Six Classic DIY Christmas Gift Tags

Looking for Christmas gift tag ideas? Then you're in the right place!

Beneath the boughs our gifts begin to gather, but whose is whose? That’s when it’s time for our handcrafted gift tags to shine! They say it’s the thought that counts, and no matter what lies inside the wrapping paper, your gift carries a personal touch with a homemade Christmas gift tag attached!

1. Christmas Gift Tag Craft Ideas In Classic Festive Colors

Tobi’s Poinsettia tag is so lovely! If you love classic red and green Christmas decorations, then a tag like this could be just the ticket!

Tobi stamped and die cut this Perfect Poinsettia before coloring it in with alcohol markers. She then inked the background with red and green Distress Oxide inks, blending and then spritzing lightly to create a snowy background effect. She lined the tag with red paper before placing the die cut poinsettia in front of the place where the inks transition from green to red.

Want to read more about Tobi's gift tag and more of her projects? You can check them out on her blog!

7 DIY Watercolor Christmas Cards

'Tis the Season to Get Crafty!

Can you believe just how close we are to Christmas already? It's time to get those Christmas cards ready to send out! We've collected an array of handmade watercolor Christmas cards to help inspire your crafting. Whether you're looking to expand your card making style and try out some easy watercolor Christmas card ideas, or you already love watercolors and are just looking for tips and inspiration, then these cards are just what you need!

1. Shedding Light On Homemade Watercolor Christmas Cards

The lights and colors of Christmas decorations are so joyful! I love how Norine uses watercolor in this card to capture the feel of colorful glows reflecting on the Christmas tree. 

Norine created this lovely card with the String of Lights stamp set and some skillful watercoloring. This card largely shows off the beautiful freehanded blending that one can accomplish with watercolors, but Norine also used embossing powder to help with some detailed work in the light bulbs. By embossing the stamped image, she was able to easily corral the watercolor in order to create a more intense color in the light bulbs themselves. She finished the card off with the sentiment from the stamp set and heat embossed it as well.

Want to read more about Norine's cards? Then check out this one and more over on Norine's Blog. And to see more from the rest of our designers, keep reading below!

Five Handmade Christmas Tree Cards to Make

When I was a child, my mother always told me that the reason we used evergreen trees as Christmas trees was because their year-round greenery is a symbol of hope and life even at the darkest of times. I've always loved the evergreen trees for this reason, and I'm excited to share some of our newest pine tree projects alongside a few classics! The Winter Pine Tree Stamps and Dies are designed to fit into your winter and Christmas cards of all types, so if you've been looking for different ways to make Christmas tree cards, you're in the right spot!

1. Stand Out With Your Homemade Christmas Tree Cards

Shana created these trees of varying shades of green and grey. Don't you just love how the green tree pops against the brown and grey?

The warm wishes Shana's sending are sure to make the recipient feel warm and fuzzy. Want to make a similar card? You can layer and create a gradient with distress oxide inks using an acrylic block as a pallet from which to ink your stamps.

Design Your Perfect Handmade Christmas Card for Boyfriend, Husband, Mom, and More!

Who's on your Christmas Card list this year? I love sending unique handcrafted Christmas cards to stay connected with the important people in my life who happen to live far far away. The longer the list grows however, the sooner I have to get started crafting! So come along with me on this journey, let's start planning out those Christmas card lists!

1. Choosing a diy Christmas Card for Boyfriend or Husband

This string of lights card made me think of my husband immediately! He'd be the first to admit he's a bit of a perfectionist, but he has a sense of humor about it. Whether the Christmas lights pose any particular challenge to us this Christmas or not, I know a card wishing him a tangle-free holiday is sure to make him laugh!

I like this circle in front of the squares design. I might use different colors on a homemade Christmas card for my husband, but I love how the background colors here coordinate with the color of the lights. 

Have you been brainstorming ideas for your diy Christmas card for boyfriend or husband? Or maybe your parents or friends? Well then keep reading for more inspiration!

2. Christmas Cards to Make for Your Mom!

Miriam's Poinsettia card really blows me away! The flower here is lifelike enough to take me back to the Christmas pageants my mom and I always used to perform in together on a small church stage. The stage itself seemed to sprout a full forest of poinsettias every year as the holidays approached and more potted poinsettias were donated.

