Yahoo Finance These DIY Christmas Cards Are Incredibly Thoughtful
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These DIY Christmas Cards Are Incredibly Thoughtful
Sending holiday greeting cards to loved ones has been a classic Christmas tradition for ages, and for good reason: It's the perfect way to remind your friends and family of how much you care. There's nothing more thoughtful or personal than receiving a unique DIY Christmas card, whether it's paired with one of the most popular holiday presents of the season or a crafty Christmas gift.
To spark your creativity, we've rounded up dozens of inspiring handmade Christmas card ideas, from an adorable elf made out of construction paper, an elegant watercolor Santa Claus or a professional design crafted with your Cricut machine. We also sprinkled in a few funny Christmas cards as well as clever ideas that include holiday photos, which work well if you have an adorable kids in the family. Keep scrolling to find a number of easy-to-follow tutorials — including free printables and patterns — from our favorite holiday bloggers and YouTube channels. The only thing left to worry about will be what meaningful message to write inside!
While your craft supplies are out, don't stop at the card — if you're looking for more Christmas DIYs, we've got a ton of ideas that'll kickstart your holiday spirit. Learn how to make homemade ornaments, cheerful wreaths, DIY advent calendars and our favorite simple Christmas crafts.
Simple Everyday Mom, A Beautiful Mess - 2/56
Snow Globe Card
Make your holiday card feel more personal by adding a festive photo of you and your family. Pick out your favorite card stock, print out a photo and follow this snow globe template. Don't forget to decorate it with some snowflake stickers!
A Beautiful Mess - 3/56
Elf Christmas Card
If you're crafting with a toddler, this adorable elf card is a great option. Use the shape of their handprint to make the face, then cut out a hat and neck trim on colored card stock.
Simple Everyday Mom - 4/56
Christmas Village Silhouette Cards
Get a frosty feeling with these cut-out Christmas villages. You can use any backing color you like, from the traditional red or green to a bolder color like hot pink.
White House Crafts - 5/56
Paper Cut Christmas Card
For this one, you will need a silhouette cameo, cricut machine or craft knife — but the final result is so beautiful. With the proper tools and downloadable files, it won't take you too long to recreate these.
Persia Lou - 6/56
Folding Scenery Card
A charming winter scene unfolds in this card, which was practically made to be the centerpiece of a mantel display.
Krokotak - 7/56
Oh Deer Christmas Card
Just print out this chalkboard artwork on card stock, cut and fold — it's really that simple.
Made in a Day - 8/56
Sponge Printed Christmas Card
Inspire your children to create something cool! Just give them a sponge, some green paint and a bunch of small decorations (like sequins) to decorate their one-of-a-kind Christmas tree.
Emma Owl - 9/56
Printable Christmas Card
With small Christmas trees and a bubbly font, this cute Christmas card is sure to impress her. Just print out the file on card stock, and you're good to go.
Lovely Indeed - 10/56
'Merry Grinchmas' Card
Here's a super fun (and only mildly messy) craft idea for you and the kids. Paint their palms green and their fingers red, and you'll have a Grinch in no time. Complete the design by adding cotton balls to his hat and drawing on a grouchy face.
I Heart Arts N Crafts - 11/56
Christmas Tree Card
Chances are you already have everything required to make these precious Christmas cards. All you need is some card stock, glittery paper, googly eyes and a Sharpie — plus a pom-pom for the Christmas tree's nose or a bow for the present.
The Best Ideas for Kids - 12/56
Watercolor Card
Use a white gel pen, white wax crayon or masking fluid to draw a design on your cards before painting over them with watercolors, and you'll get this cool effect. Each card is totally unique!
MarenaART - 13/56
Pop-Up Christmas Cards
Do you want to build a pop-up snowman card? It's always fun when handmade cards have a 3D element. The tutorial also shows how to make cards with pop-up trees.
Sweet Teal - 14/56
Reindeer Card
Excite both children and adults with these lovable reindeer cards. Start with a child's handprint, then decorate it with a red harness, brown antlers and a red pom-pom nose.
Simple Everyday Mom - 15/56
Fingerprint Lights Christmas Card
This is an easy one for kids to do — their finger-paint fingerprints can easily be transformed into a string of holiday lights. If you don't have finger paint, you might be able to achieve something similar with stamp pads.
