Supplies:
- 5×7 card blanks, I got mine at Walmart
- Red glitter cardstock
- Red foil cardstock
- Valentine patterned paper or cardstock
- Valentines word die, I got mine from Kokarosa
- Manual die cutting machine, I use a Sizzix
- Large and small Heart punch, dies or cricut
- A7 mat dies or ruler to measure layers, my dies are from Waffle flower.
- Large flowered heart stamp and black ink pad, I use memento tuxedo black
- Markers for coloring stamp, I used alcohol markers
- Scissors to cut out colored stamp
- White and pink cardstock
- Art glitter glue
- Double sided sticky foam pad
- Pink ribbon
- Corner rounder tool (optional)
Instructions:
Base layer
I have three DIY Valentines Day cards to show you, let me show you how you can make them all at once, or one at a time. First thing is to cut your base mat layer using the A7 dies or a ruler. Measure your mat to be 1/4 to 1/2 inch smaller than your card blank. You may use any size card and adjust accordingly. I used glitter cardstock and patterned cardstock for my base layers. Round the corners, if desired using the corner rounding tool. Then glue the mat onto your card base using art glitter glue. If desired add another smaller mat using patterned cardstock on top of the first one for additional dimension. This is what I did with one of my cards.
Die cut
Run your Valentine die through your manual die cutting machine three times, each time using a different cardstock. I used foil, white and pink. These two pieced dies can be run through the manual die cutting machine with both pieces together or separately. Each method gives you a little different result. It comes out kind of like a puzzle if run together and you can fit each piece together with another colored background for contrast. You will also be able to see through the hearts revealing the background of your card. If you run each piece separately, the background of the die is whole and you just lay the contrasting piece on top of it. You will not be able to see through the hearts. Save these pieces for later.
Using your punches or dies, cut out various sized hearts using glitter cardstock, foil cardstock, and white cardstock. If you are using a heart stamp, you will want to stamp it now onto white cardstock and then color it as desired using your markers. You will then “fussy cut” the heart around the perimeter. The easiest way to explain this is that you will move the paper more than the scissors while cutting close to the edge of the stamped image. Finally, attach a bow to the stamped heart.
Finishing up
You are now ready to assemble the cards. Attach the Valentine die-cut to the front of your cards. Then attach the heart shapes using dimensional double-sided adhesive foam pads as desired. Remember to use less glue than you think you need because too much glue can ruin your card. Let it all dry and either stamp the inside with a sentiment or hand write one. Voila, now you have three beautiful DIY Valentines Day cards to give your loved ones. Check out my blog for additional card ideas and instructions.