20 Simple DIY Christmas Cards for Kids (2023)
Looking for some fun DIY Christmas cards?
Planning fun activities for your little ones to do will make it even more wonderful! In this article, you will find 20 DIY Christmas Card ideas that are fun and unique to make with your kids.Â
Let’s get started with the magic!
#1: Christmas Tree Handprint Cards
I am such a sucker for handprint art. How cute is this DIY Christmas card?
There are so many fun little holiday art supplies that kids can use to decorate the trees!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
B. Set-up
Trace your child’s hand on green paper. Tip: I place multiple sheets under, so I just have to cut it out once.
Create tree trunks out of brown paper and paste them on the hands at the bottom.
C. Activity
Have your little ones glue on some fun Christmas-themed supplies! They can fingerprint some ornaments on or glue on some buttons or poms!
Hang this up and keep it for years to come. Looking back at their handprints is so cute. It’s such a great memory to keep!
#2: Fork-Printed Christmas Trees
Fork printing projects are SO fun! The marks that the fork leaves are perfect to create Christmas trees!
This DIY Christmas card is the perfect addition to a holiday party!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- forks
- washable paint
- markers
- glitter glue
- paper
- stars
B. Set-up
Add some green paint to a paint tray!
Draw and color in a tree trunk at the bottom of the paper with a brown marker. Lastly, draw a tree online in pencil, so your child knows where to place the forks to create a tree shape!
C. Activity
The kids will dip the fork into the green paint and make prints to cover the entire tree!
They can add on some glitter glue dots to be the ornaments. Lastly, they can add on a sticker star at the end!
#3: Reindeer Lights Card
I have been loving paper crafts lately! They are simple to throw together and easy for the kids to do.
This is the perfect DIY Christmas card to give to someone special with the fingerprint lights!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- construction paper
- white paper
- washable paint
- googly eyes
- glue stick
- glue
- scissors
B. Set-up
Create a reindeer head and antlers! Then, paste it to a piece of white paper.
Also, make the reindeer’s nose and add on googly eyes to complete the reindeer’s face!
C. Activity
The kids will dip their fingers in paint and make prints all through the antlers!
Once these prints are dry, they can use a black marker to create lines throughout the antlers, so they look like Christmas lights!
#4: Paper Strip Christmas Tree
Looking for a simple DIY Christmas card to do with the kids? This is such a fun and cute one!
This Christmas tree was one of my son’s favorite projects that we have done!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
B. Set-up
Cut strips of paper that are different sizes. The kids will be organizing them on paper from longest to shortest!
C. Activity
The kids will paste on the strips of paper according to size to look like a tree! We used two colors of green paper. Once they are done, they can add a star on top and Christmas buttons for the ornaments!
#5: Tree Cutting Cards
These DIY Christmas cards are fun for all ages to create!
It’s a great way for kids to work on scissor skills while they create their Christmas trees.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- white paper
- construction paper
- scissors
- glue stick
- glitter glue
- poms
- buttons
- glue
B. Set-up
Cut a white sheet of paper in half. Also, cut some triangles out of green and red paper (they need to be a few different sizes).
C. Activity
The kids will cut little slits at the bottom of each triangle. Once they are done with that, they will paste them from largest to smallest to make a tree.
They can flip up some of the edges to make them stand out a little bit! Then, the kids can add glitter glue, poms, or buttons to be the ornaments for the tree.
#6: Handprint Reindeer Card
Here’s another cute handprint craft that works great as a DIY Christmas card.
I love looking at my kid’s handprints. It’s just the cutest keepsake, and it’s a great card to give someone in your family or even teachers!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- brown paper
- scissors
- glue stick
- sparkly paper
- paint
- marker
B. Set-up
Create a reindeer face and paste it onto paper!
C. Activity
Paint your child’s hand brown and make prints above the reindeer face that you created.
Then, make a race for the reindeer out of paper, googly eyes, and sparkly paper!
#7: Fingerprint Christmas Cards
Create your own DIY Christmas cards with my FREE templates!
Fingerprint cards are the best and the ones that everyone actually keeps at the end of the season.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardstock paper
- paint
- construction paper
- glue stick
- marker
- star sticker
Click HERE for your FREE Christmas Card Templates
B. Set-up
Print off my free templates and either cut out the images and draw them on a new sheet or use them as is.
C. Activity
Have the kids dip their fingers in paint and make a Christmas tree or candy cane or just create lights!
For the candy cane, I created a background with construction paper and pasted it on white paper. Then, the kids make a candy cane shape with their fingerprints.
To make the Christmas lights card, use a marker and draw on the lines for the lights. Then, have the kids put dots across the line!
Lastly, to make the tree, outline the tree in green paint and make colored lights going through the tree.
RELATED: Holiday Printables
#8: Pom Christmas Cards
I love doing pom painting resist art. There’s just something about the reveal that the kids LOVE, and I’ll admit I do too!
