9 DIY Dog Christmas Cards You Can Make Today (With Pictures)
Updated on
With the holidays quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to get your Christmas cards started. For dog parents, what better way than featuring your dog on the card? While reaching out for professional cards can be quite expensive, those who love taking on a DIY project can easily make their own dog Christmas cards. All you’ll need to make beautiful and creative doggy Christmas cards is a bit of imagination, creativity, and a few materials you may even have lying around the house. Take a look at these holiday ideas and let your creative juices start to flow.
The 9 DIY Dog Christmas Cards
1. DIY Thumbprint Pooch Card by Stay and Roam
| Materials: | Preferred paint colors, white gel pen or paint, glue, red felt, black fine liner, and card |
| Tools: | Thumb |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This thumbprint pooch card originally features reindeer but what better way to bring your favorite pet into the holiday mix than using dogs instead? To make this card, simply use your finger, or your child’s finger, to get a print and place it on the card using the color of paint best matching your pet or your preferred pet. Once the prints are done and dry, simply add your drawn ears, holiday scarf, or whatever additions you choose. When finished, use the felt to add the nose and you’ll have a cute holiday card to send your friends.
2. DIY Doggy Garland Card by Delia Creates
| Materials: | Photo printer paper, baker’s twine, and washi tape |
| Tools: | Computer, printer, scissors, and ruler |
| Difficulty Level: | Medium |
Again, this doggy garland card idea uses a creative family card and makes it your dog’s personal photo collage. By snapping a few creative photos, creating a card on the computer, and stringing it all together, you can have your dog as the star of your card. If you want, you can even add in a few photos of yourself and the rest of the family so everyone gets in on the action. You’ll need a computer and printer to make the photos and print the cards. Once that’s done, however, everything else is done with your own hands.
3. DIY Backdrop by Gone to the Snow Dogs
| Materials: | Christmas decorations |
| Tools: | Scissors, camera |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Christmas backdrops make wonderful photos, but they can be expensive. Instead, make a DIY Christmas photo backdrop for your dog with your own Christmas decorations. Make sure everything is safe for your dog, however!
All you have to do is measure and cut out a hole for your dog’s head to poke through, then decorate the cardboard however you wish. Garland, plastic decorations, and cardboard characters are a great way to fill out the blank space and make it your own.
4. 12 Dogs of Christmas Shoot by Bored Panda
| Materials: | Christmas decorations |
| Tools: | Camera |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
A 12 Dogs of Christmas photo card shows off all the unique quirks of your dog’s personality. Plus, it’ll be fun to do! This takes more time than money, as you will need to stage and take multiple photos with different backdrops.
If you have multiple dogs or pets, this is a good way to include them all in a Christmas collage that’s fun and personal.
5. DIY Paw Prints by Crafty Morning
| Materials: | Nontoxic green or red paint, art paper, watercolors |
| Tools: | Paintbrush or sponge |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
The DIY Paw prints card is a great hands-on craft for anyone who enjoys your dog as much as you do. All you need is some nontoxic green or red paint and some art paper. Coat your dog’s paw with the paint and press it into the shape of a tree on the paper. Once it dries, you can add details like ornaments, stars, and garland.
If your dog isn’t comfortable with this process, just create one paw print and freehand the rest of the design. It’s cute, but it’s not worth scaring your dog to create the card.
6. Scottie Ornament Card by HappyBird’s Glitter Nest
| Materials: | Cardboard, cardstock, felt, ribbon, jewelry chain |
| Tools: | Sharpie, scissors, hot glue gun, wire cutters |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Scottish Terriers are one of the most recognizable and adored dog breeds. With this simple Scottie Christmas craft design, you can create personalized Christmas cards, ornaments, or any other design you want.
To make a card, cut out and glue felt to one side of the Scottie cardboard cutout and glue the bare side to your card. If you want, add designs like a ribbon or jewelry chain to the dog’s collar. If you have some artistic ability, you can do this with other distinctive breeds like Labradors, Corgis, or Chihuahuas.
7. Stamp Christmas Card by Laura Fadora
| Materials: | Cardstock, sketch markers |
| Tools: | Stamps, stamp pad, acrylic block, stamping platform, scissors, double-sided tape |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
If you’re not very artistic, stamps help you create personalized dog Christmas cards without painting or drawing your own. You can create clean designs quickly and easily, though you will need some unconventional tools to get started.
Once you have your design laid out, you can add colors and embellishments to make it your own. Sketch markers are ideal for creating crisp designs around your stamps.
8. Watercolor Dog Cards by Jenna Rainey
| Materials: | Watercolor paint and paper |
| Tools: | Watercolor brushes |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Painting your dog in watercolor is a fun and whimsical way to represent your dog on a Christmas card, even if you don’t have a lot of painting experience. This helpful tutorial offers guidance to learn to paint different dog breeds on your own, complete with extra details like Christmas trees, hats, bows, holly, or Christmas gifts. Consider other craft supplies like glitter or ribbon to make it unique.
9. Family Christmas Photo by Communikait
| Materials: | Matching outfits |
| Tools: | Camera |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
The family Christmas photo is a tried-and-true Christmas card idea that can include your dog. A twist on the classic with the family wearing matching Christmas-themed clothing, just add your dog to the mix with pajamas or an ugly Christmas sweater.
This you can do yourself with a camera or you can work with a professional photographer, just make sure they’re aware that you’re taking photos with your dog. This may take extra preparation, not to mention that some photographers don’t work with animals.
Bonus Idea That Will Make Your Card Stand Out
Holiday Dog Puns
Dog puns are a fun and whimsical way to bring your dog into the Christmas festivities. Look through dog puns to choose your favorite, then add the pun to your dog’s photo with an editing app. You can either print out the cards as is or add your own touches with stencils, stickers, ribbon, or other craft materials.
Capturing the Right Photo
While these DIY dog Christmas cards are made at home, it is possible to use multiple printing sites and their templates to print Christmas cards featuring your pets. We didn’t include those here to stick more to the traditional DIY feel of making your own card by hand. Whether you choose to completely make the cards yourself like above or prefer using online makers, getting the perfect photo of your dog for the holidays can be stressful.
- Have someone with you to handle the photography so you can focus on your pet
- Use treats and toys to get the reactions you want
- Choose a great backdrop that is festive
- Only use clothing and accessories your dog is comfortable with
- Take lots of photos so you can choose the ones you feel turn out the best
- Have fun with your pet and it will show in the photos taken
Conclusion
As you can see, there are ways you can make a Christmas card, by hand, that features your pet or your love for your pet. The trick is to choose the one you feel drawn to. If you want your dog’s face waking your family and friends up on Christmas morning, photo cards are your best option. If you simply want to remind people of your love for animals, then a cute thumbprint dog is the way to go. Either way, you and the family will have a great time making your personalized holiday cards.
Featured Image Credit: YamaBSM, Pixabay
