Skip to content
PlayOwl
A blue folded greeting card with a red, a yellow and a green paper balloon glued on the front, with drawn strings tied in a bow.
The finished project.

Paper craft

Folded Greeting Card

  • Starter (level 1 of 5)
  • 15 min
  • 5 steps
  • Ages 4–9 (a guide, not a rule)
  • Uses scissors
  • Uses glue
  • Adult help suggested
Start Making Print with template

A handmade card says more than a bought one. Fold a sheet of card stock in half, cut out three balloons from the printable template, and glue them on the front. Draw strings and a bow, then open the card and write your message. The balloons can be any colors you like.

Before you start

You need

Decorating (optional): Color the balloons before you cut them, and add dots, stripes or a big number on the front.

No card stock or construction paper? No printer? Draw three ovals as big as your palm on colored paper and cut those out. No card stock? Fold a sheet of printer paper in half twice to make a smaller, stiffer card.

For the grown-up: Help young children cut around the round balloon shapes. Very young children can tear the balloons out roughly instead; torn edges look fun too.

Use blunt-tip scissors and cut away from your fingers.

How to place the paper before the first step
Your paper: Lay the card stock down sideways (wide), with the side you want inside the card facing up.
  • Valley fold: blue dashes. Fold toward you, like a valley.
  • Crease: a thin gray line where you folded before.
  • Cut: a thick solid line with scissors.
  • Glue: a yellow area marked "glue".

Step by step

Each step shows what to do (left) and how it should look after (right).

  1. Step 1: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 1 result Result
    Step 1 of 5 Valley fold Fold the left edge over to the right edge. Press the fold flat to make a card.
  2. Step 2: cut, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 2 result Result
    Step 2 of 5 Cut Cut out the three balloons from the template on the solid lines. (The printed balloon template is beside the card (shown smaller).)
  3. Step 3: glue, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 3 result Result
    Step 3 of 5 Glue Rub glue on the back of each balloon and press it on the front of the card.
  4. Step 4: draw, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 4 result Result
    Step 4 of 5 Draw Draw a string from each balloon down to one spot, and tie them with a bow.
  5. Step 5: open, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 5 result Result
    Step 5 of 5 Open Open the card and write a kind message inside.
A blue folded greeting card with a red, a yellow and a green paper balloon glued on the front, with drawn strings tied in a bow.

You made it!

Yours may look a little different. That is part of making things by hand.

Print the steps

Template

Print the template at 100% (Actual size), not "Fit to page". Then measure the check bar with a ruler: it must be 5 cm (2 in) long.

  • Three balloons to cut out (preview, not to scale) Three balloons to cut out · 186 × 92 mm. Each balloon is 52 mm (about 2 in) wide. Print at 100% so all three fit on the front of the card.
Print the template

If something goes wrong

The card does not close neatly.

Line up the corners before you press the fold, then run your fingernail along it.

A balloon edge lifts up.

Add a little more glue right to the edge and press for a few seconds.

The cut balloons look bumpy.

Turn the paper, not the scissors, as you cut around the curve.

Helpful hints

  • Fold the card first, so you know which side is the front.
  • Overlap the balloons a little: they look like a real bunch.
  • Write your message in pencil first, then go over it in marker.

An original PlayOwl project.

  • A rainbow paper chain of seven linked rings, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and pink, hanging in a gentle curve.

    Paper Chain

    Starter (level 1 of 5) 15 min Ages 4–9 Paper craft Strip sheet, printed Scissors Glue Adult help suggested
  • A 3D paper rainbow on light blue paper: six arches from red on the outside to purple on the inside, with a white paper cloud at each end.

    Paper-Strip Rainbow

    Starter (level 1 of 5) 20 min Ages 4–9 Paper craft Rainbow strip template, printed Scissors Glue Adult help suggested
  • A red party balloon with a white shiny spot, a small knot and a long, wiggly string.

    Party Balloon

    Starter (level 1 of 5) 5 min Ages 3–7