Making your own Christmas cards takes a little preparation, but is hugely satisfying.  Here are some economic and varied ideas to help you come up with a design for making your Christmas cards this year!  Hope you like them!

Simple, Stunning designs - using Die Cuts, Bows, Peel Off Stickers and Glitter Glue!

Skill Level :  Beginner

Average Cost Per Card: €0.65

Materials used:

White, Green and Claret Textured C6 Card Blank, Peel Off Stickers - Trees, Snowflakes, " Merry Christmas, Christmas Red Bows, Gold Bows, Dark Red Bows, Metal Christmas Embellishments, Holly Leaves (used to make the Wreath), Red Sparkly Dots, Light red, gold and silver C6 Envelopes.

How to make them:

The Peel Offs are simple to use - simple peel off and stick to the card!  They create an " instant embossed" look.  We attached the small gold, red and dark red bows using Mini Glue Dots.  We used some silver glitter glue in the middle of the snowflakes to add some interest, and the red glitter glue looks great if you fill in the dots on the christmas tree peel off stickers! 

The Metal Christmas Tree is the simplest of all.  The Christmas metal embellishments need nothing added to make a perfect card. Simply peel off from their backing, and stick to a rich coloured card.  Add a co-ordinating silver envelope and voila!  A beautiful handmade Christmas card.

To make the Wreath, it may help to draw a circle on the card first.  Then simply add the holly leaves on and layer them on top of each other to make a wreath.  Finish off with a red bow at the bottom and some red embellishments.     

The holly leaves in the long garland are stuck using glue dots or pritt stick.  Continue them to the end of the card and stick them down with an overhang at the edge of the card.  Trim with a scissors along the edge of the card when stuck down - this half cut leaf creates a nice continuity effect for the holly garland on the card.

The Christmas Tree Snowflake is one of our favourite cards from our Christmas Card making kits.  Mark a small point in the middle of the card – using pencil or the very light touch of a sharp point.  Place the first two trees horizontally across the card facing opposite each other.  Glue these two trees down.  Next, place two trees at the top pointing downwards, equidistant from the two cards already glued and from each other.  When happy with their placement, glue them down.  Do the same with the last two trees.

Variations.   Try the silver or gold snowflakes on our black card with a co-ordinating gold or silver envelope. 

Bright, Fun Cards Using Metal, Wooden and Card Embellishments

Skill Level :  Beginner - Mid Level

Average Cost Per Card: €0.80

Materials used:

White Textured, Green, Red C6 Card Blanks, Peel Off Stickers - Red and Gold " Merry Christmas, Gold Bows, Wooden Christmas Embellishments, Cardboard Christmas Tree, , 3mm Green Ribbon, White and Gold Mulberry Tissue,Red Sparkly Dots, Green and White Christmas Tree Die Cuts, Gold Fabric Stars, Terracotta Pots, White Mulberry A4 Paper,  C6 Envelopes.

How to make them:

Card 1 - Green Tree in Terracotta Pot.  First, stick the large green tree to the card using glue.  ADd the red sparkly dots and gold fabric star using ...you guessed it - mini glue dots or glue.  Lastly, add the terracotta pot using a Craft Glue dot or superglue to the bottom of the tree.  Finish with a red bow!

Card 2 - Cardboard Snowman on Snow.  To make this card, run a wet paintbrush along the mulberry tissue in a rough elongated rectangle and gently pull the tissue apart.  This creates the rough edge effect of the tissue.  Glue down on the green card using a pritt stick or other glue.  Pull apart some Mulberry A4 Whit paper in the same way and layer on top of the tissue.  Pull apart small shreds of the White Mulberry Paper to make the snow, and glue down randomly with glue.  Last, attach the cute Cardboard Snowman using a glue dot or other craft glue. 

Card 3 - Cardboard Christmas Tree on White Mulberry Tissue with " Merry Christmas" in gold.  To make this card, run a wet paintbrush along the mulberry tissue in a rough rectangle and gently pull the tissue apart.  This creates the rough edge effect of the tissue.  Glue down on the white textured card using a pritt stick or other glue.  Attach the Cardboard Tree using a glue dot or other craft glue.  Last, add the gold " Merry Christmas" peel off - stick down the left part of the sticker where you want it to be placed, and then press down the rest of the sticker.

