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33 Handmade Christmas Card Ideas to Make for Friends and Family

Show off your DIY skills with these crafty cards.

By Jessica Mejia and
christmas cards made from white paper and washi tape that is cut into the shape of christmas treespinterest
Becky Luigart-Stayner for Country Living

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While you're officially out of time for ordering Christmas gifts or mailing cards to get to your friends and family on time, it's not too late for a quick DIY card to add to your presents. Hand-deliver these cards to friends and family, or add them as festive toppers for your wrapped gift. They're sure to love the extra effort you put into making their gift extra-special.

If you're looking for a fun project to keep the kids busy, these DIY Christmas cards are the perfect idea. You can likely make them using supplies from your craft closet, and they won't make much of a mess. Plus, the grandparents and aunts and uncles will love the extra touch a sweet handmade card adds.

And of course, you don't need to DIY every element of your gifts. Even a store-bought Christmas gift for Mom or an inexpensive best friend gift can get upgraded when you tack on a handwritten card. Not sure what to write? Check out our Christmas card message story for over 100 ideas.

1

Fingerprint Candy Cane Cards

handcrafted greeting cards with candy cane designs on brown paper
Becky Luigart-Stayner for Country Living

Looking for an activity to keep the kids busy as you're doing last-minute wrapping and backing? These candy cane cards are cute and functional.

To make: Cut cards from brown Kraft paper. Use pinking shears to cut decorative edges, if desired. Dip the tips of your fingers in red, then white paint and dab on the front of the card making a candy cane shape. Once dry hot glue a small bow to each candy cane.

2

Oversize Wreath Card

craft supplies arranged around a handpainted christmas wreath on brown paper
Becky Luigart-Stayner for Country Living

This fun card will serve as a holiday decoration for years to come. The bow is a festive three-dimensional touch.

To make: Cut a large piece of kraft paper and fold it into a card (you can also make the design on the paper, then use the paper to wrap a present). Dip the tip of a scrub brush in green acrylic print and dab on the paper, creating the wreath; allow to dry. Clean the brush (or use a second one) and dip the tip in white acrylic paint. Gently add “snow” to the wreath. Use red acrylic paint and a round-tipped paintbrush to add ornaments. Once dry, add a bow and greeting.

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3

Washi Tape Cards

christmas cards made from white paper and washi tape that is cut into the shape of christmas trees
Becky Luigart-Stayner for Country Living

These sweet cards can be made last-minute and work perfectly as gift tags.

To make: Cut pieces of washi tape and attach it to a plain gift card so that it’s shaped like a trees. Hot-glue a tiny piece of tinsel to the top of the tree to create the tree topper. If using as a gift tag, punch a small hole in one corner and tie to gift with twine.

4

Natural Wreath Card

card family photo with spanish moss wreath and ribbon accent along the bottom of the card
BRIAN WOODCOCK

Send greetings from the kids or the whole family by making this photo card with it's natural Spanish moss wreath accent.

To make: Cut a black-and-white photograph of the kids, pets, or the entire family in a circle; glue to the front of a plain card. Attach lengths of Spanish moss around the picture with hot glue to create a wreath. Attach a mini bow to the bottom of the wreath with hot glue. Add a ribbon and rick rack flair to the bottom of the card.

SHOP SPANISH MOSS

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5

Greetings from Fido

diy photo card
BRIAN WOODCOCK

Send love from your furry family member this year with this easy DIY photo card.

To make: Cut a small round hole in the front of a plain greeting card. Glue a picture to the inside of the card so that it is centered in the opening (you can glue a piece of corresponding color paper over the back of the picture to create a clean finish, if desired). Use a light gray watercolor marker to draw a snowy road around the picture. Cut out trees, cars, and truck from holiday-themed wrapping paper and glue to the card. Attach a short length of ribbon and additional wrapping paper decoration just below the picture.

SHOP WRAPPING PAPER

6

Star-Topped Felt Tree Card

diy christmas card made from felt with a christmas tree and button ornaments
BRIAN WOODCOCK

Soft just like the new slippers you got from Santa, this card is made entirely of felt with button ornament accents.

To make: Cut a rectangle from white felt; fold in half to make a card. Cut a tree from green felt and star from yellow felt; glue to the center of the front of the card. Cut letters (you can either freehand them or draw the letters on with a pencil first). Glue letters below the tree. Glue on colorful mini buttons to mimic ornaments.

SHOP FELT

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7

Bird on a Perch Card

tissue paper bird on a diy holiday card
BRIAN WOODCOCK

This sweet fella will chirp out a holiday greeting to all of your loved ones this season.

To make: Paint a branch on a plain card with brown craft paint. Tear a bird shape from red tissue paper and glue to the card just above the branch, leaving enough room for legs. Once dry, use a fine point black marker to draw on legs, a wing, an eye, and a beak. Glue a piece of ribbon along the fold edge of the card for extra flair.

SHOP BLACK MARKER

8

Rudolf Sends His Greetings Card

rudolf made from cork on a diy xmas card
BRIAN WOODCOCK

Send a bright red greeting from Rudolf, everyone’s favorite spreader of holiday cheer.

