The Times They Are A Changing

I love making homemade cards, mostly for the response they get from the receiving person. My cards can get pretty intricate and detailed. However, for the beginner a simple card can be made easily with just a few items.

Envelope

Items needed: Scissors, old newspaper ads, glue

In an effort to work towards a greener way of living, make your envelope from newspaper ads. They are black and white which is perfect for a valentine color pallet. All you need is an envelope the right size for your card. In fact, a used envelope is even better. Take it apart carefully and use it as your template. Now, trace around it onto the newspaper and cut it out. The back side of your cutout will be the outside of the envelope so none of your tracing lines will show.

Place the cutout on top of the template and fold up the template, pressing hard to make crease folds for the new envelope. Remove the newspaper envelope and press on creases to make them permanent. Using a paper glue that dries clear, glue your envelope together. After the card is made, you will glue the flap shut. If you need to mail your card, use a white mailing label on the front.

Note: Sunday funnies make a great envelope for other cards.

Card

Items needed: 1 sheet red cardstock, 2 piece white cardstock, 1 piece of white paper, length of ribbon, glue, decorative scissors and regular scissors, single hole punch.

Measure your finished envelope. Mark the sheet of red card stock for the base of the card. It should be slightly shorter than the envelope from top to bottom. And, twice as wide, minus just a tad so it will fit in the envelope. After cutting your red cardstock, fold it in half.

Make a heart template with one of the white cardstock sheets. This is easy to do by folding the paper in half and cutting half a heart shape. Practice on a piece of printer paper, if needed. Using the heat template trace a red heart, slightly inside the lines, from the remainder of the red cardstock paper. Punch a hole on each side of the heart. Cut a length of ribbon (satin or printed) and run it through both sides of the heart and tie a bow in the front. Remember you want any lines on the heart to face downwards.

Trace the heart onto the white cardstock with your template. Using the decorative scissors cut along the outside of the lines. Glue the deco heart to the center of the front of the card.

Now, glue the red heart on top of the white deco heart. It should show as lace on the outside of the red heart.

Print a valentine sentiment on white paper in your computer. Cut it out to fit on the inside of the card and glue it in.

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