If you enjoy making handmade Christmas cards with your children, you’ll love this Q-tip painted Christmas wreath card made using a DIY wreath stamp. This craft is easy to make, lots of fun for kids, and uses simple materials that you probably already have at home!
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Giving homemade cards to loved ones is a wonderful holiday tradition, but it can sometimes be difficult to find projects that are easy enough for children to help with.
If you’ve been searching for a handmade card idea that is appropriate for kids, you’ll definitely want to try this one! Not only is it easy to make, but it is lots of fun, and the stamp can be used to create many different prints.
Why You’ll Love This Craft
- Simple supplies: You probably already have everything you need to make this project at home, and if you don’t, a quick trip to the dollar store should provide you with anything you’re missing.
- Easy to make: Because the wreath is painted with a stamp rather than by hand, even younger kids should be able to do this project (with a bit of help from an adult).
- Recycled and reusable stamp: The stamp you’ll be using to paint the wreath is made using an empty toilet paper, rubber bands and cotton swabs, and it can be used to create several cards or wreath crafts.
- Fun for kids: If your kids are anything like mine, they’ll love the fact that none of the painting in this craft is done with a paintbrush. Once you’re done creating the cards, they can even use the stamps to paint wreaths on regular paper!
Love painting with Q-tips? Check out this Leaf Print & Q-Tip Sunflower, this Bundled Q-Tip Fall Tree or these Free Q-Tip Painting Templates!
Required Materials
- Cardstock: I used cream-colored cardstock to make the wreath pop, but white or another light color would work too. I don’t recommend using regular paper, which will get wavy when soaked with paint—cardstock is best for this project because it is thicker and sturdier.
- Toilet paper roll: You can also use a paper towel roll or something of similar size and shape. If the roll you choose is significantly smaller or larger than a toilet paper roll, keep in mind that the wreath won’t be the same size, and that you’ll need to adjust to size of the elastics and the amount of cotton swabs you use.
- Cotton swabs: You’ll need quite a few cotton swabs for this craft—I used about 80. Buy a large pack of cotton swabs from Amazon, Walmart or the dollar store to make sure you don’t run out.
- Rubber bands: Choose rubber bands that have a slightly larger diameter than the toilet paper roll, but not so large that it won’t hold the cotton swabs in place. You shouldn’t have too much trouble finding this, as it is a pretty standard size. The ones I used were saved from bunches of asparagus we bought at the grocery store.
- Paint (green and red): Washable kids’ paint and acrylic paint are both fine—I chose to use washable paint. Just avoid watercolor paint and make sure the red paint is thick and opaque enough to be visible on top of the green.
- Paint palette: Make sure you use a paint palette with a flat surface large enough to accommodate your wreath stamp. If you don’t have one, you can also use a paper, plastic or ceramic plate. (I prefer plastic and ceramic because they can be washed and reused.).
- Marker: I used a black washable fine tip marker, but any writing implement will do, including a pen, a colored pencil or a wax crayon—just avoid anything that might get smudged or erased. This will be used to write a message on the front of the card.
The full supply list and instructions can be found in the how-to card.
How to Make a Q-Tip Painted Wreath Card (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Fold cardstock. Fold a sheet of cardstock in half in order to create a card.
Step 2: Create Q-tip wreath. Pull a rubber band over one end of an empty toilet paper roll, then gently insert about 80 Q-tips in between the rubber band and the cardboard tube, spreading them out evenly on all sides.
Step 3: Secure Q-tips to paper roll. Pull a second rubber band over the Q-tips and carefully wrap it around a second time to keep them from moving. If needed, use your fingers to readjust the position of the Q-tips and arrange them into an even layer.
Step 4: Dip Q-tips in paint. Pour some green paint onto a paint palette or plate, and dip the wreath stamp into the paint, pressing down as many times as needed to fully coat the ends of the Q-tips.
