Four Homemade Valentine's Day Cards to Make
by Rachel Paxton
There is nothing as special or personal as a homemade Valentine's Day card.
Surprise your friends and family with your handmade creations. Here are
some ideas to get you started. The link at the end of the article shows
photographs of the finished cards.
Materials:
Four blank greeting cards (available at craft stores), dark red piece of
scrapbooking paper, white piece of cardstock, cream colored piece of cardstock,
red and white gingham piece of scrapbooking paper, paper cutter, scissors, glue
stick, computer, printer, sewing machine.
Card #1
For this card you will need a dark red piece of scrapbooking paper, a red and
white gingham piece of scrapbooking paper (or other coordinating piece of
paper), and a piece of white cardstock. Cut a piece of the dark red paper
to fit the front of the greeting card and glue it in place. The dark red
is the background of the card. Cut two strips of the gingham paper,
approximately an inch and a half wide. Cut them to the width of the card
(this card will open horizontally). Tear a freehand heart from the gingham
paper, large enough to fill up approximately three quarters of the entire card.
Next glue the strips of gingham paper to the front of the card with space in
between them. The idea is that there is a "strip" of gingham, a strip of
red, a strip of gingham, and then a strip of red. Use your sewing machine to
stitch* along the edges of the strips of gingham paper, and then stitch around
the edge of the card. Glue the heart in the middle of the card. Type
"Happy Valentine's Day" on your computer and print out on white cardstock.
Cut out the phrase (narrow strip) and glue to the center of the heart.
* Stitching tips: If you have never used your sewing machine to make
cards, it is easy! Just sew on the paper like you would on fabric.
You might want to reserve a needle just for paper so you don't dull the needle
for your fabric projects. There are two ways you can include stitching in
your card making projects. You can either stitch directly on the card, or
you can stitch on a separate piece of paper and then glue that piece to the card
(then the stitching won't show through the card).
Card #2:
This Valentine's Day card is quick and easy. Cut a piece of dark red paper
to fit the front of your blank card and glue it in place. Type "Happy
Valentine's Day" on your computer and print it on the cream colored paper. Mat
the cut-out phrase first on a dark red piece of paper, and then mat that piece
on another piece of cream colored cardstock to create a layered look. This
card will open horizontally, so turn it in that direction and glue the
Valentine's sentiment to the top third of the card. For the bottom portion
of the card cut three small freehand hearts from the dark red paper. Glue
these hearts to three torn scraps (in the shapes of squares) of cream colored
paper. Space these pieces across the bottom of the card and glue in place.
Stitch around the outside of the card and around the "Happy Valentine's Day" if
you wish, but it isn't necessary.
Card #3:
This card is made from a dark red piece of paper and a cream colored piece of
paper. Cut a piece of the dark red paper to fit the front of your blank
card and glue it in place. Cut a large square from the cream colored paper
and glue it just above the center of the card. Glue the piece of paper in place.
Tear a large heart from the dark red paper and glue it in the center of the
cream colored square. Type "Happy Valentine's Day" on your computer. Print
on cream colored paper and glue in the center of the heart. Stitch around the
cream colored square and the edge of the card, if you wish.
Card #4:
This card is made from a dark red piece of paper, the gingham paper, and white
card stock. This card will open horizontally. Cut a piece of the dark red
paper to fit the front of your pre-made card and glue it in place. Cut two
strips of gingham paper and glue them to the top and bottom of the card so that
there is a red strip in between. Cut three freehand hearts from the
gingham paper and space them out in the red portion of the card. Glue them
in place. Type "Happy Valentine's Day" on your computer and print on white
paper. Cut out into a narrow strip (narrower than hearts) and glue in the center
of the card on top of the hearts.
Notes: - The terms "card stock" and "paper" are used interchangably here, but it
is up to you which kind of paper you use, depending on the look you are trying
to achieve - A sewing machine isn't necessary for this project, it is just a
nice added touch - You don't have to use your computer for this project, you can
handwrite the words if you wish.
Photos of finished cards:
http://www.crafty-moms.com/valentines-day-cards.shtml
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For scrapbooking, card
making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making activities, visit
http://www.crafty-moms.com.