How To Create a Simple Square Adoption Announcement

When you have adopted a child, it's important to announce this happy event by sending an adoption announcement to your friends and family. Unfortunately, most pre-made adoption announcements you may find are geared towards those who have adopted a young baby, and may not be appropriate if you have adopted an older child. If you have adopted an older child and want to send out adoption announcements but haven't quite found any that seemed right, consider making your own. Here's how to create a simple square adoption announcement:

Materials and supplies:

• Computer and printer
• Scissors
• Glue
• For each announcement:
  • One 6" by 6" piece of cardstock (base color)
  • One 5" by 5" piece of patterned paper
  • One 4" by 4 piece of cardstock or paper (complimentary color)
  • 4 eyelets
  • One 4" by 4 1/2" piece of vellum (a specialty paper found in any craft or scrapbooking store)
  • 6 1/2" ribbon

1. Assemble the card back. Glue the patterned piece of paper squarely in the center of the base color cardstock. Add four eyelets in the four corners of the patterned piece, going through both the solid color and the patterned piece.
2. Add the ribbon for decoration. Place the ribbon straight across the lower third of the card. Glue the edges of the ribbon to the back of the card.
3. Print the announcement. Now, use your computer to type up the announcement in the center of a 4" by 4" square. You can also add graphics or a border to this square. A simple announcement would say "(Name) / Born on (date) / Joined our Family on (date) / Proud Parents (names)." Position the vellum into your printer so that the square will be 1/2" taller than it is wide, since the piece is 4" by 4 1/2". Once you've printed the announcement onto the vellum square, do not touch it for several minutes to be sure that the ink has fully dried.
4. Glue the vellum to the card. Now, fold the 1/2" extra on the top of the vellum over, and glue it onto the back side of the second solid piece of paper (the complimentary color). Glue will show through vellum; that's why you don't want to just spread glue on the back of the vellum and stick it to the front of the card.
5. Glue the coordinating piece to the card. Now, glue the complimentary-color piece of paper, now with the vellum attached, to the center of the patterned paper. Let the glue dry, and your card is complete.

This beautiful yet simple adoption announcement is easy to make and can be customized to say exactly what you want it to say, in any color or pattern you can imagine. In just minutes, it's ready to mail to all your friends and family.