The Joy Sharing - 16/56
Paper Quilling Christmas Tree Card
Use quilling paper strips to achieve the beautiful scrolls that make up this Christmas tree. If this seems too advanced, this crafter has also developed a quilling paper tree ornament that's easier for little ones.
Artsy Craftsy Mom - 17/56
Paper Wreath Card
Punch out circles in a few festive patterns, and you've got yourself the beginnings of a festive holiday wreath! The wreaths are so simple to make, you can use them as gift toppers, ornaments or decorations in addition to cards.
White House Crafts - 18/56
Popcorn Santa Card
To make this festive card, all you need is some watercolor paint (plus a paint brush) and enough kernels of popcorn to recreate Santa's beard.
Westend61 - Getty Images - 19/56
Pop-up Gnome Card
Gnomes are getting more and more popular in holiday decor every year, so this card is right on-trend. Plus, it has fun pop-up elements that give it a feeling of depth.
Paper Glitter Glue - 20/56
Melted Snowman Tealight Card
This craft is intended to be an ornament, but it also works as a 3D card (that you can hang up on the tree afterward). The tea light adds to the overall effect.
I Heart Arts and Crafts - 21/56
Button Ornament Card
If you have spare or leftover buttons lying around, repurpose them into a holiday card! With a few pen strokes, they can become vintage-looking ornaments.
Doodlecraft - 22/56
Paint Chip Card
If you want your holiday card to be colorful and vibrant, these trees made out of paint chips are a super simple way to achieve it.
One Little Project - 23/56
Yarn-Laced Card
Not only does this card have a yarn pattern for a Christmas tree, a silver ribbon weaves through it like tinsel. It's so wintry, you can almost smell the pine needles.
Danya Banya - 24/56
Button Snowman Card
Send a taste of home with this cute card, complete with a snowman made of buttons. You can even switch it up and use buttons to make ornaments or a Christmas wreath.
Courtesy of Scrappin' with DeeDee - 25/56
Stitched Shape Card
If you're nimble with a needle, you can craft these cards. They're also a great way to use up little scraps from your fabric collection.
A Spoonful of Sugar Designs - 26/56
Scrapbook Paper Tree Card
Take all your leftover scrapbook paper in the any green pattern you have, and easily upcycle it all into pretty evergreens. You can use these on a card, and then, if you have any extras, stand them up for a 3D decoration in your house. (This blogger glued toothpicks into the back and stuck them in red Hershey's Kisses to stand them up.)
It All Started With Paint - 27/56
Thumb Print Reindeer Card
Another fun idea for little ones: These silly reindeer are made with a thumbprint. They might need your help for the illustrated details, but we think kid-made drawings are even more charming.
Gemma Garner - 28/56
Washi Tape Tree Card
Crafting these Christmas trees is as easy as ripping lengths of Washi tape, then affixing to the front of a plain card.
Omiyage Blogs - 29/56
Pipe Cleaner Card
Even though most pine trees are prickly, everyone you send this card to will want to pet this DIY version of a pine.
Crafty Morning - 30/56
Yarn Art Card
With a little yarn, you can create a card that's reminiscent of those warm, woolen mittens we all love so much. If you have a crafty kid at home, they could take this one, too.
Lia Griffith - 31/56
Fingerprint Holly Berry Card
For a real personal touch, you can use a fingerprint stamp to add berries to a wreath or holly sprig. You can even get a free, printable template for the wreath and leaves.
Paging Supermom - 32/56
Doily Tree Christmas Cards
A few careful folds, and you've got yourself a tree that looks gorgeous in its winter whites. Then, stick on "ornaments" to your heart's content.
Happy Hooligans - 33/56
Christmas Tree Shadow Box Card
This card has all of the sentiment of a holiday card with all of the fun of a pull-the-flap book — when you slide the yellow card, the lights on the tree and the star "light up" (turn from green to yellow).
Jennifer Maker - 34/56
Unicorn Christmas Card
Move over, reindeer. This holly, jolly unicorn is the new animal emblem for the holidays.