To make: Half a small craft cork. Use a black marker to draw on eyes and eye lashes. Attach a mini red pompom with glue. Glue cork to the front of a plain card. Use a fine tip brown felt marker to draw antlers and add a greeting. Add a ribbon flair to the fold edge of the card.

SHOP CORKS

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9

Cute as a Button Card

diy christmas cards made with buttons
BRIAN WOODCOCK

Transform the humble button into a festive greeting by using them to decorate the outside of an easy-peasy DIY holiday card.

To make: Glue small buttons in the shape of a wreath or snowman to the outside of a plain card. Loop a mini scarf, trimmed if necessary, under the button body and head of the snowman before attaching buttons; glue down ends of scarf to the card. Attach a hat, made from black felt with glue. Glue a tiny bow made from thin red ribbon to the wreath. Write a seasonal saying, if desired.

SHOP BUTTONS

10

Handmade Cards

handmade christmas tree cards
Country Living Staff

A sweet alternative to store-bought cards, these greetings put your tree-decorating skills to work—on a small scale.

Send a bright red greeting from Rudolf, everyone’s favorite spreader of holiday cheer.

To make:
Download our illustration, and print in color onto 8 1/2- by 11-inch card stock. Fold the stock in half lengthwise, creasing with a bone folder.

For the card at top left, attach small bugle beads and paillettes to the tree (use craft glue for all designs).

To replicate the middle version, cut out ornaments (made by tracing a button), a tree base, and a star from patterned fabrics and adhere.

Make the last card by zigzagging a length of ribbon across the tree. Fold the ends under and glue, then try other widths of ribbon to craft a base, star, and gift. Or use your imagination, and whatever supplies you have on hand, to make your own one-of-a-kind cards.

SHOP WHITE CARDSTOCK PAPER

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11

Christmas Cocoa Gift Card Holder

christmas cocoa gift card holder diy
Damask Love

Say it with hot chocolate (and a gift card)! This adorable gift card holder is simple to make, and it's an easy way to elevate any last-minute gift.

Get the tutorial at Damask Love.

SHOP GIFT CARDS

12

String Art Christmas Card

string art diy christmas card idea
Hello, Wonderful

Got some yarn scraps lying around? Turn them into DIY Christmas cards with a few quick steps, and prepare to impress all your friends.

Get the tutorial at Hello, Wonderful.

SHOP PONY BEADS

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13

Rudolph Christmas Card

diy christmas reindeer card idea for kids
Easy Peasy and Fun

Rudolph, the red-nosed...Christmas card! This sweet DIY will delight your friends and your kidsparticularly if you let them in on the crafting fun.

Get the tutorial at Easy Peasy and Fun.

SHOP GREEN CARDSTOCK

14

Pom-Pom Wreath Card

diy christmas card ideas  pom pom wreath card
The Joy of Sharing

It doesn't get any more low-maintenance than glueing a circle of pom-poms on to a card! Thankfully, this easy-peasy Christmas card design is still super pretty.

Get the tutorial at The Joy of Sharing.

SHOP CHRISTMAS POM-POMS

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15

Washi Tape Card

washi tape christmas present christmas card idea
Team Colors by Carrie

The simple gift design of this DIY washi tape card takes mere minutes to make, but the effect is still so fun and festive.

Get the tutorial at Team Colors by Carrie.

SHOP HOLIDAY WASHI TAPE

16

3D Christmas Tree Card

diy 3d christmas tree christmas card
One Little Project

When a flat design doesn't feel festive enough, give this easy-to-fold 3D paper Christmas tree card a whirl instead.

Get the tutorial at One Little Project.

SHOP COLORED PRINTER PAPER

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17

Fingerprint Lights Card

diy christmas card ideas  fingerprint lights
The Joy of Sharing

This colorful Christmas card makes for a fun kid-friendly activity, as each bulb is painted with a fingerprint.

Get the tutorial at The Joy of Sharing.

SHOP NON-TOXIC FINGER PAINT

18

Stamped Christmas Card

stamped christmas card diy
Oh Oh Deco

As if DIY-ing your Christmas cards wasn't impressive enough, this one features handmade stamps. That's right: Every single aspect is made by you!

Get the tutorial at Oh Oh Deco.

SHOP INK PADS

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19

Photo Garland Christmas Card Idea

photo garland diy christmas card idea
Delia Creates

Here's a fun, quirky update to the classic family photo Christmas card. Paper doll-esque, cut-out versions of your family members make this version way more fun (and hilarious too).

Get the tutorial at Delia Creates.

SHOP INSTAX CAMERAS

20

Geometric Christmas Card Envelopes

geometric envelope christmas card diy
Laura Dominguez [Laura D. Photography] / Camille Styles

Why limit your creativity to the card itself? Here, a geometric, fold-your-own envelope adds a fun, unexpected flourish to any handmade card.

Get the tutorial at Camille Styles.

SHOP ORIGAMI PAPER

Lettermark
Charlyne Mattox
Food and Crafts Director
Charlyne Mattox is Food and Crafts Director for Country Living.
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