12 Unique Holiday Card Ideas You Can Make In 20 Minutes

The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and, of course, crafting! But let’s be honest—between juggling family gatherings, shopping for gifts, and preparing festive meals, finding time to create beautiful holiday cards can feel overwhelming. You might find yourself staring at a blank cardstock, wondering how to make something special without spending hours on it.

Globe Builder Die Set

In this blog post, we’ll explore unique holiday card ideas you can whip up in under 20 minutes. These quick and easy cardmaking techniques will help you spread holiday cheer without the stress, regardless of your skill level.

No-Line Coloring using Stencils

From using letterpress plates for a stunning Christmas card set to experimenting with non-traditional colors, we’ve got you covered. Plus, we’ll show you how to create striking dry embossed backgrounds and simple designs that still pack a punch. Get ready to unleash your creativity and impress your friends and family with handmade cards that truly stand out!

12 Unique Christmas Card Ideas You Can Create In Under 20 Minutes

Regal Wreath Registration Press Plate/Foil Plate

1. Holiday Card Set Easily with ONE Press Plate/Foil Plate 

If you’re ever in a pinch and badly need a few Christmas cards at once without breaking a sweat, this is for you! 

Aga decided to play with a few of our new colored cardstock and the Regal Wreath Registration Press Plate/Foil Plate to create a holiday card set. The result is simply amazing! Find out more here. 

2. Quick Holiday Cards with Non-Traditional Colors 

Are you tired of seeing and using the same three colors on holiday cards? Try some non-traditional colors! We know it can be a bit intimidating, so here are some top tips from Emily on how to pull this off. Read more.

3. Easy 5-Minute Christmas Card Idea 

One of the best ways to whip up a holiday card is to go for clean and simple designs. Here’s a fun card idea by Tenia featuring our Timeless Sentiment as the focal point. Got leftover cardstock strips? Try Therese's colorful handmade card above!

4. Dry Embossed Background

Dry embossing is truly a time-saver for cardmakers! That’s why we will never ever stop recommending various techniques and tips using our wide range of 3D embossing folders. Here’s a cool and easy DIY holiday card idea from Virginia.

5. Easy Holiday Wreath Cards

If there’s only one thing you can have in your stash, go for wreath stencils! They’re handy for quick Christmas cards but can also be used for any year-round DIY project. Here’s a no-line coloring with stencil tutorial with Erum.

6. Focus on the sentiment.

Finding the perfect sentiment for DIY Christmas cards can be overwhelming. There are simply too many options out there. Our advice? Go for holiday sentiment stamps with heartfelt messages. Lucky for you, we also have a Christmas card messages page for when you’re stumped and do not know what to write inside your card.

7. Keep it warm and cozy.

Use a cover die that exudes the warmth and coziness of the holiday season, pop up a sentiment, and you’re good to go! 

8. Add a touch of black and gold.

Quick Christmas cards don’t need to be too simple and boring. You can definitely go for something elegant by combining black and gold (or silver).

9. Die cut a few pieces from vellum.

We all know the magic of vellum paper. It can easily turn your handmade holiday cards from zero to 100! Try this: die cut a few pieces from vellum and use it on your card’s background for that extra interest and texture.

10. Create a colorful background with just die-cut sentiments.

Choose a few big and bold sentiments, die cut them out of different colored cardstocks, and arrange them on your card front. Tip: choose sentiment dies with both outline and detail dies.

11. Take advantage of small filler stamps.

Don’t underestimate the power of those small “filler” stamps included in your stamp sets. They may be tiny, but you can use them to create a full background or to decorate your focal point and sentiment. For instance, our Warm Blessings Stamp Set includes a hand-drawn holly leaf and berries that you can stamp repeatedly to create a whole wreath or an adorable background on your card.

12. Build your own Christmas tree from non-traditional objects.

We saved the BEST Christmas card idea for last! If you really want that “wow” factor in your holiday card, choose any non-Christmas stamp in your stash and build a “Christmas tree” or a wreath by stacking it up! This cool idea might take a bit over 20 minutes, depending on your skill level, but we promise you it will be worth it!

Get a Jumpstart on Your Holiday Cards with These Ideas

As the holiday season approaches, it's the perfect time to let your creativity shine with these quick and unique card making ideas. With just a few minutes and some basic crafting supplies, you can create beautiful, personalized Christmas cards that reflect your style and spread joy to your loved ones. 

Modern Fireplace Layering Die Set

Remember, crafting doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. By embracing various techniques, using 2-in-1 tools like letterpress/foil plates, experimenting with non-traditional colors, and opting for simple designs, you can make the card making process enjoyable and stress-free. 

We hope these ideas inspire you to craft your way through the holidays. Happy crafting, and may your cards bring smiles to everyone who receives them!