2-10-11: MORE Heartfelt Handmade Inspiration!

Three new additions to my handmade valentine collection:

Crushed ribbon red rose and green leaves.

"Be My Valentine". The tiny heart in the center says: "Junior I Love You".

"I love you" pastel colored cupcake liner hearts and flower.

Paper Photo Frame: Handmade Valentines

2-5-11: Heartfelt Handmade Inspiration

Handmade valentine cards from my small, dear personal collection. Some of them were rescued from the rubbish bin, some were purchased at second-hand stores.

Crushed Christmas ribbon time pressed bow.

A valentine to or from a ghost?

Awkward but determined penmanship in fancy white ink.

From Brad. Brad was efficient yet impersonal.

Embellished store-bought card - all you need is red construction paper and a white paper doily and some paste.

Trying so hard to be delicate heart and snowflake doily paper work.

Enhancements with construction paper, doilies and stickers to a kitten lover.

To My Love. This one is my very most favorite and treasured valentine. I wish I knew the story behind it.

Liberal use of seals and paste. The more hearts there are the more love you give.

Red and white, polka dots and paper lace, Dennison seals. 

To make a perfect banner display look at second hand shops for the old gimme advertising freebies that contained mini lingerie laundry lines. They contain two hooks with a  cotton line and itty bitty plastic clothespins in assorted colors.

Tutorial: Vintage Valentine Frame Cards

You’ll Need: 

• Manila folder or card stock size 8” x 10”
• Vintage valentine card
• Self-healing cutting mat
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Metal ruler
• Bone folding tool
• X-Acto knife and/or scissors
• Glue sticks (I use UHU stic in .29 oz small and 1.41 oz large)

Optional supplies for more flair:

• Piece of plastic cut to size (I sourced mine from thrifted photo album pages)
• Masking or decorated tape
• Paper punch
• String, twine or ribbon
• Rubber stamps and inking pad/s
• Stickers
• Vintage stamps or labels
• A good quality pen (Pigma Micron 01, 03 and 05 in black)
• Asst scrap or found papers/wrapping paper/maps/etc.

Note: These will fit size A-7 (5.25" x 7.25") envelopes

Instructions:

1. Working on your cutting mat, measure and cut manila folder or cardstock to 7” by 10”.

2. Measure and using bone folder, fold card in half at 5”.

3. Measure and cut out center of front card piece. (You can use the center paper later for an address label or tag so cut carefully). Double check measurements based on your chosen image - opening should be approx 3” x 4 1/2”.

4. IF YOU WANT A PLASTIC “WINDOW“: Clean plastic carefully with a glass cleaner and let dry thoroughly. Measure and cut plastic to fit on the interior left side of the card (the backside of the opening you just cut) - if your opening is 3” x 4 1/2” plastic should be slightly larger. Using glue stick, glue around the inside back of the front piece. Press plastic in place and smooth with bone folder. (For added security and more interest add masking or decorating trim if desired.).

5. Choose a background paper. This will be what the valentine is placed on. Cut background paper to size. It can be as large as the back piece of the card or just larger than the window. Glue background to interior right side of card. Smooth with bone folder.

6. Carefully measure and place valentine on top of background paper on interior right of card, when happy with position glue into place. Smooth with bone folder.

7. You are now going to glue the card together to make the frame, using a glue stick trace around edges, close card and smooth with bone folder.

8. Decorate and mail or give! 

For hanging, punch two holes in top of frame and run through with string, twine, ribbon, etc and tie in knot at top.

 Additional decorating ideas:

Add stickers!

Decorate the back of the frame.

Use rubber stamps and assorted colored ink pads.

 Make a border.

Put vintage postage stamps on the envelope.

 Apply photo corners.

 Fin.

E-Z Valentine Postcard: Conversating Hearts

Instructions for making:
Classic convo hearts themed E-Z Valentine postcards

You'll Need:

Pencil

Pen

Scissors and/or X-Acto knife

Ruler (metal works best)

Paper glue

Red ink pad

Alphabet rubber stamps

Colored paper

Mat board

Pack of conversation hearts for inspiration and sustenance

For Extra Flair:

Stickers

Assorted rubber stamps

Collage elements

Pen

Your hands

1. Make a heart template sized to fit within the dimensions of a standard postcard. Cut out desired number of hearts from colored paper - preferably in pastel conversation heart colors. Refer to actual conversation hearts as needed.

2. Using red ink and alphabet stamps - accent hearts with various phrases making liberal use of puns and wordplay. Be as trad or as raunchy as you wish depending upon the recipient. Again, refer to hard copy convo hearts as needed.

3. Cut postcards out of mat board.

4. Glue hearts onto mat board. (Product recommendation: YES! Paste. I cannot speak to the taste, but it works like a dream on paper craft projects)

5. Optional: Blingee your postcard with stickers, stamps, photos, etc.

6. Address on opposite side and mail or give in person! (Not illustrated)