Paint-Your-Own Watercolor Christmas Cards (Free 5x7 Printable Set!)
Enjoy a peaceful, creative Christmas activity with this free set of 5×7 watercolor sketch cards. These lightly drawn holiday designs are perfect for slow, cozy moments of painting-whether you’re enjoying a quiet afternoon alone or creating alongside your child. Simply print the sketches on watercolor or mixed-media paper, add your favorite colors, and watch each card come to life. In this post, I share our family’s experience painting them together, tips for printing at home, and links to the watercolor supplies we love. Download the full set for free and enjoy a relaxing, handmade holiday project.
Every Christmas season, I find myself reaching for my watercolor palette as a way to slow down and savor the quieter moments of the holidays. I love the peaceful, unhurried feeling that comes with brushing soft color onto paper. But I’ve also learned something about myself:
I love watercoloring most when I’m simply present in the moment—not rushing through calligraphy or detailed sketching unless I truly feel like it.
If sketching out your own cards or practicing calligraphy brings you joy, that is a wonderful and meaningful part of the creative process. But for those days when you want to skip straight to the painting—without losing any of the handmade charm—I created something special to share with you.
This year, I designed a set of six lightly sketched 5x7 watercolor Christmas cards you can print at home and paint at your own pace. They’re simple, gentle outlines—just enough to guide you, while still leaving room for your own creative touches. And because I want this project to be a moment of calm for you, I’m offering the whole set as a freebie here at StoryWood Press.
A Quiet, Creative Tradition
One of the sweetest parts of making these cards has been painting them with my son.
He’s 10, and he approaches art with such creativity and joy. We’ve both enjoyed sitting together, letting the colors blend, and just creating for the sake of creating for people we love. There’s no rush, no pressure—just a cozy shared activity that helps us slow down and enjoy this season.
I’ll share a few of our finished cards below so you can see how they turn out. Each one looks a little different, and that’s part of what makes them special.
Printing Notes for a Smooth Painting Experience
These card templates are formatted at 5x7, a lovely size that works beautifully with watercolor paper or mixed-media paper.
A few helpful tips:
If you enjoy using 5x7 watercolor notecards, these sketches are ready for that exact size.
But if you don’t have 5x7 sheets, you can simply cut down what you have and adjust your printer settings.
I tried this with my Epson color printer, and it worked very well.The sketch lines are intentionally light so they fade gently into the background once painted.
Use whatever supplies make the process enjoyable for you. I’ll link the watercolor cards I used, along with brushes and paints, in case they’re helpful.
Visit my Amazon Storefront to see all of our favorite crafting finds
These lightly drawn cards are meant to support a calm, creative moment—something you can enjoy slowly, whether alone or alongside a child or friend.
I hope these little sketches bring a sense of peace and creativity to your holiday season. And if you paint them, I would love to see what you make.
Warmly,
Kari at StoryWood Press
Winter Read-Aloud Books Your Family Will Love: 6 Featured Favorites + More Suggestions
Looking for beautiful chapter books to enjoy together as a family this winter? Here are our family’s top 15 recommendations for cozy, meaningful, faith-filled read-aloud stories to spark connection, curiosity and wonder.
Winter is our family’s favorite season for reading aloud together. When the days grow shorter and the evenings stretch longer, we naturally slow down, we love to build a fire, grab our current read to enjoy as a family. We often have several books going at a time. Often, Matthew and I have more books we are currently reading as part of our curriculum. Some he reads to me, some I to him. Some he reads independently and often a book that MJ and his dad read together—I treasure all of it but I love the time we have together choosing to read. This has become a beautiful part of our daily rhythm and has largely replaced time we used to spend watching tv.
Today, I’m sharing six of our family’s favorite winter-themed read-alouds—books we personally read this year and loved—followed by a list of other wonderful choices that we’ve either enjoyed in the past or have on our own winter reading list based on trusted recommendations. These stories are rich in ideas, beautifully written, and perfect for cozy evenings at home. To give you a little bit of insight from our household to yours our son is 10, he loved all of these books just as much as we did. His favorite was probably the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe of this years reading. He and my husband loved them so much in fact, that they read the whole series and, knowing that I haven’t ever read any of the Narnia Series Matthew is now reading them to me, what a blessing.
Our Featured Winter Read-Alouds
1. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever — Ages 6–12
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
This book is laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly tender. It’s one of our family’s favorite December traditions and a perfect pick if you have a wide age range. It’s short, heartfelt, and full of unforgettable characters. I would also recommend the movie based on this book, it is also absolutely adorable. Truthfully I cry every time I watch it and am thankful for the faithful message and reminders amidst a busy holiday season.
2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — Ages 7–12
Wintry, magical, and packed with meaningful themes, this classic is perfect for winter reading. The imagery of snowy woods and the promise of spring returning make it feel especially fitting this time of year. Our family loves getting swept into this world.
