A handmade card lands differently. Grandparents keep them on the mantel. Teachers pin them up by their desks. And kids remember making them long after the shop-bought cards have been recycled. These 18 DIY Christmas cards for kids are all cards to make and give, not general Christmas crafts that happen to use paper. Every one folds, opens, or stands up as a card, with room inside for a message.
The ideas below come from kids’ craft bloggers and makers who have actually made each card with children. Credit and a link to each creator’s own tutorial follow every idea, so you can see the full steps before you start. Pick by age and mess level: washi tape, sponge printing, and colour-in cards are calmest, while paint and handprint cards need a covered table. If your youngest is still happiest tearing and sticking, start with these Christmas paper crafts for toddlers first, then come back here when they want a card they can post.
1. Pop-up Christmas tree card
This card looks plain from the outside, then a coloured tree pops up when it opens. Kids colour and cut out the tree from the free template, then tape it onto the folded box cut into the card. An adult should cut the two slits for younger children and let them do the colouring and taping.
Idea and tutorial: Little Bins for Little Hands. Best for ages 6 and up. Mess level: low. You will need cardstock, paper, scissors, tape, markers, and the printable tree template.
2. Snow globe shaker card
A snow globe you can post. Kids colour the snow globe template, cut out the circle, and build a shallow pocket behind it with clear plastic and foam mounts. Sequins go inside the pocket, and a photo can sit behind them, so it shakes and sparkles when moved. An adult should help with the foam mounts so the sequins stay where they belong.
Idea and tutorial: Kimberly McLeod at The Best Ideas for Kids. Best for ages 6 and up, with adult help. Mess level: low to medium. You will need white cardstock, paint or markers, clear plastic sheets, foam mounts, small sequins, glitter paper, ribbon, and a photo.
3. Washi tape tree card
When time is short, this is the card to make. Kids tear or cut strips of washi tape, stick them on in longer and longer rows to build a tree, and add a star on top. A pencil outline helps younger children keep the shape, and older kids can try the snowflake, wreath, and gift designs from the same tutorial.
Idea and tutorial: Betty Choi at Chalk Academy. Best for ages 3 and up. Mess level: very low. You will need cardstock, washi tape, a pen or pencil, and ribbon if you want to tie the card.
4. Snowflake lacing card
This one doubles as first sewing practice. Kids mark out a snowflake on folded cardstock with a ruler, then lace coloured yarn through the lines with a big-eye needle, starting from the centre and working out along each arm. A pearl bead in the middle and a strip of washi tape round the edge finish it off.
Idea and tutorial: Artsy Craftsy Mom. Best for ages 7 and up. Mess level: low. You will need cardstock, coloured yarn, a needle with a large eye, a pencil, a ruler, scissors, and a bead or other small embellishment.
5. Watercolor snowflake card
White oil pastel snowflakes seem to appear out of nowhere when blue and purple watercolor goes over the top. Kids draw the snowflakes first, pressing hard, then paint over the whole card and watch the design show through. The same tutorial also covers a wet-on-wet tree and a salt-sprinkled angel card, so one paint session can produce three quite different cards. Test colours on scrap paper first, since they dry lighter than they look wet.
Idea and tutorial: Projects with Kids. Best for ages 5 and up. Mess level: medium. You will need watercolor paper or blank watercolor cards, watercolor paint, brushes, a white oil pastel, painter’s tape, and coarse salt for the angel version.
6. Handprint Santa and elf cut-out cards
No paint on hands for this one. Kids trace their own hand onto coloured cardstock, cut it out, and turn the shape into Santa with a belt or an elf with a collar. The handprint does the hard work, and the small paper details give each card its character. Add the child’s name and age on the back to turn a quick card into a keepsake.
Idea and tutorial: Stacey at Glued To My Crafts. Best for ages 3 and up, with help cutting. Mess level: low. You will need cardstock in red, green, and brown, scissors, a pencil, glue, and rhinestone stickers or other embellishments.
7. Potato-stamped reindeer card
A halved potato makes a neat oval stamp for a reindeer head, which is much easier for small hands than drawing one freehand. Kids press the potato into brown paint, stamp it in the middle of the card, and once it dries add a paper nose, googly eyes, and drawn antlers. An adult cuts the potato, and the used potato should be thrown away, not eaten.
