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How to Make Creative Holiday Stickers

Written by: BernauLena

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Time to read 5 min

Whether it's for gifts, planners, or product packaging, holiday stickers instantly amplify the festive vibe.
Creating your own holiday stickers adds a personal flair to the season. It doesn’t require a high budget — just a little creativity can lead to beautiful results.
In this guide, we'll walk you through how to design and make your own holiday stickers from scratch — it's simple, fun, and surprisingly addictive!

What You'll Need: Your Sticker-Making Toolkit

Before we dive into the creative process, here’s what you’ll need to prepare:

  • Hardware : A computer or tablet, a printer (inkjet or Laser), scissors, or a cutting machine (like a Cricut or Silhouette).

  • Software :

    • Canva: Great for beginners, with lots of free templates.

    • Procreate: Ideal for digital drawing (iPad + Apple Pencil combo).

    • Photoshop: Perfect for advanced editing and fine-tuning.

    • Cricut Design Space: For those using Cricut machines, this is essential.

  • Sticker Paper Selection :

    • Finish: Matte or glossy

    • Durability: Waterproof or standard

    • Adhesive: Removable or permanent

    • Base: Clear or white background

Choosing the right paper is crucial to ensure your stickers look professional and last throughout the holiday season.

These Products offer both Permanent and Removable editions
Check These Permanent Only Products
CheckThese Products for Laser/inkjet Printers

Where to Find Inspiration: Never Run Out of Ideas

Struggling with what to design? Inspiration is all around you — you just have to know where to look:

  • Childhood Memories : Think about the festive foods, activities, or decorations you loved as a kid.

  • Online Visual Platforms : Browse Pinterest, Behance, Dribbble, or Unsplash for endless design ideas.

  • Cultural Elements : Explore seasonal traditions, color palettes, and folk symbols from different cultures.

  • Everyday Observations : Notice holiday displays in shop windows, supermarket aisles, or mall decorations.

  • AI Tools : Use tools like ChatGPT or DALL·E to generate concept sketches or keyword brainstorming for fresh ideas.

The goal isn't to copy — it’s to gather sparks that ignite your own creativity.

Useful Design Websites

If you have no idea where to start, here are 5 logo design websites to help inspire you. Have a look!

Canva

Canva , Our old friend—last time when we recommended candle label design websites (发布后加链接), this site was also on the list. It offers many free templates and design elements for you to choose from. If you’re not satisfied with the options, you can always add or upload images or elements you’ve found elsewhere. This feature is fantastic.

Picsart

Like Canva, Picsart also offers powerful and extensive design features. You can freely add text, shapes, stickers, or even draw on your design, as well as upload images. It comes highly recommended!

Piscart

99designs

There are more than 1000 logo templates on 99designs for you to choose. The also site offers rich elements for you to customize your design. However, one big disadvantage is that you can’t upload your own images. This is a little inconvenient for those who prefer a more personalized designing experience.

99designs

Adobe Express

Adobe Express provides free logo design service. The designing process is a little bit different from other designing websites. You have to follow a step-by-step procedure. When you move to the last step and find that you have chosen a wrong template and want to pick another style, you cannot go back to the last step to change it. You can only save or discard it and then start a new design. This is truly annoying. So be careful when considering your logo style at the beginning. Another disadvantage is that you cannot upload images, like 99designs. I will not say the user experience is good, but you can give it a try!

Looka

Like Adobe Expr ess, Looka also r e q ui res a series of steps to access the editing interface. However, it offers a unique and valuable f eature: it provides various application scenarios. You can choose where to place your logo—whether on a sticker, slogan, or container—and it will automatically adjust the logo to the appropriate size.

Looka


How to Make Holiday Stickers: Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you're armed with tools and inspiration, it’s time to create your stickers! Here's the simple process:

1. Brainstorm Designs

Decide on your theme and style:

  • Simple icons (snowflakes, pumpkins, candles)

  • Holiday phrases ("Cheers!", "Grateful", "Joyful Season")

  • Pattern sets (holly leaves, candy canes, fireworks)

Sketch out rough ideas or create mood boards before diving into digital tools.

2. Create Your Designs

Use the software of your choice to draw, design, or collage your sticker images.
Tip: Keep your designs bold and high-contrast, especially if printing on smaller sticker sizes.

3. Set Up Your Layout

Arrange your stickers in a way that minimizes paper waste and allows enough space for cutting.

  • Standard printable pages are 8.5" x 11" (US Letter) or A4.

  • Leave at least 1/8" (3mm) space between designs for easier cutting.

4. Print a Test Sheet

Before printing in bulk:

  • Check colors: Sometimes screen colors differ from print results.

  • Test edges: Make sure your designs don't get cut off.

  • Adjust printer settings for "Best Quality" mode.

5. Cut Out Your Stickers

Depending on your method:

  • Manual cutting : Use precision scissors or a craft knife.

  • Electronic cutting : Upload designs to your Cricut/Silhouette, calibrate the cutting lines, and let the machine do the job!

6. Optional: Laminating and Finishing

For extra durability:

  • Use clear laminating sheets or sprays to make stickers waterproof.

  • Test the adhesive if you’re planning to stick onto different surfaces like glass, fabric, or textured cardboard.

Creative Ways to Use Holiday Stickers

Your holiday stickers are ready — now what? Here are some fun and creative ideas:

  • Gift Wrapping and Seals : Replace traditional ribbons with custom stickers to seal gift wrap or decorate boxes.

  • Planner and Journal Decorations : Brighten up your daily planner, bullet journal, or holiday memory book.

  • Small Business Packaging : Add festive labels to products for a limited-time holiday edition — a great marketing touch for Etsy sellers and boutique shops.

  • Kids’ Crafts and Party Games : Let kids create their own cards, decorate treat bags, or play sticker-based holiday games.

  • Customer Thank You Cards and Mail Seals : Use branded stickers to add a personal touch to your business correspondence.

The possibilities are endless — and the smiles you spread will be too.

Conclusion

Name tags may seem like a small detail, but they play a big in making eventing run smoothly, especially for an important event. With the right design, size, and font, they can be both functional and stylish. So, get started on your own customized name tags and make every interaction a bit more personal and fun!

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