Shop our Pack of 6 Sassy Typographic Christmas Cards
When it comes to buying Christmas cards for your friends and family, it can be easy to get sucked into the mounds of mass-produced charity cards bulging from the supermarket aisles come November. While it’s great to spend money that will go to charity, you might feel like generic cards like these don’t quite convey the right sentiment to your loved ones. You might be thinking about unique Christmas card ideas this year and how you can better express what they mean to you.
You might also be keen to support small businesses rather than large retailers who benefit the most from mass consumption. Perhaps the impact on the environment of bulk Christmas card production also weighs heavily on your mind, and you might be looking for a more eco-conscious option.
Whatever your reasons for wanting to source unique Christmas cards this year, a little bit of imagination and extra effort will go a long way. To help you, here are some options for unique Christmas card ideas to consider.
Handmade Christmas cards
Photo by Jonathan Borba
Nothing is more unique than a handmade Christmas card, one you’ve invested time and effort into making for someone special. Knowing you’ve taken the time to plan and design your own card will show how much they mean to you, especially as you can write your own personalised message inside.
Here are some great handmade Christmas card ideas to get you started:
- Attach a mini wreath with a personal photo inside to a plain card, complemented with ribbons and bows.
- Cut out elements from Christmas wrapping paper, such as snowmen, Christmas trees and baubles, and glue them to some card before adding a personal message inside.
- Use washi tape to create pretty patterns and objects, for example, you could design Christmas tree patterns using rows of washi tape of different lengths. You can then decorate the tree with ribbon and sequins to mimic baubles and tinsel.
- Get the paints out and make fingerprints on cards to create people or objects, or cut out circles of cotton wool or felt to make a snowman.
Designing handmade Christmas cards is something the whole family can get involved in and it’s a cheap way to show people you care as you’ll probably already have lots of materials you can use at home. It’s also an environmentally friendly option if you use recyclable materials.
Personalised Christmas cards
Photo by KoolShooters
If you’re looking for unique Christmas card ideas that are personalised rather than generic, you can’t go wrong with adding family photos to a card or adding your own specific message. There are plenty of online retailers through which you can upload photos and text, and personalise cards with recipients’ names, but if you want to avoid the big companies you can do this yourself at home.
Simply cut out photos from albums or print them off your phone and add them to plain cards. You can then add a handwritten message or illustration if that’s something you enjoy doing. You could even go all out and book a seasonal photoshoot, getting quality time with your family while having fun in the process.
Another way to personalise Christmas cards is to pick one that conveys a particular message that’s relevant to the recipient. Have a look around some local independent card shops and see if you can find cards with images and text which you know will resonate with particular people. This is a great unique Christmas card idea for someone who’s had a hard time recently who you know will appreciate the message, and of course, you’ll be supporting small businesses at the same time.
Colourful Christmas cards
Shop our Pack of 6 Sassy Typographic Christmas Cards
If you’re happy to buy your cards, but still want some unique Christmas card ideas, why not step away from the standard colours that usually adorn mass-produced cards and go for something a bit more colourful? Just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean you have to stick to reds and greens. Spend some time seeking our colourful Christmas cards that buck tradition by combining bright and vivid colours with a festive message.
Alternatively, you could make your own colourful cards using bright materials and different coloured pens. This is great for a friend or family member who you know loves colour - they’ll appreciate you putting thought into buying or creating a Christmas card for them.
Eco-friendly Christmas cards and alternatives
Photo by Kira auf der Heide
If you’re keen to ensure your Christmas card consumption doesn’t detrimentally affect the environment, there are a few things you can do. First, look for cards made from fully recyclable materials and those which aren’t laminated or coated.
As producers and retailers become more conscious of consumers’ desire to shop in an eco-friendly way, you should be able to source recyclable Christmas cards more easily, particularly if you shop in independent stores. If you have a friend or family member who is very environmentally conscious they’ll appreciate you making the effort to honour their values.
When it comes to making your own, avoid materials made of plastic, like glitter which can render a card unrecyclable. Use recycled paper and naturally based adhesives rather than normal glue, and reuse old cards and other materials where possible.
And of course one of the most environmentally friendly unique Christmas card ideas is to send ecards. You might worry how the recipient will view a virtual card or feel like it’s a bit of a cop-out, but if you relay your eco-conscious intentions, your loved one will most likely be full of admiration for your efforts. Ecards don’t have to be boring and you can make them personalised. Some are also interactive and fun, which will probably create more of a lasting impression than a generic shop-bought card.
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So, there you have it - some great options for unique Christmas card ideas which will help you convey personalised messages to your friends and family while supporting small businesses and preserving the environment in the process.
Some of them might require a little bit of creativity and additional time, but going that extra mile will make this year’s Christmas one to remember, for both you and your loved ones.