These make for the perfect DIY Christmas cards for the kids to make.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardstock paper
- acrylic paint
- buttons
- googly eyes
- glue
- masking tape
- scissors
- poms
- clothespins
B. Set-up
Create a snowman, gingerbread man, or Christmas tree shape out of cardstock paper and attach it to another piece of paper using masking tape. You have to use masking tape, so it doesn’t rip the paper when you pull off the image.Â
C. Activity
Attach poms to clothespins and have the kids dip them in the paint. They will make prints all around the image and paper!
When they are done printing, slowly remove the image on the paper.
Add a face on the gingerbread man and snowman! You can also add some fun accessories like a scarf or buttons.
RELATED: Snowman Crafts
#9: Paper Strip Reindeer
Looking for a simple reindeer craft to do with your kids?
This DIY Christmas card is adorable! The kids will also be able to work on some cutting and gluing skills.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- brown paper
- cardstock paper
- sparkly brown paper
- red buttons
- googly eyes
- glue
- glue stick
B. Set-up
Create strips of brown paper, then glue them on another piece of cardstock paper. You’ll want to make it in the shape of a circle.
C. Activity
To make the reindeer, add on googly eyes, a red button for the nose, and make antlers out of brown sparkly scrapbook paper.
This craft would be perfect to use as a Christmas card to send to someone special. Write a sweet message on it.
RELATED: Reindeer Crafts for KidsÂ
#10: Handprint Snowman Cards
Here’s a cute snowman DIY Christmas card!
This is just adorable! My kids loved making their snowman cards.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- acrylic paint
- cardstock paper
- buttons
- scissors
- glue
- acrylic paint marker
B. Set-up
Paint the bottom of your child’s hand white and the top of it black, or really any color you want the hat to be!
C. Activity
Make prints on paper! Press your child’s hand down completely on the paper so it shows up.
Then, cut a strip of paper and use a glue stick to paste it at the bottom of the fingers to be the bottom of the hat.
Have the kids use an acrylic paint marker to make the snowman’s face! You can have them use an orange marker to make the nose or make a carrot nose out of construction paper.
Add fingerprint snow around the snowman and red cheeks!
RELATED: Snowman Crafts for KidsÂ
#11: Sponge Print Christmas Card
I love the prints that sponges make. They are simple to make, and the kids love seeing how the prints show up on paper.
These make for a great craft and DIY Christmas card.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- sponges
- scissors
- acrylic paint
- cardstock paper
- mini bows
- Q-tips
- marker
B. Set-up
Create your shapes on a sponge using a Sharpie marker. Then, cut them out using scissors.
C. Activity
Have the kids paint the sponge using acrylic paint. Then, they will make prints on the cardstock paper.
Add some fun details like ornaments using Q-tips and a mini bow to make the card even more fun!
#12: 3D Christmas Tree Card
Your kids will love how this DIY Christmas card pops out!
It’s fun and simple for the kids to make! It makes for the perfect Christmas card.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardstock paper
- glue stick
- buttons
- glue
- star
- scissors
- hot glue
B. Set-up
Create 6 triangles out of cardstock paper and fold each of them in half.
C. Activity
Have the kids use a glue stick to glue the triangles together.
Add glue to the back of one of the triangles and stick it to the back of another one. Keep this going for all 6 of the triangles.
Add buttons for the ornaments! Glue the tree down using hot glue to another piece of cardstock paper.
Write a sweet message and send off your card!
#13: Straw Christmas Card
Using paper straws is easy and fun for kids to build a Christmas tree.
It’s also a great way to combine some learning skills with crafting! The kids will need to measure the straws to make their tree.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardstock paper
- paper straws
- glue
- scissors
- star sticker
B. Set-up
This is a great craft because it can be adapted for the age level. You can cut the straws for younger kids or you can have older kids cut their own.
C. Activity
They will measure up the straws to determine which straws should go at the bottom and make their way up!
They can use school glue to glue down the straws on cardstock paper.
Make sure to cut a straw for the bottom trunk and add a star on top!
#14: Fingerprint Christmas Trees
Here’s an adorable and simple DIY Christmas craft for kids to make.
Fingerprint Christmas trees! You can never go wrong with a fingerprint craft.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardstock paper
- acrylic paint
- masking tape
- scissors
B. Set-up
Create a Christmas tree shape and use masking tape to attach it to the paper.
C. Activity
Have the kids use paint to make fingerprints all around the paper and around the tree shape. They have to make prints all around the tree shape for it to show up.
Slowly peel up the tree shape to reveal what’s underneath! Add a star at the top.
#15: Straw Printed Wreath Card
This is one of my favorite Christmas crafts that we made this season. It also makes for a great DIY Christmas cards.
The process is fun and different for the kids to make.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardstock paper
- acrylic paint
- plastic straws
- scissors
- ribbon
- hot glue
B. Set-up
Cut 5 slits into a plastic straw. It has to be a plastic straw- I tried a paper straw, and it didn’t work, unfortunately.
