Simple DIY Christmas Card Ideas

Christmas is just right around the corner and with the season for joy, love and happiness getting closer the mailbox will start to pile up with those favorite Christmas cards from your friends and family all over the country. Every year you head to the store and stock up on boxes of store bought cards that have no character, and with each year that passes, these cards are starting to get more expensive. This year, more then ever, we need to find ways to cut the cost of our Christmas spending and on top of that we can add a little homemade touch to the Christmas card giving. Below you will find two different Christmas card ideas I have that are simple and easy for you to do at home.

Christmas Card - Photo Option
So, have you, in years past, taken the whole family down to the fancy photographer studios and got the family picture made. It ends up costing you over hundreds of dollars once it is all said and done with. You do all this just to add an up-to-date family photo in your Christmas card. This year, scratch that completely and try this new idea.

Get another family member to take an action family shot of your family in your yard, or at a family gathering, or even during a Halloween event. Use that fun family photo, upload it over at www.walgreens.com. Enhance the picture by fixing the auto contrast, and flash fill with their photo editing option and then check out their Christmas cards that allow you to paste your photo in the card. They have over 40 to 50 different styles of Christmas card photo themes you can choose from. Some of them allow you to use only one photo, however, there are some themes that allow you to use up to four different pictures.

After you have chose the right theme template for your Christmas photo card, and the pictures are inserted, then add some text that has a Merry Christmas statement. For example, the saying I used last year was "Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. Love Ben, Amy, and Gabe". Then place your order. You can get up to 20 photo-cards for less then $15 and that includes the envelopes as well. If that cost to much for you, head over to www.retailmenot.com and search for Walgreen's photo coupons. When the time gets closer they will have alot of discounts on their Christmas photo cards. You can either pick the Christmas cards up in the store on your next shopping trip, or have them mailed to you at a small fee. The second option with mailing is great for the ones who do not have a Walgreen's store close to them.

Christmas Card - Stamp Option
You do not see the need in having a family photo card made, but you still want to have a personal card that is great on your budget and simple to make. I have a great idea that includes stamps. At Walmart, or any local hobby store, you can pick up stamps and ink to use. They usually have Christmas stamps all year round like a Christmas tree, presents, angels, and candy canes. Buy one or as many as you like and get different colors of stamping ink as well. I suggest green, red, and white. Another great suggestion is to look in those stores for initial stamps like the letters A, B, or C and so on. Find a larger size stamp with your last name initial, like S for Smith.

Now, get as many sheets of construction paper as you will need for the amount of cards you will send. White is great, however if you want, green and red is good too. Just remember do not use the same color paper with the same color stamp. You do not want to have green paper and a green stamp. The colors will just blend.

At your hobby store or Walmart they have detailed scissors in the craft section that cut decorative lines in your paper. Find a pair that is a classic design. Fold your construction paper in half, like a card, and then cut the 3, non-folded edges with the decorative scissors. After you have completed that, either take the stamps of the Christmas items and design the card on the front with different stamps or, take the initial stamp and put your last names initial on the front. With a ruler (to help with the straightness) draw a dark, thick, black line around all 4 sides of the initial to create a box around the letter. This is very simple and classic. Inside the card use a poster marker, or glitter marker to write your message.

I hope I have given you some motivation on your next Christmas card. Keep it simple, and if you do not use the ideas I provided for you, check out your local craft, or hobby store for workshops on how to create simple do it yourself cards!