Do you need a quick and simple idea for a handmade Christmas card? I will show you how with my latest creation. Keep reading!
The women’s group in my church sponsors a Christmas card exchange each year to raise funds for the Lottie Moon mission work. I love this activity because it allows me to help out a worthwhile mission while indulging my handmade Christmas card interest.
The people who want to participate sign up. One of the ladies provides everyone on the list with a list of participants. Every participant sends a Christmas card to everyone on the list by giving the signed and addressed cards to the women’s group. The women’s group charges 10 cents to “deliver” the cards to participants.
Right up my alley. Yes!
But! (There’s is always a ‘but’).
Challenges
Sometimes the participant list is long. Which is great for the fundraiser, but it can be challenging for me since I want to send handmade Christmas cards rather than store-bought ones.
It is challenging because often the participant list is long (50+ names). Making handmade cards can be a time-consuming process.
The Christmas cards I showed you how to make in my previous posts would take much too long to make in such quantities. So I needed a simpler design.
In truth, I go through this each year. I make a couple of cards with different designs, but they take too long, so I search for a simpler design.
This handmade Christmas card comes together quickly and uses basic supplies.
For your convenience, I included affiliate links which means I may make a commission, but it won’t cost you any more. Read my entire disclosure here.
Materials For A Handmade Christmas Card
- Cardstock in 65 lb or heavier (I used 110 lb) for base (I chose green)
- Cardstock in 65 lb, white
- Scrapbook paper, Christmas-themed
- Christmas or winter stamps (image and sentiments) with acrylic blocks (if you don’t already have them)
- Inkpad, black
- Colored pencils
- Double-sided tape
- Envelopes
- Liquid pearls (optional)
Cutting guide
- Base 8.5 x 5.5 inches
- Accent paper, 3 x 3 ¾ inches
- Stamped rectangle, 2 ¾ x 3 ½ inches
Step-by-Step Instructions For A Handmade Christmas Card
Cutting and folding
- Cut your base. I used green 110 lb cardstock for my base. This is a heavy cardstock and gives more heft to your finished card. Choose whatever color you like, but I would not go with a really dark color because your sentiment and message on the inside of the card will be hard to read unless you line it with white paper.
Since my cardstock was 8.5 x 11 inches, I just need to cut each sheet in half on the long side. Fold each cut rectangle in half, so that the folded card measures 4.25 x 5.5 inches.
I have to be honest here, getting a crisp fold is much more difficult with heavyweight cardstock! Go slowly. I used my bone folder to make a crisp fold.
- Cut your accent paper to 3 x 3 ¾ inches. This paper should complement your base layer. I used a red plaid that is reminiscent of the buffalo plaid that is so popular right now. You can’t see much of it – just a hint – but it adds character to the card. It allows the card to look ‘on trend.’
I ran out of the plaid accent paper, so I finished up my cards with red paper with white snowflakes. Choose whatever you like. You can also go with a solid color if you prefer.
- Cut the white cardstock to 2 ¾ x 3 ½ inches. You will be stamping your image onto this cardstock. If your image is smaller, you could adjust the size of this rectangle. If you do, you may want to adjust the size of your accent paper, too.
Stamping and adding color
- Use the black inkpad to ink your stamp. If using acrylic blocks, add your stamp to the block before inking. If your stamp is already mounted on a wooden block, you can begin with inking.
Stamp the image in the center of your cardstock. Don’t rock the stamp! Apply even pressure.
- Using the colored pencils, color in all or just parts of the image. Since I was making so many, I opted to only color parts of my image. I colored the child’s clothing and the snowman’s scarf. This also made the image ‘pop’ a bit more.
It would also be fine to not color any of it – just leave it as a black and white image. This would also save time.
- If you have time and if you like the look, you can gently tear the bottom edge of the stamped image. This, of course, provides more depth to your handmade Christmas card, but it also takes more time. I started out doing this, but quickly abandoned the torn edge because of time!
- If using Liquid Pearl, apply the drops to the parts of the stamped image that you want to accent. I added it to some of the snowflakes near the top of the image and to the fur on the child’s hat (the band and ball). Lay aside to dry.
NOTE: If time is a factor, you can omit the Liquid Pearls in step 7 since they require a little time to dry.
Layering
- Time to layer up! Add two pieces of double-sided tape (or use craft glue), to the backside of the stamped image. I placed my tape on the top and bottom of the backside. Center the stamped image on top of the accent paper and press down to stick.
Repeat this taping process with the accent paper, so that you tape the accent layer to the base layer. Add the accent layer more toward the top of the base layer rather than centering it. You need space at the bottom for a sentiment. Press firmly to make sure that all pieces are affixed well.
- Stamp a sentiment underneath the stamped image, near the bottom. Stamp another sentiment inside the card, centering it on the right side of the card.
- Sign, address, and mail (or hand-deliver) your simple, beautiful handmade Christmas card!
This is a handmade card that you can make fairly quickly, so if you have a long list of folks on your Christmas card list, this is the perfect card to make.
Options For Saving More Time
You also have options to make it even quicker. If you have less time, then skip the Liquid Pearls since they need time to dry. You can also skip the coloring portion and just use a black-and-white stamped image.
If you don’t want to skip coloring, but are short on time, enlist the help of family. My husband helped me with the coloring! Yes, he really did!
Options If You Don’t Have Stamps
If you want to make a handmade Christmas card, but you don’t have stamps, then you could use clip art instead of a stamped image. You would need to print your clip art then cut around it or cut it in a rectangle shape to fit in your accent rectangle.
You also don’t have to use sentiment stamps. Omit the front sentiment altogether and then hand-write a custom sentiment inside./
You could also use a word-processer to type a sentiment or two and print them out. Then use double-sided tape to add them to your card.
Takeaway
Making handmade Christmas cards doesn’t have to be complicated or take a really long time. Use a simple Christmas stamp or clip art and warm sentiment to create a fabulous card. This is a great project if you need to make lots of cards as I did for my church. Merry Christmas, folks!
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Additional Reading
