Let's make handmade New Year's cards with horses! A collection of fun ideas that even elementary school kids can do.

Horse origami New Year’s card!

[Origami Original] Ema Charm Edition — Horse, Year of the Horse, 2026, origami, New Year’s card, the Twelve Zodiac Animals, single sheet, horse

This origami piece combines an ema plaque and a horse’s face into one design.

There’s a space on the ema where you can write, so you can add New Year’s greetings or a short message.

Because the idea involves detailed steps like making creases and small cuts, it’s suitable for upper elementary school students and older.

Start by making the horse, then shape the remaining part into the ema.

If 15 cm origami paper feels difficult to fold, use slightly larger paper.

If you plan to attach it to a New Year’s card as-is, it might be too thick or heavy to mail, so consider using a printed version instead.

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sasashina

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Make it with 100-yen store materials! Mizuhiki Horse

@hohoemiss

You can even buy it at DAISO! Let’s tie a horse—the zodiac animal for 2026, the Year of the Horse—using mizuhiki. It’s the easiest and most basic method: you can make it using only the Awaji knot. Stick it on a small gift envelope to make an otoshidama envelope! (We’ll also be selling them at Hohoemizu this year, so look forward to that.) If you make it in different colors, you might even get a unicorn! 🦄MizuhikiHandmadeLesson videoHow to make it releasedPochi-bukuro (small decorative envelope for gifting money)

24/7 – Kagura SCOPE

Let me share an idea for making a horse face using mizuhiki cords.

You’ll tie the mizuhiki yourself, but since it uses the standard awaji knot, it’s easy for beginners to try.

Prepare two cords at 23 cm and one cord at 13 cm.

Tie the two 23 cm cords with the awaji knot twice to form the horse’s face, and tie the 13 cm cord with the awaji knot once to create the mane.

Layer the two pieces and glue them together, and your horse is complete! Adding beads for the eyes could be cute, too.

Mizuhiki is known as an auspicious decoration, so try making this and incorporating it into your New Year’s card design.

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sasashina

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Cute horse brush pen illustration

@monmon_nigaoe

[Brush Pen Illustration] I tried drawing a cute horse 🐴—my son's requestSimple illustrationI tried drawing with a brush pen.Brush pen illustration

Run, Makibaō / Midori no Makibaō – Studio Megaane

Perfect for the Year of the Horse! Here are some cute horse illustrations to try.

In this idea, the horse’s distinctive nose is exaggerated—so big that it’s drawn larger than the face.

But by doing so, it brings out the horse’s charm and adds a unique touch.

Start with a rough sketch and then trace it with a brush pen, copying an illustration you like until you’re satisfied.

Adding eyelashes will give it a girly look.

Make the most of the brush pen’s qualities to finish with a lively, dynamic illustration.

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sasashina

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Great for New Year’s cards, too! Horse origami

@shinichikudo273

Year of the Horse Origami: How to Fold a HorseOrigami#fyp#foryoupage#origamitutorial#origami

♬ Original Song – Origami Crane – Origami Crane

Origami creations can be incorporated as three-dimensional designs for New Year’s cards, and their warmth will likely help convey the sender’s feelings as well.

In this idea, you start by making creases.

Using those creases, you fold it up in order to form the head and neck, legs, and tail.

Techniques like the cushion fold (zabuton-ori) and inside reverse fold appear, and because the steps are simple, even children can give it a try.

Why not use Japanese-style patterned origami that suits the New Year and make one yourself? If attaching the piece directly makes the card too thick, please attach a printed image and send that instead.

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sasashina

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Brush Challenge! New Year’s Card of the Horse

@rensuiartgallery

Easy! How to Draw a Horse [New Year’s Card 2026]Zodiac (Chinese zodiac)How to Draw a Horse#howtodraw#sumie#New Year's card

♬ Healing music of love frequency 528Hz(1288586) – Healing Music Lab

Here’s an introduction to drawing a horse illustration that’s great for New Year’s cards and helps you get comfortable with using a brush.

First, prepare a white postcard, a brush, and ink or black paint.

Start by lightly sketching the outline of the horse.

Next, dip just a little ink on your brush and slowly draw the head, neck, legs, and other parts in bold strokes.