Idea and tutorial: Stacey at Glued To My Crafts. Best for ages 4 and up. Mess level: medium. You will need white and red cardstock, a pre-folded card, a large raw potato, a knife for adult use only, brown paint, a paper plate, googly eyes, and a black marker.
8. Snowman handprint card
Each finger becomes a snowman in this card, which opens up along the handprint shape. Kids trace a hand with the little finger along the fold of the cardstock, cut it out, then give every finger a paper hat, a carrot nose, a fringed paper scarf, and buttons.
Idea and tutorial: Kimberly McLeod at The Best Ideas for Kids. Best for ages 4 and up, with help cutting. Mess level: low. You will need white and black cardstock, coloured cardstock for scarves, and black and orange markers.
9. Reindeer head card
This card is shaped like a reindeer head, so it stands out in a pile of envelopes. Kids print the template, fold and cut the head shape without cutting the top fold, then glue on the eyes, muzzle, nose, antlers, and ears. Check the antler spacing before the glue sets, or the card will not open properly.
Idea and tutorial: Sam at Simple Everyday Mom. Best for ages 4 and up. Mess level: low. You will need coloured cardstock or construction paper, scissors, a glue stick, and the reindeer card template.
10. Painted handprint cards
Paint goes on the hand here, not just on paper, so expect giggles and a trip to the sink. The tutorial paints the hand in sections to make a Santa, an elf, and a reindeer, then presses each print onto folded cardstock and adds marker details once dry.
Idea and tutorial: Messy Little Monster. Best for ages 2 and up, with an adult painting the hand. Mess level: high. You will need folded white cardstock, paint in green, white, skin tone, red, and brown, a paintbrush, and markers.
11. Sponge-printed tree card
Kitchen sponges cut into triangles do the drawing here. Kids dip the sponge in green paint, print a row of little trees along the bottom of the card, and glue on sequins and foil stars once the paint dries. Using three shades of green gives the trees depth. Print a batch, let them dry, then decorate them all at once.
Idea and tutorial: Emma Owl. Best for ages 3 and up. Mess level: medium. You will need kitchen sponges, green paint in two or three shades, a plate, cardstock or ready-made cards, clear glue, sequins, and foil stars.
12. Button cards
Four designs come from one tutorial, which makes this a useful one if kids want a set. Buttons glued in rows build a tree, buttons and a pipe cleaner make a snowman face with earmuffs, big buttons on drawn strings become ornaments, and rows of red buttons with white pom-poms make a Santa hat. Younger children should use strong non-toxic glue or glue dots instead of hot glue, and leave the cards to dry properly.
Idea and tutorial: Kimberly McLeod at The Best Ideas for Kids. Best for ages 5 and up. Mess level: low. You will need white cardstock, assorted buttons, a glitter foam star or gold glitter paper, orange cardstock, a red pipe cleaner, ribbon, pom-poms, and strong glue or glue dots.
13. Accordion-fold tree card
A green triangle folded like a fan gives this card a tree that stands proud of the page. Kids accordion-fold the triangle, glue it onto a white square, add a brown trunk and punched paper circles, then glue the whole square onto a folded red card. Small gems are easier than tiny paper circles for younger children.
Idea and tutorial: Chelsey at Buggy and Buddy. Best for ages 4 and up. Mess level: low. You will need construction paper in assorted colours, scissors, a hole punch, liquid glue, and pom-poms, sequins, or small gems.
14. Paper-strip scrap tree card
This is the card for the scrap paper box. Kids cut patterned paper, magazine pages, or wrapping paper into strips, stick them on longest to shortest to build a fir tree, then run thin lines of glue along each strip and sprinkle gold glitter over the top. Put a sheet underneath to catch the glitter for reuse. No two cards come out the same.
Idea and tutorial: Crazee Kids Art. Best for ages 5 and up. Mess level: medium, because of glitter. You will need coloured card, patterned paper scraps, a glue stick, PVA glue, scissors, and glitter with a sheet of paper underneath to catch it.
