A guide to 2020 Christmas cards by designers, illustrators & makers

Now, more than ever, independent businesses need our support. With that in mind, if you’re thinking about sending Christmas cards this year, why not purchase something special from an artist, designer or maker?

We’ve teamed up with Just A Card, the grassroots campaign on a mission to encourage us to shop independent, to pull together this guide on Christmas cards for 2020. If you buy any of the following recommendations, you’ll not only support a fellow creative, but you’ll also be showing those you love just how much they mean to you. There’s also a charitable angle in some cases.

We’ve tried to mix it up, so there’s something for everyone. If you think we’ve missed anyone, please add your suggestions on this epic thread we started on Twitter. But you better hurry. Friday 18 December is the last post for second class mail while Monday 21 December 21 is your last opportunity for first class.

Night Before Christmas by Avila Chidume

Through her venture Avila.Diana, Avila Chidume is on a mission to overcome stereotypes and change the world’s perceptions of underrepresented communities through her diverse range of cards and gifts. We love this Night Before Christmas, priced at £3.25.

Starry Night by Vanessa Lovegrove

Share the season’s greetings with Starry Night, a pack of five illustrated cards by illustrator Vanessa Lovegrove, featuring a gorgeous wintry scene. Digitally printed on thick, recycled card, you can buy packs of five for £7.50.

Laura Barnes

A London-based textile designer by day and illustrator and maker by night, Laura Barnes is offering a gorgeous bundle of Christmas cards featuring original hand-drawn illustrations. There’s Deck the Halls and Mince Pie plus Christmas Pudding, Letter to Santa and Christmas Spirits. All digitally printed on high-quality A6 portrait cards. The pack comes with 8 metallic gold envelopes. Priced at £20.

Christmas Cut Out Shapes by The Completist

“There are way too many ugly Christmas cards out there,” says The Completist, the independent London-based shop founded in 2018 by husband and wife duo Marko and Jana. “This isn’t one of them.” With its graphic cut out shapes print, this graphic card will do just the trick for the graphic designers you know and love. Priced at £3.50.

Christmas Jumper Cards by Eliott Bulpett

Yes, that’s right. Your eyes do not deceive you. Eliott Bulpett has crafted these gorgeous, two-tone Christmas Jumper Cards, inspired by the Nordic patterns and festive knits. Available in three different colours – red, blue and yellow. Buy them as a single or three-card pack. Priced at £2.70.

Winter Berry Christmas cards by Claire Hartley

Designer Claire Hartley has just launched her shop with all profits donated to Crisis UK. Last year, she raised just over £200 which was “such a wonderful feeling”, and meant she could reserve seven places for a homeless person at Christmas. Help her do the same again by purchasing one or all of these three designs, all in metallic foil by Foilco and printed on GF Smith papers. From £10.

Origami festive cards by Sally Bamford

For her Christmas cards this year, freelance graphic designer and illustrator Sally Bamford wanted to come up with an idea for a card that had more than one use. Inspired by a love of Nordic style and winter foliage, she’s crafted these stunning origami Christmas cards, which allow you to transform them into pretty Christmas decorations. A little mindfulness to enjoy this December. £12.95 for a pack of 10.

Squirrel Christmas card by Vicky Scott

There’s cuteness overload with Vicky Scott’s Squirrel Christmas cards, as the description reads: “Adorable squirrels celebrating around a tree make a wonderful Christmas card for children and wildlife fans of all ages.” Inspired by the patterns of Victorian designer William Morris, each recycled Christmas card is blank on the inside for your own message and printed on high quality recycled white card. Priced at £2.75 each.

Snow Din by James Bristow

Designer James Bristow has created two different quirky Christmas cards that feature a play-on-words. We love ‘Snow Din’ which makes a nice change from the usual festive stuff and is ideal for the music lovers and DJs in your life. Priced from £2.75.

Christmas Cards by Claire Sheehan

Artist Claire Sheehan has hand-drawn this gorgeous typographic design, available in pink or blue and green. It reads: This festive season take time to slow down, be kind to yourself, make space for magic and wonder, spend time connected to those you love, celebrate the little things watch lights twinkling all around give and receive love”. A lovely message to end a difficult year on.

Dinosaur Christmas Cards by Caitlin Draws Things

“Have a dino-mite Christmas,” reads this card by Caitlin Draws Things, available via Etsy. One of three adorable dinosaur Christmas cards to send to friends and relatives this Christmas. The set includes an Allosaurus ice skating, a Brachiosaurus and T-Rex putting up decorations and a Brachiosaurus delivering presents. Priced at £7.50 for a set of three.

Rudolph the Reindeer by Hannah Kirkland

It had to be done: a cheeky, light take on the sombre events of 2020 with this masked-up Rudolph Christmas card by Manchester-based designer and illustrator, Hannah Kirkland. With a matte finish, it’s printed on 340gsm paper and comes with a crisp white envelope. Priced at £3.60.

Christmas Risograph by Jot

Liverpool-based independent design and print studio Jot has launched a bundle of Christmas cards for all you graphic design lovers. We love this original typographic card printed in black, red and blue layers with a Risograph printer. For those who don’t know, it’s an environmentally friendly print method using soy-based inks. Each layer is applied separately, producing a unique print every time. Priced at £3. Bundles are available.

Christmas card by Iris van den Akker

This festive illustration by Iris van den Akker is digitally printed on 350 grams paper. A beautiful wintry scene, no doubt inspired by Iris’s current base, Amsterdam. This features her usual graphic style of bold shapes and soft colours. Priced at €2.50.

Christmas Cards by Jacqui Lee

Illustrator, designer, pigeon watcher, Jacqui Lee has a lovely range of illustrated Christmas cards – available on their own or in bundles. In a festive colour palette set against muted greens and pinks, we love this set of three, priced at £7.50.