Using the tip of the brush creates thin lines, while laying it down makes thick lines, giving the horse a lively sense of motion.

Once you finish drawing, it’s also nice to write the year or “Happy New Year” in your favorite color.

It’s fun to add a sunrise or grass around it, too! When it’s completely dry, you’re done.

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kepiko

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How to Draw Realistic Horses Using 100-Yen Store Supplies

@hiroko_to_art

A genuine horse-painting method you can do with Daiso supplies: 1) Use a flat brush size 8 to paint the horse shape in red. 2) Sketch the pattern outlines. 3) Put yellow on the tip of the brush handle and stamp; then use a round brush size 4 to blend and fill in the color. 4) Use a dotting tool to add small white decorations. 5) Draw lines with a paint marker. 6) Stamp small white flowers with the dotting tool. 7) Outline the top pattern with a gold paint marker. 8) Use a cotton swab to stamp gold flowers, and it’s complete! Since it’s next year’s zodiac animal, it would be great for New Year’s cards. Save this and give it a try!translation#100-yen-store artTole paintingAcrylic paintDalahäst (Dala horse)

Happy Stroll – PotChan

Here’s a New Year’s card idea that conveys the texture of paint and warms the heart.

What you’ll need: a size 8 flat brush, a size 4 round brush, a dotting pen, paints, tracing paper, a pen, a paint marker, cotton swabs, and more.

It’s great that you can get all the materials at a 100-yen shop.

It also sounds fun to customize the colors and patterns while referring to the video! Try creating a design tailored to the recipient.

I recommend letting the paint dry thoroughly before putting it in the mailbox.

Let’s make this year so fun we’ll be jumping for joy!

In equestrian sports, horses hop and jump over obstacles.

If your child wants to make this year as joyful as a horse leaping, why not use this phrase? It’s not just about having fun; being so happy that you feel like jumping for joy is truly wonderful, isn’t it? It may be difficult to have days like that all year long, but it’s important to make your own effort to create a year that’s that much fun.

If your child wants to build joyful days together with the friends to whom they’re sending New Year’s cards, encourage them to share this phrase.

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SAKI

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An illustration of a lively, prancing horse

@bowtac

New Year’s card for 2026! In true Hinoe-uma style, I’ll render it in brush calligraphy alongside a dynamic illustration of a leaping horse.#New Year's cardCalligraphy brush#2026

♬ Original Song – Bowtac – Bowtac

Here’s a New Year’s card idea featuring bold brush calligraphy to usher in the new year.

By adding some creative touches to the kanji for “horse,” you can convey a sense of dynamism.

Use the postcard in landscape orientation and freely brush the “horse” that you envision.

Writing with a brush can leave a warmer, more impactful impression than printed type.

To fine-tune the balance, practice on drawing paper or in a notebook before doing a clean final version on the postcard—your result will likely look more polished.

How to draw a simple horse illustration

@yuzuan_illust

Everyone, have you ever drawn a horse outside of New Year’s cards?#IllustrationIllustratorHow to drawHow-to-draw videoMessage CardBirthday cardSimple illustration

♬ Knock Knock – Pilaf Alien

I want to send these to friends and family with whom I can casually exchange New Year’s cards! Here are ideas for cute illustrations that are easy to draw.

All you need to prepare are things like pens and postcards.

One of the nice things about hand-drawn illustrations is that you can be picky about the types of pens you use! Brush pens, felt-tip pens, colored pencils, paints—you can choose according to the image you want, which sounds like a fun time in itself.

In the video, we introduce ideas for message cards, but how about adapting them for New Year’s cards as you finish yours?

How to make a horse eraser stamp

http://www.lemon8-app.com

Here’s a New Year’s card idea that works for everyone—from those who want to create a meticulously crafted design to those sending cards to many people.

You’ll need an eraser, a pen, a craft knife, and an ink pad.

First, draw a picture of a horse on the eraser.

Feel free to add your own touches, like a running pose or a view from behind.

Next, use the craft knife to carve the eraser.

Be careful not to cut your hand.

Finally, apply ink with the ink pad and stamp—your card is complete! The video explains detailed tips for carving the eraser, so even beginners can use this opportunity to give it a try.