Do you remember the fun of receiving cute Valentine’s Day cards from your classmates in elementary school? How about decorating a mailbox to receive those cards? Or maybe your significant other or spouse gave you a super mushy card that made you blush? Receiving Valentine’s Day cards is fun at any age!
With the big “heart” day right around the corner, how about trying to recapture the fun of those memories by making cards to mail or give to the special people in your life? You could also share this fun activity with your children or grandchildren.
My talented friend Krista Tracy has been designing cards using various rubber-stamping techniques for many years. She often offered card-making workshops at her house for friends, and I always loved the creativity she put into each design. The only problem: it was hard to give the cards away!
For our Friendsville Square readers, I’m thrilled that Krista agreed to design six easy handmade cards that are perfect for Valentine’s Day, and these designs can also be adapted to use for other occasions. Just change the stamped sentiment (or hand write your own), use different paper colors or punches, or play around with a new layout.
Check out the easy-to-follow steps below and give these cute cards a try. Then you’ll be ready to surprise friends and family members with a sweet sentiment on February 14!
Supplies
You only need a few basic supplies found in your own stash or at your local craft store.
Colored cardstock (you can choose rainbow colors, more traditional valentine colors, or even a very small pattern)
White cards and envelopes (you can buy a package of blank cards or make your own by cutting 8 ½ x 11” cardstock in half and then folding each half)
Additional white cardstock cut into panels that are ½ inch smaller than your cards
Large and small heart punches
Valentine’s Day sentiment rubber stamp
Black ink
Glue (a liquid glue with a small tip will give you more control when gluing small shapes instead of a glue stick)
Scissors
Black fine-tipped pen
Tip for using punches: Hold your paper up, turn the punch so that the opening is facing you, and slide the paper into the punch. Position your punch next to, but not overlapping, where you previously punched.
Card 1 : Flurry of Hearts
Stamp the sentiment on the white cardstock panel. If the ink smudges, just turn the panel over and try again.
Punch out six hearts and pinch them in half. You can use a bone folder or the handle of a butter knife to sharpen the crease. The creases will make the hearts on your card three dimensional.
Glue the hearts to the panel. If you dot the glue along the crease, you can keep the dimension.
Glue the panel to the card front.
Card 2: Vase of Heart Flowers
Stamp the sentiment on the white cardstock panel. If the ink smudges, just turn the panel over and try again.
Punch out six hearts.
Doodle a vase in the middle of the panel. Start with the oval, add the sides, and then add the base. Practice on scrap paper first, if needed.
Glue the hearts to the panel. Doodle the stems.
Glue the panel to the card front.
Card 3: Jar of Hearts
Stamp the sentiment on the white cardstock panel. If the ink smudges, just turn the panel over and try again.
Punch out multiple hearts.
Doodle a jar in the middle of the panel. Start with the oval, finish the lid, add the sides, and then add the base. Practice on scrap paper first, if needed.
Glue the hearts inside the jar.
Glue the panel to the card front.
Card 4: Hearts in a Row
Stamp the sentiment on the white cardstock panel. If the ink smudges, just turn the panel over and try again.
Punch out multiple hearts.
Lay out the hearts in a row and then glue them to the panel. Trim the first and last hearts hanging over the edges with scissors.
Glue the panel to the card front.
Card 5: Strawberry Hearts
Stamp the sentiment on the white cardstock panel. If the ink smudges, just turn the panel over and try again.
Punch out two large pink hearts and four small green hearts. Cut strips for stems.
Doodle seeds on the large hearts to look like strawberries.
Make sure the ink is dry and assemble strawberries using glue.
Glue the assembled strawberries to the panel.
Glue the panel to the card front.
Note: You could make the strawberries look like ladybugs by cutting partially down the middle of each pink heart to form two wings, gluing them to the panel, and then doodling small heads and antennae.
Card 6: Rainbow Hearts
Stamp the sentiment on the white cardstock panel. If the ink smudges, just turn the panel over and try again.
Punch two slightly overlapping hearts on the panel.
Cut strips of paper for layering behind the hearts. A paper cutter works well for this step, but you can also use a ruler and scissors.
Turn over the panel and begin gluing the strips to the back of the panel. It just takes a dot of glue on the end of each strip (see photo below). Continue gluing the strips in place until the negative space of the punched area is filled.
Glue the panel to the card front.
Note: For a more advanced technique, you can fill the negative space with ribbon or washi tape instead of paper strips.
Let us know in the comments section below if you tried these cards and who you sent them to or if you plan to adapt the designs for other occasions like birthdays, weddings or anniversaries, Mother’s or Father’s Day, get well wishes, or just a cute note card to let someone know you’re thinking of them.
Happy crafting!
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