A poinsettia card is the perfect choice for my mom because it gives us the chance to reminisce together as we create new memories this Christmas season. Would your mom enjoy a poinsettia card? Or what about your sister or perhaps a friend? What would you do to make a poinsettia card truly your own?

I know when I'm crafting my mom’s Christmas card I will definitely be integrating the color purple into the design because it’s my mom’s favorite color.  I can incorporate it subtly into the Poinsettia itself by shading the red petals with purple, and I’ll set it against a purple background as well. I’ll have to be careful though to make sure I pick shades of red and purple that complement and don't clash with each other.

Want to read in detail about how this particular card was crafted? Miriam wrote about it on her blog!

3. A Glowing diy Christmas Card for Sister

This Holly card really stood out to me! Among all the green and red holly cards this yellow one seemed to glows like gold, and that's what really got me thinking of my little sister. She’s still in her early 20s, but she's already accomplished so much in both career and education. She’s a card maker too and one of the kindest and most cheerful people you'll ever meet.

Would a card like this one work for your sister? What about an aunt or a girlfriend? How are you planning to put your own spin on it?

I like the non-traditional color pallet, but I think pink might be more fun to play with when I make my sister’s card. 

You can read more about how this card was created in Ana's Blog post about it.

4. Looking for Homemade Christmas Cards for Dad?

I don't always make a separate card for my dad, but this one is just too perfect! The design Allison gave the moose’s scarf looks just like the scarves and blankets my dad's grandma gave all of us as gifts long ago.

I want to make a card where Morris the moose has one of these family scarves plus also I'll create a scene for him that suggests grandma Repast's wooded home in Southern Oregon. I know my dad will really love it, and of course the pun alone in the sentiment stamp is bound to make him crack up.

Does your dad love puns? Or do you ever work in old family memories into your diy christmas cards for parents? I bet Morris the Moose would go great with all of your family Christmas greetings this year!

Interested in this specific card? You'll find out more about it on Allison's Blog Post.

5. Homemade Christmas Card Ideas for Friends

Friends are so important! If you're like me, you've got a number of friends on your Christmas card list. This card in particular made me think of one of my oldest friends. She can be so hard to craft for because she has an unusual aesthetic, but I think something like this snowflake card would be perfect for her.

What sort of unusual aesthetic you might ask? Well, when we were in 5th grade she informed me that she was goth. Never mind the pink and purple she was wearing at the time, she assured me that was just because her dad wouldn't let her wear the style she wanted. True to her 10-year-old word, she switched over to all black as soon as she was allowed to and still loves that whole aesthetic. Sometimes that makes her hard to craft for, but then I found this card and I knew it was absolutely perfect! Snowflake make it easy to create a Christmas themed-card with a darker aesthetic.

The muted tones of this snowflake card also make it a great option for a more masculine card if you're still trying to think of the best card for a dad, uncle, or brother. 

6. Homemade Christmas Card Ideas for Teachers

I'm taking a German course right now that will conclude just after the holidays. It's been a while since I was last in a classroom, but I've found it to be a magical experience, and I'm so grateful to Frau Wesseling for helping to make it so, so I decided I wanted to make a card for her as well this year. I don't know what holidays she celebrates, so I want to stick  with a more neutral sentiment like "warm wishes."

I've always loved this Pine Bough Stamp Set, and honestly I've just been searching for an excuse to use it! I know I'll really enjoy coloring in this Cardinal on the pine bough. I'm really inspired by Ana's no-line coloring here, and excited to try my hand at it!

Who's new on your Christmas card list this year? If I had the time, my list might just grow forever!

Want to read more about no-line coloring? Ana wrote about this card on her blog!

7. A Creative Christmas Card for your Secret Santa

I don't know for sure yet if I'll get the chance to take part in a Secret Santa gift exchange this year, but I'm keeping something like this in my back pocket just in case!

The Dear Santa stamp set is a go-to for me when it comes to Secret Santa related crafting, and having a card like this on hand means if I'm invited to an event I haven't yet foreseen I always have a backup card to give!

