I tried paper crafting my own Christmas cards—here are my tips

If you’re anything like me—and I’d wager many of you are—you probably find yourself with the occasional pocket of free time and an urge to do something creative with it. Maybe you’ve tried your hand at baking, knitting, or even gardening.

Personally, I enjoy crafting. It’s a soothing, therapeutic hobby that results in beautiful pieces for your home or thoughtful, handmade gifts for friends and family. Among the most popular crafting activities is paper crafting, which includes card making, scrapbooking, and even making your own paper from scratch.

Paper crafting continues to grow in popularity, with an estimated 11% of crafters identifying it as their primary focus.

Curious to see what all the buzz was about, I decided to dive in and try paper crafting for myself. With the holiday season in full swing, making Christmas cards felt like the perfect place to start.

Here’s what I learned along the way, along with my tips for success.

I like card-making, but what paper craft is right for you?

Something I enjoy doing every now and then is sending out handwritten cards—it’s a really special way to say hello to friends and family. During such a socially-distant year, I’ve been looking for ways to stay connected beyond social media and the occasional FaceTime—making and sending cards is one thing I knew the people in my life will appreciate right about now. This is why I decided to send Christmas cards out, even to those I live near to but simply cannot hang out with due to the pandemic.

To start, I tried out a DIY Christmas card kit for beginners from Etsy—which I recommend to anyone wanting to try their crafting skills during the holidays. Kits like these allow you to create beautiful designs through paper folding and cutting, and they'll often include cards and envelopes, patterned and colored paper, and a few templates to follow.

I also picked up a holiday-inspired bundle of crafting accessories from Paper Source. These all made for adorable accents on my DIY cards, not to mention great alternatives to symbols or phrases that may be hard to create with just paper.

When it comes to paper crafts, there truly is no creative limit. Paper crafting ventures beyond card making, encompassing several different forms that can be combined to create artwork, home décor, and more.

Some of the most popular paper crafts include classic scrapbooking and quilling, which involves layering and bending thin sheets of paper to create a three-dimensional design.

What you need to paper craft

Paper crafting doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as cutting and pasting decorative papers, mixing and matching stickers and stick-on accessories, and using washi tape.

Before you start your project, gather all the basic tools that you’ll need—this includes glue and double-sided tape for securing your materials together, along with high-quality, sharp crafting scissors and a paper trimmer for getting precise cuts on your paper. Other essentials to have in your arsenal include a ruler and a good light source, like a desk lamp.

From here, the options are endless for paper colors, finishes, and textures. Same goes for accessories and add-ons—choose from stickers, washi tape, string and ribbon, stamps, and more.

If you’re a beginner and this list of options feels overwhelming, start with a kit that has all the supplies you’ll need to make handmade cards or a scrapbook. If you don’t feel confident assembling your own components, you can opt for a curated craft kit.

What I learned from paper crafting my own cards

I learned my first big lesson after attempting to make a few cards—the importance of having good, sturdy cardstock to work with. A simple set of cards and envelopes, like this 30-count from Amazon works perfectly. Avoid flimsy paper that can’t withstand the added weight of your paper layering and additional stickers or accessories.

Lesson number two: When working with and cutting paper, never throw out a paper scrap. I quickly realized how easy it is to reuse paper scraps while paper crafting. Plus, you don’t want to waste any of the higher quality paper you’ve purchased—every piece counts, and smaller scraps can even be easier to work with on details.

Finally, don’t be afraid to go off the books of a specific card making kit or pair of instructions. I looked online for card making inspiration and found this helpful guide of greeting card ideas. It’s an awesome resource for beginners, as is Pinterest.

My final product feels like an accomplishment

My best advice is really to have fun! There is no right or wrong way to make a Christmas card, so be gentle with yourself. Making your own Christmas cards is a great way to drum up some holiday cheer that you may feel you’re missing this year. Plus, it gives you some time to relax and consider the loved ones you’ll send these cards off to.