Inspired Christmas card ideas can often be the biggest challenge for those who love to make handmade cards. If you are short on inspiration, a trip through your local craft store can often spark an idea or two. If you’re still stuck, try out these ideas.

Fancy Paper Cards
Fancy scrapbook papers are perfect for making elegant Christmas cards. The scrapbooking section of your craft store will have a huge selection of papers in floral prints, swirls, faux painting, etc. For this card, the design is kept very simple, allowing the pretty papers to take center stage.

Materials:

• Card stock, 8 ½ x 11 inches
• Scrapbooking papers in red, green and yellow
• Glue stick

Begin by cutting the card stock in half, so that it measures 8 ½ x 5 ½ inches. Fold the card stock in half, so you have a blank card measuring 4 ¼ x 5 ½ inches.

For each card, you will need to cut a 3 ½ x 5-inch rectangle out of red paper, a 3-inch high Christmas tree shape out of green paper and a small star out of yellow paper. The Christmas tree shape can be a simple triangle, if you wish.

Center the rectangle over the front of the card and glue it in place. Center the tree shape on the rectangle, with the star on top, and glue them in place. Repeat for as many cards as you need.

3-D Snowman Cards
Using foam dots available from your local craft store, you can create a really cool three-dimensional card that will truly stand out.

Materials:

• Blue card stock, 8 ½ x 11 inches
• White card stock
• Card stock scraps in assorted colors
• Glue stick
• White paint marker or gel pen
• Foam adhesive dots
• Colored pens or markers

Begin by cutting the blue card stock in half, so that it measures 8 ½ x 5 ½ inches. Fold the cardstock in half, so you have blank cards measuring 4 ¼ x 5 ½ inches.

For each card, cut out a snowman shape from the white card stock, approximately three inches tall. From the colored scraps, cut out accessories for the snowman, such as hats and scarves. Glue the accessories onto the snowman shape, and draw a face with colored pens. Set aside to dry.

Use the white paint marker or gel pen to make white dots on the blank cards, like snow. Place a few foam dots on the back of your snowmen, and adhere them to the front of the card. This technique can be used with any design you’d like to have in three dimensions.

Feel free to experiment with different papers and colors. It’s your own personal touch that makes handmade cards truly special!