Birthdays are special events. The day a person is brought into this world is a wondrous day to celebrate. As such, this day requires special efforts. Homemade birthday cards are an excellent way to show someone you care. It will be an obvious sign that you have put some love and effort into creating their special moment.
My kids love making birthday cards for their grandma (my mother). Now that we have moved to another state, they are even more meaningful. I have helped them to make cut & paste paper cards, printable cards, e-cards, and even photo cards. Each time my mother has received a homemade birthday card from the kids, the expression on her face could just light up the room. Even though we are in a different state now, just the act of making the birthday cards gives us the memory of her smile.
Whether you need to know how to make a birthday card for a lover, a family member, a co-worker, or a friend, you can find something here. Following the instructions below, you will learn how to make 4 different types of cut and paste birthday cards.
How To Make a Birthday Card: Basic Birthday Card
This basic birthday card can be used alone or can be used as a base birthday card for the cards below.
Materials:
1 sheet of 8½ x 11 card stock paper In Desired Color
Sharpie Marker In Accenting Color
Scissors
Glue
Extra card stock in various colors
Instructions:
To make the birthday card, you will need to take your piece of card stock paper and fold it in half lengthwise. Be sure your crease is nice and tight. Once this is done, all you will need to do is add your custom message on the cover and on the inside. To make it more decorative, you can simply use different colors of card stock and cut out shapes and paste them to the front. You could also draw on the front if you are an artist. Yet another option is to jazz up the card by turning it into one of the birthday cards below.
How To Make a Birthday Card: Photo Birthday Card
To make the photo birthday birthday card, first you will need to make the basic card above, leaving out decorating the front. That will come with adding the photograph.
Extra Materials:
Photograph
Instructions:
Now that you have made the basic birthday card, take another piece of card stock. Fold it in half lengthwise, just as with the basic card. Cut down the fold all the way until you have cut the paper in half. Check the size of your photograph. Trace that size on one of your pieces of halved paper. Cut that shape out. Now take your scissors and cut out a square or circle inside the paper shape you just cut out. Make sure the opening you create is the correct size to showcase the photo.
Now take your photo and glue it to the front of the card. Glue your shape over the photo in the appropriate position. Let the card dry according to the instructions on your glue. This can be anywhere from a few hours to a full 24 hours. To avoid the card from sticking together, lay it open to dry. If you haven’t added your message, do so once the card is dry. Your card is now ready to give to that special someone.
How To Make a Birthday Card: Pop-Up Birthday Card
To make a pop-up birthday card, you will need to start with the basic birthday card. You should decorate the front, as well as ad the personal message on the inside before proceeding.
Extra Materials:
Paper clip or clothes pin
Instructions:
Now that you have your basic birthday card, you’ll want to think of what shape you want to pop out of your homemade birthday card. Some popular shapes to use are hearts, balloons, and stars. Cut out your desired shape from the appropriate color of card stock paper. Now you’ll need to write any message you want on your pop up shape, if any.
Some people may want to write “I Love You” on a heart, “Happy Birthday” on a balloon, or “You’re A Star” on the star shape. Once that is done, you’ll need to turn that shape into a pop up shape. To do this, cut out a strip of card stock that is 1 inch wide and and about 3 inches in length. Now take that strip and fold it back and forth about ½ inch at a time. Then, take that strip and glue the first fold to your shape. Let that dry.
Once it is dry, take the other end of the strip and glue the last fold to the inside of the card. Let that dry. To secure the pop-up shape to the card while it is drying, clip a paper clip or clothespin over the glued area and the card, making sure no glue is on the paper clip or clothespin. Once it is dry, remove the securing device and close the card, being sure to have your shape pressed to the inside following the folds in the paper so that it will pop up correctly. You should test it before delivering the birthday card. If it isn’t working right, simply make the creases in the folds tighter by pressing down on them.
How To Make A Birthday Card: Gift Card or Money Holding Birthday Card
To make a gift card holding birthday card, you will need to start with the basic birthday card. You should decorate the front, as well as write your personal message on the inside before proceeding.
Extra Materials:
Gift Card from the recipient’s favorite store or restaurant
Instructions:
Now that you’ve got the basic birthday card made, all you will need to do is create a pocket for the gift card. To do that, you will need to take a sheet of card stock and cut out a rectangle shape that is about ½ inch larger than the gift card on all four sides. Now, take that shape and put a strip of glue on the left, right, and bottom sides of it. Press it to the middle of the left hand side on the inside of the birthday card, being careful not to seal the top area. Let that dry. Once it is completely dry, label the square with “This gift card is for you” or something similar, so your gift will not be missed. Place the gift card inside the pocket. Now your card is ready.
This one also works for tickets, cash, or checks. Just fold the money, ticket, or check to put them inside the pocket.
Extra Personalization Ideas
If you’re a poet, adding a piece of poetry to the message inside the card is always touching. If you cannot write, ask a friend to help or look up a piece of poetry in a book or online.
If you are an artist, you can use one of your drawings, instead of a photo on the photo card. If there is a local artist the recipient likes or an artist who is a friend, ask that person for a small drawing and get it signed and use that to decorate the card.
Including a funny or romantic quote on the left inside of the card can be memorable.
Try taping the recipient’s favorite candy to the inside of the card or using it as a decoration on the outside.
Speaking of candy wrappers, they make great decorations for the outside of the card if you’re recipient is a candy lover. Hershey’s candy bar wrappers and/or the strip messages from Hershey’s kisses are great decorations for chocolate lovers.
Buttons, sequins, and old trinkets also make good decorations for the outside of the card.