3. Little Women — Ages 9–14+
There’s something so comforting about reading Little Women in winter. It’s cozy, thoughtful, and beautifully written. The March sisters feel like old friends, and reading their story together sparks so many wonderful conversations about kindness, character, and growing up. We plan to read Little Men and Joe’s Boys this year, excited for these as well!
4. Miracles on Maple Hill — Ages 8–12
One of the sweetest winter-into-spring books we’ve ever read aloud. This story blends nature, family, healing, and hope in such a gentle way. It’s also perfect for early winter when you want something that feels peaceful and warm. I am offering a FREE Miracles on Maple Hill Living Literature Book Study currently. You can download it by clicking here.
5. The Family Under the Bridge — Ages 7–11
A short but beautifully meaningful story about belonging, kindness, and unexpected friendship. The Parisian winter setting feels magical, and it’s an excellent family read—even if you only have a few nights to spare.
6. Little House in the Big Woods — Ages 5–10
We added this one to our featured list because it’s perfect for younger listeners. The snowy woods, cozy cabin scenes, and simple pioneer rhythms make for the loveliest winter read-aloud. Our family always feels calmer and more connected when we read this together. This is a series that we started reading when Matthew was 7. All three of us my husband, Matthew, and I, all loved these books and actually did read many of these as a family. Our favorite of the series is Little Farmer Boy. Little Farmer boy being told from a boy’s perspective may have influenced my husband and MJ but I also love it the most. Little House in the Big Woods is the first of the Little House Series and an excellent place to begin your Little House Journey.
More Cozy Winter Reads & Classics to Add to Your Basket
These remaining books are ones we’ve either read and loved or have on our current winter reading list after so many trusted recommendations.
Additional Winter Reads
Beautiful faith filled and Cozy Anytime Read-Alouds
The Little Princess
Honestly I could go on and on but I will stop here for now. Hope these suggestions add to your coziest winter season yet!
Why Winter Is the Perfect Time for Family Read-Alouds
Winter has a way of drawing families together. When the world outside feels quiet and still, stories help fill our home with warmth, connection, and shared imagination. Reading aloud gives us a chance to slow down, listen to one another’s voices, and make memories we’ll carry forever.
If you’re building your own winter book basket this year, I hope this list gives you a few new ideas to enjoy together. Whether you’re snuggled under a blanket, reading by the fire, or taking turns around the dinner table, I hope these stories bring a little extra magic to your winter days.
A Note About Picture Books
This list focuses specifically on chapter books—longer, story-rich read-alouds that families can enjoy over days or weeks. We’ve kept the emphasis on novels and living-literature classics rather than picture books.
If you’re looking for winter and holiday picture books, don’t worry—a full guide to our favorite winter picture books is coming soon. There are so many beautiful seasonal titles that deserve their own post, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
FREE Miracles on Maple Hill Living Literature Book Study for Winter
There is something truly special about winter reading. The quiet mornings, early sunsets, warm mugs in hand, and stories that help us slow down and see beauty in the stillness. Miracles on Maple Hill is one of those rare books that meets a family right where they are and invites them into a gentler rhythm of living.
Today, I’m excited to share a FREE Living Literature Book Study to pair with this beautiful winter read—perfect for your homeschool, morning basket, or cozy family evenings.
But first, let’s talk about what a living literature book study really is, and why Miracles on Maple Hill is the perfect story for this season.
What Is a Living Literature Book Study?
Living literature is more than just reading a book and answering questions.
It’s about:
meeting rich ideas
connecting deeply with the story
noticing beauty
forming meaningful connections
letting the book shape conversations, curiosity, and wonder
A living literature book study doesn’t test or measure—it guides, enriches, and supports your child in forming their own relationship with the text.
Rather than worksheets or comprehension drills, a living literature study offers:
Gentle discussion prompts
Nature connections
Space for reflection
Hands-on experiences
Copywork rooted in beautiful language
It’s an invitation—not a checklist.
Why Miracles on Maple Hill?
Few stories capture winter’s quiet hope as tenderly as Miracles on Maple Hill.
Set in the rural hills of Pennsylvania, the book follows Marly and her family as they retreat to a simple cabin in hopes of finding healing and rest. Through winter into early spring, they discover that small miracles—like a drip of sap in a bucket or the warmth of a neighbor’s kindness—can restore joy in unexpected ways.
You can also purchase the Miracles on Maple Hill book HERE
(This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. If you choose to purchase through it, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!)
This book is perfect for winter because:
It honors the season’s stillness.
Winter can feel long, but this story reminds us that life continues gently beneath the surface.It celebrates maple sugaring time.
Late winter is the season when maple trees are tapped, sap begins to rise, and sugarhouses glow with warm steam. Reading this story now allows children to connect the book to real-life seasonal rhythms.It invites families outdoors.