Step 5: Paint Christmas wreath. Before the paint has a chance to dry, gently press the Q-tips onto the top half of folded cardstock (on the front side of the card) to create a green wreath. Repeat as needed, dipping the cotton swabs back into the paint if necessary, until you are happy with the appearance of the wreath.
Step 6: Add berries. Grab another Q-tip and dip it in red paint, then use it to create decorative berries by painting red dots on top of the wreath.
Step 7: Paint bow. Use the paint-covered Q-tip to paint a red bow at the bottom of the wreath. Allow some time for the paint to dry before you move on to the next step.
Step 8: Write Christmas message. Once the paint has dried, write a seasonal greeting of your choice, such as “Merry Christmas”, underneath the painted wreath. Then, open up the card and write a personalized message for the card’s recipient.
This project turned out so cute, and my kids had a blast using the wreath stamp! I love that the stamp allows younger kids to participate as well, even if they aren’t old enough to paint a wreath on their own.
Short on time and looking for a quick and easy card idea that your kids can make themselves? Download these Free Printable Christmas Cards to Color!
Helpful Tips
- Line up the cotton swabs: After you have secured the Q-tips using the second elastic, take a minute to line them up nicely so that the cotton ends are all at the same height. This will make them easier to cover with paint, and will ensure that they all come into contact with the cardstock during the stamping process.
- Don’t skimp on the paint: To create the nicest wreath possible, use a generous amount of paint and dip the Q-tips in it as many times as needed while you paint your wreath.
- Decorate your wreath: I kept the Christmas wreath pretty basic, but that doesn’t mean you have to! If you’re feeling adventurous, try painting dots in various colors to create ornaments, adding some glitter, or even glueing a small red bow to the bottom of the wreath instead of painting it.
- Try reusing the stamps: We used the stamp to create a card, but you can use it to make any number of crafts involving Christmas wreaths. The best time to reuse it is while the paint is still wet, so make sure to create multiple prints before the paint has a chance to dry.
More Christmas Crafts for Kids
If you have tried this Q-Tip Painted Christmas Wreath Card or any other project on my website, please let me know how it went in the comments below. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Q-Tip Painted Christmas Wreath Card
Materials
- 1 sheet light-colored cardstock
- 1 toilet paper roll
- 75-80 cotton swabs more as needed
- 2 rubber bands slightly larger in diameter than a toilet paper roll
- paint (green and red) washable or acrylic
- 1 paint palette
- 1 black marker
Instructions
- Fold the sheet of cardstock in half in order to create a card.
- Pull a rubber band over one end of an empty toilet paper roll, then gently insert about 80 Q-tips in between the rubber band and the cardboard tube, spreading them out evenly on all sides.
- Pull a second rubber band over the Q-tips and carefully wrap it around a second time to keep them from moving. If needed, use your fingers to readjust the position of the Q-tips and arrange them into an even layer.
- Pour some green paint onto a paint palette or plate, and dip the wreath stamp into the paint, pressing down as many times as needed to fully coat the ends of the Q-tips.
- Before the paint has a chance to dry, gently press the Q-tips onto the top half of folded cardstock (on the front side of the card) to create a green wreath. Repeat as needed, dipping the Q-tips back into the paint if necessary, until you are happy with the appearance of the wreath.
- Grab another Q-tip and dip it in red paint, then use it to create decorative berries by painting red dots on top of the wreath.. Use the paint-covered Q-tip to paint a red bow at the bottom of the wreath.
- Once the paint has dried, write a seasonal greeting of your choice, such as “Merry Christmas”, underneath the painted wreath. Then, open up the card and write a personalized message for the card’s recipient.
Video
Notes
- Don’t skimp on the paint: Make sure to use a generous amount of paint and dip the Q-tips in paint as often as needed.
- Line up the cotton swabs: After you have secured the Q-tips using the second elastic, line them up nicely so that the cotton ends are all at about the same height.
- Decorate your wreath: Want to switch things up? Try painting dots in various colors to create ornaments, adding some glitter or glueing a small red bow to the bottom of the wreath instead of painting it.
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