There’s something extra special about Christmas cards kids can make, especially when the holidays start to feel rushed. A table full of preschool crafts invites everyone to pause, laugh, and create together. Children love the chance to experiment with glitter, glue, and paint, while you’ll treasure the personality that shines through each handmade design.
These cards become more than just paper and markers—they’re keepsakes for grandparents, thoughtful notes for teachers, and little pieces of memory you’ll want to save year after year. Simple, heartfelt, and fun, they add a touch of genuine joy to the season.
Why Make Christmas Cards with Kids?
Making cards at home isn’t about perfect results—it’s about building small traditions that stick. When kids know that holiday crafting is part of the season, they start to look forward to the rhythm of it year after year.
These projects also give little ones a chance to practice creativity and thoughtfulness in a way that feels natural. Picking colors, adding a handprint, or scribbling a message reminds them that simple efforts can mean a lot.
And while store-bought cards disappear into the pile, handmade versions are personal and lasting. With just a few supplies, your family creates keepsakes that feel genuine, not generic.
Tips for a Stress-Free Crafting Session
• Prep your supplies: cardstock, glue, markers, glitter—have it all ready before you begin. • Protect your space: cover the table and grab smocks to keep clothes clean. • Match the activity to the age: simple shapes for toddlers, extra details for older kids. • Embrace imperfection: the charm is in their creativity, not a polished finish.
Christmas Cards Kids Can Make
With so many possibilities, it helps to have a collection of ideas in one place. Below you’ll find a variety of Christmas card projects designed to be doable with kids of different ages and attention spans.
Some lean simple for quick wins, while others invite a little more time and layering. Each one is easy to adapt with the supplies you already have at home, so you can jump right in without extra stress.
Paper and Collage Cards
Paper and collage cards are classics for a reason—kids love the freedom to cut, glue, and layer pieces into something brand new. These projects are easy to set up with scrap paper, stickers, or magazine clippings, and the results are always full of personality.
Tape Resist Christmas Tree Cards
This craft uses tape (often washi or painter’s tape) to mask off a Christmas-tree shape, then kids paint over everything—once the paint dries, you peel off the tape to reveal a crisp, “resist” silhouette. It’s great for teaching color layering and negative space, plus the surprise reveal is always a hit. Minimal supplies, big visual payoff, and pretty forgiving even if brushstrokes aren’t perfect.
This idea uses silhouettes (trees, baubles, angels, snowflakes, etc.) held in place while kids sponge‑paint the surrounding space; when you remove the shape, the silhouette shows in white (or whatever the background color is). It’s simple, bold, and neat—kids get a cool “negative space” effect without needing perfect brushwork. Plus there’s room for variation: change up the silhouettes, use different paint mediums, or let kids choose their own color combos.
This “Handmade Newspaper Christmas Card” idea uses torn newspaper to form a Christmas tree shape, then layers it onto construction paper for contrast. Kids can decorate it with a star, pom‑poms, and even a few paper scraps or stickers, turning recycled bits into something festive. It’s a budget‑friendly project that feels meaningful—and great for all ages, from preschoolers to older kids.
This card keeps things simple with a triangle Christmas tree cut from kids' watercolor art or scribble drawings, then glued onto a solid card front. Add stickers or sequins for ornaments, and you’ve got a unique design that celebrates their creativity without overcomplicating the
This “Quick & Easy Christmas Tree Cards” idea uses strips of green paper cut to different lengths and layered to form a triangle tree—super manageable, even with toddlers or siblings working at different skill levels. After building the tree shape, kids can decorate with foam shapes or star stickers for a festive top. It’s low prep, forgiving if the cuts aren’t perfect, and feels satisfying to complete together.
This Christmas tree collage layers strips of colored paper over a triangle base, then adds circles and stars for ornaments and sparkle. It’s a great way for kids to explore color, pattern, and layering without needing exact cuts or templates. The result is bold, textured, and completely customizable—perfect for preschoolers up through early elementary.
This angel card uses traced handprints cut from construction paper to form delicate wings, paired with a simple printable body and halo. There’s no paint involved, making it a great low-mess option that still feels meaningful and handmade. It’s especially sweet for younger kids and works well as a keepsake or thoughtful gift.
This idea turns tiny handprints into reindeer—sweet, simple, and full of personality. Kids press their painted hand and add minimal details (like antlers, a nose, and eyes) to transform it into a festive reindeer design. It’s creative, low-mess, and makes for pure joy when children see their own hands become part of a holiday card.
Paint and print cards bring out the fun of getting a little messy. Fingerprints, handprints, and even potato stamps turn simple paper into festive designs that capture a child’s unique touch.
Free Christmas Coloring Cards for Kids
This idea gives kids a set of eight free printable Christmas cards—Santa, stockings, snowmen, trees, and more—that they can color, decorate, and personalize as they like. The designs are clean and simple, which means kids can make them feel special with their own color choices and little touches (glitter? ribbons? why not). It’s a low‑prep way to let creativity take the lead while keeping things stress‑free for parents.
Adorable DIY Watercolor Christmas Cards Kids can Make
This idea uses watercolors to create soft washes, ombre backgrounds, or loose shapes like trees or stars, letting kids experiment with color blending and brush strokes. Once the paint is dry, simple details like a tree trunk, ornaments, or a greeting add just enough polish without needing precision. It’s flexible—great for children who want to explore more fluid art, and forgiving for parents (because watery edges and spills are part of the beauty).
This Handprint Christmas Tree Card lets kids turn painted handprints into layered “branches” of a tree, then decorate with glitter glue, gems, or paint details. It’s festive, tactile, and perfect for younger children who enjoy hands‑on fun. Because it uses simple supplies and lets kids see immediate results, it’s especially satisfying (and low‑stress) for parents too.
