Make your own handmade Christmas cards — a guide from Noolibird
Make your own handmade Christmas cards — a guide from Noolibird
Every year I make my own Christmas cards. It's one of my favourite parts of the season — putting on some music, getting the ink pads out, and spending an afternoon at the table with a pile of paper and a good stack of stamps. There's something about a handmade card that a shop-bought one just can't match, and once people start making their own they rarely go back.
All of the stamps at Noolibird are made from my original lino cut designs, so every card you make with them is genuinely unique. This guide will help you find the right stamps for your style, choose the best ink pads and paper, and get beautiful results — whether you're making your first ever handmade Christmas card or you've been stamping for years.
Jump to:
- Nordic & folk — the distinctive Noolibird look
- Traditional Christmas — classics with a handmade twist
- Dramatic winter landscapes — statement pieces
- Ink pads, paper and technique tips
Nordic & folk — the distinctive Noolibird look
When people think of Noolibird at Christmas, this is what they picture. A folk-art sensibility that's warm and intricate — a little bit Scandinavian, a little bit English countryside — with hares, birds, reindeers and hearts woven through the designs. These stamps have a quality that makes cards feel like a piece of art rather than an afterthought.
The key to getting the best from these stamps is taking your time with the inking. They have fine detail, so press down slowly and evenly. VersaFine Clair in deep shades (charcoal, dark green, camellia red) gives the crispest impression. Gold metallic ink pads look spectacular on cream or white card.
Stamps to explore
- Snow Hare and Winter Landscape — one of my most loved Christmas designs. A lone hare in a snowy landscape, worked in my lino cut style. Looks beautiful in indigo, charcoal or gold.
- Two Reindeers — a highly detailed Nordic folk design with reindeers facing each other. Works perfectly as a stripe for gift wrap.
- Bird Garland — a garland of pinecones, pine needles and holly with a little folk bird in the centre. One of my most versatile Christmas stamps — works for cards, tags and wrapping paper.
- Folk Heart — a Scandi folk art heart in three sizes. Beautiful stamped in camellia red or deep green, or layered with a gold metallic for special occasions.
- Reindeer Snowflake — a snowflake made up of Christmassy details including reindeer. Available in medium and large — large makes a card on its own.
- Foxy Family — three little foxes in a folk style, perfect for nature lovers. Beautiful stamped in terracotta or burnt orange with a VersaColor pad.
- Reindeer and Bird — a sweet pairing with a folk feel. Great for smaller cards and gift tags.
Traditional Christmas — classics with a handmade twist
These are the stamps I reach for when I want something that feels genuinely Christmas — the images and stories that go back centuries but feel fresh because they're drawn by hand from my own lino cuts. They have warmth and humanity that printed cards can never quite capture.
Stamps to explore
- Nativity Garland — nativity motifs set within a decorative garland with a star, heart and dove. Beautiful stamped in dark green or deep burgundy, with a gold ink pad for the star detail.
- Partridge in a Pear Tree — a heart-shaped stamp with an intricate partridge in a pear tree design. A classic choice that never gets tired.
- Happy Christmas Tree — inspired by Polish papercut design with a wonderful folky flavour. Available in medium and large.
- I Saw Three Ships — inspired by the carol, with a woodcut feel and handwritten script around the edge. Looks wonderful stamped in indigo or deep teal.
- The Night Before Christmas — a detailed hilltop town scene with Santa and his reindeer. One of my more recent designs and already a firm favourite.
- We Three Kings — an Epiphany classic, beautifully drawn. Perfect for those who like their Christmas cards to have meaning.
- Father Christmas — a warm, folk-style Santa with bags of charm. Works beautifully on the smaller Ecocraft cards.
Dramatic winter landscapes — statement pieces
These are the stamps I'm most proud of. Each one is a scene in its own right — something atmospheric and a little cinematic, worked in fine lino cut detail. They make cards that people genuinely keep. I often hear from customers that recipients have framed them.
These designs reward patience with the inking. Work slowly, ink the stamp evenly, and stamp firmly. A brayer helps with the larger designs to get an even press across the whole image area.
Stamps to explore
- Flying Owl and Winter Landscape — a beautiful snowy landscape with a barn owl in flight. Extraordinary detail. Looks remarkable stamped in charcoal on pale grey card, or in indigo on white.
- Winter Landscape and Stag — a sweeping winter scene with a majestic stag and pheasant. One of the most dramatic stamps I've made. Perfect for the people on your list who love the countryside.
- Polar Bear and Northern Lights — a polar bear under a night sky with dancing aurora. Magical stamped in deep blue or charcoal, with a hint of metallic for the lights.
- Fox and Fir Tree — a fox amongst fir trees in a snowy landscape. Works beautifully across the colour range from deep forest green to rust and gold.
- O' Little Town — a beautiful village scene in my lino cut style, with the feel of a Christmas carol made visual. Deep blue or charcoal ink is perfect.
- Little House in the Snow — a cosy cottage in a snowy landscape, evocative and peaceful. A gentle, quiet stamp that makes a beautiful card.
- Stag & Moon — not strictly Christmas but absolutely perfect for winter cards. A stag silhouette with a full moon behind. Works all season.
Ink pads, paper and technique tips
Getting beautiful results from your stamps is mostly about three things: the right ink pad for your project, the right paper, and taking your time. Here's what I'd tell a friend who was just getting started.
Ink pads for Christmas cards
For sharp, detailed impressions — VersaFine Clair. This is my go-to for Christmas card making. The pigment ink gives crisp, fine detail even on intricate stamps, and it's waterproof once dry which means you can add watercolour washes on top. My favourite colours for Christmas: charcoal for a timeless look, camellia red for a traditional feel, Nocturne (deep blue-black) for dramatic landscapes. Browse VersaFine Clair ink pads.
For a full colour range — VersaColor. When you want forest green, deep burgundy, or the exact colour that works for a specific design, VersaColor has it. Available in over 60 shades. The pads are small which makes them great for detailed colouring-in work alongside a stamped outline. Browse VersaColor ink pads.
For festive shimmer — metallic ink pads. Gold and copper metallics completely transform Christmas cards. I stock Golden Glitz (warm gold) and Celestial Copper — both beautiful on cream, white and natural card. Try stamping the Folk Heart or Reindeer Snowflake in gold on dark card for a really striking result. Browse metallic ink pads.
For a full comparison of every ink pad we stock — what each one does best and which surfaces they work on — see my complete ink pad guide.
The right paper
Paper makes an enormous difference. The rule is simple: always use uncoated card or paper. Coated (glossy or satin) card prevents the ink from drying properly and the stamp impression smears. Uncoated card absorbs the ink cleanly and gives a beautiful result.
My go-to for Christmas cards is Ecocraft 140×140mm card blanks — a recycled, uncoated card that gives a lovely natural feel. For wrapping paper, sugar paper works beautifully and takes ink well. For gift tags, any uncoated card cut to size.
Getting a good impression
Ink the stamp evenly — press it into the pad gently two or three times, rotating slightly each time. Press down on the paper steadily rather than rocking the stamp (rocking blurs the edges). Lift straight up. For larger stamps, place the paper on the stamp rather than placing the stamp on the paper — you have more control that way. And always do a test print on scrap paper first, especially with a new stamp.
I hope this gives you everything you need to get started. If you have questions about any of our stamps, the best ink pad for a specific project, or anything else, get in touch — I'm always happy to help.
Nula x
