Handmade Greeting Cards

Handmade greeting cards are not just personal but they provide your kiddie with a hobby that is enjoyable. More and more parents are discovering the fun and excitement behind creating cards with their children. It’s fun and you have a chance to spend more quality time with your little one, while still educating him about colours, materials and… expressing his thought and feelings through art. Making greeting cards at home also provides your child a “blank canvas” for his creativity and imagination.
You do not have to be an expert to help your child make the cards; all you need is interest and enthusiasm. Handmade cards are not just of a high quality but, they may become even nicer than the ones you would buy from the store.
The good news is that it is not just cheap but very easy to do. You will require materials that are easily available at affordable prices.

Try to involve as may family members in making greeting cards, as possible. Have fun together and share your ideas. You may also invite other children to share the excitement and be inspired. Your little one may surprise you how great ideas he has, and how easily achievable they are.

With simple things like scissors, glue and construction paper, you have the ability to produce a masterpiece. Get some coloured paper in advance, find your old greeting cards, magazines and papers you don’t need, or even presents wrap paper. Use everything you think of, try to recycle and reuse, and let your imagination lead both your child and yourself.

Do not forget that personalizing a card is one of the most essential things. Encourage your kiddie to play with colours until he achieves what he really wants. But don’t be too judgemental! – There is no perfection when it comes to making cards although, many cards are simply flawless. Use pastel chalk, coloured pencils and others. When you are through with a card, do not forget that the wording and the graphics of the wording are a great asset to a homemade greeting card. Mummy and daddy could help with that.

Things you'll need:

Card stock in different colours
Pinter paper
Cutting mat or cutting board
Scissors
Plastic craft mirrors
Magazines and newspapers
Tape and adhesives
Decorative punches
Ink and ink pads
Rubber Stamps
Embellishments stickers, beads, sequins, ribbons
Pencils Crayons, markers, collared pencils
Everything else you may think of

Step 1 Make a card that fits a child's interests. For example, for a child who is in her “princess” period of live, cut out a picture of a princess without the head and glue onto the front of a piece of folded card stock. Draw a birthday cake under princess. Cut out a picture of the child's face and glue it on top of the princess’s body. On the inside of the card write "Happy Birthday to my Lovely Princess!"

Step 2 Use a card to tell your child how special they are to you. And the opposite – encourage your little one to express his feelings, too. For example, on the front of a piece of folded card stock, write, "I love being…" Glue a plastic craft mirror on the inside of the card stock and under the mirror write, "…kissed by my mummy before going to sleep!" Add embellishments around the edge of the mirror.

Step 3 If your child will be going to his friend’s birthday party, help him make a treasure map card. Make a card to look like a treasure map with clues to the location of the gift you’ve prepared for the child. Tear some of the edge of the map and use a candle lighter to lightly burn some of the torn edges, so it looks more authentic. Age the map by pouring strong coffee or tea into a bowl and dipping the card stock into it for a second. After the paper has dried, roll it up and tie it with a length of ribbon.

Also in this section: Find out how to make your own homemade play dough and recycled homemade paper.

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