down the card you're wanting to put the scratch off area on - making sure to cover the whole area you want painted over with tape.
3 // With painters tape, mark off what you don't want painted over. If you're brave and have a steady hand you could skip this step but I definitely prefer the clean lines that painters tape gives me.
4 // Paint! Use thin, even layers. Don't worry if you can still see through it after the first coat, it will most likely take two or three coats to get it all covered.
5 // After the paint is thoroughly dry, carefully peel off your painters tape. Go slowly so you don't accidentally rip off any of the paint.
6 // Cut the cards off of your scrap paper and TA-DA - you've got pretty scratch off cards!

Aren't those so awesome?! I think my biggest tip would be to be patient because I can't even begin to tell you how many times I had to keep doing it over and trying different methods before I figured out exactly what would work for my cards and what would give me the cleanest lines. It's so easy once you get the hang of it though!

Make sure to send me pictures if you make some too! I'd love to see them.
xoxo