Crafty DIY Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards and Tags

The Christmas tree is one of the most iconic symbols of Christmas cheer, and we’ve found some original and creative techniques that you can explore in making your gift cards and tags.

Watercolour & Washi Tape

This is a really simple and smart approach to the Christmas tree! Using Washi tape, create a triangle on a piece of card or tag. Using watercolour or markers (try our great Penflex markers!), or coloured pencils, create coloured lines in the triangular space. Remove the tape and voila!

Colourful Silhouette Cards

This is a really great way of making colourful and diverse cards. Using a sheet of white card and your choice of crayon, Penflex marker, watercolour or acrylic paints,Penflex highlighters or coloured pencils, you can create the background striping effect on the white card. For more festive cheer, add glitters and gemstones! Select your silhouette of choice and cut that out from the black card. Stick the black card to the colourful card and, hey presto!

For a detailed tutorial on how to make these cards, click here.

Here are a few other craft techniques that you can experiment with for your cards and tags:

• Card cut-outs with coloured/patterned paper peeking through
• Pencil sharpenings and markers or fineliners
• Buttons glued onto card
• Felt cut-outs

Experiment and be creative!

DIY Christmas Wrapping

Rather than spend money on fancy gift wrapping paper, why not try out making some of your very own? Here are some creative DIY and upcycled gift wrapping ideas

Splatter Paint Paper

You’ll need: brown kraft wrapping paper, acrylic paint in desired colours, water and a cup or bowl.

Add a few drops of paint to the cup and a tiny bit of water to thin it down. Dip your brush in the paint, then hold it over the paper, and tap the paintbrush with your other hand.

Several factors affect the size of the paint blobs. More paint on the brush, plus harder tapping, generally equals bigger paint splatters, and less paint, plus lighter tapping, means small splatters. And the more watered-down your paint is, the smaller the splatters will be. So, experiment to see what effect you like best! There’s no wrong way to do it!

Wrap gifts with twine, string or ribbon and add a sprig of green or a stick of cinnamon for that Christmas scent.

Find the full instructions here.

Scented Christmas Wrapping Paper

Add an extra dimension to your gift wrapping with scented gift wrap! This one is great fun for the kids.

You can use essential oils, spices or herbs to add a beautiful scent to your paint. For Christmas, choose scents like cinnamon and nutmeg, pine, peppermint, or orange and clove.

Mix a scent with each colour of paint and use stamps or cookies cutters (as stamps) to print out your unique designs!

Read the full instructions here.

Jolly Reindeer Wrapping

Using brown or white kraft paper, watercolour or acrylic paint, or even an ink pad, you can easily make this cheerful wrapping for your Christmas gifts!

Simply dip a fingertip into the paint or ink and place fingerprints all over the paper. Draw in antlers and eyes with a marker or fineliner and add a mini pompom for the red noses!

Read the full tutorial here.