After reading, many families feel inspired to visit a sugar shack, walk a winter trail, or simply notice the small miracles happening right outside their door.It highlights healing, hope, and togetherness.
Perfect themes for this quiet time of year.
Inside the Book Study
To enrich your reading experience, I created a 12-page Mini Living Literature Book Study that includes:
Setting & Themes Overview
Meet the Characters (including Harry the Hermit!)
Gentle discussion questions
A beautiful nature study on maple sugaring
A sugarhouse field trip page A maple syrup tasting activity
Copywork
A reflection page
A cozy coloring page featuring a sugar shack among maples
It is designed to be used after reading the book and works beautifully as a one-day study or spread out over a week.
This study is simple, meaningful, and completely free.
Your Free Download
Enter your email below to download your FREE Miracles on Maple Hill Living Literature Mini Book Study:
How to Start a Gardening Club for Your Homeschool Group
Our Garden this fall, abundant and a bit out of control but still a beautiful gift from God.
Creating connection, curiosity, and hands-on learning in the spring season
There’s something wonderful about children learning with their hands in the soil — watching them discover worms, notice tiny sprouts, and delight in the first green shoots of spring. Gardening has a way of slowing us down and helping us notice the quiet miracles of growth all around us.
This year, our homeschool group is doing a bi-weekly Gardening Club, a simple way to bring families together outdoors for shared learning, laughter, and a bit of dirt under our fingernails. In the past we have done Nature Club which we will explore in more detail in a future post. Moving in to this Spring I want to explore hands on gardening with the children of our group who’s ages range from around 5-10 years old. Obviously we have some younger siblings that will join from time to time but the gardening club will be designed with younger school aged children in mind.
Why a Gardening Club?
A gardening club gives children a chance to connect what they learn with what they see and touch. It teaches patience, care, and responsibility — but also wonder and joy. Gardening naturally blends science, art, and nature study in a way that feels alive and memorable.
Even if families don’t have large gardens at home, children can still learn by tending small pots, growing herbs on a windowsill, or caring for plants at a group meet-up spot. What matters most is regular observation and hands-on experience — not the size of the space.
How We’re Doing It
Our group plans to meet every other week in person this spring. During those meetups, we’ll garden together, explore nature, and complete one hands-on activity as a group.
On the weeks in between, the children will continue caring for their own gardens at home — whatever form those gardens take. Early in the season, each child will choose or plan a small gardening space of their own: a single pot, a raised bed, a row of vegetables, or a windowsill of herbs.
This rhythm gives children the chance to experience gardening both in community and independently, watching things grow in different environments while taking ownership of their little patch of earth.
If you’d like a gentle guide to follow along, The Little Gardener’s Year: Spring Beginnings was created with homeschool groups and families in mind.
The workbook offers 12 spring lessons that move naturally from preparing soil and planting seeds to welcoming pollinators and celebrating the first harvests. Each lesson includes:
A short reading and watercolor illustration to introduce the topic
A what we’re learning page and simple hands-on activity for the garden or outdoor space
A drawing page for recording what was observed and finally a reflection page again designed with early learners in mind. This reflection page encourages children to share their observations by answering simple questions pertaining to the lesson in short answers while practicing neat and tidy handwriting in the space provided.
It’s flexible and adaptable — perfect for group meetups, classroom use, or family learning at home. Even without a large garden, the lessons help children connect with nature through small, achievable projects.
Of course, you don’t need the workbook to start a gardening club! All you truly need is a group of curious children, a bit of soil, and a willingness to get outside and learn together. But if you’re looking for a ready-made structure to guide your gatherings and home activities, Spring Beginnings is a lovely companion to the season.
Tips for Starting Your Own Homeschool Gardening Club
Choose a Meeting Spot – A backyard, community garden, or local park will do.
Start Small – Encourage each child to tend a simple garden space at home that fits their family’s lifestyle.
Meet Regularly – Weekly or bi-weekly gatherings help children stay engaged.
Follow the Seasons – Begin with soil prep and seed starting, then move toward pollinators and harvest.
Celebrate Together – End your season with a small harvest picnic or “garden to table” day to share what everyone has grown and learned.
Free Fall Nature Study Cards
Celebrate the beauty of fall with our free printable nature study cards! Designed for homeschool and classroom use, these cards can be used for seasonal learning, nature walks, or as charming decorations to hang on your walls and bulletin boards. Each card features hand-painted autumn flora and fauna or other fall related designs. These cards were designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and wonder all season long.
Celebrate the beauty of fall with our free printable nature study cards! Designed for homeschool and classroom use, these cards can be used for seasonal learning, nature walks, or as charming decorations on your walls and bulletin boards. Each card features hand-painted autumn flora, fauna and other beautiful fall designs to inspire curiosity, creativity, and wonder all season long.