Thank-You Card Crafts

Washi tape in a rainbow of colors dresses up these free printable notes from blogger Kami Bigler of NoBiggie. "There are so many ways you can make these cards your own," she says "really anything goes!"

Blogger Sheela from The Joy of My Life used leftover wrapping paper from gifts to assemble these festive recycled wrapping paper thank-you cards with her son.

What You'll Need

Leftover wrapping paper, white glue (diluted), card stock, brown paper bag, scissors, glue stick, old flat paint brush, decorative edge scissors (optional)

Make It

1. Rip recycled wrapping paper into small pieces; set aside in a container.
2. Dilute white glue with water. The glue should be thin enough to paint on but not so thin that it soaks the paper and makes it buckle.
3. Paint the diluted white glue onto a piece of card stock. While wet, encourage kids to get creative and paste the ripped pieces of wrapping paper onto the card until the entire surface is covered. Allow to dry.
4. Cut a card out of brown paper bags. Use decorative edge scissors to dress up the edges.
5. Cut dry cardstock paper, now collaged with wrapping paper, into smaller shapes to fit the card's front. Glue on with glue stick.

Alex Katschilo, the blogger behind Northstory, came up with these lovely soda dough thank-you cards to craft with her daughter.

Baking Soda Dough

What You'll Need

2 cups baking soda, 1 cup cornstarch, 1 1/4 cups cold water, large cooking pot, rolling pin, heart cookie cutter, mini screwdriver or ice pick.

Make It

1. Mix baking soda, cornstarch, and water together in pot.
2. Cook over medium heat on stovetop, stirring the mixture. You will notice the dough forming within 5 minutes; continue to mix and scrape the dough off the edges of the pot.
3. When dough is completely formed, remove from heat to avoid burning and place on a plate to cool.
4. Once dough is cooled, knead and roll out with a rolling pin.
5. Use cookie cutters to make heart shapes.
6. Use a mini screwdriver or ice pick to poke holes for hanging.
7. Let dry overnight on a flat, clean surface, like a plate, table, or cookie tray. Don't use parchment or wax paper, which can cause wrinkle lines.

Two-Heart Rustic Soda Dough Card

What You'll Need

Pre-made hearts (see above), cardstock, mini screwdriver or ice pick, twine, yarn, stamps, dye ink

Make It

1. Lay two heart ornaments on the cardstock where you want them to hang. Poke two holes with mini screwdriver or ice pick through cardstock.
2. Cut two pieces of yarn and twine in equal lengths for bow tie.
3. Thread yarn and twine through hole on a heart ornament. Be careful not to push too hard and break the soda dough!
4. Thread yard and twine through cardstock. Bring back on other side, threading it first through the cardstock and then through the second heart ornament.

Kids will love brainstorming their own designs with these beautiful handmade notes that blogger Anne Weil of Flax & Twine made with her daughter. "The next day, she said to me, 'Mama, it's time for our stitching time!'" says Weil. "And, my son said, 'I want to do one of those!'"

What You'll Need

Paperboard (gift, cracker, or cereal box), needlepoint yarn or embroidery thread, two needles (one larger to create sewing holes, one smaller to embroider with), scissors, pencil, decorative tape, markers

Make It

1. Cut two rectangles of paperboard to desired size.
2. Let your child design a simple line drawing with a pencil, including space to write a few words of thanks.
3. Punch holes along the lines of the drawing with the larger needle.
4. Thread the smaller needle with desired color of thread. (Double up thread for younger children so the needle won't slip off.)
5. Let your child stitch through the holes with a simple stitch along the lines.
6. Finish by attaching two pieces of paperboard together to hide messy thread in the back. Use decorative tape around edges to hold.

There's no better way to spell out "thank you" than this fun accordion from Melanie Blodgett of You Are My Fav.

What You'll Need

Large sheet (with one side at least 16") of patterned or plain cardstock paper, white or colored card stock, paint and paintbrush (optional), scissors, glue stick, twine

Make It

1. Start with colored cardstock or let your kiddos paint sections of white cardstock and let dry. Freehand cut letters from the colored or painted cardstock, keeping them approximately 1 1/2" tall.
2. Trim large sheet of paper to 16" long and 4" high. Make a fold 2" wide and accordion fold the rest of the paper. You'll end up with eight, 2" rectangles to fit your letters in.
3. Use a glue stick to attach letters in each rectangle and fold up into small book.
4. Tie up with a piece of twine.

Simple and whimsical, Brooke Reynolds author of the blog Inchmark, jotted down quotes from her son on these speech bubble cards made out of cardstock and assorted paper. "Some of his comments are hilarious," she said. "I would never have been able to make them up myself."

Wanting to teach her daughter, age 3, the importance of thank-you cards, Randi Edwards of Swoon Studio printed simple notes on watercolor paper and let her go crazy with a paint set! After the paint dried, Randi and her daughter sat down and wrote each message together.

"Your kids can easily make their own unique notecards with a #2 pencil, alphabet stamps, bright colored ink pads, and blank notecards," says blogger Kaley Diaz of Kaley Ann. She let her little tot have a ball by stamping a pencil eraser on an inkpad and blank notecards as she wished. Use alphabet stamps for a personal message!

Encourage young Picassos to draw a holiday picture for a custom stationary set. "Scan their artwork and lay it out on your computer so it can be printed and folded into a card," suggests Jodi Kahn from Simply Sublime.

From beads and buttons to feathers and flowers, kids ages 4 and up will love collecting little embellishments for this tiny treasure card project from designing mom Betsey Corders of Mom Inc Daily.

What You'll Need

Tiny treasures (such as beads, stickers, glitter, feathers, buttons, silk flowers, sequins, ribbons, shells, fabric, sea glass, etc.), 8 1/2 " x 11" cardstock (or extra-sturdy construction paper), craft knife, ruler, pencil, crystal-clear bags or sleeves, permanent marker, scissors, tape, double-stick tape

Make It

1. From cardstock cut one 10 1/2 " x 5" rectangle.
2. Fold the 10 1/2 " x 5" rectangle lengthwise into three equal parts. They should measure 3 1/2 " wide each.
3. On your trifold cardstock, measure out a 2 1/4 " x 2 1/4 " square with a ruler and pencil on folded panels one and two. The square should be 6/8" from the top and 5/8" from each of the sides. Cut with craft knife.
4. Place your plastic bag over cut out window on the middle folded panel, trimming to fit as needed.
5. Tape three sides of the bag, leaving the top side open to fill with tiny treasures.
6. Fill plastic bag with tiny treasures and tape top side shut.
7. Apply double-stick tape to middle folded panel, bordering the edges, and fold panel one over to secure.
8. Write greetings and personal messages inside with kiddos.

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