Handmade Christmas Gifts

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Snowman Card: A project that took less than 10 minutes to complete. Nate Skow

 As part of the joyous celebration of the birth of Christ, many people send well wishes to family and friends by way of Christmas cards. Many people also take part in another tradition of the Christmas holiday: the exchanging of gifts – a tradition believed to have begun in the United States in the early 1800s. 

Purchasing greeting cards and gifts can be expensive, so why not make your own? Besides saving money, another great thing about handmade cards and gifts is that you can create each one to suit the taste of its intended recipient. So, for scrapbookers and crafters, Christmas is not only a time of joy and peace on Earth, it’s also a time to get creative.  

By using scrapbooking techniques to make cards and crafts, you’ll not only be doing something you enjoy, you’ll also have the satisfaction of giving a gift or card from the heart. 

Christmas Cards

Christmas cards – and other types of greeting cards – can be made quickly and easily, and oftentimes with materials most scrapbookers have on hand. All you need is paper and embellishments, such as ribbon, brads, frames, stickers and rub-ons. You’ll also need a printer – or a thin black marker – to make the greeting for the inside of the card. 

For the SNOWMAN CARD, I chose two solid colors of cardstock and one patterned paper. I made the card’s base out of white cardstock, then added a layer of patterned paper, followed by a layer of red cardstock. I placed a puffy Christmas tree sticker in each corner, and added a snowman sticker and letters to spell out “Happy Holidays.” Next I typed up a greeting for the inside, printed it, cut it out and glued it to the inside. The project took less than 10 minutes.  

To make the SANTA CLAUS CARD, I used solid green cardstock for the base of the card, then added patterned paper to the front in a crooked position. I cut out a piece of green cardstock and glued it to the back of a cardstock frame for contrast, then attached the frame to the patterned paper. I wanted some depth to the card so I adhered the frame with puffy tape for a raised look, then placed the Santa sticker in the center. After printing out the inside greeting, I cut it out and glued it to the inside of the card. Another card done in less than 10 minutes.