Nothing is finished without a bow!
Today I’m continuing my Same But Different Christmas 2026 series with 5 Christmas card ideas with bows – proving there’s more than one way to put a bow on it! You can find the growing 2026 series HERE.
Quick heads-up – my newest replay class, Double the LOVE – Floral Gatefold Cards, is now available for just $6 for a limited time. Scroll down for all the details.
But first, let’s start by taking a peek at today’s cards!
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You can grab a cuppa and watch the video here or watch it in on YouTube HERE. Scroll down for more photos and all the card details.
Christmas Card Ideas with Bows!
It’s time to put a bow on it… but who says there’s only one way? Today I’m playing with bows in a few fun and unexpected ways to add a little extra something to your Christmas cards.
Card #1 – Decorate the Door
I’ve been dying to use this huge door stencil, and adding a huge bow seemed like the perfect way to dress it up for Christmas!
The bow would look fabulous on its own, but I decided to add a little foliage and some gold with a premade sentiment – thank you, younger Therese!
More Bow House Ideas
- Add a real ribbon bow
- Add bow/s to a wreath or garland
- Add a bow to a topiary or planter
- Decorate a house, mailbox or front gate with a bow
Card #2 – Dress Up a Critter
This time I decided to tie these two little penguins together with a beautiful big pink scarf and, of course, add a bow! Don’t they look happy?
Critters are such a fun addition to holiday cards, and they’re an easy way to sneak in a bow too – on a scarf, hat, outfit or wherever else you can find a spot!
More Bow Critter Ideas
- Add a bow to a scarf or outfit
- Pop a bow on a hat or head
- Add a bow tie
- Have the critter hold a bow-tied gift
Card #3 – Decorate the Tree
For this card I kept things super simple with a modern layered Christmas tree in lime green, then added a few tiny pink bows for a fun pop of color.
This would be such an easy design to mass produce too – especially if you stamped the tree directly onto the card front and skipped the extra dimension.
More Bow Tree Ideas
- Decorate just one tree in a group with bows
- Use one large bow instead of lots of small ones
- Swap ribbon bows for die-cut or stamped bows
- Try tiny twine bows for extra texture
Card #4 – Bow Backgrounds
For this card I let the bows do all the background work! I kept the 3D embossed panel white so the texture stayed subtle, then added a bold glittery pink “merry” sentiment through the centre.
A little green holly and a few pink pearls were all it needed to finish it off.
More Bow Background Ideas
- Create a faux embossed background with die-cut bows
- Stamp bows tone-on-tone for a subtle background
- Use a bow stencil to create an all-over pattern
- Add color to these bows with the coordinating layering stencil
Card #5 – Wrap It Up
Of course, I couldn’t make a whole set of bow cards without adding a few presents! I kept the shapes simple and graphic, using pink and lime green rectangles around the edge of the card and topping each one with a little die-cut bow.
A bold black “special delivery” sentiment in the centre helps pull everything together without competing with all those bows.
More Bow Present Ideas
- Repeat the same present shape for a more graphic look
- Add patterns, lids or extra details to the gift boxes
- Use patterned paper for the presents
- Stamp the sentiment onto one of the presents
- Arrange different shaped presents in a row instead
Ready to Try a Fun Fold With a Twist?
Double the LOVE – Floral Gatefold Cards shows you how to create two floral gatefold designs with a little something extra, using simple techniques you can adapt with supplies from your own stash.
Over to You…
Now it’s your turn to put a bow on it! Whether you keep things clean and simple or pile on the festive details, there are so many fun ways to work bows into your Christmas card designs.
I’d love to know which idea was your favourite – or where you’d add a bow that I haven’t thought of yet!
Sending crafty hugs your way,
Special thanks to my crafty assistant, Chad (aka ChatGPT), for helping me stay on track with my Gemini brain, grammar, and spelling… well, all the things! 😄
*Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon, this content is provided ‘as is’ and is subject to change or removal at any time. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Stamps: Altenew – Festive Tree (vote for re-release here)
Ink: Altenew – Heart Beat | Cloudy Night | Cloudy Sky | Forest Glades | Evergreen.
Cardstock: Altenew – Spicy Yogurt | Jet Black – Other – Ivory.
Embossing Powder: Wow – Gold Pearl Super Fine.
Today's Supplies
 Front Door Shop at: OTH |
 Festive Christmas Arrangement Shop at: OTH |
 Winter Foliage Shop at: SSS | ASD UK |
 Holiday Hugs Sentiments Shop at: SSS | SB US | SB UK |
 Precision Layering A2 A Shop at: SSS | SB US | SB UK |
 Cozy Waddles Shop at: SSS | SB US | SB UK |
 Chic Shoes Shop at: SSS | ASD US | ASD UK |
 Snow Joy Shop at: SSS | SB US | SB UK |
 Yuletide Lane Bundle Shop at: SSS | C9 |
 Accordion Woodland Dies Shop at: SSS | C9 |
 Elegant Bows Bundle Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Elegant Bows Embossing Folder Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Accordion Tree Farm Dies Shop at: SSS | C9 |
 Merry Sentiments Shop at: SSS | SB US | SB UK |
 Love Ticket Shop at: SSS | ASD US | ASD UK |
 Charming Medallions Shop at: SSS | ASD US | ASD UK |
 Chandelier Card Front Shop at: SSS | C9 |
 Wrapped With Love Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Glitter Galore Paper Pad Shop at: OTH |
 Glimmer II Shop at: SSS | SB US | SB UK | OTH | |
 Pure White Shop at: ALT |
 WOW Heat Tool Shop at: SSS |
 Palette Knife Set Shop at: ALT |
 White Relief Paste Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Bold Alphabet Shop at: ALT |
Basic Supplies:
 Neenah Solar 110 Shop at: SSS | AMZ |
 Neenah Solar 80 Shop at: SSS | AMZ |
 Nocturne Shop at: SSS |
 Fresh Dye Inks Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Mini Blending Brush Set Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Tweezers Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Perfect Picker Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Fine Blade Scissors Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Bone Folder Shop at: ALT |
 Score Board Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Paper Trimmer Shop at: SSS |
 Mini MISTI Shop at: SSS |
 Stampwheel Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Sticky Grid Mat Ultra Shop at: ALT | SSS | SB US |
 Platinum 6 Shop at: ALT | SSS | SB US | SB UK |
 BetterPress SB Shop at: ALT | SSS | SB US | SB UK |
 Glue Tape Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Foam Tape Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Bearly Art Glue Shop at: SSS | AMZ |
 Satin Masking Tape Shop at: ALT |