northstory + co.

DIY Christmas Cards with Ribbon and Fabric Scraps

If you told me today that I was forced to blog only about DIY-ing my own cards, I’d say “Done”. This is by far my favorite craft to do for any occasion. But Christmas brings out that hamster running on the wheel in my brain to a point where I don’t know to narrow down all the ideas floating around in my head. How can you do just one type of card? It’s impossible. But since I had a ton of ribbon and fabric scraps floating around in the basement, I decided to make some DIY Christmas cards using ribbon and fabric scraps.

Choosing a theme for this year’s cards

In order to help me sort out all the card possibilities, I try to choose a subject matter – I.E. a tree, a wreath, a present, a snowman, etc. and stick to that one design.

For the past couple of years I’ve been doing holiday card crafts using a Christmas Tree as the primary design feature due to an idea that started with the first year I made Christmas cards with my daughter. It ain’t broke, rinse and repeat.

These first tree cards were made using the scraps from the IKEA RITVA curtains we put up in our bedroom.

Because you do that too right? When you shorten your curtains you go “Wow that fabric would make a great Christmas tree on a card!”

Then I used ribbons I picked up at Michael’s this year to do these Christmas trees. A little bit of Scandinavian inspired vibe here.

Next up, a variety of different ribbons.

And because I had so much (and I mean SO MUCH) rainbow ribbon leftover from the rainbow party...


Who says you can’t bling up basic kraft cardstock? This is for a dear friend who we all call Diva. 

And finally, using IKEA cookie cutters and IKEA’s ANNBETH fabric scraps leftover from a bulletin board I made for my daughter’s room.

I glued all the ribbon onto the card stock with basic all purpose school glue sticks. That way, there’s less glue that seeps through and potentially darkens the ribbon as well as fabric colours.

The finished DIY Christmas Cards made with Ribbon and Fabric Scraps

Have a favorite?

Merry Christmas from my house to yours!

PS – If you liked these Christmas Cards you may like these as well

(Links to the posts at the top of each photo)

DIY FELT CHRISTMAS CARDS

EASY MODERN CHRISTMAS CARDS

UPCYCLED COFFEE BAG CHRISTMAS CARDS

5 MINUTE EASY GLITTER CHRISTMAS CARDS

CHRISTMAS CARD CRAFTS FOR KIDS

SCRAP WRAPPING PAPER CARDS

You Might Also Like...

40 Comments

  • Reply
    Sue Schlabach 129twigandvine
    December 18, 2012 at 8:43 am

    My cards are designed, but not printed and cut. Wish I’d gotten crafty instead. These are great. I have lots of that IKEA curtain bottom fabric in my stash. Love the red and white ones especially.

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:04 am

      IKEA fabric scraps will be the end of me. Listen I admire anyone who can design their own cards. That’s one area I truly lack the ability to do and it’s beyond frustrating when I can’t execute graphic design and art work in my computer. I’d love to see them if you get a chance to print them up!

  • Reply
    Leah
    December 18, 2012 at 9:01 am

    You are seriously so clever and creative! I love ALL of these. I’m pinning this so I remember to do this next year. πŸ™‚

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:06 am

      I’ll take the creative. Clever I’m not so sure about. Every week these days it seems I think I am in one day and it’s another (i.e. I spent all week thinking it was a Wed when it was really a Friday). My husband is like what is going on in there?

  • Reply
    runtspickins
    December 18, 2012 at 9:54 am

    I LOVE the red ribbon Christmas tree card, but they’re all super cute! I used to NEVER buy cards for any occasion. I ALWAYS made them. I have kind of strayed away from that. I don’t know if it’s because I’m short of supply, short on time or short on wanting to get the stuff out of the closet but I think I am going to get back into it. It’s so fun to do and it’s so personal!

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:07 am

      A lot of this is time based. Cards I always do – that is b/c I enjoy doing them so much I’d forgo a lot of the other seasonal decor just to get them in. But it is a lot of time. There’s nothing wrong with a store bought card. I still drool over the new designs in cute little packages all the time when I’m out.

