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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

If someone sent you a (nicely) handmade Christmas card, would you think…

238 replies

FestiveFruitloop · 20/12/2025 14:27

YABU: that they couldn’t afford to buy ‘real’ cards?
YANBU: that they just liked making Christmas cards?

Assuming the card has clearly been made by an adult and not a child. Context to follow, just curious. (Regular member, not a journo. 😄)

OP posts:

Thread gallery

ReyRey12 · 21/12/2025 14:23

FromageTime · 21/12/2025 14:13

I’d think they are naff, sorry. Our elderly neighbour used to make very similar. She enjoyed it, so good for her.

But any cards we get go straight into the recycling, so they’d be completely wasted on us.

I throw cards in trash aswell. Handmaid, storebought and picture ones aswell. It is one thing not to cherish them but calling handmaid cards naff?

FromageTime · 21/12/2025 14:13

I’d think they are naff, sorry. Our elderly neighbour used to make very similar. She enjoyed it, so good for her.

But any cards we get go straight into the recycling, so they’d be completely wasted on us.

Newsenmum · 21/12/2025 14:13

Your cards are gorgeous! Id be so honoured to get one!

RealReginaPhalange · 21/12/2025 14:10

FestiveFruitloop · 20/12/2025 22:28

These are pretty typical (and if anyone recognises the style I’ve just outed myself, but only to anyone I care enough about to make a card for, so it’s all good 😄)

Awww they are amazing OP, i would much prefer something like that than a generic one from a store! Really great job

Gettingbysomehow · 21/12/2025 10:06

I would be really touched that they had made the effort.

Original poster

FestiveFruitloop · 20/12/2025 22:40

Olefinssoredo · 20/12/2025 22:35

A friend of mine cuts up old Christmas cards to make new ones. They’re a bit naff. She writes handmade by ………..on the back. Bless, it gives her something to do.

I sometimes incorporate parts of old cards too, as some designs can make good backgrounds, but I like to change the designs up so they're as little like the original cards as possible. I sometimes base parts of designs on gift tags as well, the fox pic on one of the above is a gift tag (from WH Smith if I remember rightly, and some of their sparkly gift tags also make nice card toppers. 😄)

OP posts:

Original poster

FestiveFruitloop · 20/12/2025 22:35

Oops, just realised the pic of the one with the bells on was taken before I trimmed the uneven edge and extra ribbon off the top. I do neaten everything up before anything goes out, just to be clear. 😆

OP posts:

Olefinssoredo · 20/12/2025 22:35

A friend of mine cuts up old Christmas cards to make new ones. They’re a bit naff. She writes handmade by ………..on the back. Bless, it gives her something to do.

Original poster

FestiveFruitloop · 20/12/2025 22:33

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 22:32

They are lovely. I would be well pleased to receive cards like that.

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Aw, thanks! 🙂

OP posts:

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 22:32

FestiveFruitloop · 20/12/2025 22:28

These are pretty typical (and if anyone recognises the style I’ve just outed myself, but only to anyone I care enough about to make a card for, so it’s all good 😄)

They are lovely. I would be well pleased to receive cards like that.

Original poster

FestiveFruitloop · 20/12/2025 22:28

These are pretty typical (and if anyone recognises the style I’ve just outed myself, but only to anyone I care enough about to make a card for, so it’s all good 😄)

If someone sent you a (nicely) handmade Christmas card, would you think…

OP posts:

Original poster

FestiveFruitloop · 20/12/2025 22:19

RealReginaPhalange · 20/12/2025 17:03

Can we have a picture of a card you make? I am curious! If i have to do it i would probably draw santa and a christmas tree and thats it🫣 (and i am not good at drawing!)

Sure! I'll send a few snaps of this year's in a moment. They're fairly simple designs, there are some beautiful kits out there but I'd bankrupt myself buying those. 😄 I usually just buy a book or two of backing papers (assuming no crackers to hand 😄) alongside the card blanks, and then various toppers, whatever catches my eye really (but this is where I have to watch myself as I can get carried away, there are some lovely ones available!) along with things like sparkly border tape and small sequins for finishing off, and make the designs up as I go along, though I have evolved a few 'prototype' designs, so to speak, over the years. I get a lot of my supplies from The Works.

OP posts:

Blogswife · 20/12/2025 22:16

It’s not about not being able to afford it ! You can buy a pack of cards for £1 but card making materials cost far more money and effort . If be very pleased and flattered that they’d spent time to make it

PigeonsandSquirrels · 20/12/2025 22:03

I’d just think that they liked to make cards

Mumofmarauders · 20/12/2025 22:00

I would be really charmed and delighted, even if it wasn’t that great!

Original poster

FestiveFruitloop · 20/12/2025 21:59

HideousKinky · 20/12/2025 16:37

I enjoy making cards.

This year it featured photos of my cat at Christmas time in the past because he died this year - it was my final tribute to him.

Lots of friends/family who have received them have already made really appreciative comments

Aww, sorry to hear about your cat. That's a lovely tribute though.

OP posts:

Winterwonderwhy · 20/12/2025 21:47

FourSeasonsTotalLandscaping · 20/12/2025 14:29

I would assume they just liked making them. Making your own cards is unlikely to be cheaper than buying a pack at the supermarket.

You can get a whole pack for pennies. Come on.
I would think they have lots of time on their hands but it’s a sweet gesture

MagicStarrz · 20/12/2025 21:41

I have friends and neighbours who enjoy making cards so I wouldn't make any assumptions other than that they wanted to wish us a merry Christmas and wanted to make a card.

Lemonade2011 · 20/12/2025 21:33

I would think it was lovely someone had gone to that effort and thought I would like it, I don’t have a creative bone in my body so appreciate things like that

EBearhug · 20/12/2025 21:29

I know which of my friends/family are likely to do homemade cards, and I know it's because I like crafting, be it embroidery, watercolours or other things. I'd probably do it too,if I didn't do a full time job and have busy evenings. I've made some excellent new home and birthday cards in the past, which were one-offs,but doing Christmas cards, it's the wrong time of year, I just don't have the time. Love the ones I receive, though, and I appreciate the cost in terms of time, skill and effort, whether or not they have bought materials or recycled them.

BauhausOfEliott · 20/12/2025 20:20

I’d assume they enjoyed crafting. The money spent wouldn’t occur to me either way.

MIL used to make cards and I always thought they were nice to receive. I like a handmade gift too. MIL knitted me an absolutely gorgeous infinity scarf once in my favourite colours with a really delicate fancy wool and I was SO pleased with it. I also have a relative who makes really beautiful hand-carved wooden items which I also love.

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 20:04

Localfriend · 20/12/2025 18:40

You certainly could benefit from some more time to relax @XenoBitch

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I know. And make cards. I am not a card maker but I do try on occasion.

Nanalovesnature · 20/12/2025 20:02

Localfriend · 20/12/2025 18:38

How many did you make?

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25😀

Localfriend · 20/12/2025 18:40

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 16:04

Some people do. Why is that an issue? Why do people mention free time like it is a bad thing. Free time is a good thing!

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You certainly could benefit from some more time to relax @XenoBitch

Localfriend · 20/12/2025 18:38

Nanalovesnature · 20/12/2025 17:39

I hand painted my own Christmas cards this year using expensive quality watercolour paper and my expensive paints and brushes. Each card took me between 2 and 6 hours to make. Certainly not a cheap option and I think everyone who received one was absolutely delighted (apart from my mum who is constantly miserable about everything).

How many did you make?

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