Make an Easy Christmas Card Craft with Kids using Wrapping Paper Scraps
Turn leftover wrapping paper into beautiful DIY Christmas cards! This easy, kid-friendly craft is perfect for using scraps and making heartfelt cards for grandparents, teachers, and friends.
Have you started wrapping Christmas presents yet? My bedroom is currently overflowing with wrapping supplies, and I’ve got a perfectly fluffy Hallmark movie queued up to play while I tackle my family’s gifts.
I actually love wrapping presents, especially when it involves terribly cheesy, Hallmark-style Christmas movies. (Who’s with me?!) But without fail, I always end up with a pile of wrapping paper scraps that are just too small to use. And the efficiency-loving part of me hates letting perfectly good paper go to waste. So over the years, I’ve come up with a few ways to turn those leftover bits into fun activities for my kids.
When they were toddlers, I would just give them a bin of scraps and let them rip them to shreds. (Why do toddlers find so much joy in being destructive? I don’t know, but it’s a truth universally acknowledged.)
As they got a little older, I’d give them the scraps and let them practice wrapping small toys (like Hot Wheels cars) as “presents.”
This year, I came up with a new idea: turn the scraps into a fun, upcycled Christmas card craft for my kids!
I did this project with my art-loving youngest child, and he was completely absorbed. He loved cutting the paper with my handy-dandy paper cutter (this is really similar to mine), mixing patterns, and carefully arranging each strip to make the “best design possible.”
In the end, we created some cute, one-of-a-kind Christmas cards that feel extra meaningful because we made them ourselves. My son was so excited to mail his off to Grandma and Grandpa!
It’s a low-prep, low-stress craft that’s perfect for December afternoons at home or an inexpensive classroom party activity.
Want to make your own? Here’s how!
Easy Wrapping Paper Christmas Card Craft
Materials Needed:
- Wrapping paper scraps (the more variety, the better!)
- Cardstock (white or solid colors work great)
- Glue stick or liquid glue
- Scissors
- Pencil or marker
- Optional: markers, pens, or crayons for details and messages
Directions:
- Create the Paper Design. Cut or rip wrapping paper scraps into strips. Glue them onto a flat piece of cardstock, overlapping slightly if you want. There’s no wrong way to do this—let kids experiment with colors and patterns.
- Draw a Shape. Once the glue is dry, flip the paper over. Draw a simple Christmas shape on the back (tree, ornament, star, heart, candy cane, etc.).
- Cut It Out. Carefully cut out the shape.
- Make the Card. Fold another piece of cardstock in half to create the card base. Glue the cut-out shape onto the front.
- Add Finishing Touches. Draw details, outlines, or write a Christmas message inside. And just like that—your card is ready to give!
Want more fun Christmas crafts for kids? Try these!
I love this craft soo… much! I am always fascinated by wrapping paper and cards!
Thanks