      • Reply
        runtspickins
        December 19, 2012 at 9:35 am

        Cards have just gotten so expensive! Everything has really… I enjoy making cards too. I have books and clips of all different designs that I want to try but it is very time consuming! Maybe once the “craft room” (which is now non-existent” is put together, I’ll take the time to dig out all my goods and start card making again. =]

  • Reply
    Stacey
    December 18, 2012 at 10:14 am

    Hallmark eat your heart out!!! These are so great, Alex! Love that you did many different designs and got totally creative with it. I did ribbon cards one year and they were so fun. I think my favorite is the stripped fabric. There’s more than one way to use a cookie cutter.

    You go, woman! Christmas is definitely your thing.

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:09 am

      Coming from you that’s a very high compliment. Your cards this year are epic! And now I’ve been staring at Christmas fonts for a last minute treat label thanks to you and that holiday font of yours!

  • Reply
    Kelly (Cobwebs, Cupcakes and Crayons)
    December 18, 2012 at 10:58 am

    I am in LOVE! If forced to pick a favorite I would say the green one (3rd from the left in the last photo) and the rainbow one. Like Leah, I’m pinning this!!!!

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:10 am

      Thanks Kelly! Can’t wait to see everyone’s Joyful posts. I am so sorry I couldn’t get my head together to participate this month. I *just* did the one for you last night and it’s still not photographed or cut or anything.

  • Reply
    Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
    December 18, 2012 at 12:04 pm

    Those are all adorable (and a great use of leftover ribbon/fabric that I would otherwise just throw away… just what I needed, another reason to hoard stuff).

    BUT I cannot lie. My favorite is the bling-y one. Probably no surprise.

    I got all mine out yesterday. Way later than usual, but at least I got it done… I used to write stuff… now I just order the cards that leave no room for personalized messages. Total copout, but so much easier.

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:12 am

      You like shiny things like disco balls? Never! No really it looked pretty good on the kraft paper proving that once again you can do just about anything to brown wrapping and it’ll look more expensive. Mind you the kraft paper isn’t that cheap anymore.

      PS – It’s not a cop out. I got my daughter to sign all of ours. I am like here practice your writing.

  • Reply
    Kate
    December 18, 2012 at 4:24 pm

    I love these Alex – so graphic and simple and so beautiful! You should frame them as a festive set – they look great together!

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:13 am

      I totally would…had I not mailed them all out. It’s ok I’m working on an art piece for the new year for something else that has been on my brain since I saw a display of them on a blog earlier this year. You make me want to make a Santa bag. I bought 2 felt bags with the full intention of doing them. They’re still in the bags that I bought them in from the store on my bedroom floor.

  • Reply
    the home tome
    December 18, 2012 at 5:16 pm

    Three cheers for glue sticks, card stock and ribbons! These are so creative! You have such a great eye. My faves are the white ones made out of the curtain scraps, woo! The recipients are VERY lucky. πŸ™‚ I agree with Kate, above, set some aside and frame them for posterity!

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:15 am

      Glue sticks work so much better for fabrics and cards at times. I’ve had some mishaps using liquid glue b/c it seeps through the fabric. At first I was worried that it wouldn’t hold but they do a surprisingly good job. Now I just have to hide them from my younger daughter who mistakes the tubes for lip balm.

  • Reply
    hannahchristiane
    December 18, 2012 at 5:18 pm

    Stop it. Just stop it. I didn’t even send out Christmas cards this year, and you’re making me feel bad. (These are super cute though:P)

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:17 am

      Nooooooo. Don’t feel bad. Listen I am actually very behind this year. I am the nut case that has her cards out the last week of Nov. This is because a huge chunk of my relatives live in Europe and if you don’t mail out your card before Dec, it’s not arriving til Jan. So they’re not getting their cards now til January. Why? All because I needed to take photos of the cards for the blog. And the weather and light wasn’t cooperating. How’s that for a shameful confession??!!

  • Reply
    [email protected]
    December 18, 2012 at 7:03 pm

    It looks great! I didn’t send out Christmas cards this year either. Moving = no money. Heck we’ve been broke for about three years but I am still looking forward to the day where we can send out cards! πŸ™‚

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:20 am

      If it makes you feel better this is the one and only gift we do. We don’t exchange presents in our family (except for the grandkids) so this is our present. Believe me I stare at the costs of stamps too and go Really?? And it’s going up apparently next year. PS – finally got your blog running on my BlogLovin feed!! yay!

      • Reply
        [email protected]
        December 20, 2012 at 11:56 am

        Exchanging Christmas cards is a great idea!

        And you did get it up on bloglovin? Awesome! Glad it finally worked, haha.

