Craft Loads of LOVE into your Homemade Valentines

Home is where the heart is,
so why not handcraft your own cards this Valentine’s Day?

To do so, you won’t have to use many materials, in fact most of them you likely have on hand.

Valentine cards seem to fall into two categories – the sentimental and the comic.

For a sentimental card you want lace, ribbons and red hearts (perhaps stuck on the card with a piece of satin or velvet) and a little poem inside to your friend.

A comic card depends on your own sense of humour. I received a beautiful card one year, showing a working model of a heart taken from a biology book with the inscription “My Heart Beats For You.”

Sometimes the card itself is sentimental but the kick is in the message:

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Grass is green,

And so are you!

You can create your own cards – in any size or shape, simply by using good construction paper or lightweight card stock.

For example, if you fold an 8-1/2-inch x 11-inch piece of paper in half, you will make a 5-1/2-inch x 8-1/2-inch card. And cutting that folded 5-1/2-inch x 8-1/2-inch in two, creates a couple of 4-1/2-inch x 5-1/2-inch cards. Of course you can also purchase blank cards and envelopes at craft or stationery stores, too.

Cutting HEARTS for Cards:

Clipping evenly shaped hearts to dress up card fronts is fun and easy. All you’ll need is a pencil, a pair of sharp scissors and paper….Fold paper in half and draw an “ice cream cone” shape, making sure that one side of the shape is on the fold…Snip out the shape, remembering to cut through both layers of paper, and unfold. It’s that easy!

Using a heart that’s already been cut as a template will eliminate fold lines on hearts. And if you have troubles drawing circles, use a compass or trace around a small glass.

To decorate cards, cut hearts from paper of your choice, colorful construction paper or wrapping paper works well. Then arrange hearts in a pleasing design on the card front and attach them with sticky glue.

For a romantic front, add some lace. All you need are cut-out hearts (any size you wish), lace that’s 1/4 to 1/3-inch wide and some tacky glue…Starting at the bottom of each heart, run a thin line of glue along edges. Then attach lace, easing and folding around curved areas. Overlap ends and cut lace to a point if necessary…Glue the lacy hearts to the front of the card. Vary the size of the hearts and type of lace for added interest.

Delicate paper doilies look pretty too. Glue different sizes of heart-shaped doilies to card front. Or, using a round or oval doily, cut hearts out, arrange, and glue. You can also embellish the edges of your cards with lace and doilies.

Valentine’s Day is very special
A chance to show our love
And be thankful for all our friends
Which are blessings from above.
So Happy Valentine’s Day everyone
And may your life be rich
Full of love and happiness
For that’s my only wish.

Remember that a Valentine says what’s in our hearts!

Hartson

---

[ Return to Index of Articles ]

[ HOME PAGE ]

---