7 Festive Gifts Students Can Create with AccuCut

Showcase fun, easy-to-make gifts that students can create using die-cut shapes—like handmade cards, festive ornaments, personalized bookmarks and holiday tags. These thoughtful projects are perfect for classroom gift exchanges or sending a little love home to parents and caregivers.

The holiday season is upon us and that means craft-making time in the classroom. Creating memorable cards, ornaments, bookmarks or gift tags is a fun way to get kids invested in the season of giving while also making these gifts uniquely theirs. Using die-cuts is a way to make these projects look elegant and refined while allowing a lot of creative freedom for students. 

1. Holiday Wreath

Having students create their own holiday wreaths to take home to hang on their doors or their bedrooms is a beautiful way to express their personality as well as what holiday they celebrate with their families at home. To make these, grab your  MARK 5 Die-Cutting Machine to cut out the snowflakes from the Winter Die Cut. Cut out snowflakes using colorful cardstock, so that scholars are able to create the patterns that they feel represent them and their holiday. Have students place one snowflake on top of another and either glue or staple the next one on top of it until they have created a large circle of connected snowflakes. Cut out some of the remaining elements of the Winter Die Cut set and allow the kids to add a snowman, tree or set of mittens to the front to add a fun little extra touch. Then allow them to decorate with stickers, markers or paint to make it even more personal for each scholar.   

2. Reindeer Gift Tags

Another great idea is to have students create their own gift tags for the holiday season. If they are planning to buy or make gifts for their loved ones then these adorable reindeer gift tags are the perfect addition to make their gifts a little more meaningful. Use your MARK 5 Die-Cutting Machine to cut out the head portion of the Reindeer #2 (3-D) Die Cut to prepare for this craft. To assemble, simply cut out several of the reindeer heads, enough to give each student 4-5. Have your scholars draw on the eyes using a black marker. Their next step will be to glue on the pom pom balls with a hot glue gun or liquid glue. After that they will need to use a small hole punch and make a small hole on the ear of the reindeer. Then they will slide the ribbon through the hole and tie a knot at the end. To finish the tags, have students write their "to" and "from" notes on the back side of the reindeer. You could also switch up the colors of pom poms and ribbon for extra fun!

3. Winter Bookmarks

This is an activity where students can make bookmarks for themselves, their classmates or for their families at home. These are a perfect gift for them to create for anyone on their gift lists. They can make these as basic or as detailed as they like. Prep for this craft by using colorful cardstock to cut out several Bookmark- Generic #3 die cuts for each student using your MARK 5 Die-Cutting Machine. You will also want to pre-cut out a lot of each of the elements in the Winter Die Cut set. Students can pick from the different colors of bookmarks. They can then glue on different details like a snowman or some mittens. Next, they can take time to decorate using markers or colored pencils. They can also write a little note or dedication to the people they intend to give these to. You can make them last a long time by laminating these bookmarks once the kids are satisfied with their designs.    

4. Snowflake Ornament 

Another classic holiday craft is to make personalized ornaments. Create these beautiful and sentimental ornaments by using your MARK 5 Die-Cutting Machine as well as both the Snowflake Frame Die Cut and a Snowflake Frame-Backing Die Cut. You will need to make enough for each of your students. To begin, cut out a snowflake backing from cardstock. Next, you will need to cut a snowflake frame from white mat board. Then, apply your choice of adhesive onto the frame and sprinkle clear glitter onto the frame as well. Next, use paint to decorate the dry glittered snowflake. Once it is dry add a photo in the frame snowflake and glue the cardstock mat to the back. Have your students add detail to the edges and write a message to the loved one they plan to give this ornament to. 

5. Winter Break Art Poster

This winter scene is a super fun hands-on craft for students to create and give to a friend or family member. Pull out your MARK 5 Die-Cutting Machine to use when cutting out the Book Builder-Snowman Die Cut and the Snowflake #1 Die Cut for this project.  Have all of these elements prepared for students so they can assemble and create their own winter landscape. Once you have cut out these snowmen and snowman parts for your students, have the children decorate them with crayons or markers.

Then have your scholars glue their snowman to a piece of paper and have them enhance the scene around the snowman with torn paper or other die cuts. They can add labels, captions or simply turn this into a card for their loved one on the back. They can make one or several depending on the amount of time you have to spend on these adorable winter break art posters. 

6. Christmas Tree Countdown Book 

These unique countdown tree booklets are such a fun way to have students countdown the days until Christmas. They can make these in class and bring them home to share the excitement of the countdown with their families. You will need the MARK 5 Die-Cutting Machine, the Album-Tree #1 Die Cut and a binder ring. Have students help you make 26 trees and punch a hole at the top of all of them. This will be enough for the 25 days until Christmas as well as one for the cover page. Give students time to decorate these countdown pages with snowflakes, beads, glitter, etc. Next, have scholars write the numbers 1 through 25 on the trees in their best handwriting. Tell students that they can leave spaces for photos if they would like to add them at home. Lastly, bind together the pages with a loose-leaf ring or some ribbon.

7. Joy Christmas Card

The final craft idea is perfect for creating in the classroom. Making these Christmas or holiday cards for friends and family members will be a major success with your scholars. These will give them a chance to not only make a unique handmade gift, but it will also give them a space to share messages of kindness and thankfulness for their loved ones. To make these you will need to get out your MARK 5 Die-Cutting Machine and you will also need the A2 Card-Scalloped #1 Die Cut, the Joy Die Cut and lastly the Tree #6 Die Cut. Create these cards by using scrapbooking paper or cardstock for the scalloped portion, and glue this to the solid square backing. Then have students glue the Joy and tree die cuts on top of the scalloped page. They can make this look however they want. Then give them time to write their letters before they take it home to their loved ones.  

Spending time creating these handmade crafts is a great use of your creative time in the classroom this December. There is no doubt that your scholars will love the opportunity to explore and design these gifts for their loved ones.  

Written by Amy Pinegar.