Card Base

• Select an 8 1/2 by 11 piece of card stock in your brother's favorite color. You can purchase single sheets from craft stores. You want to purchase card stock, as opposed to other types of paper, because card stock is a sturdy paper that makes a fine card base.
  
  

Cover Design

• Using craft supplies such as craft paper scraps, markers, paint pens and glitter glue pens, design the front of your birthday card to reflect the birth year and the personality of your brother. For example, you can draw a "17" with a glitter glue pen. Craft a soccer ball out of craft paper and markers if your brother plays soccer or is a soccer fan. If he loves the beach or the ocean, you can create an ocean scene using glitter glue, markers and papers. Be creative.
  
  

The Teaser Poem

• Tease out a poem on the front on your card, and then finish it off on the inside of the card. Your poem can be simple, use simple vocabulary and ideally, should rhyme. It should express kind sentiments toward your brother. Begin with one line, and build upon it. Here is an example: "Happy 17th Birthday to the BEST bro! You are the smartest, kindest, coolest guy I know!"
  
  

The Finisher Poem

• Finish writing your poem on the inside of the card. Continue to build on rhyming words. Here is an example: "I don't know what I would do without a big brother like you. I hope this handmade card gives you a clue. I love you!"