Create a Birthday Card
Perfect for a Child or Teen Birthday

Make Homemade Teen Greeting Cards
& Cards for Kids Using Just Paper and Ribbon

Create a birthday card that features the age of the birthday girl/boy. It's a nice way to say, "Wow, you're 13!" (or whatever age they're turning).

Here's a homemade teen card idea featuring your choice of paper and ribbon. No need to buy any special card embellishments. Just print out my template (see below) and make sure you have the basic tools and supplies below.

Note: Scroll down to see a couple more color and design variations for the card above. Use the template provided to create a birthday card or put your own spin on this project by adapting it to your needs.

Supplies for Teen Card Making Project

• Card Blank in size 5 x 6.5 inches
• Template: Print my Ribbon-Tag Card Making Template - the 2 x 7 in. strip and circle B are provided for additional creative card options.
• Card stock in two contrasting colors (used here is pearlescent white for the background and aqua blue for the embellishments), at least 5 x 6.5 inches of each
• Ribbon 1 1/2 yards of 1/8 inch (3mm) or 1/4 inch (6mm) wide ribbon
• Black Marker for numbers or Number Stickers (here I used some reflective number stickers, leftover from re-doing our mailbox).
• Optional: White Acrylic Paint or Distress Ink for edging embellishments
• Optional: 2 silver eyelets, 1/8 inch size

Sources: "White Gold" 65 lb pearlescent white paper by Wausau Paper, blue 65 lb cover by Wausau Paper, Number Stickers by The Sign Center.

Tools

• Paper Scissors
• Decorative Scissors
• Paper Glue/Adhesive
• 1/8 inch hole punch or an awl for punching holes
• eyelet setter if using eyelets (optional)

Instructions to Create a Birthday Card as Seen Above:

Below I've provided photos, headlines and detailed instructions to help you create a birthday card like the one above:

Cut & Punch Paper Pieces. Decorate Circle.
1. Cut 1/2 inch off the front right side of your card blank (this leaves 1/2" of inner card showing).
2. Use the "ribbon-tag card making template" to create the two embellishments shown to the left.
3. Punch 1/8 inch holes as indicated by black dots on templates.
4. Now is the best time to draw numbers or place number stickers on circle embellishment in the age of the birthday girl/boy. You can also use paint or ink to distress the edges of the embellishments if you choose.
5. Cut pearlescent white card stock (or whatever color you chose for front of card) to 5 x 6 1/2" and trim  1/2" off the right side so you have a 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 and a 1/2 x 6 1/2" piece.
6. Align circle embellishment on 4 12 x 6 1/2" cardstock in final position. Using circle as guide, punch the two holes all the way through cardstock.
7. Use decorative scissors to create a 1/2 x 6 1/2" strip in the same color paper as embellishments, left side trimmed with decorative scissors.

Sew or Weave Ribbon and Attach Embellishments.
1. Take 1 yard (36 inches) of ribbon and sew or weave the ribbon through the holes in the rectangular embellishment. The pattern to the right shows how to sew a criss cross pattern with the red numbers indicating to pull the ribbon up through the paper and the black numbers indicating to pull the ribbon down.
2. If you choose to use the eyelets, set them now in the punched holes of the circle embellishment.
3. Line up the holes in the 4 1/2 x 6 1/2" piece of card stock and those in the circle embellishment. Pull 8 inches of ribbon through the holes on each side of the card stock and circle embellishment. Tie ends of ribbon on each side using overhand knot as seen above.
4. Cover back of rectangular embellishment with glue and carefully slip it behind circle embellishment, pressing evenly once it's in place.

Attach Everything to Your Card Blank.
1. For inside of card, glue the 1/2" straight strip inside the card blank on far right.
2. Then glue the decorative edge strip 1/4" in from the left with the decorative edge facing in (it will overlap previously glued strip). Your inside is done!
3. Now glue the fully embellished card stock to the front of the card blank, careful to line up all edges. Allow your card to dry (I like to place a heavy book on top of my card to encourage it to stay flat) and your done!

Below are two more teen greeting cards using this ribbon tag card making template... Use the template to create a birthday card for any age and customize your card with your own paper and ribbon or even change the basic design as seen on the right.