Make a Simple Birthday Card at Home

There's no need to rush out to the store if you need a birthday card for a friend or family member. You can make an easy card at home that's completely customized for your loved one. Make it as simple or elaborate as you like with items that you already have at home, and you can trust that your card will be completely unique.

Steps

Drawing a Birthday Card

1. Gather your materials. To draw a birthday card, you'll need unlined paper and drawing tools. You can use crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels, or any writing implement that you prefer to design your card.
   • Plain white paper works well for drawing a birthday card, but you can also get creative and use colorful construction paper. Light shades work best, though, because you don’t have to worry about the pencils, crayons, or whatever writing tools you are using showing up on it.
   • If you enjoy painting, you might want to use watercolor paints to draw your design. Make sure that the paper you’re using is thick or heavy enough for the paint.
2. Fold a sheet of paper in half. To form your card, you should fold a piece of paper so it opens like a book. You can fold the paper in half once to create a larger card, or fold it in half twice to make a smaller card.
   • Keep the size your paper in mind because the larger the piece that you start with, the larger your finished card will be. When folded in half once, a standard 8.5”x11” sheet of paper will create an a card that’s similar in size to most greeting cards that you would purchase.
   • After you fold the card, you can use it vertically or horizontally, depending on the type of drawing that you want to create.
3. Draw a design on front. On the front of the folded paper, use your colored pencils, crayons, markers, or your favorite writing tool to create a design for the card. A birthday-related image, such as a cake, balloons, or a wrapped gift box, is an ideal option, but you can draw whatever you prefer.
   • Instead of drawing a generic birthday image, you might tailor your drawing to the interests of the person who you’re making the card for. For example, you might draw puppies for someone who likes dogs, or a race car for someone who enjoys NASCAR.
   • You can create additional drawings on the back and inside of the card if you want.
   • To steady your card while you’re drawing, it helps to use painter’s tape to the paper to the desk, table, or other surface that you’re working on. That will keep it in place and limit mistakes while you’re drawing. The painter’s tape will easily peel off too.
4. Write a message on the inside. Once you’ve finished drawing on the card, you can write a message on the inside. You can keep it simple by just writing “Happy Birthday!” and then filling it out with the person’s name and signing it with your own as you would with a card that you bought.
   • You may want to write a joke in your card as is often done in greeting cards that you’d buy at the store. It helps to tie it into whatever you’re drawn on the front of the card, so you may want to plan ahead.
5. Trim the edges with decorative scissors. Once the card is finished, you can give it more flair by using craft scissors with a decorative edge, such as a scalloped or zig-zag pattern, to trim the edges of the paper. You can cut just the edges of the front of the card or trim all of the way around.
   • You can even find scissors with multiple blades to make cutting a fringe along the edge of the card very easy.

Crafting an Embellished Birthday Card

1. Collect your supplies. To create an embellished birthday card, you'll need a material that's heavier than standard paper, so cardstock is the best option. You'll also need crafting supplies, such as sequins, pom poms, and ribbons. Have a glue stick or other type of adhesive ready to attach the embellishments to the card as well.
   • Scrapbooking supplies are ideal for decorating a birthday card. You can find birthday cakes, balloons, flowers, and other shapes that would fit your card well.
   • If you're attaching heavier items to your card, you may also need a hot glue gun to ensure that your adhesive is strong enough.
2. Fold a sheet of cardstock. Just as you would with with a homemade card that you’re drawing, you need to fold a piece of paper in half to create the card. However, when you’re making an embellished card, it’s best to use heavier paper that can support the decorative elements you attach. That’s why cardstock works best.
   • You can use crafting scissors with a decorative edge to trim the sides of the cardstock just as you would with paper, but you can also use a circle cutter from the craft store to make a round birthday card with the cardstock.
3. Use craft supplies to decorate the front. Instead of drawing on your card, create a design using sequins, pom poms, ribbons, and your other favorite crafting supplies. Use a glue stick that’s safe for scrapbooking to attach them so the adhesive doesn’t warp the cardstock.
   • You can also use stickers and rubber stamps create a birthday design on your card. They’re especially easy to work with because they don’t require any adhesive, and typically come in a wide variety of shapes and designs.
4. Decorate with items from around the house. In addition to items that you might find at the craft store, you can decorate your card with items that you might have around the house. Pressed or artificial flowers can make pretty decorations for the card, but you can also use buttons, pieces of wrapping paper, and postcards to embellish it.
   • If you’re attaching heavier items to your card, a glue stick probably isn’t strong enough to adhere it. You may want to use a hot glue gun instead. However, keep in mind that a wet glue can often cause paper and cardstock to warp.
   • Be creative when you’re looking around your house for items to decorate the card. For example, you might cut a cupcake liner in half, glue it the front of the card, and use pom poms or sequins to fill in the top of the cupcake. Complete it by gluing an actual birthday candle to the top.
5. Personalize the inside of the card. Once you’ve decorated the card, use a marker to write a message on the inside of the card. For a fun touch, you can also add a few decorative embellishments, such as some sequins, stickers, or stamped images.
   • It’s best to use items that are flat to decorate the inside of the card. If you use a three-dimensional item, such as a pom pom, the card may be difficult to close.

