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45 Beautiful DIY Christmas Cards You Can Easily Make at Home

The simplest way to spread holiday cheer.

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You finally captured the perfect photo of you and your squirmy baby in matching holiday pajamas for your annual Christmas card, but it's going to cost more than $100 to print enough for your friends and family. And to make matters worse: The bundle might not get there in time if you didn't plan far enough ahead. You could just close your eyes, hit purchase, and cross your fingers—or you could make the cards yourself.

DIY Christmas cards aren't as hard—or time-consuming—as they sound. It's a fun holiday activity, and with a little guidance, even the most elegant ideas are pretty easy to make at home. You can choose from free printable photo templates and card ideas that only require a printer loaded with ink and paper (use cardstock paper for the best results!). Or you can opt for a more unique method—like using a Cricut machine or a finger paints to make a baby handprint "tree" that's complete with fun button ornaments.

Whichever route you go, one thing is for sure: Your beautiful DIY Christmas card is sure to do just what it's meant to, and that's bring a smile to your loved one's face during the holidays.

1

Pop Up Christmas Card

pop up christmas card
A Piece of Rainbow

The outside of this card is pretty enough, but the inside is what makes it really unique. When your recipient opens the card, they'll uncover a stunning pop up poinsettia.

Get the tutorial at A Piece of Rainbow.

SHOP CARDSTOCK

2

Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal Card

diy christmas card
Fox and Hazel

Take a funnier approach to holiday cards with this printable watercolor inspired by the classic Christmas movie Home Alone.

Get the printable at Fox and Hazel.

SHOP ENVELOPES

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3

EEJamesStationery Rustic Christmas Card Making Kit

Rustic Christmas Card Making Kit
Credit: Etsy.com/EEJamesStationery

Get the custom feel of homemade Christmas cards without all the effort of gathering the right supplies. This kit includes all of the paper you need to assemble mix-and-match holiday cards. 

4

3D Christmas Tree Cards

3d christmas tree cards
One Little Project

A free template guides you through the folding process. And when you're done, the eye-catching design folds completely flat, so you can stick it in an envelope.

Get the tutorial at One Little Project.

SHOP RHINESTONES

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5

Happy Holidays Poinsettia Card

happy holidays card
Fox and Hazel

You don't need any painting skills to create artful DIY Christmas cards—just a printer and a pair of scissors.

Get the printable at Fox and Hazel.

SHOP ENVELOPES

6

Paint Chip Christmas Card

paint chip christmas card
One Little Project

Paint chips are a unique and simple way to design gradient Christmas trees for homemade cards. Just cut them into triangles of varying sizes and decorate with sequins or glitter.

Get the tutorial at One Little Project.

SHOP SEQUINS

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7

Graphic Printable Card

graphic printable card
Lovely Indeed

Instead of splurging on Christmas stationery, print these graphic cards at home—for free.

Get the tutorial at Lovely Indeed.

SHOP BLANK CARDS

8

Paper Cut Card

paper cut card
Persia Lou

For a cool paper cut design, you'll need a cutting machine—but the result is well worth the investment, especially if you are someone who likes to craft all year round. Plus, it couldn't be easier: You simply download the free file and print.

Get the tutorial at Persia Lou.

SHOP CRICUT

9

DIY Coloring Page Card

diy coloring page card
Lemon Thistle

Print these holiday-inspired coloring pages, fold into a card, and then let the recipient reap the therapeutic benefits. (A real gift in itself!)

Get the tutorial at Lemon Thistle.

SHOP CARDSTOCK

10

Watercolor Cards

watercolor cards
Persia Lou

Believe it or not, you don't need any artistic skills to DIY these elegant Christmas cards. Simply paint around letter stickers, then peel them up to reveal a nice, crisp message.

Get the tutorial at Persia Lou.

SHOP LETTER STICKERS

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11

Modern Handlettered Card

modern handlettered card
Lemon Thistle

Don't have the best handwriting? Don't worry! Simply download a free PDF to trace or decoupage onto seasonal paper for a festive, professional-looking Christmas card.

Get the tutorial at Lemon Thistle.

SHOP SCRAPBOOK PAPER

12

Santa Claus Card

santa claus card
White House Crafts

A cutting machine, like the Cricut, makes it even easier to assemble this cheerful Santa. However, with a steady hand, you could achieve a very similar result.

Get the tutorial at White House Crafts.

SHOP CRICUT

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13

Christmas Tree Shadow Box Card

christmas tree shadow box card
Jennifer Maker

All you need is spray adhesive and colorful paper to create this beautiful multi-dimensional card that is sure to wow any recipient.

Get the tutorial at Jennifer Maker.

SHOP CARDSTOCK

14

Family Bunting Christmas Card

family bunting christmas card
Delia Creates

Family cut-outs strung on a piece of baker's twine is a funny and unique twist on the traditional Christmas card.

Get the tutorial at Delia Creates.

SHOP BAKER'S TWINE

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15

Watercolor Christmas Socks Card

watercolor christmas socks card
Life-athon

Dig out your watercolors, and use this elegant card as a reference to create your own seasonal greetings.

Get the tutorial at Life-athon.

SHOP WATERCOLORS

16

Coloring Page Card

coloring page card
Persia Lou

Print free holiday-inspired coloring pages, then attach them to greeting cards using foam squares to make the beautiful design really pop.

Get the tutorial at Persia Lou.

SHOP FOAM SQUARES

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17

Wooden Decals

wooden decals
The Craft Patch

You can easily create an array of unique cards using mini laser cut wooden shapes and a little bit of craft paint.

Get the tutorial at The Craft Patch Blog.

SHOP WOODEN SHAPES

18

Gift Card Holder

gift card holder
Printable Crush

For an A+ in presentation, download this printable gift card template. After that, the only thing you need to do is use a craft knife to cut a spot for the card.

Get the tutorial at Printable Crush.

SHOP CRAFT KNIFE

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19

Paper Nutcracker

paper nutcracker
Love the Day

This is another unique handmade card that's possible to free-hand, but made much easier with a cutting machine.

Get the tutorial at Love the Day.

SHOP CRICUT

20

The Grinch Handprint Card

the grinch handprint christmas card
I Heart Arts n Crafts

Memorialize your baby or toddler's handprint with a card that's sure to make anyone's heart grow at least two sizes.

Get the tutorial at I Hearts Arts n Crafts.

SHOP NON-TOXIC PAINT

Headshot of Brigitt Earley
Brigitt Earley
Contributing Writer

Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.

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