49 Awesome DIY Holiday Cards

If there’s one thing you’re going to hand-make this holiday season, avoid the generic store-bought Christmas cards and opt for one of these creative ideas.

1. Instagram Photo Cards

Get the tutorial here.

Source: sayyestohoboken.com

Another variation on the Instagram card.

Source: content.photojojo.com

2. Craft Paper Cards and Envelopes

Get the tutorial here.

Source: sweettidings.blogspot.com

3. Pop-Up Christmas Tree Cards

Get the instructions and free printable here.

Source: styleathome.com

Add bunting on string.

Source: littlepaperbird.blogspot.com

4. Washi Tape Christmas Trees

Source: scraptime.ca

Or use pieces of leftover ribbon.

Source: chezlarsson.com

5. The Hole-Punch Wreath Card

If you have a couple sizes of hole punchers, you can easily make this graphic wreath card from colored paper.

Source: curbly.com

6. The 3-D Poinsettia Card

This card is made from construction paper and rhinestones.

Source: styleathome.com

7. The Metallic Snowflake Stamp Card

This motif requires some rubber snowflake stamps and a metallic stamp pad or metallic paint.

Source: cardsbyzuma.com

Source: leftoverqueen.com

8. The Machine-Sewn Card

Source: amyalamode.com

9. Fingerpaint Christmas Cards by the Kids

A fun art project for the little ones.

Source: ardorblog.com

10. The Cut-Out Tree Card

Get the directions here.

Source: ashbeedesign.com

11. Glitter and Bark Holiday Card

The pattern comes from a printable you can find here.

Source: tatertotsandjello.com

12. The Tiny Doily Card

Get the directions here.

Source: mygirlthursday.com

13. The Hand-Sequined Christmas Card

Get the tutorial here.

Source: smittenandhazel.com

14. Felt and Fabric Christmas Cards

Use pinking shears and any fabric scraps.

Source: makeitdear.blogspot.com

Another fabric scrap design.

Source: mypapersecret.blogspot.com

15. A Gingerbread House–Decorating Party Invitation

Directions are here.

Source: onecharmingparty.com

16. The Holly Card

Instructions are here.

Source: marthastewart.com

17. The Paper Loop Card

This isn’t a card you want to mail, however — the loops will get crushed. You could always use ribbon instead.

Source: ashbeedesign.com

18. A Simple Wreath Holiday Card

Be sure to include the string so it can be reused as an ornament or gift tag.

Source: frolic-blog.com

19. Colorful Button Cards

There’s no DIY for this, but you creative types should be able to figure it out on your own.

Source: michellephilippi.com

Another cute button-card idea.

Source: foundnowhome.blogspot.com

Source: scrapperia.blogspot.com

20. The Glittery Reindeer Card

Stencil a design on paper and fill with glitter. Use extra-hold hairspray to seal glitter.

Source: bliss-athome.com

21. Super-Simple Stitched Cards

You could also use these as gift tags.

Source: aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com

22. The Pixel Pop-Up Card

Kind of the coolest card ever. Instructions are here.

Source: minieco.co.uk

23. The Ribbon Christmas Tree Card

Source: vk.com

24. The Adorable Drying Mittens Card

Get the instructions here.

Source: spoonful.com

25. The Stamped Handkerchief Christmas Card

Get the directions here.

Source: allieruthdesign.blogspot.com

26. The Embroidered Christmas Card

Even a super-simple design can look totally adorable using this technique.

Source: cfabbridesigns.com

Use a stencil and hand-stitch the lines.

Source: thesmashable.com

Source: cfabbridesigns.com

Source: cfabbridesigns.com

27. The Clever Reindeer Pop-Up Card

This one takes a little skill.

Source: marthastewart.com

28. The 3-D Geometric Christmas Card

Use the free printable to create this Christmas card.

Source: blog.hgtv.com

29. Photo-Lined Envelopes

Find the tutorial here.

Source: sweetpaulmag.com

30. A Simple Geometric Stamped Card

Use yarn wrapped around a wooden block to achieve this design. Green, red, or metallic ink will turn a simple pattern into a Christmas motif.

Source: printpattern.blogspot.com

31. The Embroidery Floss Tree Card

Video tutorial below.

Source: curbly.com

Source: sunset.com

Video available at: http://vimeo.com/17071199.

Source: vimeo.com

32. Doily Money-Holder Card

Get the directions here.

Source: rhonnadesigns.blogspot.com

33. A Christmas Card Idea for the Kids

The shape is made by tracing your hand.

Source: goodideasandtips.com

34. The Fabric Pen Christmas Card

The design shown here is for a book cover, but you could easily adapt it to fancy cardstock for a Christmas card.

Source: abeautifulmess.typepad.com

35. Photobooth Strip in a Box

Include a photobooth-strip photo of your family and some candies in each package.

Source: simplyradiant.blogspot.com

36. The Ruffled Christmas Card

The scalloped effect was achieved by using a Martha Stewart hole punch.

Source: etcetorize.blogspot.ca

37. Rickrack Christmas Cards

These cards use that wavy trim you can find at most craft stores.

Source: marthastewart.com

38. The Simple Moose Christmas Card

All you need is a template and some pretty paper or fabric.

Source: whatscrafting.com

39. Envelopes Made from Wrapping Paper or Magazine Pages

Source: marthastewart.com

40. The Hand-Drawn Card

41. Thumb-Print String of Lights Card

Source: beneaththerowantree.blogspot.com

42. Gold-Edged Envelopes

Follow this tutorial to make these tastefully edged envelopes.

Source: 100layercake.com

43. DIY Christmas Stamps

Requires some tools, but you could ostensibly keep these around forever. Get the tutorial here.

Source: luloveshandmade.blogspot.com

44. The Super-Sparkly Christmas Card

Source: ramblingbrooke.com

45. Easy Felt Holiday Cards

Source: laxtoyvr.blogspot.com

46. The Reindeer Card

Source: styleathome.com

47. The Paint-Chip Christmas Card

Cut shapes out of paint chips and glue onto card stock.

Source: hersutah.com

Source: stetlerarts.blogspot.com

48. The Colorful Nail Polish Card

Source: hellogiggles.com

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=a2_SzNlo9EA.

Here’s the video tutorial.

Source: youtube.com

49. The Goofy/Artsy/Heartwarming Family Photo Card

The Paper Mama has a few good photo ideas.

Source: thepapermama.com