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how to make best holiday cards ever

How To Make Your Best Holiday Cards Ever

It may feel like summer just ended, but the holiday season is right around the corner. Snow will fly, halls will be decked, waistbands will expand, and holiday greeting cards will start arriving in your mailbox in droves.

The key to a stress-free holiday season is preparation. Finishing your shopping, planning your meals and family events, and sending your holiday cards early in the season can all help reduce your holiday stress and leave you free to enjoy the magic of the season.

Getting your holiday cards ready to send doesn’t have to be a trying or tedious process. If you’re tight for time, holiday stationery sets are an excellent option for sending beautiful traditional or contemporary holiday cards, but if you’re ready to flex your creative muscles, try sending a homemade card! It’s never been easier to create your own holiday missives.

8 Tips for Creating Your Own Holiday Cards

When you send a homemade holiday card, you send more than greetings and good tidings. The extra energy you put into creating a beautiful homemade card adds to the depth and sentimentality of your message, and your loved ones are sure to appreciate your special effort.

Before you get crafting, here are our tips for creating your own holiday cards:

  1. Send your cards as early as possible to make sure they arrive by the start of the holiday season, even if there are post office delays. Aim to send your cards in late November or early December.
  2. Always include a return address. That way, your recipients will instantly know who sent them such a beautiful card, and they’ll be able to send you a thank you.
  3. Make multiples of the same card. Don’t feel obligated to create a special design for each recipient! Making multiples of the same design can save you valuable time, especially if you’re sending cards to a large number of people.
  4. Herb Wreath Holiday CardsIncorporate texture. Embroider designs, use fabric swatches or felt, or even create wreaths out of herbs. Using different materials adds texture and dimension to your cards without adding time and effort.
  5. Simple can be striking. Don’t worry about creating intricate, detailed designs. Instead, focus on simple design elements and sentiments. Try using Kraft paper and embellishing it with simple holiday-themed elements. Keep reading to see our favorite homemade card designs.
  6. Use your scraps! Homemade holiday cards are the perfect canvas for using up your paper scraps. Try punching circles or other shapes out of your paper scraps and creating holiday shapes like wreathes or trees using the cutouts.
  7. Experiment with different colors. Pastels, metallics, and other unconventional shades make for striking holiday cards. Try this pastel green flat or folded card.
  8. Keep your messages short. Not only will this save you time, but your recipients will appreciate your brevity as well. Holiday cards are not the place for a 1000 word update on your most recent family vacation.

Making Your Own Holiday Cards: Essential Supplies

The best way to cardmaking streamline the process is by starting with precut and folded greeting cards. Not only does this save you the hassle of sizing, cutting, and folding your own cards, but your cards will look more polished when you’re done.

Here are some of our best-selling blank greeting cards:

Flat Cards

Flat cards are a trendy option for your holiday greeting cards, and they’re a great choice if you’re short on time because you only have to design one surface.

Try using these flat cards:

White

White is a classic, versatile choice for holiday cards.

Arturo White Flat Cards

Gold

Gold is a glitzier alternative to white and ivory.

ASPIRE Petallics Gold Ore Flat Cards

Ivory

Ivory flat cards are softer but just as versatile.

Fine Impressions Ecru Flat Cards

 

Silver

Silver adds some shine and glamor to your holiday cards.

ASPIRE Petallics Silver Ore Flat Cards

Red

Red is a classic, striking holiday choice.

Flavours Gourmet Chili Arbol Flat Cards

Blue

Blue is a lovely seasonal choice. Metallic adds extra flair!

ASPIRE Petallics Juniper Berry Flat Cards

 

Folded Cards

Folded cards are more traditional than flat cards, and they give cardmakers more room to get creative with their designs and written sentiments.

Here are some great folded cards:

White

White folded cards are clean and perfect for any design.

Fine Impressions Hi White Folded Cards

Gold

Go glam with gold folded cards.

ASPIRE Petallics Gold Ore Folded Cards

Ivory

Ivory is a nice, soft canvas for your holiday greeting cards.