15. Cork-stamped ornament card
A cork dipped in paint stamps a round ornament shape with a slightly uneven edge. Kids use a circle stencil to place the ornaments, stamp inside it with different colours and corks, then glue on a gold pipe cleaner string and a twisted pipe cleaner bow. Stick to two or three close colours so overlapping stamps do not turn brown.
Idea and tutorial: Happy Toddler Playtime. Best for ages 3 and up. Mess level: medium. You will need cardstock folded into a card, washable paint, corks, a paper plate, scissors, something round to trace, and gold pipe cleaners.
16. Q-tip pointillism tree card
Everything on this card is dots. Kids draw a light triangle, then use a cotton bud dipped in paint to dot the outline, the lights, and the fill, with one cotton bud per colour so the dots stay clean. The tutorial explains pointillism in plain terms, so kids learn why the dots work.
Idea and tutorial: Coffee and Carpool. Best for ages 6 and up. Mess level: low to medium. You will need cardstock, cotton buds, paint in green, red, yellow, gold, and blue, a pencil, and coloured pencils for the message.
17. Gingerbread man card
A gingerbread man with a Santa hat, built from paper pieces. Kids print and cut out the template, glue on the eyes and mouth, build the hat from its fluff and pom-pom, then add icing decorations on the arms and legs and icing buttons down the middle.
Idea and tutorial: Sam at Simple Everyday Mom. Best for ages 4 and up. Mess level: low. You will need coloured cardstock or construction paper, scissors, glue, and the gingerbread man card template.
18. Colour-in gingerbread house card
The simplest card here, and sometimes the best one for a tired afternoon or a classroom of mixed ages. Kids print the gingerbread house design, colour it in with crayons, pencils, or markers, fold it, and write a message inside. Use cardstock, which holds the fold better than printer paper.
Idea and tutorial: Crafts on Sea. Best for ages 3 and up. Mess level: very low. You will need the printable gingerbread house card PDF, white paper or cardstock, and coloured markers, pencils, or crayons.
Supplies and mailing tips
Most of these cards share the same base kit: white and coloured cardstock, scissors, a glue stick, markers, and paint. Buy cardstock in a pack for a batch, and check envelope sizes before you start. A card folded from a full sheet will not fit a standard envelope.
Let paint and glue dry fully before cards go into envelopes. Button, shaker, and pom-pom cards should go in a padded envelope or be handed over in person. Add the child’s name and the year on the back.
Keep scissors and needles in adult hands for younger children: the lacing card needs a real needle and the potato stamp needs a kitchen knife. Use washable paint and a plastic tablecloth, and supervise glue guns and hot glue.
Frequently asked questions
What age can kids start making DIY Christmas cards?
Most children can join in from around age 3 with washi tape, sponge printing, and colour-in cards, with an adult doing the cutting. From 5 or 6, many can manage pop-up, watercolor, and button cards. Lacing and pointillism suit ages 7 and up.
How early should kids make Christmas cards?
Start in late November if cards need posting, especially overseas. Paint and glue need a full day to dry, and a batch takes several sessions. Two or three cards per session keeps it fun.
What paper works best for handmade Christmas cards?
Cardstock, not printer paper, which tears and soaks through. White cardstock around 100 lb holds paint, glue, and buttons without buckling. For watercolor cards, use watercolor paper or blank watercolor cards.
How do you keep handmade cards flat enough to post?
Flat designs travel well in a standard envelope. Keep button, shaker, and pom-pom cards for hand delivery or a padded envelope, and let glue dry before posting.
Can kids make these cards in a classroom?
Yes, with the right picks. Washi tape, sponge printing, colour-in, and paper-strip cards suit a whole class. Handprint, potato stamp, and watercolor cards need more help and drying space. The lacing card is better as a take-home activity.
What should kids write inside a handmade Christmas card?
A short, specific message beats a long generic one: “Merry Christmas, Grandma. I made this tree card for you. Love, Ava.” Older kids can add one memory from the year. Sign and date the back.
A card worth keeping
Start with one card for the person who will keep it longest, usually a grandparent or a teacher, and let the child choose the design. The paper-strip and washi tape cards are easiest to repeat for the rest of the list. For more paper ideas in the same spirit, see these easy Halloween paper crafts for kids, which use many of the same folding, printing, and sticking skills with an autumn theme.
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