[Respect for the Aged Day] Heartfelt! Handmade Message Card Ideas to Share Your Feelings
If you’re wondering what kind of message card to make for Respect for the Aged Day, this is for you! From Japanese-style designs using washi and chiyogami, to cards that turn into photo frames, to pop-up flower cards—there are plenty of ideas that will touch the hearts of older recipients.
Why not express your gratitude with handmade cards featuring thoughtful motifs like cranes and turtles for longevity, or gentians that evoke the autumn season? We’ll show you easy methods that even first-timers can try with confidence.
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Respect for the Aged Day: Heartfelt! Handmade Message Card Ideas (11–20)
A message card with blooming flowers
Let’s make a pop-up card with flowers that spring out.
First, take a circle cut from colored paper and fold it in half three times.
Round off the outer edge so it forms petals, then open it up.
Next, make a valley fold along the horizontal center line and fold the paper to create a heart shape.
Attach this to the inside of a card base that’s been folded in half.
Apply glue to one side of the heart, align the pointed bottom with the center fold, and stick it on so it’s sideways.
Apply glue to the other side as well, close the card to adhere it, and you’re done! When you open it, the flowers bloom—it’s a lovely message card!
Bouquet message card
These are adorable message cards shaped like a bouquet! There are two types: one where you open the bouquet to reveal a space inside for writing your message, and another where each flower sticking out of the bouquet is a separate message card.
The bouquet motif is perfect for Respect for the Aged Day gifts.
They’re cute enough to display, so they’ll surely become message cards you’ll want to keep forever.
If you shape the flower and leaf parts three-dimensionally as you would with origami, the result will look even more polished!
Photo-card with a cut-out window
Add a creative touch to a classic gift staple—the message card—to convey warmth.
This design layers two cards to create a message card with a cut-out window, around which the message is written.
If you place a photo of the recipient inside the window, it will feel even more like the message is meant just for them.
Clearly separating the colors of the background and the window enhances the sense of depth, so choose the overall color scheme carefully.
It’s also a great idea to incorporate decorations featuring things the recipient loves.
Wagara-patterned message card
These are Japanese-pattern message cards made using adhesive fabric sold at 100-yen shops.
Here, you’ll make the card itself and the outer sleeve it goes into.
For the outer part, simply cut and fold gold-colored cardstock according to the template and glue it together.
Adding a strip of Japanese-pattern fabric as an accent makes it stylish.
Make the card slightly smaller than the outer sleeve and add designs using a floral craft punch, etc.
Finish by trimming off the corners of all four edges.
It’s also recommended to glue the flower cutouts from the punch onto the outside as decoration!
Message card made with artificial flowers
This is a message card with a three-dimensional, glamorous feel that incorporates artificial flowers.
Since you’ll be attaching 3D elements to the base later, it’s recommended to reinforce it by layering paper or adding borders.
Attach a sheet for writing your message to one half of the base, and artificial flowers to the other half.
Instead of gluing the artificial flowers as they are, it may look softer if you tear off the petals and adhere them individually.
Consider adding beads or small flower-shaped paper pieces as well, and aim for a design that makes the artificial flowers and the message stand out.
Papercut Card
Perfect for beginners too! Let me share some ideas for cutout paper cards.
Kirie (paper cutting) is an art form where you cut patterns or images out of paper using scissors or a craft knife.
The cut-out areas remain as open space, which creates a unique design and a sense of depth—that’s part of the charm.
Because it ranges from simple to intricate pieces, it’s an easy art to start with while choosing designs you like.
It’s also fun to change the mood of your work by layering patterned paper behind the cutouts.
A turtle message card made with mizuhiki
This is a perfect Respect-for-the-Aged Day message card that combines a turtle—known as a symbol of longevity—with mizuhiki, an essential element for celebratory occasions.
Make the turtle’s shell using the kame-musubi (turtle knot) and the head with an awaji-dama (awaji bead), then join the two and use the remaining mizuhiki to form the turtle’s legs.
Once the turtle shape is complete, attach it to a card decorated with washi or Japanese-patterned origami to finish.
Mizuhiki may look difficult at first glance, but once you master the basic knots, you can adapt them into many shapes.
Why not give it a try as a wish for the health and long life of the elderly?
Calligraphy-style message card
If you want a Japanese-style finish with a playful touch, brush-lettering art message cards are just what we recommend! Writing with a brush might sound formal to some, but brush-lettering art is incredibly free.
Unlike pens, brushes let you vary line thickness at will, resulting in cards with a soft, warm feel.
Metallic brush pens are also available, so there’s no need to worry about it looking plain just because it’s brushwork.
If you’d like to create a card that feels refined yet has a pop element, definitely give it a try!
Crane Memo Stand & Message Card
Here’s an introduction to making a crane memo stand out of origami.
Although it’s called a crane, the folding method is different from the classic origami crane.
The final steps involve some fine work and can be a bit tricky, but since it only uses one sheet of origami paper, I think children can fold it with a little help from an adult.
Imagine the joy it will bring to seniors, and give it a try! After writing a message on a card, decorate it with stickers from a 100-yen shop.
Insert the card into the crane, and it’s complete.
Pop-up peacock card
A vivid peacock pop-up card has a luxurious feel and is perfect for Respect for the Aged Day.
First, prepare colored construction paper in peacock colors, then fold it back and forth in fine, alternating pleats.
After folding the feather section, open it once to form the peacock’s head, then fold it again and halve it.
Round off the tips of the feathers and decorate them.
It’s easy to cut shapes from construction paper or origami, or use a craft punch.
Drawing patterns in any style you like is great, too.
Finally, attach the peacock to the center of the card, write your message, and you’re done!
