50+ Christmas card ideas for a homemade Christmas

There's just something special about receiving a handmade Christmas card, the time, thought and effort are always appreciated. Not only that, creating your own cards is much more cost-effective.

In this round-up, you'll find our favourite Christmas card ideas from right here on Gathered, plus lots from a range of talented crafty creators.

The projects included in this roundup are all suitable for beginners and are easy to make. If you're already crafty it's likely you'll have the materials in the cupboard at home! If you're new to card making we'll show you some amazing Christmas card kits.

Jump to:

• 13 Easy Christmas card ideas to make
• 8 Unique Christmas card ideas to make
• 25+ Printable Christmas card ideas
• 7 Christmas card ideas for kids
• 18 Christmas card kits

13 Easy Christmas card ideas to make

1. Snow globe Christmas cards

Choose from six gorgeous snow globe-inspired designs to add a touch of sparkle to your greetings cards this year.

Using one free snow globe template that can be downloaded from Gathered, you can create a variety of fun designs, and we're sure you'll find a style that you love.

You'll also find a helpful step-by-step guide showing you exactly how to put the cards together.

Find the Snow globe Christmas cards

2. Chocolate coin card

Make these sweet Christmas cards which when opened contain a chocolate coin as an extra surprise. Download the free Santa template, free penguin template and free polar bear template to get started.

Each design contains a small pocket that can be attached with sticky foam pads and concealed when the character’s arms are folded.

Find the Chocolate coin card

4. Sloth Christmas cards

If you want to take things slow, wind down the crafting pace with these delightful printables for sloth Christmas cards, free to download!

Once you have downloaded your free papers you just need to decide how to use them, luckily for you, we've included four ways to use the sloth paper for your Christmas cards!

Find the sloth Christmas cards

3. Christmas bauble paper

Turn these delightful free printable papers into your favourite Christmas card designs. If you've already got an idea of what you want to create but want to add that extra touch of festive to your work, these papers might just be what it needs!

Find the Christmas bauble paper

4. A-Z fold Christmas card idea

Download our free White Christmas printable papers, toppers and sentiments for making up your Christmas cards this festive season.

In the guide, you'll find the free download, plus a simple-to-follow how-to to make these lovely folding cards. These are a bit different and will certainly impress your friends and family.

Find the A-Z fold card

5. Vintage DIY Christmas cards

Using our free vintage Christmas patterned papers you can create these timeless cards for your friends and family to treasure.

You can download the patterned papers and get inspired by our six ways to use them, creating lovely and unique cards.

Get the Vintage Christmas cards

6. Christmas jumper cards

This pretty DIY Christmas card can be created using our free Christmas jumper printables available right here on Gathered!

Once you have downloaded your papers, you can follow along with our easy tutorial.

Find the Christmas jumper cards

7. Box ledge DIY Christmas card

This cute DIY Christmas card can be created in a few simple steps once you have downloaded our free Santa's Workshop printables.

Once the card comes together the layering technique almost makes it seem 3D! It's a really lovely card and we think it would go down a treat with the kids this Christmas.

Find the box ledge Christmas card

8. Christmas party card idea

To make these homemade Christmas cards, get your hands on our free fairy light patterned paper, which is bright and colourful and makes a really big impact on your Christmas card crafting.

We love the exciting design of this card, and it's super simple to make, just follow along with our easy step-by-step guide.

Find the Christmas party card + patterned papers

9. Snow scene homemade Christmas cards

This is a creative take on the traditional gatefold card. The two triangular flaps overlap to hide the stag when closed, revealing him when the recipient opens the card.

This is a very simple card, ideal for beginners to learn about layering papers, or for experienced crafters who are looking for quick and easy card ideas for Christmas.

Plus download the free winter woodland printables and get started today!

Find the snow scene DIY Chirstmas cards

10. New York homemade Christmas cards

Know someone who loves the Big Apple? Make them this delightful DIY Christmas card using a set of papers and toppers designed by Naomi Hocking, which truly brings the magic of the city into your creations.