Crafts on Sea - 35/56
Cut-Out Tree Card
If you can score a straight line with a craft knife (hey, there are rulers for a reason), you can create this modern tree.
Tinsel and Trim - 36/56
Confetti Snowglobe Card
Shake this card and watch this magical winter wonderland come to life (thanks to a handful of sequins).
Courtesy of Mayholic - 37/56
Eraser-Stamped Card
No fancy stamp set required — add some DIY fun with festive ink and a few pencils. Use the eraser to stamp on ornaments, buttons and holly berries.
Lia Griffith - 38/56
Tie-Dye Snowman Card
Tie-dye was the DIY project of the summer. Bring a little of that warm weather fun into winter with this happy snowman, who sports a tie-dye-style scarf and buttons. You can also use the technique to do a tie-dye garland on a Christmas tree — it's great project for little kids and toddlers.
Happy Toddler Playtime - 39/56
Glittery Gold Card
Add an elegant touch to your Christmas cards with some gold leaf. You'll only need some cardstock, copper leaf and metal leaf adhesive (plus a printer and a pair of scissors).
Courtesy of BLDG 25 - 40/56
Magic Santa Card
Now you see him in color, now you don't! This fun illusion, made possible through a "magic" frame, will delight little ones.
Hello Wonderful - 41/56
Evergreen Wreath Card
Keep it traditional with this classic wreath Christmas card. Cut up an inexpensive plastic wreath or use sprigs of rosemary to make the teeny tiny wreath — take your pick.
Courtesy of Earnest Home Co. - 42/56
Photo Bunting Card
For a more memorable take on photo cards, use "action" shots of your family to create this totally fun bunting.
Delia Creates - 43/56
Sweet Stocking Card
This step-by-step tutorial walks you through the simple process of illustrating your own stocking with watercolor.
Life-athon - 44/56
String Art Card
A little retro, a little cute, these string art shapes are a great way to keep kids busy.
Hello Wonderful - 45/56
Stamped Scenery Card
Print up a stack of cards in no time flat (and no wasted printer ink) with a custom stamp, created by cutting out designs from a piece of foam.
Oh Oh Deco - 46/56
Fingerprint Tree Card
Send a cute, colorful greeting with a fingerprint tree that gets the whole family involved.
Mer Mag - 47/56
Pixel Pop-Up Card
This bold pop-up card will remind you of all those hours spent playing with LEGO blocks, or perhaps the old-school graphics of your first Nintendo system.
MinieCo - 48/56
Handprint Holly Card
Got a tiny one? Their adorable little hands make a cute "stamped" holly-like shape that everyone will cherish for years.
Learning Lessons In Mommyography - 49/56
Cupcake Liner Snowman Card
For an easy card you can make with kids, round up a few leftover cupcake liners for this snowman.
Crafts on Sea - 50/56
Light-Up Reindeer Card
While this does require a little more time and energy, this DIY card is worth it. The LED that creates the nose actually lights up!
Hideous Dreadful Stinky - 51/56
Sentimental Photo Card
A cut-out greeting transforms a favorite photo into a stunning card. Print out your favorite photo to get started!
The Wonderful Forest - 52/56
Repurposed Book Card
Need a new use for junk mail? Use text-heavy pages to make these Christmas trees.
Aunt Peaches - 53/56
Tech-Savvy Card
If your year deserves more than a newsletter, let the recipients of your well-wishes get a peek at a cute slideshow with a scan of their phone. This custom QR code tutorial will show you how!
Damask Love - 54/56
Reindeer Games Card
This adorable reindeer craft is so simple and easy, your kids can do most of it by themselves.
Easy Peasy and Fun. - 55/56
Bowtie Wreath Card
Bring out your inner child with pasta art. Think of it this way: A box of bowtie pasta gives you enough material to make dozens of festive mini-wreaths.
Crafty Morning - 56/56
Festive Felt Card
Though many think of it as a crafting material just for kids, felt is fabulous for holiday DIYs. It's inexpensive, it doesn't fray and it comes in so many colors. We love how the bright hues pop of these holiday felt shapes and felt letters pop against the brown kraft paper cards. You can buy pre-cut shapes, or DIY your own.
North Story (northstory.ca)
