How To: Forget Hallmark—Save Money by Making These Awesome Popup Pixel Christmas Cards

Greeting cards. Everyone hates buying them, they're way overpriced, and the majority of them go right in the trash after they're opened. So why do we still buy them?

If it's the thought that counts, you're much better off going with something handmade. You can personalize it for the person you're giving it to, it's much cheaper, and best of all, you don't have to deal with the cheesy writing that most store-bought ones feature.

If you're lazy or pressed for time, you can always go the construction paper and magic marker route. But if you want to impress (and make sure your card doesn't end up in the garbage), these pixel popup Christmas cards by Kate Lilley of Mini-eco are just the thing.

All you need is some paper, a ruler, a needle, an X-Acto knife, and some double-sided tape. Kate has all the templates for cutting and scoring, the popup inserts, and even the envelopes over on her blog, so you'll need to choose your design and print those out before you get started.

The process is pretty straightforward, just a little tedious. After cutting out the card, you use the needle to score the lines for the popup insert. Once you've finished, you fold the card in half and pop out the design. If you did it right, the card will lay flat when folded.

Check out Kate's tutorial for the full process and templates. Or, for a geekier twist, she's also done a few 8-bit popup cards with Space Invaders and skulls.

Do you have any other creative ideas for DIY holiday cards? Share them with us in the comments below.