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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 interchangeably
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:
www.crafty-moms.com/valentines-day-cards.shtml
About the author
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For scrapbooking,
card making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making
activities, visit www.crafty-moms.com.
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