Card 4  - Wooden Stockings on ribbon.  Cut a square or rectangle from white card (we used the C6 white textured card blanks).  Stick down, centred on the green card.  String a piece of green ribbon across the front of the card and stick down using mini glue dots at the edge of the card or another craft glue.  Stick on the wooden stockings on top of the green ribbon to look like they're hanging from string.  Last, add a little embellishment - we used the red holly sticker from the Merry Christmas Peel Off sheet. 

Card 5 - Smiley Santa on Red Card.    Cut a square from White Mulberry Paper.  Glue down in the centre of the red card using pritt stick or another craft glue.  Peel off the backing from the wooden Santa smiley face and place in the middle of the white square.  Finish with a small embellishment - we used a small red bow stuck on with a mini glue dot.

Card 6 - Christmas Presents Train.  Cut a rectangle from white card (we used the C6 textured card blanks).  Next, cut a smaller rectangle from a piece of dark green card (we used the " Forest" textured card blanks).  Glue the white rectangle to the card, and the green on top.  Add the wooden embellishments to look like a train as shown.  As ever, we used glue dots to stick them down.  Finish with some gold embellishments to pick up the gold in the train wheels.  We used gold bows and some of the small stickers from the gold " Merry Christmas" Peel offs.

Fantastic Cards by our Craft Design Team from our Forum!!

*NEW* - Christmas Card ideas from Deidre!!

Deidre is part of the heart and soul of Craft Supplies and we wouldn't be without her.  She holds the claim to fame for the most posts on our crafter's forum and is brimming over with ideas and enthusiasm for card making in general!  Below are just a few of her many ideas for cards this year.  We hope you enjoy them!

Card 1 - Forest green with Red Star and Gold Circle Lettering

Materials used:  Forest Green Card Blanks, Dark Red Envelopes, Dark Red Bows, Merry Christmas Circle Stamp, Gold Pigment Ink Pad,

Jewelled Gold Embossing Powder, Red Frosted Star.

Instructions:

Stamp in gold ink onto green card.  Heat emboss with the Jewelled Gold Embossing Powder.  Use the gold inkpad to ink the edges of the red resin star and stick to

front.  Untie one red bow and stick to front of card as string for the bauble.  Finally, stick another red bow to the top of the bauble.

Cards 2 and 3 - Tree and Snowflake Banner Cards

Materials: Black Card Blanks, Christmas Banner Stamp, Gold/Silver Envelopes, Gold Pigment Ink Pad, Jewelled Gold Embossing Powder, Silver Ink Pad, Winter Wonderland Embossing Powder, Snowflake Buttons (punch or peeloffs could also be used), Christmas Tree Punch

Instructions:

Stamp and emboss banner stamp in either silver or gold ink and use corresponding embossing powder.  Punch out Christmas tree from gold card or use snowflake

button, snowflake peel off sticker or snowflake punched from card and adhere to front of card.

Card 4 - " Blue Christmas" Card

Materials Used:   White Textured Card Blanks, Sky Blue Pigment Ink, " After the Gifts" Rubber Stamp, White Resin Star, Small Silver Bow

Instructions:

Stamp onto the centre of white card in blue.  Ink edges of white resin star and stick to card.  Attach silver or white bow to one corner. 

Use blue bow for “Baby’s first Christmas” card.

Cards 5, 6 and 7 Gold Trees/Baubles on Chequered Backgrounds

Materials: White Textured Card Blanks, Christmas Tree Punch, Scalloped Square Punch, Red Mulberry Paper, Green Mulberry Paper, White Mulberry Paper,

Season's Greeting's Buttons, Acrylic Amber Stars, Mini 3d foam pads

Instructions:

Punch out squares from red and green mulberry papers.  Punch out trees from gold card.  Assemble as shown, using the foam pads to stick on the trees.

Rubber Stamping by Jackie.

Jackie is one of our most experienced card makers on our Crafter's Forum- and features twice on our Customer Card Gallery.  See her other designs here.  She has been working with rubber stamps for over 10 years, and has a huge collection now!  Just a few of her designs are below - featuring our Christmas Stocking Stamp, and our Scribble Tree. Her techniques could be used with a variety of our Christmas stamps though!  Rubber stamping takes a little experience to get right - so we'd recommend these cards to slightly more experienced card makers.  That said, it's great fun for everyone - colouring in, painting, using watercolours or pencils - even markers.  See all our Christmas Rubber Stamps here! 

