How to Create a Collage Birthday Card

Creating handmade birthday cards is a meaningful gesture that family and friends will appreciate. Make the note even more heartfelt by covering the front with a collage that showcases your love and appreciation, the significance of the occasion and your history together. Read on to learn how to create a collage birthday card.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Blank card or card stock
• Paper trimmer or scissors
• Small photos
• Memorabilia
• Embellishments
• Stamps and ink (optional)
• Letter and shape stickers (optional)
• Adhesives
• Marker
• Envelope
• Patterned paper

1. Buy a blank card or cut a sheet of card stock to size with a paper trimmer. Fold it to fit within a coordinating envelope.
2. Gather items you can use in your collage such as small photos, memorabilia like ticket stubs and snippets from magazines and programs, old notes or stickers that suit the birthday theme.
3. Trim and arrange the pieces until the surface of the card is completely covered. Remember, collage is traditionally free form, so the layers don't have to sit perfectly straight. Add more snippets until you feel it's complete.
4. Add meaning by stamping a message, memorable quote or birthday greeting in one corner or along the bottom.
5. Embellish further with dimensional accents like buttons, charms, epoxy stickers, ribbon and fabric.
6. Adhere the layers with liquid glue, double-stick tape or spray adhesive. Use foam tape to add dimension to some of the accents. If you've created an entirely flat collage, consider sealing it with a layer of decoupage glaze, available at crafts stores.
7. Use stamps or a marker to write a personal note inside the card.
8. Decorate the inside of the envelope with a matching piece of patterned paper. Adorn the front with lettering written with colorful markers, added with letter stamps and ink or small letter stickers. Insert the card, then seal it shut with a decorative sticker.