Making a Birthday Card with Washi Tape

1. Organize your supplies. To make a birthday card with washi tape, you'll obviously need several rolls of washi tape. Make sure that you have at least two different colors or patterns. You'll also need a piece of cardstock to serve as the card itself, and a craft knife to trim the tape.
   • You can find washi tape at craft stores and various online sellers.
   • You may also want to have additional supplies on hand, such as a rubber stamp and ink and markers, for finishing off the card.
2. Fold a piece of cardstock. Choose a piece of cardstock in a shade that you like, and fold it in half to create a card. Think about which way you want to create your design, so you can decide whether you want to hold the cardstock vertically or horizontally.
   • Depending on how large you want to make the card, you may want to cut your cardstock to form a smaller card.
3. Crisscross the washi tape over the front of the card. Washi tape is ideal for decorating birthday cards because it comes in a variety of colors and patterns. Choose two or more patterns, and rip off pieces of tape to crisscross them over the cardstock to create a striking design for the card.
   • You may want to practice your design on a scrap piece of cardstock so you can figure out the best way to arrange the tape without ruining your card.
   • You aren’t limited to crisscrossing the tape. You can also place pieces side by side to create stripes.
4. Trim the excess tape with a craft knife. You don’t have to worry about the pieces of tape fitting the card exactly. Once you’re done placing it on the cardstock, use a craft knife to trim off any excess along the edges. You can trim as you go, but it’s usually easier to wait until the end and cut all of the pieces at once.
   • Make sure that you’re cutting on a surface that you won’t damage with the knife. You can use a cutting mat from the craft store or work on a cutting board from the kitchen.
5. Customize the card with a message. Once the washi tape is in place, you can personalize the card by using a marker to write Happy Birthday in a free space on the front of the card. Be sure to write a message on the inside of the card as well.
   • If you don’t have neat handwriting, consider using a rubber stamp and ink to add a message to the card. You can find one that says “Happy Birthday” and add it to the front or inside of the card.

Using Photos to Make a Birthday Card

1. Prepare your supplies. In addition to a photo, you're going to need paper for the card. Any type will do, but if you plan to use photo paper to print a copy of the the photo, a heavier type, such as construction paper, is a better option that basic printer paper. You'll also need paper to print a copy of the photo, scissors for trimming, and a glue stick for adhering the photo.
   • You can also add extra embellishments to the card, such as stickers, stamps, and scrapbook supplies.
2. Find a photo. Look through your digital photos to find one that is appropriate for the occasion. For example, you might use a baby photo or recent snapshot of the person whose birthday it is. You can use a photo of birthday cake that you might have, or a picture of the addressee’s favorite location, such as the beach.
   • You can use a single photo or multiple photos. For example, you might want to place a baby photo side by side with a recent picture of the person who you’re giving the card to.
3. Fold a piece of paper. Take the piece of paper that you've chosen for your card, and fold it in half. If you're using multiple photos for the card, it's best to only fold it once. If you're using a single picture, you may want to fold the paper in half twice.
4. Print a copy from your computer and trim. Once you’ve settled on the photo(s) that you want to use, print a copy of it from your computer. Use scissors to trim the picture so it will fit on the card once it’s folded.
   • You can use photo paper or printer paper to print the copy of your photo(s) on.
   • Depending on the look that you’re going for, you may want to apply some type of filter to the photo with photo editing software before printing it. For example, you might create a black and white copy for an artsy look or use a sepia tone to give the photo an old-fashioned feel.
   • When you trim the photo, you can cut it into any shape that you like. Keep it rectangular, or trim it into a heart or star shape if you prefer.
5. Adhere the photo(s) to the front of the card. When you’ve trimmed the photo to the desired shape and size, use a glue stick to attach it to the front of the card. Make sure to leave some room to write “Happy Birthday” or any other message that you might want on the front of the card when you place it.
   • Make a more eye-catching card by decorating around the photo. You can draw a design around it, or use embellishments, such as stickers, stamps, and scrapbook supplies, to dress up the card.
6. Add a message inside. After you’ve placed the photo on the front of the card, you can personalize the card with a message on the inside. You may want to consider adding another photo to the card’s interior.

Tips

• Take the person who you’re making the birthday card for into account when you’re planning your design. Their personality and interests may help inspire you when it comes to figuring out what to draw or decorate the card with.
• It’s a good idea to have extra supplies, such as paper and embellishments, on hand just in case you make a mistake.

Warning

• Whenever you’re using scissors, a craft knife, or any other sharp cutting tool, use caution. It’s easy to cut yourself if you’re not careful.
• Children shouldn’t work with hot glue on their own. Make sure to supervise if your child is making an embellished card.

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Sources and Citations

See also

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