Find out exactly how to make this card and download the free patterned papers today.

Find the New York DIY Christmas cards

11. Poinsettia DIY Christmas cards

The poinsettia is a classic symbol of Christmas and creates gorgeously bright Christmas cards. The red, green and gold colour scheme looks beautiful when paired with a kraft card as your card base, or why not brighten things up and go for a bright red card base?

Find the free printable paper and more inspiration right here on Gathered

Find poinsettia DIY Christmas cards

12. Jolly Santa Claus DIY Christmas cards

Get your free Santa Claus patterned paper to create cards with a traditional, cosy feel that complements the imagery and colours in the set.

The muted tones are sure to work well with other items in your stash, too, such as ribbon, metal charms and brush script sentiment stamps.

Choose from three delightful designs, and get making!

Find the Jolly Santa Claus DIY Christmas cards

13. Cute DIY Christmas cards

If you're looking for just some classic brightly coloured Christmas paper to make your cards with, you've come to the right place!

If you already know what you're doing and have decided on your design, then simply download these free cute Christmas patterned papers, and get crafting.

Find the Cute DIY Christmas cards

8 Unusual Christmas card ideas

Christmas cards don't have to be simply printed and cut, they can be made in many other more unique ways! Choose the one that showcases your creativity.

14. Christmas doorway cross stitch card

If you want a learn a new skill whilst creating your own DIY Christmas cards then this cute cross stitch might just be the project for you!

This charming cross stitch pattern is suitable for beginners, so even if you haven't tried cross stitch before, this would be a great place to start. You can download the pattern for free right here on Gathered.

Find the Christmas doorway cross stitch card

15. Winter owl cross stitch DIY Christmas cards

Snuggle up and stitch these adorable owl Christmas cards, perfect for even the novice stitcher. These are great for anyone looking to combine crafts and maybe learn something new.

You can then mount your stitching in a simple white aperture card and decorate it with sequins for a touch of seasonal sparkle.

Find the winter owl cross stitch card

16. Sparkly bauble cross stitch card

Another great project for beginner stitchers and papercraft lovers alike!

Super-quick and easy to stitch, you’ll have a batch made up and ready to send to friends and family in no time.

Download and start stitching the Sparkly bauble cross stitch card

17. Candy cane easy DIY Chirstmas cards

These candy cane cards might look tricky but they're actually just lots of card circles layered on top of each other. If you have a die-cutting machine, this will be a super quick make for you.

Even if you don't have a die cutter, as long as you have some scissors and something circular to trace around, you'll be set!

Find the Candy cane easy DIY Chirstmas cards from It's Me JD

18. Washi tape DIY Christmas cards

These adorable and super easy DIY Christmas cards can be whipped up in no time and will impress!

You can use any washi tape you have. These festive ones look particularly good, but you can use glittery tape or shiny tape to get the same effect.

Find the Washi tape DIY Christmas cards from Omiyage Blogs

19. Free printable DIY Christmas cards

What a wonderful idea these colour-your-own Christmas card printables are! Give your recipient a moment of calm and quiet as they take on the therapeutic task of colouring in their own cards.

Find two gorgeous designs to choose from and print for free from Lemon Thistle.

Find the Free printable DIY Christmas cards from Lemon Thistle

20. Stitch your own DIY Christmas cards

You don't need any previous sewing experience to create these cute cards! They are really easy to complete and you can follow along with the helpful tutorial.

These are great for a festive crafting day, get your friends and family involved!

Find the stitch Christmas cards from A Spoonful of Sugar Designs

25+ Printable Christmas card ideas

Looking for a quick last-minute Christmas card? Check out our mega round-up of over 25 free printable Christmas cards! Head over there to browse through our full list!

For now, here's a beautiful free printable Christmas card design to give you a taste:

26. Happy Holidays printables for DIY Christmas cards

Download these delightful printables designed by Fox and Hazel and create your very own professional-looking Christmas cards, what's even better is they can be downloaded for free!

You'll find four designs to choose from, a mixture of styles, so we're sure you'll find something you love.

