Make a 3D Birthday Card

Giving a gift to recognise someone’s birthday is a powerful demonstration that you care for and love someone. This is also what Spid realises in Spid the Spider Plans  Birthday Surprise. So here’s a fun, creative and low-cost activity to do with your children – to make a 3D (or découpage) birthday card to recognise and celebrate a friend or family member’s birthday! What’s also special is that the card will be uniquely designed by you. But here are some start-point materials to get you going!

What you need to make your 3D birthday card

1. An A4 size blank cardboard or piece of stiff paper
2. The birthday images shown on page 2 of our free download printed out on paper
3. A pair of scissors
4. Glue
5. Some pressure sensitive adhesive such as Bostik Blue Tac or sticky pads (available from all good stationery stores)
6. Varnish (optional)

How to make your 3D birthday card

First, pick the images you want to use on the birthday card and cut them out as neatly as possible.

Next, take your blank cardboard or paper and fold it in half like a birthday card.

Print and arrange the images you have cut out onto the front of the card to make a fun design. Then glue them in place.

By printing two versions of some images and placing one on top of another you can create a 3D effect. Do this by placing Bostick Blu Tack or sticky pads between the two images.  This process is called découpage.

To create an extra special effect you can also print the images on a glossier paper or varnish your images before gluing them to the card.

Finally, write a happy birthday message inside and you’re done

What is découpage?

The word “decoupage” comes from the French word “decouper”. This means to cut out or cut from something else.  Decoupage is a real art form, and you don’t just have to use paper.  You could choose plastics, metals, stones, shells, and even plants, probably best dried and pressed first, from the garden.  You could also decorate school-books, boxes, pots, furniture, and more – your imagination is the only limit.

Here’s a découpage birthday card we created earlier!