  • Reply
    Danielle
    December 18, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    How fun are these?! Each one is so cute, unique and creative. You are definitely a pro. I used to handmade our cards and it always resulted in tears, so I go with our favorite photos and knock it off the “To-Do” list. These are so much more personal. I might have to revisit the idea for next year.

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:22 am

      Let’s see. Quilt making from scraps. Cutting ribbons and glue sticks. I’ll trade you. πŸ˜‰ I can honestly say I have never made a photo card, which is surprising given how much I appreciate and love good photography. Maybe I’ll try that one year and you go back try this.

  • Reply
    ScrapAndSalvage
    December 18, 2012 at 9:11 pm

    i love ALL of them. and i totally recognized the rainbow party ribbon and the tennis shoe bling! great cards, alex. happy holidays to you!!

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:24 am

      I am a closeted craft and scrap hoarder. I re-use everything for wrapping, cards and projects. So it seems like new stuff but in reality I haven’t bought a lot of materials in ages because there’s this giant pile of stuff. Happy Holidays to you guys too! Have a great time in the UK! I am so jealous.

  • Reply
    Pillows A-La-Mode
    December 18, 2012 at 10:08 pm

    LOVE!!! πŸ™‚

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:24 am

      Thank you!! πŸ™‚

  • Reply
    now at home mom
    December 18, 2012 at 11:01 pm

    WOW! WOW! these are beautiful! πŸ™‚ you just gave me a great idea! πŸ™‚ Just want to let you know, I AM COPYING your idea πŸ™‚ will do some cards for my parents-in-law πŸ™‚ & I will twitter this too! so pretty!

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      December 19, 2012 at 9:28 am

      Oh woman this is so not my idea. Google Ribbon Christmas Tree Cards. There are some seriously wonderful prototypes out there. If you want to do a great card craft with your son for the in-laws now I really need to get to the portable hard drive and get out the photos from the first year I did cards with my daughter. It’s a WAY better idea for Grandparents. Sentimental wise. Earns your brownie points for free babysitting.

  • Reply
    now at home mom
    December 20, 2012 at 4:57 pm

    πŸ™‚ … well! I will use your idea! I will start on it, this weekend, yeap! Im so late! πŸ™‚ but I will give it to them on Dec 25th. This year, everything has been out of control, we didn’t send any Christmas cards πŸ™ + I have ribbons and fabric πŸ™‚

  • Reply
    Thrift Shopper for Peace
    January 19, 2013 at 6:16 pm

    great craft. i also love making my own christmas cards although i haven’t done it for a couple of years. i’ve usually recycled old christmas cards into new ones and did a tree theme one year. so easy and looks so cool. love this ribbon idea too!

  • Reply
    Liz
    December 15, 2013 at 9:47 pm

    I love it!!! you gave lots of ideas! I love to make my own cards πŸ˜‰ and I collect every paper, ribbon, fabric, etc… Thanks a lot!

  • Reply
    Tonya m
    December 22, 2013 at 6:07 am

    I love that rainbow card. You are so talented and have a real eye for color and the need for “white space” in your projects. I tend to over-busy things. I’m Really enjoying hopping around your site; everything is fantastic!

  • Reply
    Lauren
    November 10, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    Do you have any links to pages where I could find these (or similar) ribbons. I would like to recreate the red and white, and green Christmas trees. However, I cannot find ribbon like these. I would really really really appreciate it if someone would help me out! πŸ™‚

    • Reply
      Alex
      November 13, 2015 at 12:42 pm

      Most of the ribbons used on these cards, especially the red, white and green, were all purchased at Michael’s the year I made them. So definitely check there first as they tend to repeat popular Christmas ones. You can also try to find fun washi tape if you don’t like the ribbons you’re coming across.

  • Reply
    Santa Lozinska
    November 4, 2016 at 12:12 pm

    where did you get the little stars that go on top of the Christmas tree? These cards are so beautiful!

    • Reply
      Alex
      November 4, 2016 at 3:39 pm

      I believe I picked them up at our local Dollarama but I am positive you can buy these at any craft store like Michael’s as well.

  • Reply
    Pravin Amudan
    November 29, 2016 at 2:24 am

    Loved it! I have taken the liberty of posting this on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/thelittlegreenpage – an online community to spread eco-awareness. Trust this is fine with you. Thanks! πŸ™‚

Leave a Reply