Easy Handmade Valentines
Amazing Valentine’s Day card ideas + FREE Printables!
Here is another lovely Valentine’s Day craft you can make at home even with kids! Make beautiful handmade Valentine cards with paper and scraps of fabric! Let’s have a look at three simple ways to make a Valentine for someone special using simple supplies you will definitely find at home!
Papercut Valentine
If you want to make an eye-catching card, you should try the paper cutting for sure! You can easily make the card by combining two main techniques - cutting out shapes and layering. Once you create the individual layers and cut out all negative spaces, place the layers on top of each other and watch the beautiful design come to life!
You’ll need:
- FREE Printable pattern - the layer 1 and 2, layer 3 and the foldable card 4
- 4 sheets of coloured paper (ideally use heavier weight - 220-260g will work beautifully)
- crafting scalpel knife or small sliding cutter
- cutting mat (if you don’t have the typical green one used for quilting, regular kitchen chopping board will work just fine!)
- scissors
Instructions
Begin by printing the pattern out on an ordinary printing paper and cut the pieces out. Choose four heavier weight paper sheets in a colour palette suitable for Valentine’s Day, especially for the top layer 1.
Transfer the pattern onto the coloured paper sheets by placing the cuts on top and tracing around with a sharp pencil. Transfer all pattern layers - layer 1 for the top of the design, layer 2 for the middle, layer 3 for the bottom and layer 4 as the foldable card base. Now use the scalpel knife or the cutter to carefully carve out the negative space of the pattern.
Once you have finished the 1-3 layers, place them together accordingly - apply glue on the bottom side of the layer 1 and stick it to the top of layer 2. Repeat the same by applying the glue on the bottom side of the layer 2 and stick it to the top of layer 3. Finally, apply glue to the bottom of the layer 3 and stick it to the front of the layer 4. Do make sure that the glue doesn’t get to the top side of each layer as it would be visible once the design is formed!
Make sure the layers stick together nicely by placing the finished card between two books. Once the card is dry and nicely flat - you’re ready to write your special message inside!
Floral Paper Collage Card
Paper collage is another beautifully eye-catching card design! You can enjoy both painting and paper cutting and form a gorgeous flower bouquet! This makes the card a lovely option not only for the Valentine’s Day but even birthdays or wedding wishes!
You’ll need:
- FREE Printable flower patterns
- watercolour paints and a jar of water
- painting brush size 4-6
- 2x heavier A4 size paper sheets (ideally 220-240g weight)
- pencil and a ruler
- glue
- scissors
Instructions
Print out the FREE floral pattern on a regular print paper and cut the designs out. Transfer them onto the first heavier sheet of paper by placing the designs on top and tracing around with a sharp pencil. Then draw a 13 x 17cm rectangle onto the second sheet of the heavier paper using the ruler. The rectangle will form the actual card. To make this step easier, you can also use the layer 4 pattern sheet from the previous card project!
Before cutting the pieces out, use the watercolours to paint each flower and also the rectangle. The rectangle colour can be inspired by the Valentine’s Day colour palette, bright birthday colours or a wedding theme colour, depending on the occassion!
Once the designs are painted and dry, cut them out with scissors. Fold the rectangle in half forming a card and you’re ready to glue the paper flowers on the front.
Apply blue on the back side of each flower and place them on the painted front of the card. You can either form a lovely bouquet or place the flowers randomly, in lines, whichever your preference! Once finished, time to write a lovely quote inside the card!
Felt Fabric Valentine
The last project is one inspired by my passion for fabrics and textiles! Fabric Valentine’s Day card, doesn’t that sound exciting?? It surely does to me! Here is how you can make such card yourself!
You’ll need:
- FREE Printable pattern - one sheet to be printed twice
- felt fabric in preferred colour
- printed fabric scraps inspired by Valentine’s day
- sewing thread, sewing machine, free motion quilting foot, pins
- heavier sheet of 220g paper
- scissors
Instructions
Print out two sheets of the FREE Printable and cut the pieces out - first the 28 x 18 cm rectangle, secondly the heart shape and the 13 x 17 cm rectangle. Place the bigger rectangle onto the felt fabric, trace around with a pencil and cut the piece out. Than transfer the same way the small rectangle onto the heavier paper sheet and cut the piece out. Lastly, trace the heart shape onto a piece of fabric scraps and cut it out.
Begin by taking the large felt fabric rectangle, feed the sewing thread through the sewing machine and set the setting to close distance (1-2) zig-zag stitch. At this point we will be using a regular sewing foot.
Stitch all around the edges of the rectangle to create nice edge. Fold the rectangle in half to form a card and press the fold flat. Then set the stitch distance to 3 and stitch along the fold from the top, twice, to create nice ‘binding’ finish.
Change the stitch from zig-zag to straight stitch, take the paper rectangle and place it inside the fabric card where the writing will be. Stitch all around to secure the piece of paper in place. Stitching through paper may blunt the needle so it may be a good idea to use an old one rather than new (universal 75 type).
Lastly, take the fabric heart and place it on the front page. Use a couple of pins to secure the heart in place. Now change the regular sewing machine foot to free motion quilting foot and set the stitching to 2-3 distance straight stitch. Begin stitching on top of the heart in shape of a heart and continue outwards, removing the pins and securing the heart in place as you expand the stitching. I decided to stitch not only on top of the heart but also beyond the fabric heart shape. It gives the front page of the card a lovely Valentine’s Day inspired texture!
Since there is a paper inside the card, you can easily write your Valentine’s Day wishes with a pen. However, if you feel very creative - why not try writing a few symbolic words with the quilting foot?
DID YOU ENJOY THIS PROJECT? SAVE IT FOR LATER TO ONE OF YOUR VALENTINE’S DAY OR DIY CRAFTS PINTEREST BOARDS!
Try these lovely projects too:
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