Simple, fun ideas for making your own thank you cards…

Now that the Holidays are over and cabin fever is setting in again, we thought we’d put together some little inspirations for a creative indoor activity to do with kids… DIY thank you cards! We know writing thank you cards might sometimes feel like a chore (for adults as well as children!) but we’ve racked our brains (and the internet) and found, tried and tested 5 creative ways to make it fun! Hopefully it’ll keep kids happy and busy – for a little while at least – and friends and family will be treated to an extra special and thoughtful thank you!

1) Use a post it note

Sounds simple and that’s because it is – sometimes the best ideas are - use a post it note in the centre of a card (or off centre if you’re feeling edgy) and draw a pattern or design over the edge of the post it to create a square border. It’s simple but visually very effective!

image credit: Smith's Crafty Creations

2) Recycle string or ribbon

If you have any string or ribbon left over from Christmas, it can look great on cards! If you’re up for a challenge, you could try spelling out the words ‘thank you’ in string but if that sounds a little too tricky (and/or sticky!), you can stick your string or ribbon onto the card in any pattern or zig zag and then use pens and coloring pencils to draw bunting flags, or festoon lights, or write the words ‘thank you’ as though it’s hanging from the string in a banner – this can look really lovely! Another idea is to doodle or draw a pattern onto paper and cut out little bunting flags to stick onto your string or ribbon – this also works great if you have any fabric remnants!

image credits: laurascraftylife.com and no biggie.net

3) Buttons!

Buttons look very pretty on cards and they’re a quick and simple addition. You could use the button to represent a whole flower head, or alternatively (and this is better if your buttons are white or transparent) make them the stamen and draw your own colored petals around them. Another idea; use buttons to write out 1 million using the buttons for ‘0’s – or if you have enough buttons, it could be 1 billion or even 1 trillion!

image credits: craftybugblog.wordpress, Pat Hinton and canadianliving.com 

4) Use a needle and thread

This idea is a little challenging but perfect if you have the time and a bit of patience! You’ll first need to draw a design on your card using a pencil - flowers work especially well for this but you can be inventive! – then punch holes in the card at certain points in your design. We suggest using a pin to do this and it’s a good idea to put an eraser behind the piece of card you’re piercing, to avoid pricking yourself or anything else. Then, with your needle and thread (make sure you’ve tied a knot in the thread, so it doesn’t pull all the way through!), start weaving over and under your design!

image credits L-R: cardbroidery.com and makeandtakes.com

5) Use wrapping paper!

Our world map wrapping paper makes a great fun and educational cutting, sticking and creating activity to do at home. Color in and customize your favourite parts of our world map design and either cut out a big section (this could be in any shape – e.g. a heart) or cut out your favourite individual animals, icons and sea life. Then arrange on your card and get sticking!

buy our world map wrapping paper here.