Everybody knows that a homemade gift is much better than something generic purchased from the store. Why? Because it shows that you put thought, time, and effort into it. Rather than just swiping your credit card and giving someone a manufactured product, a DIY gift is something that you can craft with your own two hands. As a result, the recipient knows that you care about them very deeply. However, traditional birthday and holiday gifts are not the only things you can make on your own. Homemade Christmas cards can also help make a great impression this holiday season.
While it is one thing to say that you are going to make DIY Christmas cards this year, it is something else entirely to actually get it done. Not only do you need to set aside the time to buy the products you need, but you also have to find some creative inspiration. After all, if you’re going to go to the trouble of making your own handmade Christmas cards, you’ll want to ensure that they are special!
So, what are some good DIY Christmas card ideas? How can you improve your homemade Christmas cards with different designs and concepts? Finally, where can you go to get the materials you need (like red or green card stock)? We will answer all of these questions and more, but first, let’s look at a few simple Christmas card ideas to help get your creative juices flowing!
Simple Christmas Card Ideas
If you want to create DIY holiday cards this year and you’re short on time, you will need some simple ideas that are easy to make. Fortunately, with a little bit of cardstock or premade holiday cards, glue, and perhaps a quick trip to your nearest arts and crafts store, you can make easy DIY Christmas cards in no time! Here are a few ideas to help get you started:
- Tag and Bow – If you already have a blank card, you can easily decorate it with a gift tag and a colorful bow. Simply attach the bow and tag to the front of your card with glue. You can even customize the message on the tag to make it even more festive!
- Themed Tape or Paper Strips – This design is especially practical for those who are not that great at arts and crafts. All you have to do is buy colorful tape and arrange it in the shape of a tree on the front of your card. You can use increasingly large horizontal pieces to create the image of a Christmas tree in a matter of minutes!
- Green Pipe Cleaner Christmas Tree – Another quick way to add a festive Christmas tree to your card is green pipe cleaner and glue. You can twist the pipe cleaner into the perfect shape and draw in a star at the top. It’s really that easy!
- String or Twine Designs – If you have a steady hand, you can use string or twine to create images or spell out words like “Happy Holidays!” Once in place, just use clear adhesive to keep the string in place.
Fun Christmas Card Ideas
Sometimes, the activity of making a card is even more fun than the final outcome. For people who really enjoy arts and crafts and have a knack for visual design, there are hundreds of fun Christmas cards to make. These designs can range from simple cards that are fun to put together to funny holiday cards that leave everyone laughing! Either way, here are a few fun Xmas cards to get you started:
- Light-Up Design – You don’t have to use electricity to create a beautifully-lit card! In fact, you just have to cut strategically-placed holes and shapes into your card. For example, you can cut out the shape of a star at the top of the image of a tree. When the recipient holds the card up to a light, the star will shine brightly!
- Snowman Garland – Creating a paper garland is a fun activity for children and adults alike. It also happens to be a great way to create one-of-a-kind Christmas cards! You can find hundreds of DIY garland tutorials online, so you are not just limited to making snowman shapes — so the sky’s the limit!
- Button Designs – Another fun way to create different images or beautiful designs are standard buttons used for clothing. These can be glued or sewn to the card stock to create memorable, collectable Christmas cards.
- Painted Prints – Finally, if you have any skills as a painter, you can put them to good use with your own DIY Christmas cards! This gives you virtually limitless possibilities to paint Christmas-themed images or messages. Just remember to use thick card stock that provides a strong base for your paint!
Unique Christmas Card Ideas
Thus far, we’ve covered some simple and fun Christmas card ideas. However, if you really want your cards to stand out this holiday season, you will need to make some truly unique handmade Christmas cards! Here are a few ideas to help make unique holiday cards that people will remember for years to come:
- Wreath Design – Homemade holiday cards work well in conjunction with preexisting symbols of the holiday season. So, why not create a wreath on the front of your card using recycled paper or even artificial plants? It’s as easy as cutting out the right shapes, setting the adhesive, and placing your wreath circle!
- Cutout Ornament – You know what’s better than unique handmade Christmas cards? The combination of a Christmas card with a free ornament! You can easily paint or draw a paper ornament so that your friends and family can cut it out and hang it on their own Christmas trees!
- Pet Photo – Adding a funny or special photo of your favorite pet will automatically make your holiday cards special! If you have access to photos of your friends and family’s pet photos, you can even personalize each person’s card with their own pet!
- Snow Globe Shaker – With just card stock, an acetate sheet, and a few small buttons or bobbles, you can easily create a Christmas card that doubles as a shakeable snow globe! All you have to do is cut out a circle in your card stock, attach one piece of acetate to the back, throw in your bobbles, and then attach the second piece of acetate to the front. It’s as simple as that!
Children’s Christmas Card Ideas
Kids almost always love making Christmas card crafts as much as adults — if not more so! Whether you have preteens or preschool students, there are plenty of great ways to keep your children busy and happy during the holidays! Here are just a few DIY Christmas card ideas that you and your kids can enjoy together:
- Reindeer on a Stick – Popsicle sticks can turn just about any Christmas card into a fun arts and crafts project. By using googly eyes and construction paper, your kids can easily create a reindeer attached to popsicle sticks with glue.
- Handprint Christmas Tree – Kids love to make arts and crafts that are a personal reflection of themselves. Thus, one great Christmas card idea for kids is the handprint Christmas tree. Using green paper stock, your kids can draw an outline of their hand, cut it out, and decorate it with buttons!
- Felt Star or Tree – An easy way for kids to decorate a blank holiday card is felt. Different colored felt can easily be cut into distinct shapes, from trees to stars, and glued to the front of a Christmas card.
- Thumbprint Designs – Lastly, using paint or colored ink, your kids can put their thumbprints on card stock to create funny images. These thumbprints can be made to look like reindeer, Santa Clause, or even family members!
Ready to start your next project? Check out our holiday card offerings today, and let us know how you put our card stock to good use!