Check Out A Couple of Bonus Simple Christmas Greetings for Friends 

Friends and extended relatives expand the Christmas Card list quickly! Here's just a couple more of the Christmas cards inspiring me as I start my planning and my crafting.

Shana's card and gift tag with Bow on the Border Crafting Die and the Classic Christmas Sentiments

Jill's card was crafted with the Hello Winter Stamp Set and Sweater Weather Crafting Die Bundle

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Are you ready to get crafting? Then check out our Christmas Stamps and Dies!

It's Christmas in the Animal House! 5 DIY Christmas Cards

Looking for some cute and creative handmade Christmas cards? Our design team has got you covered! No matter who your favorite furry friend is, we're sure you'll find plenty here to inspire your upcoming crafting projects for Christmas and year round!

1. Some Very Cute DIY Christmas Cards Featuring Lisa's Llamas!

Lisa created such a bright and cheerful card with Lorenzo the Llama, and we just can't get enough of this guy! 

Lorenzo the Llama, like all of the Animal House stamp sets featured here, make some darn cute homemade Christmas cards, but are also perfect for projects year-round! Lisa used the tassels that come with Lorenzo as a festive holiday garland in the background of her card, and along the bottom she placed a bright green ribbon for Lorenzo the stand on. She colored in our llama friend with watercolors, first wetting down Lorenzo with clean water, then just tapping some pink pigment onto his front. With watercolors, shading is as easy as just one tap!

Want to read more about Lisa's process? Check this project out on her blog!

Getting a Head Start on your DIY Christmas Cards!

Hello there from your good pal Toph! I'm starting to plan out my Christmas cards for this year, what about you? It seems so early, but I put off way too many things until the last minute in December of 2020, and I'm determined not to do that again! I live far from my family and most of my friends, so Christmas cards are an important part of how I stay connected with everyone.

How many people are on your Christmas list this year? What kinds of cards do they like? We've collected some great new projects of all kinds from our designers, keep reading to see all these inspiring cards!

1. Starting With the Classics - Handmade Santa Cards!

Jolly ole Saint Nick sure is part of the joy of the season! I don't think I'll ever grow out of loving a good Santa Claus Christmas card. Becky used our Dear Santa Clear Stamps with Matching Dies to create this fun and festive piece!  

Becky stamped and die cut the Santa and his signature "Ho Ho Ho" catchphrase from the Dear Santa Clear Stamps with Matching Dies. She framed Santa's face inside the red card stock with white stripes. Aren't those sprigs of holly a great festive touch? Becky stamped and die cut those from our Spirit of December Stamp Set! 

Santa's always a crowd pleaser, but we've got plenty more for you! Whether you like your handmade Christmas cards and other crafts traditional or wild and wacky, keep reading to see all the projects our design team made for you!

Marigold Flower Cards, Handmade with Techniques Ranging from Simple to Complex

Hi again from Toph! I've got a confession for you: I'm pretty new to card making. Luckily, here at Technique Tuesday, our team designs stamps with card crafters of all skill levels in mind! Whether you're a beginner like me or you're perfecting some of the more complex techniques, you'll find our stamps to be a great tool in your creative pursuits. We've compiled a list of eight diy marigold flower cards to help inspire your next craft, no matter how simple or complex it may be.

1. Naturally Compelling Marigold Flower Card Ideas!

The soft tones and watery blending on this card really connected with me. Marigolds always make me think of my dad's garden growing up, and Norine's handmade marigold card design feels as if it tapped directly into my own sense of nostalgia. The emotional response to a card might be quite personal, but the techniques that get us there are something anyone can learn. Let's see what techniques Norine used here!

Norine achieved this lovely watercolor effect with water reactive Distress inks. She lightly spritzed the paper with water before stamping, then went back over the stamped image with ink on a paintbrush. The paintbrush allowed her to both catch any spots where the original ink was lighter than she wanted and also to give the marigold more depth by introducing more shades of green, yellow, and orange. Once the image was finished, Norine die cut it out using the Postage Card Crafting Dies and added the small dots using a needle tool and a straightedge. She then backed this with the solid colored cardstock that coordinates with the polka dotted background. She finished it all off by heat embossing the sentiments and then painting the banner in with the same color green from the Marigold stems.