This craft turns fingerprints into a charming string of Christmas lights—kids dab paint in different colors to make the bulbs, then you draw a swirly line and little bases to tie them all together. It’s cheap, easy to prep, and a hit with children who love the chance to work with their hands. Perfect for grandparents, gift tags, or bundling with other cards to send some handmade cheer.
This craft uses a homemade bubble wrap stamp (cut into a Christmas‑tree shape) to print textured trees with paint. Kids press the painted bubble wrap onto blank cards, creating fun texture, then add little touches—like star stickers or extra paint dabs—to finish. It’s a great sensory option, low‑stress for parents, and a joy for kids who love seeing patterns emerge.
This one turns fingerprint dots into a string of glowing Christmas lights—bright, cheerful, and pure toddler/preschooler joy. Kids dab their fingers in paint, make colored dots on cardstock, and then you draw the “string” that ties them all together. It’s perfect when you want something very low‑stress to set up, but still impressive and full of character.
This one uses painted footprints to become reindeer—with googly eyes, antlers (drawn), and a shiny pom‑pom nose for the finishing touch. It’s joyful and messy in the best way: kids love stepping into the process, and the result turns a footstep into a festive keepsake. Great when you want something bold, tactile, and full of personality without needing complicated tools.
For a cozy seasonal twist, nature-inspired cards bring the outdoors inside. Pinecones, leaves, and twigs can be glued or pressed onto cardstock to create rustic designs that feel earthy and one-of-a-kind.
DIY Nature-Inspired Christmas Tree Craft for Kids
This project uses bits of greenery, twine, and cardboard to build a rustic tree shape—kids tuck in real foliage under crisscrossed string to give texture and a fresh smell. It’s especially lovely because you collect some materials outdoors (branches, leaves), which turns it into a nature walk + craft all in one. Eco‑friendly, budget‑friendly, and beautiful as a handmade card or decoration.
This one uses dried autumn leaves pressed flat, then selects a few shaped like antlers to glue onto a reindeer head outline for a totally natural touch. The head is filled in with brown watercolor, eyes added, and a red pompom (or similar) becomes Rudolph’s nose—cute, tactile, and perfect for celebrating both the holiday and the outdoors. Low‑mess, meaningful, and visually lovely.
Mixed-media cards add a playful, hands-on element to holiday crafting. With pom-poms, felt, or googly eyes, kids can build textured designs that practically pop off the page.
Pop Up Photo Surprise Printables
This “Pop Up Photo Surprise Printables” idea gives you free templates for cards where a hidden photo peeks out when the card opens up — surprise built right in. Kids can decorate an elf, snowman or reindeer front, add in their own photo or family picture, then assemble the pop‑up section with paper, glue, and simple folding cuts. It mixes personalization (photos!) with fun engineering, making it a card both kids and recipients will enjoy.
Ribbon Christmas Tree | Easy Homemade Christmas Card
This Ribbon Christmas Tree card uses a zig‑zag ribbon strung along a center line of glue to form a 3D tree shape—start narrow at the top, widen the loops toward the bottom for that classic tree silhouette. Then you decorate with a yellow paper star, a painted trunk, and some white dots or “snow” around the tree. It’s a simple supply list but rich in texture and wow‑factor, especially fun when kids see how a few ribbon loops become something festive.
This Santa hat card is a fun mash‑up of textures: red scrapbook paper for the hat, puff‑glue (or similar) for the fluffy trim, and salt or glitter to give it a snowy, sparkly touch. It’s quick to assemble, but the details (the poofy trim, the sparkle) make it feel extra special—perfect when you want something handmade that still wows. Great for preschoolers or kindergarteners, especially when you want a craft that strikes a balance between easy and adorable.
DIY Christmas Cards for Kids: Cute Crafts of Hot Cocoa Mugs (Free Set)
This craft turns a cozy hot cocoa mug into a sliding pop-up card using free printable templates—perfect for kids who like a bit of hands-on fun. You can customize it with full color or let kids decorate their own lines and designs, adding little details like whipped cream textures or candy cane accents. It’s playful, slightly more involved than basic cards, but worth it for the magic those moving parts bring.
This simple but striking card uses oversized plastic gems as hanging ornaments—just add string lines and bows with a black marker, and you’re done. It’s a great pick for kids who love a little sparkle but aren’t up for complicated steps. Minimal mess, high impact, and totally customizable with whatever gems or stickers you have on hand.
No matter which style you try, each project gives kids a chance to share a little bit of themselves in the process. The fun isn’t just in the making—it’s in seeing those handmade cards brighten someone else’s holiday. Now let’s look at a few simple ways you can put these creations to use and spread the cheer even further.
Ways to Use and Share the Cards
Once your child finishes their masterpiece, don’t just tuck it away—put it to use in a way that spreads some cheer. Here are a few simple, meaningful ideas:
Mail them to loved ones — Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and faraway friends will treasure the personal touch.
Pair with presents — Use the cards as gift tags or add them to wrapped packages for an extra-sweet surprise.
Build a keepsake collection — Save one each year and watch how your child’s creativity (and handwriting) grows over time.
Gift to teachers, coaches, or neighbors — A handmade card adds a thoughtful, heartfelt note to even a small thank-you.
Whether your child makes one card or a dozen, the heart behind each one is what matters most. These little projects are a chance to slow down, get creative, and connect—both with your kids and with the people you share their work with.
If you try one of the ideas from this list, I’d love to hear how it went or see a snapshot of your child’s creation. Happy card-making, and even happier holidays.
Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.
