[For seniors] Birthday message board designs that delight: group messages, pop-up mechanisms, and brush-lettering art
Are you struggling to come up with design ideas for a birthday message board to celebrate an older adult? There are plenty of handmade ideas that convey warmth, such as brush-lettering art, simple birthday cake illustrations, and decorations using washi tape.
Adding a seasonal touch or a bouquet motif can make it feel much more special with just a little effort.
In this article, we’ll share lots of design ideas for birthday message boards.
Create a heartfelt piece and give it as a gift!
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[For Seniors] Birthday message board designs that will be appreciated: group messages, pop-up mechanisms, and brush-lettering art (11–20)
Happy Birthday text POP
When you go to the supermarket, you sometimes see POP signs where product names, selling points, and prices are written in distinctive lettering.
Let’s use this technique to make a birthday message board.
It may be hard to write smoothly if you’re not used to it.
There are detailed guides and tips online and in videos on how to write POP lettering, so try referring to those as you draw.
Eye-catching POP lettering might be easier for older adults to read, too.
The bright, cheerful feel of POP letters seems like a great match for a birthday message board.
Brush lettering art
Brush-lettering art often seen on shikishi boards and message cards is created with a brush pen and has no single “correct” way to do it.
Neat penmanship isn’t required—letters with individuality and character are perfectly fine.
A one-of-a-kind shikishi featuring letter art can convey a heartfelt, handmade touch that older recipients may especially appreciate.
It’s also recommended to add small illustrations to bring color to the brush-lettering art.
Try drawing images that heighten the birthday mood alongside the lettering.
Message board on a bouquet
When it comes to bouquets, they’re one of those gifts that make anyone happy to receive.
How about making a birthday message board inspired by a bouquet? Prepare some thick paper and colored construction paper.
Choosing soft, pastel colors for the construction paper is recommended, as it gives a gentle look.
You can make the base from colored paper or simply use a store-bought shikishi board for convenience.
Use a compass to cut out a semicircle, then fold it into thirds.
Use a flower-shaped craft punch to make lots of flowers.
Mixing various colors will make it look more vibrant! Create a character in your favorite motif with construction paper, and decorate the base together with the bouquet to finish.
Let’s celebrate by making a heartfelt message board!
A handmade group message in the shape of a present
Here’s an idea for making a birthday message board using a message card shaped like a present box.
All you need are colored construction paper, thick cardstock, and ribbon—all available at 100-yen shops! Use the colored construction paper and cardstock to make the base.
Attach a ribbon to a small piece of cardstock.
The key is to attach the ribbon a little loosely so there’s a small gap between the ribbon and the cardstock where you can slide in a message card.
Stick your favorite patterned origami paper onto the card that goes in between, write your message, and insert it into the base—and you’re done.
Gift boxes are such an exciting motif, aren’t they? If you use various origami patterns, it turns out super cute.
Give it a try!
Acrostic-style (using the Japanese syllabary order)
@aymkmama #Great-great-grandmotherBirthdayPresentHokkaidofromHiroshimaGlad to hear it arrived! Happy 91st birthday!!!!AlbumShikishiHandmade
Original Song – Ayamiko – Ayamikojin
As a birthday message board idea, how about writing an acrostic-style message using the Japanese syllabary? On the board shown in the video, there’s a big “Arigatou” (Thank you), with a message that matches each character.
Besides “Arigatou,” words like “Omedetou” (Congratulations) or “Daisuki” (I love you), or even the recipient’s name, would be wonderful too! Once you’ve written the messages, use color pens to draw vibrant illustrations.
Try making it with heartfelt gratitude that you don’t usually get to express!
Message with cranes, turtles, and brush calligraphy
We’d like to introduce a birthday card featuring auspicious cranes and turtles.
Using turtle and crane stencils, you can add color with pastels to the base paper or colored paper where you’ll write your message.
If you also tint the entire card and base/colored paper with pastels, you can create a soft, gentle atmosphere.
Adding a handwritten message with a brush will turn it into a one-of-a-kind message card or shikishi board.
We also recommend the embossing technique—perfect for birthdays—for adding gold feathers and other lucky motifs.
In other words, using embossing to raise gold patterns is a great option too.
Older adults are likely to be pleased with such original birthday cards or shikishi boards.
[For Seniors] Birthday message board designs that delight: group messages, pop-up mechanisms, and brush-lettering art (21–30)
Masking tape ideas
With a bit of creativity, masking tape can greatly expand the possibilities of your projects.
You might sometimes use it to create borders by sticking it onto letters, message cards, and the like.
Beyond borders, try twisting it into ribbon shapes or using a craft punch to cut out designs.
Adding creatively arranged masking tape decorations can make a handmade birthday message board look even more charming.
You could also create items related to the senior who’s celebrating their birthday using masking tape.
Since you can find supplies at 100-yen shops, preparation is easy, too.