Make Your Own Birthday Cards
When wishing someone a happy birthday, making your own personalized card means much more than picking up a run-of-the-mill greeting card at the store. Of course, it also takes more time—not to mention some imagination. Don’t worry if you’re not much of a crafter, though. You can still create a cute, professional-looking card for a friend or family member with very little creativity expended. Try using these tools to DIY your next birthday card:
- Washi tape. If you’re a seasoned crafter, you’ve probably already heard of washi tape. If you’re not, it’s time to get acquainted. The paper tape originated in Japan, but has gained traction among American Pinteresters because it comes in so many cute colors and patterns. Similar to masking tape, Washi tape is made of paper, but it’s surprisingly sturdy. Pick a roll or two of washi tape and lay it in stripes or zigzags across cardstock to effortlessly create a cute, colorful card.
- Rubber stamps. You may think that rubber stamps have already enjoyed their heydey, but Etsy begs to differ. The crafters who sell their handmade wares on this popular website dole out all kinds of cute rubber stamps. They’re another cute and easy way to personalize a card without actually having to test your own artistic abilities. Stamp your DIY birthday card with a flying kite, a honeycomb abuzz with bees, or any of the other cute scenes depicted by the rubber stamps.
- Pop-up bouquets. Okay, admittedly, this Martha Stewart project does require a bit of artistic skill—but not as much as you might think. The domestic guru shows you exactly how to create a card that showcases 3D blooms when you open it, step by step. So if you can follow a pattern and cut curved edges, you’re more than capable of crafting this cute and fun card for a friend, mother, or daughter.
- Customized envelopes. Don’t stop at personalizing the card; you can leave your mark on the envelope, too. This inventive tutorial shows you how to make an envelope your own as well. It’s as simple as printing out a favorite photo of yourself or the card’s recipient, cutting it to fit the envelope you’re using, then pasting it to the inside. When the birthday boy or girl opens the card, they’ll be immediately greeted by your smiling mug (or maybe their own).
- Printables. For the truly untalented crafters, there’s another option: print and send. Crafting blog Yellow Bliss Road offers a full slate of printables for birthdays that you can use straight from the printer. From polka-dotted envelopes to colorful prints that could easily be transformed into a card, the blog has everything you need to celebrate. But you can also simply search “printable birthday cards” online to find one that looks homemade. Some websites, such as Hallmark.com actually let you personalize cards with your own photos and text, and they’ll even mail the card for you.
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