Christmas Cards for School: Turn Children’s Artwork into Festive Fundraising
A Christmas card means more when the picture on the front has been created by someone you love. For parents, grandparents and relatives, a child’s drawing makes a festive greeting feel personal.
Creating Christmas cards for school brings that same sense of pride into the classroom. Children design their own artwork, families can order printed cards featuring their creations, and every order helps raise money for the school.
The APFS Christmas Card Project combines a creative classroom activity with a practical fundraising opportunity for schools and PTAs.
Why choose Christmas cards featuring children’s artwork?
Every child has a different way of seeing Christmas. One might draw a snowman with an enormous scarf, another a colourful Christmas tree, and another a reindeer with a particularly bright red nose.
Those individual touches are what make the finished cards special. Rather than choosing a design from a shop, families can send something their child has made.
The project also gives children a chance to see their artwork used beyond the classroom.
Their picture becomes a card that someone might display on a mantelpiece, send to a relative or keep as a reminder of that year.
A creative activity with a purpose
A school Christmas card project gives pupils a clear brief: create a picture that will work on the front of a festive card.
Teachers can adapt the activity to suit different ages and abilities. Younger children might enjoy simple shapes and bold colours, while older pupils could explore patterns, lettering or more detailed winter scenes.
Ideas to try include:
Christmas trees decorated with colourful shapes.
Snowmen against a bright winter sky.
Robins perched on snowy branches.
Festive houses with patterned doors and windows.
Baubles filled with individual designs.
Giving children a shared starting point can help a lesson run smoothly while leaving plenty of room for their own ideas.
For inspiration, explore our Christmas artwork ideas.
How Christmas cards help raise funds for your school
With APFS, schools receive 20% of every order. Families buy cards and gifts featuring their child’s artwork, and a share of their spending goes back to the school.
For example, £500 in orders would generate £100 for school funds. If orders totalled £1,000, the school would receive £200.
That money could contribute towards new books, art materials, playground equipment or another priority chosen by your school or PTA.
When introducing the project to parents, explain what you hope to fund. “Help us buy new books for the school library” gives families a clear picture of how their orders could benefit pupils.
Online ordering makes it easier for families and organisers
School staff and PTA volunteers already have plenty to organise during the autumn term. Collecting cash, checking paper order forms and answering individual payment questions can add to that workload.
APFS provides online ordering and payment for parents, with its customer service team handling order queries. This reduces the administration involved in running the project.
Read more about school Christmas card fundraising and how the ordering process supports organisers.
More ways to celebrate children’s creativity
Christmas cards are only one way to share a child’s design. Their artwork can also feature on gifts and festive products such as mugs, tote bags, wrapping paper and gift tags.
These offer families different ways to enjoy the same picture. A mug could become a grandparent’s Christmas present, while personalised wrapping paper adds another special touch to gifts under the tree.
Planning your school’s Christmas card project
A little preparation helps everyone get the most from the activity:
Choose an organiser. Give staff and parents a clear point of contact for school arrangements.
Make time for the artwork. Allow children to complete their designs without rushing.
Check the artwork guidance. Share it with everyone leading the activity.
Explain the fundraising benefit. Tell families about the 20% return and what it could support.
Share deadlines clearly. Include reminders in your usual school communications.
Start your Christmas card project with APFS
Christmas cards for school bring together children’s creativity, thoughtful gifts and fundraising that benefits the school community.
Whether you are a teacher, school administrator or PTA volunteer, explore the APFS Christmas Card Project to find out more and book your school’s place.
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