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There is nothing as special or personal as a homemade Valentine'sDay card. Surprise your friends and family with your handmadecreations. Here are some ideas to get you started. The link atthe end of the article shows photographs of the finished cards.

Materials:

Four blank greeting cards (available at craft stores), dark redpiece of scrapbooking paper, white piece of cardstock, creamcolored piece of cardstock, red and white gingham piece ofscrapbooking paper, paper cutter, scissors, glue stick, computer,printer, sewing machine.

Card #1

For this card you will need a dark red piece of scrapbookingpaper, a red and white gingham piece of scrapbooking paper (orother coordinating piece of paper), and a piece of whitecardstock. Cut a piece of the dark red paper to fit the front ofthe greeting card and glue it in place. The dark red is thebackground of the card. Cut two strips of the gingham paper,approximately an inch and a half wide. Cut them to the width ofthe card (this card will open horizontally). Tear a freehandheart from the gingham paper, large enough to fill upapproximately three quarters of the entire card. Next glue thestrips of gingham paper to the front of the card with space inbetween them. The idea is that there is a "strip" of gingham, astrip of red, a strip of gingham, and then a strip of red. Useyour sewing machine to stitch* along the edges of the strips ofgingham paper, and then stitch around the edge of the card. Gluethe heart in the middle of the card. Type "Happy Valentine'sDay" on your computer and print out on white cardstock. Cut outthe phrase (narrow strip) and glue to the center of the heart.

* Stitching tips: If you have never used your sewing machine tomake cards, it is easy! Just sew on the paper like you would onfabric. You might want to reserve a needle just for paper so youdon't dull the needle for your fabric projects. There are twoways you can include stitching in your card making projects. Youcan either stitch directly on the card, or you can stitch on aseparate piece of paper and then glue that piece to the card(then the stitching won't show through the card).

Card #2:

This Valentine's Day card is quick and easy. Cut a piece of darkred paper to fit the front of your blank card and glue it inplace. Type "Happy Valentine's Day" on your computer and printit on the cream colored paper. Mat the cut-out phrase first on adark red piece of paper, and then mat that piece on another pieceof cream colored cardstock to create a layered look. This cardwill open horizontally, so turn it in that direction and glue theValentine's sentiment to the top third of the card. For thebottom portion of the card cut three small freehand hearts fromthe dark red paper. Glue these hearts to three torn scraps (inthe shapes of squares) of cream colored paper. Space thesepieces across the bottom of the card and glue in place. Stitcharound the outside of the card and around the "Happy Valentine'sDay" if you wish, but it isn't necessary.

Card #3:

This card is made from a dark red piece of paper and a creamcolored piece of paper. Cut a piece of the dark red paper to fitthe front of your blank card and glue it in place. Cut a largesquare from the cream colored paper and glue it just above thecenter of the card. Glue the piece of paper in place. Tear alarge heart from the dark red paper and glue it in the center ofthe cream colored square. Type "Happy Valentine's Day" on yourcomputer. Print on cream colored paper and glue in the center ofthe heart. Stitch around the cream colored square and the edge ofthe card, if you wish.

Card #4:

This card is made from a dark red piece of paper, the ginghampaper, and white card stock. This card will open horizontally. Cut a piece of the dark red paper to fit the front of yourpre-made card and glue it in place. Cut two strips of ginghampaper and glue them to the top and bottom of the card so thatthere is a red strip in between. Cut three freehand hearts fromthe gingham paper and space them out in the red portion of thecard. Glue them in place. Type "Happy Valentine's Day" on yourcomputer and print on white paper. Cut out into a narrow strip (narrower than hearts) and glue in the center of the card on topof the hearts.

Notes: - The terms "card stock" and "paper" are usedinterchangably here, but it is up to you which kind of paper youuse, depending on the look you are trying to achieve - A sewingmachine isn't necessary for this project, it is just a nice addedtouch - You don't have to use your computer for this project, youcan handwrite the words if you wish.

Photos of finished cards:http://www.crafty-moms.com/valentines-day-cards.shtml