How to Make a Beautiful Handmade Christmas Card

When you open a handmade Christmas card you usually know it right a way. It has it's own charm and energy. You can create this charm and make your cards beautiful with only a few materials and a few minutes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• art papers
• scissors
• computer paper
• glue
• paint pen in gold or silver

1. 
    

   Cut an 8 x 8" sheet of colored paper in half so that you end up with two 8" x 4" sheets. Take one sheet and fold it in half so that you end up with a single fold card 4" x 4". If you want to make a stack of cards after your first try, go for it.

2. Now select another complimentary art paper. Lightly mark off several rectangles that are 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" Cut with a scissors or fold the paper on these lines one at a time and moisten the fold so you may tear it. The end product will be several rectangles with either smooth or raw edges that can be centered and glued onto the stack of folded cards.

3. 
    

   Now cut snowflakes from a good quality white computer paper. Cut 3" squares and fold them in half, then quarters, then eighths. Remove simple tiny geometric shapes from the folded paper with a scissors. When you are satisfied unfold your snowflake. For trees simply use a solid colored construction paper folded in half and cut with the scissors.

4. Center and glue the snowflake or the tree to the torn (or smooth) edge rectangular art paper. Then center and glue torn (or smooth) edge art paper to the folded card.

5. Decorate the face of the composition with simple dots or patterns to make a boarder. Paint pens in gold or silver are wonderful but should be used by adults and beware of the fumes. Add your own personal message to the inside and your card is ready to mail.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to add your personal message by writing it on a similar sized art paper with a light background that can be glued inside the folded card. That way you can discard penmanship errors without discarding the entire card.
• Don't bite off more than you can chew, do one card first and expect it to take three times as long.
• try keeping the mailing list short when you begin, possibly only cards for a group of friends or just your family. You can always make more if you decide to later.

Resources

• Old World Stack Paper
• Christmas ornament by this authour

[bethjess39564]

on 12/6/2008 I try to make cards for the immediate family, and you are right give yourself more time than you think!

[bethjess39564]

on 12/6/2008 I try to make cards for the immediate family, and you are right give yourself more time than you think!

[soanyway]

on 12/6/2008 Great tips! thanks for reminding me how to make snowflakes!!! When I started reading that step the back of my mind was saying "I don't remember how" next line was the "How"! ~thanks~