Norine writes in about this card on her blog,so you can learn more about it here! Looking for a simpler marigold flower card craft? Then keep reading!

5 DIY Fathers Day Cards and Other Masculine Cards Handmade by our Design Team

Hi card crafters! Toph here to share some of my favorite handmade Fathers Day cards from our design team!

June may be the month when we celebrate Fathers Day, but it's important to appreciate the important men in our life all year long. Whether it's your father, your uncle, grandfather, husband, or just a friend, we've got some projects here that we know would be great for the masculine figure in your life! Keep reading for many manly card ideas, and to see which card I'm most excited about this year!

1. Looking for Masculine Card Ideas? Try a Fathers Day Tool Card! 

What's more manly than a Fathers Day toolbox card? If you've got a man who's a cut above the rest, then the first thing you should reach for is our What a Guy Stamp Set with Matching Dies. Perfect for the handyman in your life, these stamps are meant to help celebrate a wide array of occasions throughout the year. 

Norine created these three different but complementary cards with the What a Guy stamps. On the lower two cards she stamped various images from the set with black ink and set them in the back ground. In the "Love You Beyond Measure" card she then placed her sentiments above the background with a strip of vellum, while in the "A Cut Above the Rest" card she stamped the sentiment and the images onto two different sheets of kraft paper which she popped above the background of stars with foam tape. The final card has a pop of color added with colored pencil and a matting of complimentary plaid patterned paper.

Want to read more about Norine's process? Check out these handmade Fathers Day cards on her blog!

Seven DIY Best Friend Birthday Cards

Hey there birthday card crafters! Toph here again, and today I want to share seven projects from our design team that have me thinking of birthday card ideas for a friend! My best friend and I met when we were both new kids in an elementary school in small town Iowa, and despite living thousands of miles apart, we've stayed close over the years. It's been a long time since we've seen each other in person, but I never miss a chance to surprise her with a handcrafted card! Keep reading to see seven of the beautiful handmade birthday card ideas I'm drawing inspiration from this year!

1. Who Doesn't Love Funny Homemade Birthday Cards for Friends?

The moment I saw Amy's card I knew it was a great place to start when looking at homemade birthday card ideas for best friend. My best friend at I have been ribbing each other about our age each birthday since the year we turned 20, so I know she'd get a laugh out of this card.  We're all getting older, and for the right friend, some light hearted humor about aging can make the perfect birthday card!

Amy started with a blended ink background to create the gradient from lighter to darker pink. She used Tattered Rose, Abandoned Coral, and Seedless Preserves Distress Oxide Inks to blend into the Bristol Smooth cardstock. Atop this colorful yet restrained background she placed white cardstock numbers cut out using our By the Numbers Crafting Die.

In the foreground of her card, Amy stamped a cake from our Umpteenth Birthday Stamp Set and colored it with Copic markers before fussy cutting it and placing it on a two inch band of vellum. She white heat embossed the vellum with the sentiment "Remind me how old you are pretending to be" which also comes from the Umpteenth Birthday Stamp Set. She attached this strip with foam adhesive and topped it all off with a few clear droplets to make the card really shine!

Want to read more about Amy's process? Check this project out on her blog!

Spring Cards & Garden Scrapbook Projects

Hi Crafty Friends! This is Toph and this is my very first blog post here at Technique Tuesday. I am so excited to share my garden scrapbook page with you. And some of my favorite spring card ideas from our creative team!

My Garden Scrapbook Layout

Drive southeast from Portland on Highway 224, and you'll see a little yellow farmhouse sitting across from the Barton store. Every time I drive that road it takes me back to simpler times. In the 90s, this little farmhouse was nestled into acres of bright petunias, foxgloves, sunflowers, and zinnias. This was my kingdom, and I ran through it barefoot and wild.

The garden was one of my dad’s passions. I wish I could say I picked up his gardening skills, but I can barely keep houseplants alive. Instead of growing flowers of my own, I make handmade spring cards and scrapbook pages about gardening to capture my fond memories of these times gone by.