Share anything holiday related!
Make handmade holiday greeting cards using recycled paper, markers, glitter, and simple collage techniques to practice creativity, measurement, and writing warm messages.
Step-by-step guide to make handmade holiday greeting cards
5 Easy Holiday Crafts for Kids in 4 Minutes! | Fun & Festive DIY Ideas with Miss Daisy
Step 1
Gather all the materials from the list and clear a flat workspace to make your card.
Step 2
Choose one sheet of recycled paper and fold it in half to make the card base.
Step 3
Use the ruler and pencil to measure and lightly mark where you want the front collage pieces to go.
Step 4
Cut out shapes from the scrap magazine or colored paper along your pencil marks using scissors.
Step 5
Arrange the cut-out shapes on the front of the folded card until you like the layout without gluing them yet.
Step 6
Apply glue with the glue stick to one collage piece and press it firmly onto the card.
Step 7
Repeat gluing each collage piece onto the card until the front design is complete.
Step 8
Use markers to draw extra decorations and a border around the collage on the card front.
Step 9
Write a warm holiday message inside the card with a marker and sign your name.
Step 10
Sprinkle glitter onto any glued areas to add sparkle and let the card sit flat to dry for at least 15 minutes.
Step 11
Share a photo of your finished holiday greeting card on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have recycled paper, scrap magazines, or a glue stick?
Use printer or construction paper for the card base, wrapping paper or fabric scraps for collage pieces, and swap the glue stick for white craft glue or double-sided tape when applying glue to collage pieces.
My card is buckling or pieces won't stay put—what should I try?
Apply only a thin layer of glue to each cut-out, press each collage piece firmly onto the folded card, and let the card dry flat under a heavy book for at least 15 minutes to prevent buckling and keep pieces stuck.
How can we adapt the activity for very young children or older kids?
For toddlers, pre-cut large shapes and let them stick pieces with a glue stick and draw with washable markers, while older kids can use the ruler and pencil to measure detailed layouts, cut intricate magazine shapes, add hand-lettered messages, and sprinkle glitter for more sparkle.
How can we personalize or extend the holiday card project?
Add a small photo or handwritten note inside, glue on ribbon or sequins before sprinkling glitter on glued areas, or create a pop-up element by cutting and folding a tab from scrap paper before gluing it to the card front.
Watch videos on how to make handmade holiday greeting cards
4 Quick and Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids | Hobbycraft
3 Videos
4 Quick and Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids | Hobbycraft
8 Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids
🎄 9 Fun Holiday Crafts for Kids! | Smart Start with Miss Daisy 🌟
Facts about holiday paper crafts
♻️ Recycling paper helps forests: recycling one ton of paper can save around 17 mature trees.
✂️ Measuring matters: even a 1 cm difference can change how neatly a card folds or how layers line up, so rulers are your friend!
✉️ Greeting cards are super popular—about 6.5 billion greeting cards are sold in the U.S. each year.
🎨 Collage was popularized by artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the early 1900s—it's art made by sticking paper and materials onto a surface.
🌟 Most craft glitter is made from plastic and can act like microplastic—choose biodegradable glitter or paper-based sparkles to be kinder to the planet.
How do I make handmade holiday greeting cards with recycled paper?
What materials do I need to make holiday greeting cards from recycled paper?
What ages is this holiday card activity suitable for?
What are the benefits, safety tips, and fun variations for holiday card making?
One subscription, many ways to play and learn.
Only $0 after trial. No credit card required