A birthday is a special day that comes once a year.
Nurseries and kindergartens also hold birthday parties every month.
Many teachers probably make handmade birthday cards to give to the children who are brimming with excitement for their own birthdays.
This time, we’re introducing ideas for handmade birthday cards that are perfect for birthday celebrations.
From classic cake and clover motifs to three-dimensional designs using ribbons and balloons, and even pop-up cards full of surprise—there are plenty of ideas to choose from!
Give one, and the children will surely beam with sparkling eyes.
As you celebrate the growth of these adorable kids, try making them with lots of love.
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Handmade Birthday Cards Recommended for Birthday Parties (1–10)
Cake and gift box
Speaking of birthdays, you can’t forget the birthday cake.
It’s essential for creating that exciting, festive mood, right? This is a card that comes with a birthday cake motif and a little gift: when you open it, it turns into a message card.
The three-tiered birthday cake pops up when you fold colored paper.
Use white paper to look like whipped cream and red paper for strawberries, and add candles and flames with cute patterned paper—your child is sure to love this adorable card.
Boost the celebratory mood even more with a colored paper garland and a message card!
Pop-up card of a cake
Not only is there a cute birthday cake, but the present placed beside it is actually a birthday card with a clever trick: when you open it, it turns into a message card.
It’s also delightful that the card pops up with a cake when opened.
The three-tier pop-up cake is very simple to make—just fold construction paper and cut it into 3 cm, 4 cm, and 6 cm sections.
Once you attach this to the backing paper, the main part is done.
Then fold and paste colored paper to look like strawberries and cream, and add a message card.
The lively, fun card feels like a gift all by itself!
A birthday card with a candle
A birthday card packed with kids’ favorites—charming, colorful candles, garlands, and presents.
Use patterned origami paper to give it a festive finish.
On a folded piece of white cardstock, the pop-up candles really stand out when the card is opened.
Slightly lifting the candle flames adds a sense of movement.
Add a mini garland made from origami with the letters “HAPPY BIRTHDAY.” Opening the present section to reveal a message is exciting, making this a bright and cute card.
Origami Heart Cat
How about a heart cat birthday card that’s easy to make with just one sheet of origami paper? The little cat peeking out from behind the heart is adorable and sure to delight children.
It’s also nice that you can write a message on it or stand it up as a decoration.
While there are a few small, detailed folds, it’s fine as long as you fold carefully and neatly.
There’s no cutting or gluing—just draw the cat’s face at the end—so it’s perfect for anyone who loves origami!
Stretchy birthday cake
This is a unique birthday card with a cake that stretches and shrinks.
Kids love things that move and have fun mechanisms.
If you cut and assemble it according to the measurements, it’s very easy to make—give it a try! The key is adjusting the insert tab: when folded, leave a small gap so it doesn’t catch.
After that, just glue white and red construction paper for the cream and strawberries, and you’re done.
The card will look bright and festive, perfect for boosting the celebratory mood!
Popup card using photos
Many children love both taking photos and having their photos taken.
This is a cute pop-up card featuring a photo of the birthday child, decorated with stars, hearts, bunnies, and more made from colored construction paper.
First, create a pop-up section in the center of the card and place the photo there.
In the surrounding speech bubbles, write anything you like—what your child is currently into, their favorite foods, height and weight, messages, and so on.
Adding borders to the speech bubbles makes it even cuter.
If you make one every year, you’ll enjoy seeing how they’ve grown.
It’s a simple, mood-lifting card you can put together even in the midst of a busy schedule with housework or your job!
A birthday card made with stickers
How about making a simple and stylish birthday card using round masking stickers you can buy at 100-yen shops? On a postcard, layer and stick on round stickers with different patterns.
Imagine the stickers as balloons, draw the balloon strings with colored pens, and you’re already done.
Finish it off by writing your favorite letters or a message.
I hope the colorful and cute birthday card will let children’s dreams swell up like their beloved balloons!
Candles matching the age, made with masking tape
Masking tape, which is super handy for little letters and envelopes, comes in lots of cute designs at 100-yen shops and stationery stores.
Here’s a quick and easy birthday card you can make using that masking tape.
First, stick three different kinds of washi tape onto a postcard.
These will become candles, so it’s nice to add as many strips as the person’s age.
The trick is to slightly vary the length and angle of each strip.
After that, just draw the candle flames and the words “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” with colored pens, and you’ll have a very stylish card—give it a try!
A card that pops out a bouquet
A pop-up card with a bouquet of flowers that bursts out—perfect for the birthday star.
You’ll need colored construction paper, a flower-shaped craft punch, scissors, glue, sequins, beads, colored pens, origami paper, and stickers.
Use kids’ favorite animals like rabbits and bears as the base to boost the excitement.
Add sparkle by gluing sequins to the centers of the punched flowers.
Mixing different types of flowers makes it even more charming.
When the folded card opens to reveal a glittering pop-up bouquet, your child is sure to squeal with delight!
Popping crackers
This is a pop-up card with a fun mechanism that makes a cracker pop—kids love it.
Using soft-toned origami paper like pink or blue and some jute twine gives it a very stylish, gentle feel.
With heart- or star-shaped craft punches and a cutting mat, it looks easy and convenient to make.
You can just picture a child’s delighted, surprised face when they pull the jute twine, wondering “What is this?” and a round decoration pops out—the maker will feel excited and enjoy creating it, too.