DIY Name Cards for Birthdays and Holidays!

These DIY name cards were inspired by my frustration with trying to find a birthday card for my friends daughter. It reminded me when I was a little girl, I could never, ever find anything with my name on it.  Stickers. Stamps. Mugs. Pens. T-shirts. When you’re a kid, it sucks. Alexandra back in the 80’s wasn’t exactly a top 10 baby name list qualifier, I would always have to settle for the boy version of the star stamp of Alex. Or the cutesy heart version of Sandy – which is so absurd because I never been called that by anyone in my life.

HOW TO MAKE DIY NAME CARDS

My birth certificate spelling of my name no less is Aleksandra. I was born in Poland, came to Canada when I was 3 years old and that’s my legal name spelling on every document I own. Yet I have never used that spelling in my entire life. It actually feels strange when I look at my drivers license because it doesn’t feel like my identity. It’s simply the Eastern European spelling of Alexandra.

Now that I am grown up of course I see my name on everythin.  Thanks to the wonderful world of Etsy and online shopping, these days you can personalize just about anything.

Where the hell was this when I was 7 and watching all the Jennifer’s decorate their pencil cases with glittery star stickers with their names in the middle? I have at least 5 really good friends named Jennifer. I love you and you know I am joking when I write that. Sort of.

On that note, one of my favourite birthday card crafts to do for my kids friends is a simple personalized name card. This doesn’t have to be just for kids but they usually get a huge kick out of seeing their name on anything (wonder where that idea came from), vs our adult selves who would be way too cool to ever admit they’d consider framing it on our walls.

HERE IS HOW TO MAKE THEM:

• Card stock
• X-acto knife
• Glue stick or Mod Podge
• Cutting board or craft board for underneath your cardstock
• Fabric or ribbons of your choice (you can substitute with washi tape as well).

 

STEP 1

I do not have fancy programs on my computer (we’re talking Microsoft Word 2007 edition), so I type up and print out the names in an easy to cut out font in that program.

Lay these over your cutting board so you don’t cut into your table surface.

I then position and tape the name cut out to the front of the card stock. After I use the X-acto knife to trace over and cut out the letters.

If you press firmly enough you should get through the 2 layers of paper very easily.

For any parts that don’t pop out easily just re-trace with the knife in the spots you missed. Use a ruler for the letter tracing as it makes it a thousand times easier. Except all the curved letters.

If you are not using a stencil type font, remember to save the insides of the letters such as A, D, B…you get the idea.

Yes. I know. I need a Cricut machine, like I need water. Until then, I do this.

 

 

 

STEP 2

Thereafter you have several options. You can get some fabric scraps, ribbons, washi tape etc. and that will be your backing.

For the ribbons I just glue them onto regular paper and trim the paper size to fit the back of the card stock.

STEP 3

I used my glue stick and put it all over the back of the card stock. Make sure you get all the little nooks and crevices of every letter.

If I was to redo this, I would probably use Mod Podge instead as it just holds better.

And you’ll get this. Your custom made, DIY name cards!

I think a great alternative to a DIY name card would be to have a saying on it like “Happy Birthday” or “Happy Mother’s Day” and then have your backing be a child’s drawing or even scribbles for a toddler, so it can be a co-project for you both. ‘

Or a photograph peeking through. I’m on it, I swear.

Happy card crafting!