Christmas Crafts: Homemade Christmas Card Ideas

If you're looking to save money and give something meaningful this Christmas, homemade Christmas cards are the way to go. To make them really special, set up a craft table and have you kids make them. Make sure the cards will fit in the envelope you have selected, and write a greeting both on the front and inside the Christmas card.

Homemade Photo Christmas Cards

Take some construction paper and a favorite picture of yourself, your kids, or your whole family. Carefully spread craft glue on the back of the photo. Apply it to the front of the Christmas card. Have your kids draw a decorative frame around the picture in crayon or colored pencil.

Another great photo Christmas card idea is to draw or make snowmen, angels, presents or Santas on the front of the card. Then cut out just the heads from an extra copy of your favorite photos. Glue the heads on the figures in the card so that it looks like you're a family of snowmen, or of angels or presents or Santas.

Homemade Pop-Up Christmas Cards

Print out this free Christmas tree pop-up card template on heavy paper, such as construction paper. Also print out the page which follows. Color the tree with crayons or colored pencils. Use the end of a paper clip to create a perforation on all dotted lines. Carefully cut out the card. Fold the card in half with the printed side facing outward, and cut the tree along the solid black lines. Fold each separate segment of the tree along the dotted line, then push backward into the card. When you're finished cutting out the tree, glue it onto the second print-out.

Kids' Art Christmas Cards

Let your kids show off their talent on the front of your Christmas card. Have them draw Santa, or a snowman, or a Christmas tree, or a reindeer on the front of the card. Encourage your kids to get creative and draw whatever they like. This is an especially great Christmas card project to send to grandparents. They love to receive personalized cards created personally by their grand-kids. They'll appreciate them far more than store-bought cards.

Homemade Christmas E-Card

Save on paper by sending an e-card for Christmas. Take a picture of your whole family with a digital camera. Import the image into your favorite image processing software program. I use Paint Shop Pro. Use the text tool to place a Christmas greeting over the picture. Make sure that the image is large enough to hold the greeting. Then just send it in an e-mail. This is a great way to make sure that your Christmas greeting arrives just when you want it to.

Ornament Christmas Card

Have your kids make a paper ornament. Use construction paper, sequins, ribbon, wrapping paper, and glitter to create the ornament. Use anything that will lay flat inside the card when it's through. Have your kids make a Christmas card to send, and enclose the ornament within the card.

Christmas Carol Card

Make a picture of carolers on the front of your card stock. It doesn't matter if it's a little rough-hewn. This will add to the charm of the card. Use colored pencils to color the carolers; they're better than crayons or markers. Add some cut out scraps of fabric to dress them up. Inside, print the lyrics to a favorite Christmas carol. Add a few chords if your recipient is musically inclined. Calligraphy is a great way to make your card look really beautiful, if you know how to do it.