My mom loves making cards.
She’s an artist and calligrapher. Over the years, she’s filled a desk drawer in her art studio with creations for every holiday and occasion.
Last weekend, she shared some Valentine card ideas with me. Some are inspired by her calligrapher friends, some are adapted from art books and some are her original designs.
All of the card-making supplies required for these ideas are inexpensive and can incorporate recycled materials.
1) Heart ornament
Supplies:
? Red, glittery 24 to 32 pound paper
? Two brads (or a stapler)
? Milky pens
? Scissors
? Paper punch
? Ruler
Directions: Cut two nine-inch and two six-inch strips of paper. The strips should be about one or two inches in width. Write a Valentine message, such as “celebrate love,” with Milky pens in the middle of the long strips. Stack the strips together with the longer strips’ messages facing outward. Paper punch the ends. Stick a brad though the holes to create a base. (Or, staple the ends together). Punch the opposite end of the strips and turn them inward to create a heart shape. Secure the inside of the heart with a brad (or staple). To hang the heart as an ornament, attach a thin gold cord at the top.
2) Sweethearts blocks
Supplies:
? Colorful 24 to 32 pound paper
? A lighter weight, decorative paper
? Diamond Glaze (a water-based dimensional adhesive available at Ben Franklin’s)
? Sweethearts
? Yes glue
? Scissors
Directions: Cut the 24 to 32 pound paper in half and fold it into a card. Cut nine one-inch squares of the lighter weight, decorative paper. Try to cut the squares creatively with squiggly lines. Arrange the squares on the card, separating them into a grid. Adhere the squares with Yes glue. Arrange nine conversation hearts on the squares, with the messages facing up. Adhere the candy hearts with Diamond Glaze.
3) Seedy Heart, adapted from Susan L’Hommedieu’s design
Supplies:
? Flower seeds
? Yes glue
? Metallic card stock
? Two lighter weight, decorative papers
? A fibrous paper
? Raffia
? Milky pens
? Paper punch
Directions: Cut the metallic card stock and fold it into a card. Cut a heart from the fibrous paper and two larger hearts from the lighter weight, decorative papers. Attach one heart on top of the other, from largest to smallest, with the Yes glue. Rip the edges of the outer paper to give it an arty look. On the fibrous paper, draw the outline of a heart with glue and fill it in with glue. Sprinkle flower seeds onto the glue and pat them down to secure them. When the hearts have dried, punch holes through the top, front of the metallic card stock and top of the layered hearts. Run raffia through the card and hearts, securing them together. Tie it in a bow. Write a message below the layered hearts, such as “plant seeds of love” with Milky pens.
Also consider using corrugated cardboard, buttons, tissue paper, origami and decorative paper napkins for creative Valentine cards.