Fine Impressions Ecru Folded Cards

Silver

Add some shine to your holiday cards using a silver base.

ASPIRE Petallics Silver Ore Folded Cards

Red

Channel your brilliant holiday spirit using red folded cards.

Flavours Gourmet Chili Arbol Folded Cards

Blue

This metallic blue is quiet but luxurious – perfect for the holidays.

ASPIRE Petallics Juniper Berry Folded Cards

 

Envelopes

When you send holiday greeting cards in the mail, the first thing your recipients will see is the envelope. There are a number of ways you can dress up your envelope, and choosing a striking color is one of the simplest.

Here are some of our favorite envelopes:

White

White is perfect for any occasion.

Fine Impressions Stationery Hi White Envelopes

Gold

Gold envelopes are extra luxurious.

Stardream Gold Envelopes

Green

Green is a calm but striking shade.

BriteHue Green Envelopes

Ivory

Ivory is easier on the eyes than white.

Fine Impressions Stationery Ecru Envelopes

 

Silver

Silver envelopes are classy and exciting.

Constellation Jade Silver Envelopes

Blue

Blue envelopes are festive but unique.

Glama Natural Pastel Blue Envelopes

Red

Red envelopes stand out from the pack.

BriteHue Red Envelopes

Clear

Clear envelopes let your cards shine.

Glama Natural Clear Envelopes

Silver Foil Lined

Silver foil lining dresses up a standard white envelope.

Fine Impressions Stationery Hi White Envelopes with Silver Liner

Gold Foil Lined

Gold foil lined envelopes are festive without being flashy.

Fine Impressions Stationery Ecru Envelopes with Gold Liner

Red Foil Lined

Red foil lined envelopes are joyful and eye-catching.

Fine Impressions Stationery Hi White Envelopes with Red Liner

What About Paper?

If you’re searching for sheets of paper or cardstock to create your own holiday embellishments, check out our Project Pointers: Holiday Cards post! You’ll also find great suggestions on how to display your holiday cards.

Inspiring Card Designs

Designing and crafting homemade cards doesn’t need to be a ton of work! You can create simple designs using craft supplies you’ve already got lying around the house.

Here’s some inspiration to get you started:

Kraft Paper Holiday Cards

Kraft paper is rustic, but it’s polished enough to create lovely, whimsical holiday cards. Try layering it with holiday colors, patterns, and interesting shapes like this artist.

Kraft Paper Holiday Cards

Follow this tutorial and create the look for yourself.

3D Trees

These pop-up tree cards literally take your holiday greetings to the next level.

Pop Up Tree Holiday Card

They’re super easy to make, and all you need is paper. Here’s how.

3D Trees Take Two

These printable 3D paper trees may not travel as well as the pop-up variety, but they make a lovely thank you card for holiday party hosts and other hand-delivered cards.

3D Holiday Cards

Download the printables here.

Paper Poinsettias

No holiday season is complete without poinsettias! Create and send your own using nothing but paper and some basic craft supplies.

Paper Poinsettia Holiday Cards

Learn how to make your own paper poinsettia cards.

Scalloped Edges

This card is perfect for using up your paper scraps. Combine patterns, colors, and textures to create a whimsical holiday card for anyone on your mailing list.

Scalloped Edge Holiday Card

See how this artist made her cards.

Let The Holiday Countdown Begin

The holidays are coming! Preparing your holiday cards in advance is an easy way to reduce your holiday stress. Between our holiday stationery kits and our wide variety of flat and folded blank notecards, sending your holiday cards has never been easier!

Check out our full selection of holiday papers:

Holiday Stationery Kits
Flat Cards
Folded Cards
Envelopes

Steph Schinkel

Steph is an avid crafter, DIY enthusiast, and regular contributor to The Paper who loves to handmake all of her cards. Above all else, Steph is a die-hard foodie with a massive sweet tooth and a deep, soul-consuming love for chocolate.