Gratitude with a Handmade Touch: DIY Thank You Cards
While the world has fallen hard for the convenience of digital communication, we still believe there’s nothing quite like receiving a handwritten, handmade note. That’s why we will be forever fans of DIY thank you cards. We believe there is magic in a hand-crafted card. Long live snail mail, heartfelt sentiments, and the art of paper crafting!
Why Thank You Cards Matter
Who in your life deserves thanks? The odds are good that the list is quite long. How often do you give those people the thanks they deserve? Life gets busy, and we don’t always take the time to shout out the ones who deserve it most, but when we do, it can make all the difference in the world—in their lives and yours.
When John Kralik, author of A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life, hit rock bottom, he decided to write a brief thank you note to someone each day. The book details his experiences. Over the course of a year, he found that as he made a genuine effort to express gratitude to others, his anger, frustration, and sadness were eased. He deepened friendships, strengthened family bonds, and even his health and finances improved.
That all sounds great, but can a thank you card really make that big of a difference? John thinks so, and we do, too. A thank you card is a way of connecting with others. It helps them feel seen and appreciated. As you write a card you focus on the things you’re grateful for in your life, and as they say, what you focus on expands.
If you’re still in doubt, think about the last time you received a thank you card and how it made you feel. Then, give it a try. Write someone a handwritten thank you note. Better yet, whip up some DIY thank you cards and see what happens when you express gratitude for people in your life. A physical thank you card (whether handmade or store-bought) is a tangible reminder of your gratitude. In a world with so much digital noise, a physical card will make an impression, get noticed, and make the recipient feel deeply appreciated.
Creative Card Kits and Design Ideas
If you’re new to paper crafting or are simply pressed for time, you can still make a handmade thank you card. Stampin’ Up! has supplies for every level of crafter. Our kits make it easy to throw a handmade card together without much fuss. If you’d prefer to make something entirely from scratch, we have some ideas for creating personalized thank you cards.
Kits for Thank You Card Making
Experienced and new paper crafters love our kits because they come with so many elements that easily combine to make the perfect DIY thank you card, gift tag, scrapbook page, and more. Our kits are great for layering objects or creating a collage. The best part is that you can follow the easy instructions or use your ideas. Either way, it’s simple to create with a kit. This kit, the Heirloom Arrangements Kit, makes about eight cards and takes about an hour to complete.
Unique Design Ideas for Personalized Thank You Cards
If free-form paper crafting is more your style, here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. We recommend starting with a white card base and envelope and then going from there. Here are a few examples of DIY thank you cards we love:
This design is simple to make. It uses designer series paper layered with a “THANKS” sentiment. The bright, cheery colors are sure to make anyone’s day better.
Two stamps, and you’re done with this mini sunshine thank you card. (Not including the heartfelt message you write inside.)
This design looks more advanced, but it uses a pre-made Stampin’ Up! sentiment, which makes it easier than you think.
If you’re looking for something a little more advanced, try layering design elements and adding some embellishments like we did with the twine in the background of this card.
How to Write a Heartfelt Thank You Card
Writing a thank you card may seem intimidating, especially if you’re not in the habit, but it can be simple. We recommend following these three simple steps to create a heartfelt thank you:
1. Be Sincere
Some notes will naturally be more heartfelt than others, but do your best to express sincere gratitude no matter who you write it for or why. Avoid being formulaic or writing the same thing on every card, no matter how many you have to write. Being sincere will make the note mean more to you and whoever reads it.
2. Be Specific
A surefire way to show sincere thanks is to be specific about what you’re grateful for. Instead of throwing out a general “thank you” or “I’m grateful for you,” include details about what the person did or why they mean so much to you. Adding details will make the note more meaningful for the recipient and help you feel more profound gratitude for what they’ve done or their role in your life.
3. Be Brief
Your thank you note doesn’t need to be long to be meaningful. You can put away all the flowery prose if you’re sincere and specific with your gratitude. A long and rambling note can have the opposite effect and start to seem insincere. Your message should be long enough to share your true feelings but short enough to keep the reader engaged.
11 Reasons to Send a Thank You Card
There are plenty of reasons to send a thank you card. If you’re not sure when to send a message of gratitude, here are 11 occasions to send a thank you, or people who probably deserve a special card.
1. After Receiving a Gift
This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how often a thank-you note goes unwritten after a gift is given. Receiving a birthday, wedding, baby, graduation, holiday, or “just because” gift all warrants sending the giver a thank-you card.
2. Friends
If you have friends who are your support system, your “ride or die,” or who consistently show up for you, then why not let them know? Too often, we assume our friends know how much they mean to us, but that’s not always the case. And even if they do know, we can guarantee they won’t tire of hearing you say it.
3. Family
The people we’re closest to often hear our gratitude the least. Make it a point to show your parents, grandparents, siblings, partner, children, and other family members how grateful you are for their role in your life. It will strengthen your bonds.
4. Neighbors
They say, “good fences make good neighbors,” but we think the best way to bond with your block mates is to show them a little gratitude. Love their landscaping? Send them a DIY thank you card. Shoveled your sidewalks? Throw a little gratitude their way. No matter the reason, your neighbors will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
5. Helping Hands
The world is full of helpers. Next time someone lends a hand with something in your life, take a minute to send them a thank you note. As you watch for these moments and the people who make them happen, you’ll start to see that they occur every day and in ways you may not have recognized before.
6. For Services
If you’ve got a favorite hairstylist, barber, manicurist, groomer, barista, babysitter, accountant, or anyone who provides services that make your life better, you’ve got a reason to write a thank you note.
7. Work
Everyone knows to send a thank-you note after an interview, but there are plenty of other reasons to express gratitude in the workplace. Send a note to your boss, coworker, direct report, office manager, receptionist, or personal assistant. Expressing true thanks will quickly improve your workplace relations.
8. Networking Connections
Has someone taken the time to give you career advice, meet up for coffee, or listen to a proposal? Tell them thank you in a written note.
9. Teachers
So much of what teachers do goes unsung. Let them know you see them and are grateful for their efforts and the heart they put into their work. Teachers love heartfelt thank yous from students and parents, too.
10. Hosts/Hostesses
A lot of work goes into hosting a gathering, and a thank-you note is likely the only tangible payoff a host or hostess will receive for their efforts. Be sure to send the note after the gathering. If you walk in with a thank-you note, the host will know you pre-wrote it, and it will feel a little less sincere.
11. Community Helpers
There are plenty of people whose job it is to keep our communities running smoothly. Show them some love with a DIY thank you card. Be on the lookout for doctors, nurses, vets, police officers, first responders, librarians, mail carriers, trash collectors, and so many others who deserve a little recognition.
There are so many people who deserve our thanks and reasons to send notes of appreciation. Whether you create a DIY thank you card or use something pre-made, sending a thank you will make everyone’s day a little better.
Need Help Saying Thank You?
Love the idea of saying “thank you,” but need a little help with the paper crafting part? Our community of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators is ready and willing to be your gratitude guide. Connect with the demonstrator today for help picking out your DIY thank you card supplies.