Then, peel them back to look like a fan at the bottom.
C. Activity
Create a wreath shape on paper by tracing a larger bowl for the outside and a smaller bowl for the inside.
Then, dip the straw into the paint and make prints all around the wreath shape. We used two shades of green and one red to mix it up!
Let this dry, and then fingerprint some ornaments onto the wreath.
Lastly, hot glue a Christmas ribbon at the top of the wreath. Write a cute message on the card and give it to someone special.
#16: Handprint Tree Cards
Here’s an adorable DIY Christmas card for a family member or teacher!
This is a simple one, and turns out so cute.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- acrylic paint
- paint brush
- cardstock paper
- construction paper
- scissors
- glue stick
- star sticker
B. Set-up
Paint your little one’s hand green and make three prints on the paper.
You’ll make one at the top of the paper and two at the bottom to form a Christmas tree.
C. Activity
Make a tree trunk out of construction paper and paste it at the bottom of the paper.
Have the kids make ornaments by fingerprinting them all over the tree!
Lastly, add a star sticker on top. Add a cute message for someone special and send them the card!
RELATED: Christmas Tree Crafts
#17: Sponge Snowman Card
Sponges are perfect to make a snowman! This craft is too cute and perfect for little hands to use to make a snowman.
This will make the perfect DIY Christmas card for family and friends.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- sponges
- scissors
- acrylic paint
- sparkle paper
- buttons
- cardstock paper
- acrylic paint pen
- glue
- Sharpie
B. Set-up
Create a circle shape using a Sharpie on a sponge and cut it out.
C. Activity
Make three prints to make a snowman on colored paper.
Then, make the snowman’s arms, nose, and scarf out of cardstock or sparkle paper. Have the kids use a glue stick to stick these items on!
Then, once the paint is dry, use an acrylic paint pen to make the snowman’s face. Add your buttons at the bottom of the snowman.
Lastly, add some snow around the snowman and at the bottom of the page!
RELATED: Winter Crafts for Kids
#18: Pom Painting Cards
Using poms is the perfect way for kids to paint! The prints come out great, and you can make so many different things with them!
This makes fun a fun DIY Christmas card to make with toddlers and preschoolers.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- poms
- clothespins
- cardstock paper
- scissors
- star sticker
- glue stick
- ribbon
- glitter
- hot glue
B. Set-up
Create the shapes that you want on cardstock paper using a pencil. We traced a bowl to make the snowman, and same with the wreath!
C. Activity
Attach a pom to a clothespin and have the kids dip it in paint. Then, they will make prints inside the lines that you drew for each one.
Then, for the tree, you can add fingerprint lights and a star sticker.
For the snowman, out of cardstock paper, draw a nose, eyes, and circles for the mouth. Paste them on using a glue stick.
Lastly, to make the wreath, add a thin layer of glue and use a popsicle stick to spread the glue out. Then, sprinkle some glitter on top. Hot glue a ribbon at the bottom.
Write a special message, and you will have the cutest DIY Christmas cards.
#19: Christmas Ornament Cards
Here’s another way to use those poms to paint.
This time we are making DIY Christmas card ornaments. These are fun because you can make different designs with a whole bunch of colors.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardstock paper
- poms
- clothespins
- acrylic paint
- sparkle paper
- glue stick
- scissors
B. Set-up
Create a circle shape by tracing a bowl on a piece of cardstock paper and cut it out to make each ornament.
Then, to make the top of the ornaments, cut out a rectangle shape on sparkle paper. Make curve cuts at the bottom and at the top and use a glue stick to glue them together.
C. Activity
Have the kids attach a pom to a clothespin. Then, have them make designs on each one.
You can use a marker and draw lines on the ornaments for them to trace so they can make specific lines if they are younger and can’t do it on their own.
Or, you can just let them design their own and make prints! No matter how you choose to make them, they will turn out adorable!
#20: Reindeer Handprint Cards
Using pastels is SO much fun! I love how the color is bold on the paper.
Try these fun designs to make a DIY Christmas card.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardstock paper
- pastels
- star sticker
- marker
- masking tape
B. Set-up
Draw your Christmas objects like a tree, Christmas light bulbs or candy cane on paper, cut it out and use masking tape to tape it to another sheet of paper.
C. Activity
Have the kids use oil pastels to scribble on along the outside of each picture. They can use one color or they can alternate colors like you see above.
Once they are done, slowly peel up the picture to see what it looks like.
For the tree, we added pastel lights, a tree trunk, and a star sticker and to make the candy cane, we added stripes.
Final Thoughts and Conclusions
I hope you found some magical DIY Christmas cards to try out with your kids this holiday season!
Christmas is the best time of year to craft with your family. You’ll make such fun memories doing these DIY crafts together!
I’d love to hear about some Christmas crafts that you have done with kids. Also, what activities or traditions do you do at home? Please share with our community!