More Handmade Valentines

Materials

basic cards, or card stock folded in half
scrapbook or decorative handmade papers
deckle- and/or scallop-edged scissors, or other decorative-edged scissors
regular scissors
pinking shears
small hole craft punch
glue stick
glue gun and low-melt glue sticks
various ribbons, lace, yarn and embroidery thread
regular and heart-shaped paper doilies
small pieces of velvet, organza and dotted swiss
thin paint brush
lemon juice or vinegar
a birthday candle
a match
silver beads on string

1. What could be simpler than this clever card? All you have to do is glue a single birthday candle (or other small candle) and a match onto a blank card.

2. Inside, write, "Come on, Valentine, light my fire!"

1. Cut a heart out of red velvet using pinking shears.

2. Use the same color or contrasting embroidery floss to sew an arrow onto the card, making sure to cross under and through the heart.

3. Trim the edge of the card with scallop-edged scissors or pinking shears.

4. Inside, write, "I've been hit by Cupid's arrow, Valentine!"

1. Trim one or both edges of one card with scallop-edge scissors, and the edges of another slightly larger card with pinking shears or other decorative-edge scissors. You can use a small hole punch to give the edge of the card a lacy look.

2. Use a glue stick to glue the smaller card inside the larger one. Trim the sides even, if necessary.

3. Cut a heart out of dotted Swiss fabric using pinking shears.

4. Lightly apply glue stick to the back of the fabric and attach it to the card.

5. Give your sweetie a chuckle with this message inside: "No 'dot' about it, Valentine, you're the best!"

1. Cut a card out of scrapbook paper slightly smaller than a blank note card, or cut out a piece of scrapbook paper to glue on the front of the card only.

2. Trim both cards with decorative-edged scissors and glue the smaller scrapbook paper card onto the larger plain card.

3. Trim small designs out of doily scraps and arrange them into a heart. Use a glue stick to glue them on the front of the card.

1. This is another simple, elegant card. Glue a heart-shaped doily to a colored blank card. We glued the doily with the right side down for more contrast under the vellum.

2. Cut a piece of vellum paper slightly larger than the card on three sides. Slip the smaller card inside and glue the backs of the two cards together (the glue would show through the vellum if you use it on the front).

3. Trim the edges of one or both cards with decorative-edged scissors if you like.

4. Write your own love letter inside, or quote from your sweetie's favorite poet or musician.

1. This is another simple, modern card. Cut a piece of vellum a little smaller than the card on three sides. Slip the card inside the larger vellum and glue in place (again, don't glue the front because the glue would show through the vellum).

2. Trim the edges of one or both cards with decorative-edged scissors if you like.

3. Draw a heart in glue on the front of the vellum (or draw one on a piece of paper, slide it under the vellum and trace over it with glue). Glue silver beads on the heart using regular craft glue. We found real silver beads at a 5&10 shop that were on string--that helps hold them on the card if one comes loose.

4. Inside, write "Our love will never tarnish, Valentine."

1. Write a message like "Be Mine," "I love you" or "Yours Truly," or draw a heart with an arrow, a flower or a pair of hearts on the front of a card. Print words by hand, or play with different fonts on your computer; then print onto the card or onto paper and use carbon paper to trace the printout onto the card.

2. Trace the lines with glue and carefully place yarn in it. Use long continuous pieces for script letters, hearts and flowers, and smaller cut-to-size pieces for simple block lettering and arrows.

3. Give your sweetie a giggle and write this inside: "My heart 'yarns' for you, Valentine!"

1. Cut a square of organza using pinking shears. Make it any size you wish, as long as it fits on the card and is large enough for a heart to go inside and be sewn around.

2. Cut a heart out of another fabric, paper or a lacy doily. It can be as large or as small as you want it, just make sure it's smaller than the square of organza and contrasts with the paper enough to be seen.

3. Place the organza over the heart and sew them onto the card, either by hand or by machine. Tie the thread ends into a bow, or knot them and glue on a little bow of ribbon.

4. Trim the edges of the card using deckle- or scallop-edge scissors.

5. On the inside, let your sweetie know that he has your heart "all tied up," or write something like, "It's all sewn up, Valentine, my heart is yours!"

Secret Love Letter

1. Pour a little white vinegar or lemon juice into a cup. Use a small paintbrush and the liquid to paint sweet nothings on the front or inside of a blank white card, or both. You could also use a piece of white paper and write a longer letter. Allow to dry flat.

2. Tell your sweetie that the secret is in warmth--if they hold the paper near a heat source like a lamp bulb or candle's flame (be careful not to burn it), the juice or vinegar will turn brown and the words will appear.

3. Wondering what to write inside the card? (Surely you saw this coming!) "It's no secret, Valentine, I love you!"

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