20 Handmade Holiday Cards

Get crafting to create a holiday card friends and family are sure to remember. From cards the kids can make to three-dimensional greetings that combine multiple techniques, we've got you covered.

By: H. Camille Smith

Related To:

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Photo By: Clara MacLellan

Photo By: Picasa ©ten22 studio 2013

Photo By: Karen Kavett

Photo By: Picasa ©ten22 studio 2013

Photo By: Karen Kavett

©ten22 studio | Rennai Hoefer

Photo By: Karen Kavett

First, Brush Up on Etiquette

Like so many things in life, there are do's and don'ts when it comes to when and how to send holiday cards. Our handy guide breaks down the accepted timeline (surprise: you should have them ready to send earlier than you may have thought!), plus provides guidance if you, like so many of us, are postage procrastinators.

Learn More: Holiday Card Etiquette 101, Plus What to Do If You Missed the Deadline

Send 'Em Farmhouse-Style Warm Fuzzies

Send warm and cozy greetings to friends and family this holiday season with one of our down-homey designs. We've done most of the hard work; just download one (or all!) of these sweet styles, print onto card stock and add a personalized greeting.

Get Our Free Printables: 4 Free, Printable Country Christmas Cards

Or, Make It Mod

Surprise friends and family with this cute, three-dimensional card. Graphic chevron, trellis and polka-dot patterns + traditional Christmas colors = a hip card that really pops. Our easy tutorial, below, and printable templates will make assembling this card a breeze.

Get the How-To: Handmade Christmas Tree Card

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Craft a Family Photo Card

Embellish our free printable template with a favorite family photo surrounded by a glitzy, glittered frame to create a holiday greeting they'll treasure for many years to come.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Handmade Holiday Photo Card

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Or, Celebrate Life as a Singleton

Afterall, why should marrieds have all the photo card fun? Our free printable template plus photo-editing tips, below, will make it easy to turn a playful snapshot into a punny photo card.

See More Photos: 10 Christmas Cards for Single People

Kids' Craft: Santa Holiday Card

Our free printable template and tutorial, below, make crafting this cute card a snap, even for the littlest crafters. Just print out the design, then let the kids go to town embellishing it however they'd like.

Get the How-To: Kids' Craft: Printable Santa Holiday Card

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Repurpose Potatoes

Raid your produce drawer for the raw materials (pun intended) necessary to create one-of-a-kind stamps you and the kiddos can use to design sweet sentiments to send to friends, family and neighbors.

Get the How-To: Handmade Potato Stamp Christmas Cards

Send 'Em a Smile

Who can resist this adorable llama decked out in pearls and a Santa hat? Certainly not your pun-loving pals. Just print our oh-so-trendy design onto card stock, sign and send. Make it extra special by adding a bit of glitter to the llama's hat for seasonal sparkle.

See More Photos: 15 Free, Printable Christmas Cards Everyone Will Love

Add Some Colorful Felt Pennants

This charming handmade card gets its vintage-inspired look from layers of patterned paper. A trendy (and easy-to-create) felt pennant adds the perfect finishing touch.

Get the How-To: Handmade Holiday Card With Colorful Felt Pennants

DIY the Envelope, Too

Dollar store poster board or leftover card stock can be used to create a custom envelope for your crafty card. To create a template, just unfold a standard envelope and trace onto your paper of choice, then cut out. Bring the four corners together, securing the edges with a glue stick. For a festive finishing touch, add a bit of colorful ribbon.

Send a Snowy Sentiment

What would the holidays be without a little snow? Send warm-climate friends and family an interactive holiday shaker card with a magical falling-snow effect.

Get the How-To: Falling Snow Holiday Shaker Card

Go 3-D

This graphic three-dimensional card is sure to impress — but it's much easier to make than you may think. Our free printable templates and tips, below, make crafting one a snap.

Get the How-To: Handmade Modern Ornament Holiday Card

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Send 'Em a Wee Tree

Layers of patterned paper and felt give this card texture and a three-dimensional look that makes it a holiday card standout.

Get the How-To: 3-D Felt Christmas Tree Card

Or, a Flock of Flamingos

In some tropical regions, we hear Santa's sleigh is pulled by a team of flamingos. No word if the lead bird has a glowing red beak, tho. For an easy last-minute card, just print our free, punny design, then customize with a personal sentiment and let these flamingos take flight.

See More Photos: 15 Free, Printable Christmas Cards Everyone Will Love

Craft a Classic

Forget store-bought, mass-produced Christmas cards. Show friends and family how special they are with this vintage-inspired handmade holiday card. Break out the old sheet music and get crafting with our tutorial, below.

Get the How-To: Vintage Sheet Music Handmade Christmas Card

From: Marian Parsons

Kids' Craft: Add Cozy Embellishments

This easy-to-craft card is the perfect way for kids to let grandparents or distant relatives or friends know that they're thinking of them. Just print our free template, then embellish with a bit of yarn or twine.

Get the How-To: Yarn-Embellished Holiday Ornament Card

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Have Fun With Felt

These easy felt cards come together in a snap and their soft texture and bright colors ensure they'll stand out from the pack. To create, use pinking shears to cut a 5" x 7" dark-gray felt rectangle for each card. Next, cut colorful felt into assorted holiday-themed shapes and glue onto the felt base. Finish by stitching on holiday greetings which have been printed onto paper. Image courtesy of Melanie Blodgett.

Or, Repurpose a Pine Cone

Go scavenging in your backyard to source a pine cone to lend a rustic, textural touch to this charming handmade card. Get all the details, below.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Bird and Branch Holiday Card

From: Marian Parsons

Celebrate Their Inner Craftiness

Crafty folks tend to have crafty friends — who'd appreciate a crafty card, like this one. Just print out our free template, below, then embellish however your crafty little heart desires.

See More Photos: 15 Free, Printable Christmas Cards Everyone Will Love

Make It Festive

Layer ribbon and fabric trims to create a colorful piñata-inspired handmade Christmas card.

Get the How-To: Feliz Navidad Handmade Holiday Card

Pop Goes the Card

Delight friends and family with this easy-to-create holiday card with a pop-up message tucked inside.

Get the How-To: Handmade Pop-Up Christmas Card

20 Handmade Holiday Cards

Related To:

Shop This Look

First, Brush Up on Etiquette

Send 'Em Farmhouse-Style Warm Fuzzies

Or, Make It Mod

Craft a Family Photo Card

Or, Celebrate Life as a Singleton

Kids' Craft: Santa Holiday Card

Repurpose Potatoes

Send 'Em a Smile

Add Some Colorful Felt Pennants

DIY the Envelope, Too

Send a Snowy Sentiment

Go 3-D

Send 'Em a Wee Tree

Or, a Flock of Flamingos

Craft a Classic

Kids' Craft: Add Cozy Embellishments

Have Fun With Felt

Or, Repurpose a Pine Cone

Celebrate Their Inner Craftiness

Make It Festive

Pop Goes the Card

More from:

Handmade Holidays

How to Make No-Knit Christmas Sweater Stockings

How to Make a Felt Cover for a Smart Phone or Tablet

Feliz Navidad Handmade Holiday Card

Handmade Modern Ornament Holiday Card

Handmade Holiday Card With Colorful Felt Pennants

Falling Snow Holiday Shaker Card

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