Homemade Christmas Cards

Each year people send out dozens of Christmas cards to friends and family. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Sending Christmas cards is a relatively new tradition. In fact, it is less than two hundred years old. The tradition began in England and spread to America. Since then, millions of Christmas cards are sent and received all over the world each and every year.

One thing's for sure; these cards don't get less expensive each year and normally the Christmas card list grows with every year as well. So, what can you do to make your growing Christmas card list less expensive? Here are some ideas for homemade Christmas cards that will delight the receiver and your checkbook.

Make use of that clip art on your computer. Unfortunately, there are those of us (me included) who don't have an artistic bone in our body. That doesn't have to stop us from adding a reindeer, instead of what looks like road kill, to the front of our homemade holiday cards. There are sites on the Internet that offer pictures that are free for reprint. The combination of those sites and clip art offer plenty of ideas for Christmas card covers.

No need to spend a fortune on thick, heavy paper for your cards either. Homemade cards will work on medium cardstock paper. Simply, print the outside picture on the cardstock and pen the inside greeting yourself. Each card will be unique and you can save the designs you create to use next year too.

Dried flowers and leaves can adorn the cover of your homemade Christmas cards. Follow instructions, which can be found in books from the library or local craft store, for drying different types of flowers and herbs. Once they are complete dried, arrange them on the front of your card in the design of your choice. Using glue or spray adhesive, affix the largest pieces first and then the smaller ones. Contact paper or cellophane wrapping can be used to cover the front of the card to protect your herbal decorations from wear and tear.

Family Christmas portraits make perfect covers for homemade cards as well. Spray adhesive will probably hold the portrait to the card better. Cut your cardstock paper to fit the size of the portrait. A 5' x 7' picture is sufficient. For an added personal touch, let each member of the family sign their names and individual greeting on the inside of the card.

There are tons of computer software programs with tons of options for Christmas cards too. Customize the cover that you want to send and add the message of your choice. With these card programs, you can choose the font, color, and size of the card being printed. Non artist types like this option for making Christmas cards that are funny, serious, or spiritual to help personalize each card for the individual recipient.

Homemade Christmas cards can be hand-delivered since they don't come with envelopes. This will help add to the hand made feel and purpose. For those you need to put in the mail, you can purchase envelopes in various shapes and sizes at the post office or from stationery or craft stores.

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Displaying Christmas Cards

The average family receives over twenty Christmas cards each year. What happens to them after Christmas? Do you throw them away? Instead of doing that, use those Christmas cards to make holiday displays.

Create a Christmas card tree. The tree can be hung on string or small hooks. The smaller cards are displayed at the top. Each line gets a little wider so that you are forming the shape of a Christmas tree. The cards should be hung so that people can open them and see who they were from. For a more permanent display, the cards can be tacked to a piece of fabric that is attached to a rod. This makes the set up and breakdown easy each year.

Christmas cards can be hung around the window like a border to make a display. The cards can be tacked directly to the top and sides of the windows. For windows facing the front of the house, make a display that can be seen from the outside. Using only the picture on the front of the cards, string them on a piece of ribbon through holes punched in the top center of each one. Secure the ribbon to the window so that the cards are in view. Let a string of white lights hang intertwined with the cards to illuminate them.

Your favorite Christmas cards can be displayed right on your tree. Punch a hole and run a thin piece of ribbon through each one. Knot the ribbon and curl the ends of the strands. Secure each card to the tree in a place where it will be seen. Propping the cards against a branch of the Christmas tree allows you to keep them sitting open so they can be read without disturbing the tree.

Christmas cards received for the current year should enjoy their day in the spotlight. Display them on the mantle. Another alternative, if you don't have or don't want to use the mantel is the coffee table. Have a piece of glass cut to fit the top of your coffee table. Take each Christmas card and arrange it on the top of the coffee table. Throw glitter or confetti, in Christmas colors of course, on the table among the cards. Cover with the piece of glass.

Christmas cards are not just for a year to be tossed away once the holidays are over. You can use them each year to remind us of people long gone and special moments. Finding different ways to display your cards throughout the years will let others share in your special memories too.

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