Birthday Cards for Kids

Homemade Birthday Cards for Kids

Homemade birthday cards for kids are often more special and more affordable than store-bought cards. Most kids love to make things and birthday cards are an easy craft project. In fact, your kids can make simple birthday cards with items you probably already own:

• Markers
• Glue
• Crayons
• Paint
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Glitter
• Ribbon or string
• Photographs
• Dried flowers

Simply fold the paper in half, either vertically or horizontally, and allow your children to decorate in any way they choose. Don't worry if you only have a couple of the items mentioned. As long as you have paper of some kind and some type of drawing or painting tools, your kids will be able to make unique birthday cards for kids. Even if you do not have crayons or markers on hand, the kids can create beautiful designs using glue and glitter. Kids are imaginative by nature and most will be able to create birthday cards for kids with little instruction. You will need to supervise, though, especially with preschoolers or young children.

Online Resource for Homemade Birthday Cards

If your children need a bit of extra instruction or want to create more complicated birthday cards, visit Enchanted Learning for inspiration and patterns. This fun and educational site offers fun birthday crafts for kids, including a memory box, birthday pinata, and several easy-to-make birthday cards. Crafts include easy-to-follow directions and illustrations.

Birthday Card Craft Kits

If your children enjoy making birthday cards, you can buy complete card-making craft kits. These kits provide everything your children need to create multiple birthday cards. These kits also make great birthday gifts.

• Mail Just 4 Me!!

This company provides a kit for making 20 birthday cards, complete with note cards, envelopes, templates, glue stick, and pop-out shapes. This award-winning card-making kit can be personalized and gift-wrapped for easy gift giving.

• Safari Greeting Cards

Kwik Crafts offers a kit for making 12 safari-style animal themed greeting cards. Kits include animal-shaped cards, wiggly eyes, glue stick, stickers, and idea guide. This kit is recommended for children five and older.

Printable Birthday Cards for Kids

If you do not have the time or materials for your kids to create birthday cards from scratch, you can use printable cards. These are widely available online, many for free. Simply select the card you want, customize as needed, and print it out.

Alternatives to Cards

Sometimes your children want something unique to give their special friends. Here are some ideas for alternatives to the traditional birthday card:

• Photo Collage -- A Photo Collage is a quick and easy craft to make. All you need are an assortment of photos, glue, scissors, and paper. Simply cut the photos to size and glue to the paper. For added interest, it is best if the photos are of different sizes and shapes and if they overlap a bit. You can have the collage laminated for added stability, but this is not necessary.
• Memory Box -- Enchanted Learning gives simple instructions for making a Memory Box out of an old cigar box, mementos, glue, and paint. Although the craft is geared towards school memories, it could easily be used as a gift for a friend. Simply use photos of the children and mementos of their time together.
• Message in a Bottle -- Sand Blast Entertainment offers a unique twist in cards, invitations, and announcements. They sell plastic bottles with corks. Simply write a special message to the birthday child on a piece of paper, drop it in the bottle, put in the cork, and give to the birthday child. This item should not be given to very young children because the cork could become dislodged and pose a choking hazard.