Find the Happy Holidays printables from Fox and Hazel

7 Christmas card ideas for kids

Looking for Christmas cards to send to kids? Or maybe a homemade Christmas card that kids can make themselves? Browse through our lovely collection of Christmas card ideas for kids.

If you're looking for printable colouring pages and more printable Christmas cards for kids make sure you have a look at our Christmas printbales for kids.

27. Santa DIY Christmas cards

These Santa cards are super easy to make and really effective and cute! You'll only need a few materials and you'll be able to whip these up in no time!

Follow along with the easy tutorial, you might even want to get the little ones involved in making these.

Find the Santa DIY Christmas cards from Kate's Creative Space

28. Pipecleaner DIY Christmas cards

Make an impact with your Christmas cards this year and create these simple, yet elegant DIY Christmas cards that will surely impress your friends and family.

Only a few supplies are needed and you can get the full tutorial from Buzzfeed.

There's also lots more inspiration for easy DIY Christmas card ideas for you to take a look at while you are there.

Find the Pipecleaner DIY Christmas cards from Buzzfeed

29. Button DIY Christmas cards

Create these simple yet fun Christmas cards with only a pen and some buttons!

The colourful string of lights is minimal but really cute and unique. You'll need a glue gun for this one.

You can follow along with the quick and easy tutorial, plus get other button Christmas card ideas.

Find the Button DIY Christmas cards from My Frugal Christmas

30. Little hands DIY Christmas cards

This is a fab idea, and great to give to the grandparents this Christmas! Get the kids involved with decorating this cute card, they will have lots of fun.

Find the Little hands DIY Christmas cards from Little Moppet.

31. Cute reindeer Christmas card idea

This charming reindeer is super simple to make with the free template, there's even a video to show you how to assemble it. This one will be a lovely festive activity to do with your little ones.

Get the Reindeer Christmas card idea by Simple Everyday Mom.

32. Paper strips Christmas card idea for kids

This charming card idea is perfect for little ones. Simply cut thin strips of paper and assemble them into a tree shape.

Get the full tutorial for these Christmas tree cards at Jane Can.

33. Fingerprint cards for kids

We know kids love getting messy, so these fingerprint cards are a fun way to keep them entertained over the festive break.

Get the full tutorial for these fingerprint Christmas cards from Be a Fun Mum

15+ DIY Christmas card kits

Do you want to take your Christmas card making to the next level? Check out some of these amazing Christmas card making kits, packed full of everything you'll need to create all of your cards this year (and probably for next year!).

We've chosen our favourite stockists, and kits to show you. For the full round-up check out our 15 amazing Christmas card kits.

34. Ginger Bread house DIY Christmas card kit

This adorable kit from Baker Ross will delight your friends and family this Christmas time. You can mix and match the contents to create your very own unique gingerbread house!

The pack contains enough material to make six cards. Embrace your inner child and create these wonderful houses, or you can actually get the kids involved because it's also suitable for little hands.

35. DIY Christmas cards stamp set

It's not a full card making set, but stamps are so versatile, so if like us, you have lots of scrap paper at home you can easily spruce it up into Christmas cards using these fun stamps.

In the set, you'll receive 16pcs Christmas stamps and 4pcs ink pads, so you won't run short on combinations!

36. Mega 500-piece DIY Christmas card kit

If you want to make a tonne of Christmas cards at a low cost, this kit is a must-have! It doesn't contain the actual card but all of the embellishments you could think of!

From pom poms to buttons to goggly eyes, there are so many types of Christmas cards you could make with this set, the possibilities are endless.

Homemade Christmas cards to make the festive season even easier

Save both money and time by sending your own homemade Christmas cards. That's not even the best part though, your friends and family will be delighted to know you've handmade their card. It makes them extra special.

It's also very fun and creative!

Keep the homemade Christmas vibes going

If you're thinking that making your own Christmas cards is an amazing alternative to shop-bought cards, you'll love our round-up of free Christmas printables. With over 50 free printables to download you can decorate your home and beyond for next to nothing!