Writing With a Purpose- Making Greeting Cards
A Creative Homeschool Series
Recently, I had a friend ask me about my daughter’s card making “business”. My daughter is 8 and she has become known as a pretty good greeting card maker. She is artistic, so when the opportunity for an entrepreneur fair came up, we signed her up. “Cutesy Cards” is her business name (she came up with that one on her own :-)). This got me thinking that I could integrate writing instruction into greeting cards.
Writing hasn’t always been the easiest subject for me to teach. The use of workbooks and writing lessons that were out of context has often made writing my daughter’s least favorite subject in school. I knew I had to approach writing in a more creative way if I was going to get my younger children to enjoy learning how to write. That is why we started to incorporate writing with a purpose. I take age appropriate writing standards and integrate them into simple writing lessons. Making greeting cards is one of the creative ways that I teach writing.
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Making greeting cards is a great way for your child to learn creatively and maybe even make some money.
Most recently my daughter made a “Lord of the Rings” inspired birthday card. It featured the beloved Gollum holding his ring saying: “My Precious wishes you a happy birthday.” My friend commented that the card was her favorite part of the gift.
Making greeting cards not only teaches my daughter about being an entrepreneur, it allows her to write with purpose. It also teaches her that it is important to bless and encourage others using our talents and gifts.
Why Should Your Children Make Their Own Greeting Cards?
Making greeting cards with a purpose allows you to hit certain teaching standards in a way that is authentic and organic. Your children are learning with out using a “curriculum”. Standards such as penmanship, brainstorming, writing a draft, captitalization, spelling, creating greetings, doing research, etc. are covered using this technique. You can even focus on a read aloud that you are going through. My children had been listening to “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien on CD. That is what inspired many of my daughter’s cards at first.
More inspiration:
For her good friends birthday she decided to go with a rabbit theme. In this “writing with a purpose lesson” we covered the difference between hopping and hoping, adding ‘ing, spacing, writing a greeting, and penmanship. The greatest part was that my daughter had so much fun and was filled with joy at her final product.
You can even make funny greeting cards using science or history concepts. For example, if you are learning about the cell in anatomy, you can draw a picture of different cells found in your body and then write: “Have fun CELL-abrating your birthday!” This is a fun way to encourage your kids to think out of the box, come up with ways to use concepts they are learning to make a greeting card or birthday card. You can always search for inspiration online as well.
What if my child is not that great at art?
Online drawing tutorials are another option if your child’s strength is not art. We love Art Hub for Kids and Draw so Cute for inspiration or drawing lessons in general! You can use these websites for guidance with fun art ideas!
What to do With Your Child’s Greeting Cards?
I now shop at my daughter’s card shop whenever I need a birthday card or greeting card and she gives me a pretty good deal. I can’t beat $1.00 a card (that is mom’s special price); and the reactions I get from our friends and family are priceless.
You can also encourage your child to sell their cards at fairs or online. There are so many platforms where your child can try to sell what they make. It is so rewarding when your child sees a true purpose for their work. And what a great way to start teaching about financial principals in business. See my daughter’s greeting cards in my Etsy store here (coming soon). You can purchase one, or just look for fun ideas.
SO, what do you need to create your own greeting cards? Here is my essential list of items that your child needs:
- Blank greeting cards. We like the ones below because they are thick enough to use markers and you can also throw them into your printer to copy onto them. They are also the best priced per card that we have found.
- Markers to illustrate. My daughter likes having the option of fine tip for precise coloring and a broader tip for filling in larger areas.
- Nice black marker to trace and write with. We use Prismacolor pens, they are amazing!
- Creative slogans. I like to search whatever topic that I am using for creative slogans. The sillier, the better.
This is a Great Time to Send Some Encouragement
Even though things are getting a bit more normal due to Covid restrictions being let up, there are still many people who are stuck in their homes or in hospitals. You can create cards to encourage some of the people that you know who are lonely. What a great idea and purpose to make our writing about something that matters.
Steps to Follow When Making Cards
Following these simple steps will ensure a positive card making experience.
First, brainstorm the type of card you want to make.
Second, write a draft on a separate sheet of paper of what your child wants to write on their card.
Third, always start with a pencil tracing of your idea on your card. Encourage your child to draw and write lightly that way you can erase and mistakes on your final product.
Finally, trace your work with a black pen. If you want to make multiple copies of your cards, don’t color it quite yet. Make sure you photocopy your card design onto multiple cards, then color them after using your good quality markers or colored pencils.
Pass out or mail your cards to friends and family. If your child wants to sell them, look for free entrepeneur events or create one yourself and invite friends and family. Also, look at different online platforms such as Ebay.com and Etsy.com to help your child sell their creations.
Let me know how your child’s cards turned out. Did your child enjoy creating their cards? Did they pass some out, did they sell them? I am so excited to hear about your Creative Learner!
