Spending most time at home means more DIY opportunities and working on new skills you never have the time to do. The benefit is that you have the freedom to create anything your heart desires in any way imaginable and you can save some cost of having someone to create it for you. Since Christmas is just around the corner, why not make your own Christmas cards to channel your creativity this year? The Paperlust team has compiled a list of DIY Christmas cards for you. It’s time to get your creative juices flowing!
1. Stitched Shape Handmade Christmas Cards
Stitched shape cards are a fun and easy way to personalize your handmade Christmas cards. All you need is some fabric cut into the desired size and shape (we used heart!), plus enough thread to attach it to the card. Make sure to use a large needle especially when you are using a thick card. You can pre-print the texts on the paper, otherwise, feel free to handwrite them!
2. Washi-tree DIY Christmas Cards
Don’t have anything but washi tape from that DIY project last year? You can simply build a Christmas tree out of different sizes (and colours) washi tapes! Add handwritten notes under the “tree” and voila! Your very own homemade Christmas card is ready to hand out.
3. Fall Leaves DIY Christmas Cards
If you do not have washi tape or stitching skills, nothing can go wrong with dried fall leaves glued to a white card. It’s very simple, cute and you can use different shapes of leaves to make each recipient special! If you have access to a home printer, you can print the wishes on it or just handwrite it if you want to make the Christmas card 100% DIY!
4. Buttons Custom Made Christmas Card
Another easy idea for Christmas cards is these handmade crafty button cards. Find some leftover buttons or use some from your almost worn-out tartan shirts, and simply glue them onto the paper. Draw some hanging threads and write your own message under them. Tip: Never use a glue stick or tape to attach the buttons. Use a small amount of super glue so it can sit perfectly on the paper. You can consider a thicker card so it won’t be easily damaged by the glue.
5. Deer Fingerprint Christmas Card Ornament
Now is the time to get the whole family involved in the making! These funny Christmas card ideas are very fun to do. Get everyone to put their thumbprint on the cards, let it dry and draw a deer head out of it. Make sure you got a red marker to mark the mouth area to add Christmas vibes!
6. Origami Homemade Christmas Cards
The next fun handmade Christmas card idea is bringing back origami games from our younger years. The easiest shape we suggest is this Christmas tree, but make sure to use three different coloured paper so it looks prettier. Furthermore, if you’re confident enough with your folding skills and want to try something more complicated, creating Santa’s head or Christmas socks would be the perfect challenge!
7. DIY Photo Christmas Card
A Christmas card does not need to be something new and freshly printed. If you have a recent printed photo of your family from the holiday, just write your message on it, don’t forget to sign with love to make it even more personal and voila! You just did the easiest Christmas card photo ideas. Tip: since photo paper is too glossy for an ink pen, make sure you use a ballpoint pen to avoid smudges!
When it comes to DIY, the sky’s the limit. You can never be wrong to add anything to make your cards even more special. Now that we’ve shown you how to make Christmas cards from the things you can easily find at home, why don’t you start thinking about which one you will make? Nothing looks easy until it is done. So, good luck!
More Handmade Christmas Card Ideas for 2026
Beyond the classic handmade approaches, here are fresh Christmas card concepts that balance personal craft with professional results.
Linocut or rubber stamp printed cards: Hand-carved lino or rubber stamps pressed in red or deep green ink on cream cardstock create genuinely beautiful one-off cards. Each impression is slightly different – which is the whole point. The imperfection is what makes them feel handmade. A simple wreath, star, or Christmas tree design carved once can print 50 cards with a consistent but organic look.
Watercolor wash backgrounds with printed text: Paint a loose watercolor wash in seasonal colors (forest green and gold, deep red and pine, icy blue and silver) on white cardstock, let it dry completely, then write or print your message over the top. The painted background is the artistic element; the text is clean and legible. This hybrid approach is faster than fully hand-lettered cards and looks genuinely beautiful.
