How to Make a Secret Santa Invitation

A secret Santa gift exchange is an entertaining and economical way to exchange gifts with friends or family members. Each participant draws one name from the secret Santa hat, meaning each person only needs to purchase one holiday gift. Exchange the presents at a secret Santa-themed Christmas party featuring festive decorations and spirited refreshments. Design colorful invitations for the event with basic craft supplies like cardstock, stickers and rubber stamps to capture the holiday party's whimsical atmosphere.

Things You'll Need

• Paper trimmer
• White cardstock
• Scrap paper
• Black stamping ink
• Santa rubber stamp
• Markers or colored pencils
• 4-by-5-inch blank red cards
• Glue stick
• Black letter stickers
• Computer and printer
• Pre-made envelopes
• Ruler
• Red marker

Instructions

1. Use a paper trimmer to cut a 3-inch-square piece of white cardstock. Cover your work table with pieces of scrap paper to protect the surface from stray stamping ink. Place the white cardstock face up on the scrap paper.

2. Apply black stamping ink to a rubber stamp of Santa's face that's at least 3 inches tall. Press the stamp toward the bottom half of the white piece of cardstock so only Santa's hat and eyes transfer onto the cardstock, giving him a slightly "sneaky" look. Use markers or colored pencils to color Santa's hat red.

3. Affix the stamped embellishment to a blank 4-by-5-inch red card with a glue stick. Center the cardstock piece toward the top of the card, leaving a half-inch, red border around the top and sides.

4. Add a caption across the bottom of the secret Santa party invitation with black letter stickers. Use a line like "Shh...It's a Secret," "Reveal Your Identity" or "Only Santa Knows."

5. Print information about the secret Santa event on a 3-by-4-inch piece of white cardstock. Include details including the party's day and date, starting and ending time, address, directions and RSVP information like your phone number and preferred date for the guests' responses. Add instructions for wrapping the presents, such as using paper that provides a clue to the secret Santa's identity and writing only the recipient's name on the gift tag. Affix the cardstock inside the card with a glue stick.

6. Embellish the pre-made envelopes with a festive touch by adding a simple candy cane-inspired motif inside the flap. Simply use a ruler and red marker to add diagonal stripes across the inner flap before adding the invitation and sealing the envelope.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't find a large rubber stamp of Santa's face, simply apply any Santa-themed image such as his boots, sleigh, hat or an image of a wrapped Christmas gift to the center of the white cardstock on the front of the card.

• To save money on your secret Santa party preparations, consider using a free email invitation service such as Evite. Simply type "secret Santa" in the search bar to find designs to suit the theme. Input the party details such as the time, date, place and RSVP specifics, along with information on how to wrap the secret Santa gift. Enter the guests' email invitations and the site will send the electronic invitations for you.

References

• Secret Santa: About Secret Santa
• Do-It-Yourself Invitations: Using Paper Crafts and Scrapbook Supplies Making Invitations

Resources

• Celebrations: Secret Santa Holiday Soiree
• My Expression: Christmas Party Invitation Ideas
• Evite: Email Secret Santa Invitations