Christmas is a time of giving, and greeting cards are a very important
part of giving and receiving. Enlist the help of the kids and enjoy spending time together, while you put love and thoughtfulness
into each and every card.
First, you'll want to come up with some ideas of what you'd like the Christmas
cards to look like. Choose colors and themes, and then draw or write on a piece of paper what
the card will say and look like.
Once you've decided on a card "template," it's time to gather your supplies
together. Make a list and go to your local craft store to get everything you need.
You'll most likely want to have glue sticks, glitter, card stock, or other
thick paper, and anything else you'll need to make your Christmas cards.
You can print the message you want to use for the card onto the actual
paper, and use this as the "base card." Choose the font and color of your message as well as the location, and then
print this onto the card stock paper for each card you plan to make.
After the cards are printed, fold them in the manner you prefer, whether
it's top-to-bottom or side-to-side, or even a little fold-over section for the top if you're making a card with this
style.
The fun part of making your own Christmas cards is the personalized decorations....
Or, if you're gluing different colored paper or letters, etc., onto the
card, it's time to go ahead and start cutting them out and getting them ready to glue to the cards.
Once you have enough shapes or letters in the paper style and color you
need, go ahead and glue them to the fronts and insides (if need be) of the card. Make sure they are applied securely.
You could use paints or crayons to draw a simple holiday-themed picture,
use a decorative holiday stamp or stencil to create the base picture, or cut out pictures from old Christmas cards, magazines,
or newspapers to glue to the front of your card.
Add glitter, stickers, shaped brads (these can be found at most craft
stores), or even photos... the choice is yours. No matter what you choose, be sure it's a reflection of your style and that
it shows others how much you love the lucky recipients.
If you're using wet glue, be sure it has dried thoroughly before moving
on to the next step along the way.
Use your creativity and make the most unique Christmas cards ever. Let
it become a family tradition, and come up with new card ideas to make by hand each year....