Photo collage with handwritten captions: Print a 4×6 collage of your year’s best moments on cardstock (most photo apps let you create collage layouts for free). Write a short caption on the back – not a full year-in-review letter, just a few sentences about what mattered most. Personal, visual, and takes 15 minutes per card.
Pressed botanicals: Collect and press leaves, small flowers, and herbs in autumn (press for 2 weeks under heavy books). In December, arrange them on cardstock and secure with a small dot of PVA glue. A simple greeting handwritten below. Each card is literally grown in your garden. Browse Paperlust’s ready-to-send Christmas card collection if you want professional print quality with the same personal touch.
When Printed Christmas Cards Beat Handmade Ones
Handmade Christmas cards are wonderful – but there’s a guest list threshold beyond which handmade becomes unsustainable. Here’s how to think about the right approach for your situation.
Handmade works for: Guest lists under 30. Cards for the most important people in your life – the ones who will immediately recognize the extra effort. Households with children who want to be involved in making the cards.
Professionally printed works for: Guest lists over 50. Businesses sending corporate Christmas cards. Families who want a beautiful family photo card without hand-assembling each one. People who want consistent, high-quality results without hours of crafting.
The hybrid approach: Order professionally printed cards for the main list, then hand-embellish a smaller batch for the inner circle – add a wax seal, tie a small piece of ribbon, or slip in a handwritten note. You get professional consistency at scale with handmade warmth where it matters most.
Paperlust’s Christmas cards offer 500+ designs, digital proofing in 1 to 2 business days, and fast shipping Australia-wide via overnight Startrack. For custom labels on Christmas gifts, hampers, or food parcels, custom labels from Paperlust Print Shop add a coordinated personal touch to your whole festive presentation.
Christmas Card Timing: When to Order and Send
Christmas cards are one of the most time-sensitive print items of the year – postal networks clog in December and international deliveries need significant lead time.
International recipients: Cards to the US, UK, and Europe should be sent by late November to guarantee December 25 arrival via standard post. Express international shipping buys some time but costs significantly more.
Domestic recipients: Order and send by mid-December for standard delivery. Express options are available for last-minute orders.
Order timeline: Allow 1 to 2 weeks from ordering to receiving your printed cards (production time + delivery), plus time for addressing and posting. Order by late November for comfortable timing. Earlier is always better – Christmas card supplies and design availability both become limited as December approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make handmade Christmas cards?
Watercolor washes, rubber stamp or lino printing, pressed botanicals, or photo collage with handwritten captions. Choose one technique and master it for a consistent batch.
When should you send them?
International recipients: late November. Domestic: mid-December. If ordering printed cards, order by late November to allow production and delivery time.
What do you write?
Something specific to the recipient – a shared memory, a wish for something specific ahead, or a brief personal update. Two specific sentences outperform any generic greeting.
How many should you send?
Personal: 30 to 80 cards. Business: 50 to 500+ depending on your client and partner network.
Christmas Card Design Trends for 2026
Christmas card aesthetics have moved decisively away from clip-art holiday imagery. Here’s what defines the 2026 Christmas card landscape.
Photography-led minimalism: A single, well-composed family photo on a clean white background with simple serif typography. No borders, no ornate elements – just a great image and a heartfelt greeting. Works because the photo does all the work; the design gets out of the way.
Botanical and natural motifs: Pine branches, cedar sprigs, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks – illustrated or photographed in a flat lay arrangement. Earthy, seasonal, and far more distinctive than generic snowflake or holly designs.
Bold typography cards: Large-format lettering – “JOY”, “MERRY”, or the family name in display type – as the primary design element. Strong contrast (black ink on cream, white on deep forest green, gold foil on navy) makes these cards visually striking and memorable.
Whether you create your own or order professionally designed cards, a Paperlust Christmas card arrives beautifully printed on premium stock with proofing in 1 to 2 business days. The best Christmas card is the one that actually gets sent – so whether you’re crafting 20 by hand or ordering 100, start earlier than you think you need to.
I really like Christmas cards but homemade by children are a million times better. Thank you very much for sharing!