When you find out that someone you know has successfully adopted, you may wonder, “What kind of adoption cards can I send them?”

The good thing is that adoption is just like any other family-building process; it adds a bundle of joy to a family who desperately wants one. Therefore, the cards for adoption you choose to send need not be any different than the cards you would sent to people who become parents in the traditional way. As long as they express your congratulations and excitement about your loved ones bringing a new child into their family, any general celebration card can serve as your “Congratulations on your adoption” card.

How to DIY Your Adoption Congratulations Card

But what if you want something a little more personal, something that really highlights the joys of your loved ones’ adoption process? While you may not be able to find adoption cards in your typical crafts store, you can certainly make your own cards for adoption, if you’re of the DIY-type.

Start with a piece of blank cardstock. Fold it into a card shape (hotdog- or hamburger-style — your choice), and start decorating. Use your imagination; perhaps add pictures of baby shoes or a stick figure family, whatever your creative skills allow for. For a low cost, you can create an adoption card that expresses exactly what you want to say!

You can always search for adoption celebration card ideas online, or even purchase some on websites like Etsy.

What to Write in an Adoption Card

But what are some adoption messages for cards, and how do you get across exactly what you want to say?

Remember, any card that an adoptive family gets after completing the long process of adoption will be appreciated, so you don’t need to stress too much about saying the “right” thing in your adoption card. Some phrases to consider are:

  • “Congratulations on your adoption!”
  • “Congratulations on your new addition to your family!”
  • “We know that love is what really makes a family, and we’re excited to meet yours!”

Any “Congratulations on your adoption” card will do, as long as you express your joy for your loved ones. You can include personal stories and references, and write as much as you feel comfortable. To keep away from sensitive topics, try to avoid phrases like, “Happy gotcha day!” or references to the baby’s birth mother. Instead, focus on your loved ones finally making their parenthood dreams come true.

Adoption Verses for Cards

If you or the adoptive family is religious, you may wish to include some spiritual references in their adoption congratulations cards. Fortunately, there are many verses for adoption cards you can use. Here are just a few:

  • “I prayed for this child, and the Lord had granted me what I asked of him.” – Samuel 1:27
  • “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.” – Matthew 18:5
  • “Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.” – Romans 9:4
  • “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” – James 1:27
  • “In you the orphan finds mercy.” – Hosea 14:3

Remember, any card that celebrates a new arrival will work for an adoption card. After all, adoption is just another way of building a family and just as beautiful a path to take as any other. Adoption congratulations cards are just the cherry on top of creating a family!