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. Most people display their Christmas cards, and yours will be sure to stand out.

1. Instagram Photo Cards

sayyestohoboken.com

Get the tutorial here.

content.photojojo.com

Another variation on the Instagram card.

2. Craft Paper Cards and Envelopes

sweettidings.blogspot.com

Get the tutorial here.

3. Pop-Up Christmas Tree Cards

styleathome.com

Get the instructions and free printable here.

littlepaperbird.blogspot.com

Add bunting on string.

4. Washi Tape Christmas Trees

scraptime.ca

chezlarsson.com

Or use pieces of leftover ribbon.

5. The Hole-Punch Wreath Card

curbly.com

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

6. The 3-D Poinsettia Card

styleathome.com

This card is made from construction paper and rhinestones.

7. The Metallic Snowflake Stamp Card

cardsbyzuma.com

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

leftoverqueen.com

8. The Machine-Sewn Card

amyalamode.com

9. Fingerpaint Christmas Cards by the Kids

ardorblog.com

A fun art project for the little ones.

10. The Cut-Out Tree Card

ashbeedesign.com

Get the directions here.

11. Glitter and Bark Holiday Card

tatertotsandjello.com

The pattern comes from a printable you can find here.

12. The Tiny Doily Card

mygirlthursday.com

Get the directions here.

13. The Hand-Sequined Christmas Card

smittenandhazel.com

Get the tutorial here.

14. Felt and Fabric Christmas Cards

makeitdear.blogspot.com

Use pinking shears and any fabric scraps.

mypapersecret.blogspot.com

Another fabric scrap design.

15. A Gingerbread House–Decorating Party Invitation

onecharmingparty.com

Directions are here.

16. The Holly Card

marthastewart.com

Instructions are here.

17. The Paper Loop Card

ashbeedesign.com

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

18. A Simple Wreath Holiday Card

frolic-blog.com

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

19. Colorful Button Cards

michellephilippi.com

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

foundnowhome.blogspot.com

Another cute button-card idea.

scrapperia.blogspot.com

20. The Glittery Reindeer Card

bliss-athome.com

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

21. Super-Simple Stitched Cards

aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com

You could also use these as gift tags.

22. The Pixel Pop-Up Card

minieco.co.uk

Kind of the coolest card ever. Instructions are here.

23. The Ribbon Christmas Tree Card

vk.com

24. The Adorable Drying Mittens Card

spoonful.com

Get the instructions here.

25. The Stamped Handkerchief Christmas Card

allieruthdesign.blogspot.com

Get the directions here.

26. The Embroidered Christmas Card

cfabbridesigns.com

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

thesmashable.com

Use a stencil and hand-stitch the lines.

cfabbridesigns.com

cfabbridesigns.com

27. The Clever Reindeer Pop-Up Card

marthastewart.com

This one takes a little skill.

28. The 3-D Geometric Christmas Card

blog.hgtv.com

Use the free printable to create this Christmas card.

29. Photo-Lined Envelopes

sweetpaulmag.com

Find the tutorial here.

30. A Simple Geometric Stamped Card

printpattern.blogspot.com

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.

31. The Embroidery Floss Tree Card

curbly.com

Video tutorial below.

sunset.com

vimeo.com

32. Doily Money-Holder Card

rhonnadesigns.blogspot.com

Get the directions here.

33. A Christmas Card Idea for the Kids

goodideasandtips.com

The shape is made by tracing your hand.

34. The Fabric Pen Christmas Card

abeautifulmess.typepad.com

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

35. Photobooth Strip in a Box

simplyradiant.blogspot.com

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

36. The Ruffled Christmas Card

etcetorize.blogspot.ca

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

37. Rickrack Christmas Cards

marthastewart.com

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

38. The Simple Moose Christmas Card

whatscrafting.com

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

39. Envelopes Made from Wrapping Paper or Magazine Pages

marthastewart.com

40. The Hand-Drawn Card

41. Thumb-Print String of Lights Card

beneaththerowantree.blogspot.com

42. Gold-Edged Envelopes

100layercake.com

Follow this tutorial to make these tastefully edged envelopes.

43. DIY Christmas Stamps

luloveshandmade.blogspot.com

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

44. The Super-Sparkly Christmas Card

ramblingbrooke.com

45. Easy Felt Holiday Cards

laxtoyvr.blogspot.com

46. The Reindeer Card

styleathome.com

47. The Paint-Chip Christmas Card

hersutah.com

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

stetlerarts.blogspot.com

48. The Colorful Nail Polish Card

hellogiggles.com

youtube.com

Here's the video tutorial.

49. The Goofy/Artsy/Heartwarming Family Photo Card

thepapermama.com

The Paper Mama has a few good photo ideas.