Handmade cards for kids

Before you start

Cutting is always done by a grown-up, using rounded-tip scissors. Choose washable, non-toxic ink pads and paints, and wipe hands clean as you go. Use a glue stick rather than runny glue, which is easier to control. Keep small decorations such as buttons, beads and sequins away from children under 3, who may put them in their mouths; flat drawing and printing are safer ways to decorate. Cover the table, let everything dry before folding, and remember that age hints are only a guide.

1. Pop-up fold card

Age hint: 5 and up, with a grown-up doing the cutting.

Materials: one sheet of coloured card, one plain sheet, crayons, glue stick.

1. Fold the coloured card in half to make the card, and crease it firmly. Keep it closed.
2. A grown-up makes two parallel cuts starting at the folded edge, each about one finger deep and the same length, with about two fingers of space between them. The paper between the cuts is the strip.
3. Open the card halfway, push the strip through to the inside of the card, and crease it along its fold lines so it makes a little step. Close the card to check that the step pops up.
4. Draw a bird, a star or a face on the plain sheet and colour it. A grown-up cuts it out, then you glue it flat onto the step.

2. Thumbprint flower card

Age hint: 3 and up, with a grown-up close by.

Materials: folded card, a washable non-toxic ink pad or washable paint on a plate, a green crayon or pen.

1. Press one thumb onto the ink pad, then press it onto the card to make a petal.
2. Print five or six petals in a circle, with the bottoms touching in the middle.
3. Let the ink dry, then draw a stem and leaves in green.
4. Wash hands with soap and water straight away, even though the ink is washable.

3. Window card

Age hint: 5 and up, with a grown-up doing the cutting.

Materials: folded card, a scrap of coloured tissue or clear plastic wrapper, glue stick, crayons.

1. On the front of the card, draw a simple shape such as a circle, a heart or a star.
2. A grown-up cuts the shape out, leaving a clean hole with a wide border around it.
3. Open the card and glue a piece of tissue or plastic over the hole on the inside of the front.
4. Glue a plain sheet inside the back so the cut-out shows light and a little colour.

4. Leaf-rubbing card

Age hint: 3 and up.

Materials: thin paper, a peeled crayon, a few leaves that have already fallen, folded card, glue stick.

1. Ask a grown-up to check that a fallen leaf is fine to handle, then lay it with the veins facing up.
2. Place thin paper on top, hold it still and rub the side of the crayon across it until the leaf appears.
3. Try two or three leaves in different colours on the same sheet.
4. Glue the paper onto the front of the card, or fold the rubbing itself in half and use it as the card.

5. Thank-you card with a drawn message

Age hint: 3 and up.

Materials: folded card, crayons or washable markers.

1. Think of the person you want to thank and one thing they did that made you smile.
2. Draw that moment on the front of the card, such as a shared meal, a gift or a walk.
3. Inside, write two or three words, or ask a grown-up to write the words you say.
4. Sign it with your name, a scribble or a thumbprint.

6. Card that opens like a door

Age hint: 4 and up, with help folding.

Materials: one tall sheet of card, crayons, glue stick.

1. Fold the sheet in half the short way, then open it flat.
2. Fold both outer edges in so they meet at the middle crease, like two doors closing.
3. Colour the outside as a front door, with a handle, a window and a number.
4. Open the doors and draw or glue a picture of what is inside, such as a room, a garden or your own face.

What to write inside

Short, kind and true is best. Try: "Thank you for being you." "I am glad we are friends." "You make my day brighter." "Thinking of you." "I hope you have a lovely day." For someone who is unwell, "Get well soon, sending you a hug" is enough. Children can finish a sentence such as "I like it when you..." so the card sounds like them. Using their own words, spelling and all, makes a card feel special.

More to do on Rangooo

Find more projects in easy paper crafts for kids, make paper plate crafts, print patterns with stamp and print making, fold a keepsake with a memory book for kids, practise saying thanks with gratitude journal prompts, and try kindness activities for kids. Draw your pictures with easy drawing ideas, browse more stories and activities, or see resources for teachers.

Questions

What paper is best for a handmade card?

Thin card or sturdy plain paper folded in half works well. Very thick card is hard for small hands to fold, and very thin paper may tear when it is glued or inked, so choose something in between.

Can young children make these cards?

Yes. Children aged three and up can do the thumbprint, leaf-rubbing and thank-you cards with a grown-up close by. The pop-up and window cards need cutting, which a grown-up should always do.

What can a child write if they cannot write yet?

A child can draw a picture, make a pattern, or tell a grown-up the words so the grown-up writes them. Even a signature made of a scribble and a thumbprint is a lovely personal touch.

How do we keep handmade cards safe to post or hand over?

Let ink and glue dry completely, keep decorations flat and paper-based, and slip the card into an envelope. Avoid loose glitter, buttons or beads, which can fall off and are not suitable for young children.