Materials used:

Christmas Stocking Stamp, Christmas Tree Stamp, Red Bow, Cream C6 Card, Claret C6 card, Cream DL Card, Green C6 Card, Snowflake Punch, Silver Fabric Stars, Round Multi Gems, Burgundy Organza Ribbon, Gold Ink Pad, Red/Brown/Black Ink pads, Gold Embossing Powder, Tracing paper

How to make them:

Card 1 - Christmas Stockings with Bow.  Stamp Christmas Stocking image with black ink.  Colour with watercolour pencils, markers or paints.  Stamp Greeting or print onto card beforehand.  Layer onto red/green or other coloured card and add red bow as final decoration!

Card 2 - Christmas Stockings with Snowflakes.  Stamp Christmas Stockings image onto Red, Yellow, Green and Brown Card.  Cut out stockings and mantle.  Alternatively, stamp the christmas stocking image onto cream card and colour with markers or watercolour pencils or paints.  Layer onto cream card.  Attach to folded white textured card and finish with punched snowflakes and coloured gemstones. 

Card 3 - Brown stamped Stockings.  Print out words onto white card and change the font style to " Disney Print" or similar, and the colour to dark red.  Print using a normal deskjet or inkjet printer.  Stamp the Christmas Stocking image onto the the card using red or brown ink above the words. Cut out from the card.  Layer onto Cream and then Green card and, optionally, attach onto a folded Cream card.  You could also leave it just on the folded C6 Green Card too! Finish by decorating with silver fabric stars.

Card 4 - Dry embossed Stockings on Vellum. Use a white, cream or gold A6 card blank, or fold a sheet of A5 card in two.  Cut a piece of vellum/tracing paper slightly smaller than A6 (half A5, quarter A4 size), and using a gold pigment ink pad, stamp the Christmas stocking image onto the vellum.  Emboss the image using Gold detail embossing powder.  Turn the vellum over to dry emboss the back of the image.  This means using a dry embossing tool to rub the image from behind to give it a " 3d" look to the front.  Use a mouse pad or foam mat and lightly rub the back of the stocking image with a dry embossing ball tool, and make dots to look like snow.  To whiten even more, fill in dry embossed areas with a white marker.  Lastly, punch two holes in the fold of the card and vellum and thread them together with organza ribbon.  A gold envelope completes this stunning and elegant card. 

Card 5 - Scribble Tree with Burgundy Bow. Stamp Christmas Tree Image onto Cream Card using Gold Ink and emboss with gold embossing powder. Cut out and layer onto a claret card slightly larger square. Cut gold or Green/Black Card or mulberry tissue to fit a folder DL Cream Card.  Tie a piece of burgundy organza ribbon around the piece of card.  Then attach the gold/other colour card to the folded DL cream card using double sided tape.  Finally attach the square with the Christmas Tree Image.

Watercolours by Kate.  A new member on our crafter's forum, Kate makes truly stunning watercolour cards. She makes her own watercoloured paper, and then layers the designs up to make beautiful cards like the one seen to the right.  For instructions how to make the paper, see here on our forum.    White card is used with a Christmas Green Envelope.

This simple and effective card (right) is by Sabrina on our forum!  A prancing deer, a star in the sky, and some Christmas trees all combine to make a Christmas Classic on our Claret C6 Card.  See our selection of Die Cuts - including the Christmas Trees, and fabric embellishments such as the silver and gold reindeer - for ideas to make quick and easy but beautiful handmade Christmas cards.

Cards using Christmas Die Cuts and embellishments. 

Skill Level :  Beginner

Average Cost Per Card + Envelope: €0.60

Materials used:

White Textured C6 Card Blank, Dark Red Envelopes, White Christmas Tree Die Cuts, Green and White Christmas Tree Die Cuts, Flower Punch, Snowman Embellishment, Reindeer Embellishment, Red 3mm Ribbon, Red Sparkly Dots, Gold/Silver Fabric Stars,   Red Mulberry Paper

How to make them:

We use Glue Dots to stick on embellishments wherever possible.  No mess, super quick and just easy peasy. Use the Mini ones for the small embellishments like the sparkly dots and red " flower" snowflakes, and larger ones for the bigger embellishments.  A normal pritt stick would do too!

To make the printed labels saying " Merry Christmas to my Groovy Grandad" etc.  We printed directly onto the C6 Card Blanks and then cut the labels out to stick on!  The card feeds into a normal deskjet printer - set the page setup for page size A5 and Portrait and take it from there!  The font is simply Arial bolded. 

The reindeer card is made by sticking on the two prancing reindeer and then adding red " reins" using 3mm ribbon.  Glue the ribbon on at the neck, and stock down the rest across the card.  Trim at the edge to make the ribbon flush with the card!