20 DIY Christmas Cards and Gift Tag Ideas to Try

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By ClaraWestern Living EditorHome & Rooms·Updated Oct 5, 2026·18 ideas·8 min read·Editorial standards

Searching for “christmas cards diy”? These ideas have the cutest little details.

Button snowmen, painted branches and bright red bows give you plenty to choose from.

There are a couple of gift tags here too, with designs you could borrow for a card front.

You can keep things simple with a single tree or go all out with folded shapes and sparkle.

Christmas card ideas worth saving

button snowmen decorating a tree

How cute is this? The button snowmen look like they’re helping each other put a yellow star on the tree.

Their tiny black hats make it even sweeter.

Try white and pale pink buttons against a brown card front. A curved white snowbank along the bottom brings the little scene together.

folded gold-colored tree

I am obsessed with this folded tree. The rows of gold-colored folds spread out across the open white card, with a little star right at the top.

There’s already so much detail in the tree itself. I’d keep the surrounding space plain like this.

snowmen in colorful scarves

Who says all your snowmen have to look the same? These white fingerprint-style figures have different hats, scarves and expressions.

There’s even a little singer with musical notes!

Give yours pink, green or red accessories against a blue background. The tiny stick arms are worth keeping too.

patterned tree window

If you love mixing patterns, this one is for you. Stripes, dots and looping designs show through a tree-shaped opening in the green panel.

The little bow below the tree is my favorite detail. Try keeping your patterns in green, gray and white for a similar look.

striped and dotted presents

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Don’t want to go all out with painting? This little gift tag gives you another idea.

Two red-and-white patterned rectangles become presents with black looped bows above them.

For a card version, try the same pair of presents on a brown background with your greeting underneath.

red stitched star

How pretty is this star? Not gonna lie, the little gold-colored bells at the points are my favorite part!

The red stitches cross through the center and fan out toward each tip.

I’d keep the lettering light and simple beneath such a bold design.

green-bordered photo card

Want your photo to be the main part of your card? This green-bordered design leaves plenty of room for it.

Two sparkling silver-colored strips run down the side beneath a small Christmas greeting.

Choose a photo you love, then place your greeting where it won’t cover anyone’s face.

gold sparkle on navy

I am in love with this dark navy and gold-colored pairing. The trees have loose, sweeping branches with a sparkling star above each one.

Don’t want words on the front? No problem! A single tree looks gorgeous on its own here.

white snowflakes and teal strips

The white snowflakes are so pretty over these blue and teal strips. I especially love how the larger ones extend past the edges.

The round label here says “Hello Friend.” You could swap that for a Christmas greeting if you want a more holiday-specific version.

bright dots on a green tree

This tree may just be one of my favorites here. The detailed green branches are covered with bright pink, blue, yellow and orange circles.

Try tiny colorful cutouts for your own ornaments. There’s no need to stick to red and green if you love a brighter Christmas card.

handprint reindeer

How adorable are these reindeer? Each brown handprint has big black-and-white eyes and a red nose, with the fingers becoming antlers.

If you’re making your own handprint design, add red and green snowflakes around it. The scattered silver-colored dots are a cute finishing touch.

pink painted bauble

If you are looking for a looser painted design, this one is for you. The pink bauble has overlapping black outlines with little patches of white showing through.

I love that the pink extends beyond the lines. Keep your own outline a little uneven if you want that same playful look.

button snowman and checked bow

Here’s another button snowman, but this one gets a whole card to itself. The tilted black hat and tiny red-and-white neck bow are just too cute.

A larger checked bow sits across the top. Try small black swirls and dots around your snowman to follow the background shown here.

red poinsettia painting

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Bring a little red to your card with this poinsettia design. I am in love with the deep red shapes around the small yellow center.

The green sprigs along the sides are lovely too.

Leave a few white gaps in your painted flower if you want to borrow that same loose style.

singing reindeer

Is this little reindeer singing Christmas carols? The big open mouth and red songbook certainly make it look that way!

I love the curled antlers and round red nose. Keep the background white if you want your own cutout character to be the main detail.

gold-colored zigzag trees

Don’t want lots of layers or extra decorations? These gold-colored trees on brown cards are a lovely option.

Each one has a loose zigzag shape, a small star and tiny dots around the branches.

You could try a similar design with a gold-colored pen, keeping your tree small in the middle.

dotted candy cane

This candy cane is so cute with its red-and-white dots. I especially love the checked bow tied across the middle and the dashed black border.

Try alternating red and white paint dots in a hooked shape for your own version. A red border around the brown front would echo the candy cane colors.