DIY Christmas cards for kids all ages
In less than a month it's Christmas! As the post services around the world are pretty busy at this time of the year, plan ahead and start creating and posting your Christmas cards now!
Which grandma and grandpa wouldn't like to receive a homemade Christmas card from their grandchildren? Get crafty with the kids, young and old. Here is how to: |
Fingerprint Christmas Tree card - age 1 to 3 years
What you need: Card stock or heavy weight paper (A5 landscape folded); red, green, and yellow finger paint; black sharpie; plastic cups
Instructions: With a sharpie draw a tree on your card. First draw a line in the middle of the paper about 4cm from the top and 2cm from the bottom. Then draw 4 lines from left to right through the middle line, starting with a small one about 1cm from the top of the line and making the other ones bigger by 1cm. Now put the different colours of finger paint in a few cups and have your child decorate the tree by printing the paint with their fingers on the paint. |
Cotton ball Snowman card - age 3 to 5 years
What you need: Card stock or heavy weight paper (A5 landscape folded); 2-3 cotton balls; black sharpie; coloured paper for eyes, nose and buttons; stars, glitter, coloured pens to decorate (optional); scissors; glue
Instructions: Draw a snow man shape on the card with a black sharpie. Tear the cotton balls open a bit. Put glue on the snow man and have your child glue the cotton balls onto the paper. Then give the snowman a hat and arms by drawing these onto the paper. From coloured paper cut out eyes, a nose and buttons and also glue these onto the snow man. Decorate the rest of the card by drawing on Christmas trees or snow, or glueing some stars or glitter on the paper. |
Christmas pop up card - age 5 to 7 years
What you need: Card stock or heavy weight paper (A5 landscape folded); coloured paper (a few colours); stars, glitter or coloured pens to decorate; scissors; glue
Instructions: Cut out a piece of paper slightly smaller than the inside of your card. Fold the paper in half. For each pop out you make 2 parallel cuts in the folded side (about 1 to 2 cm apart and 1 to 2 cm long). Open the paper and glue it to the inside of the card, having the pop up coming out. Then have the kids decorate / write the inside of the card in a Christmas theme using coloured pens, stars or glitter. According to what you are going to make as your pop outs (stars, angels, Christmas tree, snow man etc), cut out the figures from the coloured paper and glue them onto the pop out. |
Paper snowflake card - age 7 years and up
What you need: Card stock or heavy weight paper (A5 landscape folded); A4 coloured paper; ribbon and glitter to decorate (optional); glue; scissors
Instructions: 1. Take 1 A4 size paper and fold it in half twice and cut out 4 pieces. 2. Use one piece (each piece will make one snowflake) 3. Fold the top of the paper to the inside creating a triangle. 4. Cut off the remaining part, leaving only a fold triangle. 5. Fold the triangle in half 2 times. 6. Then fold the left side (non open side but folded side) to the middle. 7. Cut off the not-folded side and draw your design on it. 8. Cut out your design and open your snowflake. |
Add-ons for more fun play
Educational
Next to the fact that this activity is great to develop your child's fine motor, scissor cutting and writing skills, it is also a good opportunity to talk about Christmas. Christmas isn't all about the presents and the food. Even if you are not a Christian, it would be good to explain to your child the origins and traditions of Christmas. When crafting together it is good moment to talk about it in a relaxed atmosphere. Ask your child a couple of questions and see how much they already know and add to it where needed.
- Having family over for dinner on Christmas Eve? Turn a Christmas card into a name placement cards for on the dinner table.
- Making Christmas cards is good practise for kids that are starting to learn to write. Let them write their names or a personalised message on the cards.
- The above crafts could also be used to decorate Christmas presents. Especially the fingerprint Christmas tree or the paper snowflake would look beautiful on a with white paper wrapped gift.
Educational
Next to the fact that this activity is great to develop your child's fine motor, scissor cutting and writing skills, it is also a good opportunity to talk about Christmas. Christmas isn't all about the presents and the food. Even if you are not a Christian, it would be good to explain to your child the origins and traditions of Christmas. When crafting together it is good moment to talk about it in a relaxed atmosphere. Ask your child a couple of questions and see how much they already know and add to it where needed.