Really Cute Thank-You Notes

Children will love sending (or receiving) a thank-you note on a paper ball!

Partially unfold a Japanese paper ball (available at many toy stores) and carefully rubber stamp a thank-you message. Let dry, carefully refold, slip into a business-size envelope, and mail! The balls can be "revived" by the receiver by simply blowing gently into the hole at the top. Your thanks will soon be batted all over the house!

What You Need:

Japanese paper balls

Alphabet rubber stamps

Stamp pad

Business-size envelope

One family I know likes to announce all important bits of news—from graduations to birthdays to wedding announcements—with photo booth cards. To make a thank-you note version, take a blank piece of paper with you to your local photo booth. Hold the paper up for each picture. To make the card, cut the pictures apart, write one word on the blank sign in each picture, and arrange on a card. To make several copies, scan and print the card.

What You Need:

Photo booth photos of you holding a blank piece of paper

Blank card

Scissors

Glue

Black marker

Computer, scanner, and printer to make copies

You're never too young to send a thank-you note! With help, your baby (or rather his or her tiny feet or hands) can be the star of these cards that Grandpa and Grandma are sure to cherish.

You probably know the handprint drill: Help the child put her flattened hand in a shallow plate of nontoxic washable poster paint, and carefully place on paper. For baby footprints, brush a little paint on the bottom of each foot (or use a large stamp pad) and make a print by pressing paper to foot. Smart move: Do one foot or hand at a time with cleanup in between. Even smarter: Make one set and scan and print in color.

What You Need:

Poster paint or finger paint

Plate

Foam brush

Blank cards or cardstock

Clean-up supplies for little hands and feet

Use a page from an old road atlas and a pack of Orbit gum to give thanks for a gift that expanded horizons. This is a great card for a child to give to a teacher or to send to a relative who gave him or her lessons or some kind of educational gift.

What You Need:

Blank card

Old map

Glue stick

Printed or handwritten copy for the card

Scissors

Orbit gum

Make your child's favorite drawings into stickers. Just scan the drawings, print on mailing labels, and cut out. It's lots of fun for a young artist to see his or her art reproduced! And working together, you and your child can turn out a whole bunch of thank-you notes in no time. Use alphabet rubber stamps to write a message; that's fun for kids just learning to spell.

What You Need:

Children's drawings

Computer, scanner, and printer

Mailing labels — 4 labels per sheet works well

Scissors

Blank cards or cardstock

Alphabet rubber stamps

Stamp pad

Use watercolor paper and paints to make a cute, personal thank-you note. Anyone can do this! To make a simple bunch of flowers use the wet-on-wet method. Wet the paper, let the water absorb for a minute, and then add little dots of paint, which will bleed into a little bloom. Add a bit of green for leaves. When dry, add a few details to the flowers with a black skinny marker. A small block of watercolor paper works well for this as it won't curl when wet. When dry, simply peel off your little painting.

What You Need:

Watercolor paints—a child's set will do

Paintbrush

Watercolor paper or a small watercolor block

Black skinny marker

Here's a great card project for rock lovers and others, young or old. Glue a picture of a rock to a blank card. If you're a budding photographer (who likes rocks), use one of your own photos. Write your note of thanks inside.

What You Need:

Photo of a rock

Blank card

Glue stick

A perfect thank-you message for a teacher who has made a difference in your child's life. Simply create a blackboard with construction paper, write on it with white chalk or pencil, and glue on those tasty Milk Duds. Sweet!

What You Need:

Black and brown paper made to look like a small blackboard

White chalk or white colored pencil

Glue or double-sided tape

Milk Duds

Here's a creative endeavor almost any child can do: Dig out all of your paper punches—stars, circles, hearts—and punch away. Glue your punched confetti to a blank card, rubber stamp a thank-you message, and add lots of glitter!

What You Need:

Paper punches of all shapes

Colored paper

Blank card or cardstock

Thank You rubber stamp

Stamp pad

Glue stick

Glitter