by Virginia Allain

Created on: January 07, 2010

It's not about saving money on cards. It's about creating a valentine especially for your loved one. They will treasure your creation that shows you took the time to do something besides pick up a card at Wal-Mart.

Let the design of the card help you decide on the card's message. Save up bits of shiny paper, ribbons, eye-catching pictures from magazines or cards, and other odds and ends to use on your cards. Anything red or shiny or flowery or lacy has potential for valentine making.

Get out your tape, glue, and pens. Any scrap booking supplies like rubber stamps, stickers, punches, fancy scissors, calligraphy pens or stencils that you have will further enhance your cards.

Sort through the pictures, and other ephemera that you have to see if any ideas come to you. A simple image combined with a rhyme works just fine.

Don't worry about being corny. Valentines are supposed to be romantic or cutesy. Examples: Use a picture of a cute kitten with the words "YOU... are purrfect to be my Valentine." With a King of Hearts playing card, use the words "Happy Valentine's Day to the guy who is king in our hearts." On the front put, "What I Love," and inside put words like "chocolate" "books" "blueberries" "a big warm hug" and "YOU" "YOU" "YOU".

You can also go with simply saying: "Lots of Love on Valentine's Day!" or "Valentine, I love you!" If you need ideas for verses check online greeting card sites.

People love having their names worked into the design of the card or into the verse. You can use stickers or stamps or write it. Practice first on a piece of scrap paper using a slant-tip felt pen or a gel pen that writes in a lustrous red or glittery silver. If you don't like your handwriting, print out the verse from your computer to paste into the card. Browse through the various fonts to find one that suits the message. This is a chance to use a flowing script or bold calligraphy font.

Cut heart shapes from red paper to add. To get a pattern for a perfect heart shape, fold paper in half and cut out half a heart away from the fold. Open it and use it for tracing around pictures you want to use. Add bits of ribbon or lace. You can get fancy with pop-up designs and triple folded cards or keep it simple.

Check the public library for books on card making. They will have scrap booking books also and the ideas can be applied to cards. There are titles like The Big Book of Handmade Cards or Finding the Right Words: Perfect Phrases to Personalize Your Greeting Cards.

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