- Die-cutting machines are available at craft stores and have templates for creating a variety of shapes. A die-cutting machine can cut out a shape, which can be pasted onto a piece of cardstock and decorated or colored. Some die-cutting machines can also emboss a shape onto cardstock. While the machine is easy to use, adults should supervise all children using it and operate it for small children.
- Rubber stamps are an economical way to place an image on a greeting card. Stamps of nearly any image are available at craft stores, as are many colors of permanent and washable inks. Children can stamp the image in any color ink they choose, then color the image using markers, crayons, colored pencils or watercolor paints. Another option for using rubber stamps is embossing the image: First, stamp the image onto the paper with embossing ink (a stinky ink) and then sprinkle embossing powder over the image, dusting off any excess. Use a heat gun to melt the powder in the shape of the stamped image and create a raised effect. Once cooled, these images can also be colored.
- For small children who have trouble drawing or writing, stickers can be an option for decorating a greeting card. Craft stores and scrapbooking stores sell beautifully made stickers in a multitude of styles for decorating paper crafts.
- Children with an especially artistic side may wish to hand-draw the cover of greeting cards and then color them. Using high-quality cardstock for the card itself and hand-drawing the image on artist paper creates a matting effect that frames the drawn image. Watercolors, colored pencils, pastels, and markers are some options for coloring the cards. The artist can even mix coloring methods.
- The possibilities for making a greeting card are endless. Pressed flowers glued to the cover, collages made of bits of paper, combinations of media, photographs and even embroidery can be used on a greeting card. The only limit is the child's creativity and the availability of materials.
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