It’s easy to go out and buy cards from the retailers, yet nothing says love like the time and care it takes to make something by yourself.

You give your greeting cards a truly personal touch by making them and friends & family will be delighted to receive your unique designs in the mail.

Finally, at the end of crafting, you realize that it takes you less time than you think!

My bestie is celebrating her birthday soon and that was the reason I decided to make a special card for her. I had a few ideas and the following ones presented in this post are the top three best solutions. 

These DIY birthday card ideas are super easy and very affordable to make and they can be made using material lying around the house.

I love making cards, but also I love keeping the process simple. 

You can, of course, make changes. Feel free to mix and match the different techniques and materials I show to make something unique!

I have created three free birthday card decor printables (cupcake, elephant, and polaroid frame) which you can download by subscribing to my blog in the form at the end of the post and getting them right away. Thank you, reader!

So, let’s get started!

IDEA #1 – CUPCAKE BIRTHDAY CARD 

This card is absolutely gorgeous. It has a gentle touch. Although it looks a bit complicated to make, it really isn’t! Here is how you can make this birthday card.

Things you will need for the cupcake birthday card:

• White Cardstock (This is for the base)
• Cupcake Form/Sticker 
• Glue (Any Kind)
• Black Sketch Pen (Any other color will also do)
• Colored Sheets of Paper (I used baby pink and white for this card)
• Washi Tape (I used baby pink with lines for this card)
• Scissors & Ruler 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CUPCAKE BIRTHDAY CARD (See photos below):

Step #1 – Make the basis for the card

Take a white cardstock and fold it in half. This will be the base of the card. (You can also choose other colors of the cardstock.) It is better to use a thick sheet so you get a better structure. 

Step #2 & #3 – Cut out two small rectangles & one small flag

Depending on the size of your card make the measures for two smaller rectangles which you will add in the middle. I have measured 5 cm from the card edge for a white rectangle and from the white rectangle edge 3 mm for a pink one. 

Now, you cut the small flag from a colored paper (measures also depend on the size of your card. It should go beyond the middle of a card for 1 cm.

Step #4 – Stick the washi tape on the card’s edges

Take the washi tape and decide how wide you want this frame to be. In my case, it was 5 mm. Tape it around the edges.

Step #5 – Glue up the cupcake form/sticker 

After you made the edges and cut out the rectangles it’s time to put all those parts together. Glue up the white rectangle over the pink one and then glue up that on your card. Wait for a few seconds for the glue to stick together and then glue your cupcake sticker up in the middle of the small rectangles. 

Optional: If you do not have a cupcake sticker, you can draw one by yourself or even glue up some other birthday related items such as cake, balloons, letters, etc.

Tip: You can get the same as I have used! All you have to do is subscribe to my blog and get free printables! 

Step #6 – Write a message on the small flag & glue it up on the card

Last but not least, on the small flag, you cut before write your personal message. You don’t need to be formal as me, let your creativity flow! After you finish that, glue the flag up on the left side near the washi tape edge. And voilà, you have your Cupcake birthday card finished!

Birthday card #1 step-by-step photos:

IDEA #2 – DIY POM-POM BIRTHDAY CARD

Things you will need for the pom-pom birthday card:

• Two White Cardstock (One for the base & one for the middle rectangle)
• Pom-poms 
• Glue (Any Kind)
• Black Sketch Pen (Any other color will also do)
• Colored Sheet of Paper For the Elephant (I used baby gray for this card)
• Scissors & Ruler 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR POM-POM ELEPHANT BIRTHDAY CARD (See photos below):

Step #1 – Make the basis for the card

Take a rectangular white cardstock and fold it in half in order to make a base for the card. Of course, you can choose any other color combination, it doesn’t have to be gray-white, as in my case. 

Step #2 – Cut out the small rectangle & elephant

Depending on the size of your card make the measures for the smaller rectangle which you will add in the middle. I have measured 3mm from the card edge. 

Now, use the gray paper for drawing and cutting the elephant.

With a black sketch pen or marker make a frame around the rectangle and the elephant.

Tip: You can get the same as I have used! All you have to do is subscribe to my blog and get free printables! 

Step #3 – Draw the strings of the balloons

Draw five lines with a black sketch pen or marker to be the strings of the balloons.

Step #4 – Use pom-poms to make the balloons

Glue up the spots you want to add the pom-poms. I have used many colors, but you can choose the colors of the same color family or just one color. It’s totally up to you! 

Baby card #2 step-by-step photos: 

IDEA #3 – POLAROID BIRTHDAY CARD

This is such a fun-filled birthday card! I’ve decided to choose this colorful design and it turns out to be absolutely enjoyable. You can make this unique birthday card using simple craft items.

Things you will need for the polaroid birthday card:

• Dotted Cardstock (For the base)
• White Cardstock (For the polaroid frame)
• Confetti
• Tracing Paper, Clear foil or paper foil
• Glue (Any Kind)
• Black Sketch Pen (Any other color will also do)
• Scissors & Ruler
• Small Size Colored Sheets of Paper (I forgot to include these in my photo below)
• Hole Puncher (Optional) & Scalpel, Craft knife or Box Cutter (I forgot to include it in my photo below)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR POLAROID BIRTHDAY CARD (See photos below):

Step #1 – Make the basis for the card

Take a rectangular dotted cardstock and fold it in half. This is the base of the card. You can use other cardstock designs, too. It’s totally up to you!

Step #2 – Cut out the polaroid frame 

On the white cardstock draw the preferred polaroid frame shape. It can be more rectangular if you like it better or square like in my case.

Depending on the size of your card make the measures for the polaroid frame which you will add in the middle. Use a scalpel to cut out the middle of the frame. 

Tip: You can get the same as I have used! All you have to do is subscribe to my blog and get free printables! 

Step #3 – Make confetti with the hole puncher 

Take the colored sheets and using a hole puncher, punch out small confetti-like circles. I have used six colors, you can choose colors of the same color family or just one. 

Optional: If you do not have a hole puncher, you can even replace confetti-like circles with hearts or balloons and cut them out using a pair of scissors. Just draw your pattern and cut them out. 

Step #4 – Cut out the tracing paper 

Use the tracing paper to make the middle of the frame. After cutting it out, assemble the polaroid frame and tracing paper together using the glue. 

Finally, put confetti in the middle of the card and glue up the polaroid frame over it. That’s it, you got yourself the polaroid birthday card! 

Step #5 – Add a personal message on the polaroid frame (optional) 

This is totally up to you. You can write something or even let it blank. Your decision! 

Baby card #3 step-by-step photos: 

I hope you enjoyed these DIY birthday card ideas and would try these at home. Let me know how it went out! Happy crafting! 

For more DIY card ideas, check out these posts: 

DIY: Fun & Easy Birthday Card + Free PDF Tutorial

DIY Baby Girl Card Ideas With Stickers + Freebies

DIY Baby Boy Card Ideas With Stickers + Freebies

Love,
Selena

P.S. If you want FREE birthday card decor printables, subscribe to my blog in the form below and get the password for my Free recourse library right in your inbox. That way you get access to my huge variety of other freebies such as mini polaroid frames, miniature vintage letters forms, printable Easter greeting cards, baby card stickers printables, an e-book about the art of letter writing, a formal letter template, newborn essentials checklist and much more.