Hi Stampers!
Today’s post and video are a bit different. I do have a card to share, but the focus of this post is card making with kids. Kids enjoy creative projects and card making gives them endless opportunities for self expression. Card making allows children to share their creations with others in a thoughtful manner. Kids can create cards to give to friends and loved one for many occasions: birthdays, holidays, or to say thank you. So, today I am sharing some ideas and tips you can use to help children create terrific cards!
One of today’s sample cards was created by me. The second card was created by my 7 year old granddaughter, V. Let’s take a peek at the cards:
VIDEO
CARD MAKING - A GREAT SUMMER ACTIVITY FOR KIDS!
WHAT AGES IS CARD MAKING APPROPRIATE FOR?
My personal opinion is children are ready for card making around age 5 and tend to enjoy it through the elementary school years and even into the teen years.
By age 5 - 6 children have a bit more social experience to draw from. They have memories of receiving cards: birthday cards, party invitations, Christmas cards, etc. They are beginning to understand reciprocity- “I was given a gift, I wills send a thank you card.” Around age 5- 6 fine motor skills are developed to the point kids can manipulate writing / coloring utensils, use scissors, fold paper, ink a stamp (with help), and stamp an image.
Ages 6-8 (my favorite ages to work with) tend to be interested in making “real cards” as my granddaughter calls them. She enjoys making cards that look like mine, as opposed to drawing pictures on a card base and adding die cuts and embellishments. She wants to use layers, patterned papers, embellishments, stamp, die cut, etc. At this age kids can handle inking stamps and stamping on their own with some supervision. They enjoy learning how to work tools like trimmers, score boards, punches, die cut machines, etc. They will need help with these tools, but you would be surprised how quickly they learn to use them. My granddaughter needs help with punches, because she doesn’t have quite enough strength to operate the punch, but my 11 year old grandson easily operates punches, and everything else.
Ages 9 and up - these kids truly have minds of their own, and there card designs tend to be very imaginative! The kids in this age group that I’ve made cards with amazed me with the backstories behind their cards! They are capable of following instructions for fun folds and interactive cards. They enjoy making cards with elements that move.
SUPPLIES FOR KIDS’ CARD MAKING
As children get older I offer patterned paper, colored card bases, stamps, ink, etc. Mini ink pads are great for school-aged kids. They are the perfect size for them to handle easily. Lots of companies Ofer the mini ink pads. Most are 1” x 1” pads. Stampin” Up!®️, Tim Holtz Distress Ink®️, Simon Says Stamp®️, Hero Arts®️, Gina K Designs®️, etc. As I discussed earlier, as children get older they can begin to use tools.
ARE THERE SUPPLIES I DO NOT LET CHILDREN USE?
Yes! The goal is to have a card making experience that is enjoyable for you and the kids! Anything I do not feel comfortable allowing children to use, I simply do not allow them to use it.
Some of my supplies are off limits, because they probably would not stand up to use by kids - alcohol markers, my “good” dye ink markers, and some of my more intricate dies.
Some items like embossing powders and pigment inks, embossing pastes, etc. have potential for creating more of a mess than I am willing to deal with, so I do not offer those for use.
Some tools are off limits if I feel there is a risk of bloodshed! I keep the guillotine paper cutter, craft knifes, and paper piercers stored out of sight!
TODAY’S CARD LAYOUT
I call today’s card layout a 1/3 - 2/3 card, because it takes two pieces of patterned paper. One pieces is about 1/3 the size of the second piece. It is not an exact measurement, but it is close. Cutting measurements and general supplies are listed below.
1/3 - 2/3 BIRTHDAY CARD
STAMPS - greeting stamp of choice and greeting for inside card (optional)
CARD BASE -cardstock cut at 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4”
MAT LAYER- contrasting cardstock cut at 5 1/4” x 4”
FOCAL PANEL - 2 pieces of patterned paper. Top portion - 3 3/4” x 2 1/4” Bottom portion x 3 3/4” x 3” when adhering the two pieces together place adhesive on the wrong side of the bottom layer along the top edge. Attach it to top piece on the right side at the bottom 1/4” of that piece. You now have a layer that is 5” x 3 3/4”.
RIBBON - About 4 - 4 1/4”
GREETING - Layering die cuts - 2, one for the greeting cut from white or light color of cardstock, and one to layer the greeting cut from cardstock the same color as the card base
INSIDE PANEL - White or light colored cardstock x 5 1/4” x 4”
INK - color of choice
ADHESIVE -adhesive of choice and dimentionals
V’s 1/3 - 2/3 HELLO CARD
Helping kids create greeting cards is a great way to spend a little time together this summer. If you have the opportunity to do so, I highly recommend it!
Thank you so much for stopping by. V was so excited to participate in this post and video. She loves creating and sharing her handmade cards! Until next time . . .
Stamp Happy!
Kim
Supplies used to create my 1/3 - 2/3 card came from Stampin’ Up!®️ Many items are no longer available.
Stamp Set - SIMPLY SAID - from currant catalog ©️1990-2024 Stampin’ Up!®️
No comments:
Post a Comment