Kids craft: making Christmas cards

CREATING YOUR OWN Christmas cards is an inexpensive and simple way to add that special personal touch to your gift-giving and festive wishes. The materials you use don’t have to be specifically Christmassy; as shown here, all you need are some clever colour combinations, pretty odds and ends for decoration, and your imagination! This approach also works well for Christmas wrapping paper – buy rolls of basic paper and stamp your creativity on it (see page 188 of the December issue of Notebook: for more ideas).

 

You will need
Chrome-coat card; coloured paper; envelopes; buttons, beads, sequins, ricrac, ribbon, fabric and lace; glue; scissors; needle and thread. Chrome-coat paper card is available from art supply shops.

 

Step 1
Raid your sewing box, or head to an art supply or haberdashery shop to gather your materials. Vintage items (such as buttons, lace, ribbons and used stamps) from flea markets and antique shops also make for very original cards and give a lovely old-world feel.

 

Step 2
Use a durable yet lightweight paper to make your cards (cutting the right shape from large pieces), or buy pre-made cards from an art supply or stationery shop. The best paper to use for sewing on to is chrome-coat paper; it is fairly lightweight, has a ‘plastic’ feel and can handle the attentions of a needle and thread without tearing.

 

Step 3
Let your imagination run wild... Sew (or glue) your decorations on to your cards and envelopes in any simple, striking design you like.

 

Photography: Scott Hawkins. Styling: Aimee Jones.