Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Homemade Christmas Card Templates
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Homemade Christmas Card Templates is a free printable art and craft sheet. It gives children templates to help them make their own Christmas cards at home or in the classroom. Children plan, decorate and finish a card they can give to someone they care about.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Page 2 has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea.
What is on the sheet
Children use the templates as a starting point for making Christmas cards from home. The templates take away the worry of a blank page, so children can put their energy into colour, pattern and the message they want to share. Each card can be as simple or as detailed as the child chooses, and every finished card will look different.
Ideas for decorating your cards
Colour and pattern
Use pencils, felt tips or crayons to build up colour. Try stripes, dots, zigzags and swirls. Pick two or three colours that go well together before starting, so the card looks planned.
Collage and texture
Tear or cut scrap paper, wrapping paper offcuts or old magazines into small pieces. Stick them down to make a tree, a snowy scene or a present. Fabric scraps and cotton wool add texture.
Printing and stamping
Dip a cut piece of potato or a cotton bud in a little paint to make dots, stars or snowflakes. An adult should do any cutting of the potato. Let the paint dry fully before folding the card.
A message that means something
Write a short greeting inside, then add a personal line. It could be a thank you, a memory or a good wish. A message written in a child's own words is often what people keep.
Why make cards by hand?
A handmade card is a small project with a clear purpose. Children decide who it is for, what that person likes and how to show it. That gives their choices a reason. They think about colour, space and neat finishing, and they get the satisfaction of making something real to hand over.
Making cards also fits naturally into a busy December. It is calm, it needs only basic materials, and it can be done alone or with others. Writing a greeting gives children a short, friendly reason to practise handwriting, spelling and kind words, without it feeling like a task.
Scissors should be child safe and used with care. An adult should do any cutting with a craft knife and any use of a hot glue gun. Keep small items such as sequins and beads away from young children who may put them in their mouths.
Christmas card facts
- The first commercial Christmas card was made in London in 1843. It was the idea of a man called Henry Cole.
- In the UK, a card can be sent through the post with a stamp, or handed over in person.
- Robins often appear on British Christmas cards.
- Many cards are folded in the middle, so there is a front to decorate and an inside for a message.
- People send cards to share good wishes and to say they are thinking of someone.
Skills and curriculum link
- Creative design
- Fine motor control
- Colour choice
- Following an outline
- Writing a greeting
- Planning a finished piece
Helping your child make a card
- Choose the person firstAsk who the card is for and what they like. A clear person in mind makes it easier to decide on pictures, colours and words.
- Plan before decoratingSuggest a quick pencil sketch or a talk about the idea first. Then decorate with pens, paint or collage once the plan feels clear.
- Keep materials simplePencils, felt tips and scrap paper are enough. Too many choices can slow children down, so put out a small set of things to use.
- Finish with careLeave glue and paint to dry before folding. Check the message for spelling together, then sign the card with a name.
Key words
- TemplateAn outline or pattern that you can copy, trace or colour in to help you make something.
- FoldTo bend paper so that one part lies on top of another. A card often has a fold down the middle.
- GreetingThe kind words you write to someone, such as Merry Christmas.
- BorderA pattern or line that runs around the edge of a picture or card.
- CollageA picture made by sticking different pieces of paper or other materials onto a surface.
- DesignA plan for how something will look before you make it.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes, help and stretch idea.
- Talk about who the card is for. Ask your child what that person enjoys, then let them choose a template.
- Gather simple materials such as pencils, felt tips, scrap paper and glue. Cover the table if you plan to use paint.
- Let your child design and decorate in their own way. Offer ideas only if they ask or get stuck.
- Write a greeting, sign the card and let everything dry. Then give it out, post it or display it.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with one idea only, such as a tree or a star. Colour it in first, then add a border. Say the greeting aloud before writing it. If decorating feels too much, work on one half of the card and finish it later.
To stretch confident children
Design a card for a particular person, using what you know they like. Add at least two different materials or techniques, such as collage and pattern. Then write a message of two or three sentences in your best handwriting.
Make it a game
Play Card Swap. Each person makes a card for someone else in the group, keeping the choice secret. Then everyone gives their card and guesses why the maker chose those colours and pictures. Share what each card says about its receiver.
Talk about it
- Who is your card for, and what do you think they would like to see on it?
- Which colours did you choose, and why did you pick them?
- What does Christmas look like in your head? How could you show that on a card?
- What kind words could you write that would make someone smile?
- If you made a second card, what would you change or try differently?
- Why do you think people like to receive a card that has been made by hand?
Take it off the page
Card making station
Set up a small table with paper, pens, glue and scrap materials. Let children make extra cards across the week for family, neighbours or friends.
Wrapping paper design
Draw or print your own pattern on plain paper, then use it to wrap a small gift. Match the pattern to the card for a matching set.
Story of a card
Ask your child to make up a short story about where a Christmas card travels, who opens it and how they feel. Write it down or tell it aloud.
Who it is for
Parents
Make this a calm, shared activity. Sit nearby, offer simple materials and let your child lead. The aim is a card they are proud of, not a perfect one. Help with the cutting and any hot items.
Teachers
Use it in the lead up to the end of term, as a quiet art session or a wet play activity. It supports art and design, and works well alongside writing a greeting. Adults should handle craft knives and glue guns.
Home educators
This fits well into a home education week as an art session with a writing link. Children can plan, make and send cards to relatives. Posting them adds a real purpose, and you could extend it to a short topic on how cards travel.
Where this fits in your child's learning
Before making cards, children benefit from drawing, colouring and using scissors and glue with confidence. Simple tasks such as tracing shapes, colouring within lines and folding paper all build the control needed here. Talking about colour and pattern helps too.
After this sheet, children can try more open design tasks, such as making a card from a blank page or creating their own templates. They can also link the work to writing, for example composing longer letters or thank you notes. In art and design, this supports using a range of materials creatively to design and make.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What is this sheet for?
It gives children templates to help them make their own Christmas cards. They design, decorate and write a message, then give the finished card to someone. It suits home, classroom and holiday craft sessions.
- How long does it take?
It depends on how much decorating your child wants to do. A simple card can be quick, while a detailed one may take longer. You can also split the work across two sessions, letting glue and paint dry between them.
- What materials do we need?
Pencils and felt tips are enough to begin. Scrap paper, glue, child safe scissors and paint add extra options. You do not need to buy anything special, and you can reuse paper and wrapping offcuts.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. Black and white printing works well, because children add the colour themselves. Printing on slightly thicker paper can help if you plan to use paint or glue, but ordinary paper is fine.
- Is it suitable for different ages?
Yes, because the open design lets children work at their own level. Younger children can focus on colour and simple shapes, while older children can add collage, detailed pattern and longer messages. Adults can adapt the amount of help they give.
- Does it link to the school curriculum?
It supports art and design in the National Curriculum for England, where children use a range of materials creatively to design and make products. It also gives a natural reason to practise handwriting and writing a short greeting.
- Is it safe for children to do alone?
Children can colour and stick on their own, but adults should handle craft knives, hot glue guns and anything sharp. Keep small items like sequins away from young children. Stay nearby so you can help if needed.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.