Yes, we all know how sending a ‘greeting card’ is oh-so-passé and done with. When one can do amazing things online why bother posting a card, right? Well, what if we gave you interesting ideas for cards you can make with things that would otherwise be gathering dust in some nondescript corner of your house? Add an extra large dollop of love and affection to your creation – and voila, you have a winner!

Hi-tech wishes

No doubt communication today is instant, convenient and inexpensive thanks to mobiles, messengers and the works. But think about it. Can an email and text messages really be as warm and personal as a hand-made card? What’s better, you can recycle odds and ends lying around at home to give your offering that special touch!

The candy card

Now let’s find out what you require to make your first hand-made greeting card
 

1. Scissors
2. Dark coloured paper – 15cm x 30 cm.
3. Light colour der – 12 x 12cm
4. Few candy sticks
5. One shiny pin
6. Glue to stick

Fold the dark colour plain hard paper in a manner that you get a 15 cm x 15 cm square. Now stick the design paper on the front, exactly in the middle leaving 3 cm from each side. Paste the candy stick in floral shape. Place the shiny pin in the middle of the candy sticks. Write a personal message inside the fold and your simple and elegant greeting card is ready to be sent!

Rolling beauty

Add a touch of royalty by making your scrolling card.
 

1. Thick flexible paper preferably dark coloured. You can also use cloth/jute on which you can write or paint. (15cm x 30 cm)
2. Two sticks (preferably round shaped) 20 cm long
3. Golden thread
4. Glue to stick
5. Golden pen to write the message

Roll both edges of the paper on the wooden stick and fix it with glue. Make the scroll. Write your message with golden pen and roll it up! Tie it with a golden thread before you send it!

Pop it up!

3 pieces of construction paper Scissors, pencil, glue

Optional: Markers, glitter or glitter glue Small christmas/pine tree cut outs.

Fold two pieces of hard paper into half. One piece will be the outside of the card and another one will be the inside.

On the inner card make for short and parallel cuts along the spin/fold line. The cuts should be in two pairs. Fold over the flaps that are formed by the cuts.

Unfold the folds you just made and open up the card. Push up the flaps made by the cuts. These will be the tree trunks.

Close the card so that the flaps are inside the card. Take the tree cut outs. Make sure that they will fit inside the card when it is closed. Glue the tree cut out to the paper flaps and close the card. Glue the other folded piece of construction paper onto the outside of the card. Make sure you don't glue the place where the trees are.

Courtesy: Mister Maker, CBeebies Channel, BBC Network

Did you Know?

The oldest known greeting card is a Valentine card made in 1400s. It has been preserved in the British Museum.

Folks, don’t forget to post a handmade card to EEU, Centre for Science and Environment, 41 Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi, 110062. The best card will win a gift!