Valentine’s day is fast approaching, and what better way to spread the love than by making your own handmade Valentine’s card. Here are three different designs to get you inspired!

I have recently started making my own cards, and have really enjoyed getting to learn the various techniques. There is something special about a card that someone has taken the time to make isn’t there? Plus you can achieve a design that is unique and not available in the shops!

So, as Valentine’s day is next week, I thought I would have a go at making three different types of handmade Valentine’s cards to inspire you in this season of love.

Handmade Valentine’s Card

The designs all centre of the heart shape, and using this in various ways to create the card. Card number one is heart cutouts with cute bows. In card number two, we are looking at how to emboss, stamp and ink blend for a classic Valentine’s style card. Finally, card number three is a more arty style, using a cut out from the previous card.

Some of the items used in all of the cards are from Simply Cards and Papercraft Magazine, which I picked up from my local supermarket because of the free goodies of the embossing heart pack, as well as the stamp sentiments. This is in no way sponsored, but to let you know that you can get these items by buying the magazine.

So, if it sounds like something you would like to have a go at, let’s get crafting!

Handmade Valentine’s card – No1

This card is really simple but effective and takes no time at all to make. Cute little heart cutouts with a simple handmade bow to finish them off. It looks like the hearts are hanging down by a string, with the sentiment “Happy Valentine’s day”.

Items needed:

You will need the following items to make this lovely card:

• Kraft style card base (recycled look)
• Two shades of red card, ideally one metallic
• Heart hole punch
• Thin black ribbon
• Double-sided tape
• Red ink
• Black pen
• Valentine’s stamp
• Fork to make the bows

Step 1 – Cut out heart shapes:

Using a heart-shaped hole punch, select one of the red colour cards and punch out a few hearts. Repeat this on the other shade of red card you have. I opted to have a metallic looking card, as well as a shiny red, but you could use any texture card you like. Punch out as many hearts as you feel your card needs, this will be dependent on the size of the card and the hole punch you are using. My hearts came out bigger than I expected so I didn’t use as many of the hearts as I thought I would.

If you don’t have a heart-shaped hole punch, you could always print some heart shapes and cut these out. Or, if you have heart-shaped confetti you could always use them instead.

Step 2 – Organise design and stamp

Before sticking the hearts onto the card, you want to layout your design, to see where everything fits and looks well. This will also help with seeing where your stamp sentiment will fit on the card. Have a play about with the layout. I liked placing my hearts diagonally, but you could always place these in varying heights.

Once you are happy with your chosen layout, I would recommend stamping on your sentiment first (unless the stamp will be going over your design). Place the clear stamps on an acrylic mounting block and add your chosen ink. I thought red would go best with this and evenly stamp your sentiment in the lower-left corner of the card, again, unless you have chosen to design it slightly differently.

If you have any embossing powder and heat gun, you can always add this to the wet ink to really make the sentiment pop. I wish I had done this, as the brown kraft type card really soaks up the ink.

Step 4 – Add on the hearts

Once your ink has dried and you are not at risk of smudging it, stick on your heart cutouts. Place some double-sided tape onto the back and stick into place. For added dimension, you could also you double-sided foam tape to make the hearts standoff.

Then using a black pen, draw a thin line from the heart to the top of the card. This will give the look of the heart being attached to a dangling string.

Step 5 – Make your own bows

If you are lucky enough to already own some miniature bows (you can buy them in craft shops) then you just need to stick these onto the top of the hearts. However, if you would like to make your own bows, then you need to grab your ribbon and a fork.
This is quite fiddly to do, but so worth it when the bows turn out just right. Watch my video tutorial of this post too if you need to see how to make the bows in full action.

Cut a length of your chosen ribbon and wrap this around the outside of the fork. Make sure the piece that is at the back of the fork is slightly longer than that of the front. Then take the back piece and bring it through the middle slot of the fork from the front, making sure it has gone over the ribbon at the front. Bring this piece up and down the middle slot so that it is now at the front of the fork. Tie the two ends together in a knot tightly, and you should have your miniature bow created. Remove it from the fork.

Make as many bows as you have hearts on the card and using the double-sided tape, secure them in place. You can leave the card like this, and it is finished; however, after making the card I felt it needed a little bit of something else. So, using a small self-adhesive gem, stick this into the centre of the bow and your first handmade Valentine’s card is complete.

Handmade Valentine’s Card – No2

This card is more of a traditional look Valentine’s card (i think) and uses the technique of embossing and heat embossing. As well as ink blending and stamping is used.

Items needed:

To make this card, you will need the following items. This includes items from the magazine noted earlier in the post. If you have items that are similar, then you can always use these. It also required the use of a die-cutting machine to achieve some of the look.

• White card – 1 for the base and another for the top layer
• Heart and flower emboss and die cut from the magazine (above)
• Two shades of pink distress ink (Spun sugar and Picked Raspberry)
• Ink blending tool
• Heart stamp and sentiment set (from the magazine)
• Die-cutting machine
• Label die cut
• Double-sided tape

Step 1 – Emboss and Cut

Cut down a piece of white card to match the size of your card base front. Using the emboss and die cut set from the magazine mentioned at the start of this post, pop the card through a die-cutting machine. This will emboss the paper as well as cut out the heart shape. Make sure that you have centred your card so that the heart is cut out where you want it. Keep the heart cut out for the next project.

Step 2 – Ink blend

Now it is time to get creative with doing a bit of ink blending. Select the lighter pink from the distress inks (spun sugar) and begin blending this onto the newly embossed card, from the edges to the middle. You may find that the ink does go on darker in some area, and this may be down to the technique. I am quite new to ink blending, so I haven’t fully gotten to grips with how best to achieve ink blending.

Then using the darker shade of pink, begin blending this outwards from the middle, concentrating on the edges of the cut-out heart. Keep blending until you are happy with the colour blend you have achieved.

Allow the ink to dry, use a heat gun to quicken the process.

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Step 3 – Get stamping

Now it is time to fill the gap where the heart has been cut out. Place your newly blended piece of card over the front of the card base. With a pencil, lightly mark where the top and bottom of the heart is. Then, using the heart stamp from the sentiments kit, stamp this onto the base of the card. Line it up with the light pencil marks to get it in the right place. I used the darker shade of pink for this. With it being distress ink, it gave the stamp a slightly mottled look, which I love.
Allow the ink to dry.

On a sperate piece of white card, stamp your sentiment “Happy Valentine’s”, again in the ‘Picked Raspberry’ pink shade. This will match the newly stamped heart. Then, using a label die, cut this out with your die-cutting machine so that your sentiment is now a label /tag shape.

Step 4 – Stick it all together

Once your inks have dried and you have everything ready, it is time to stick everything together. Use double-sided tape and place this around the edges of the embossed and ink blended piece of card. Line this up and stick it to the base card. Your heart stamp should line up perfectly with the heart cut-out.

Then, using foam adhesive strips, place these onto the back of the sentiment and stick this to the bottom right of the card.

The second handmade Valentine’s card is now complete!

Handmade Valentine’s Card – No3

This card has a bit more of an arty feel to it and is so easy to achieve. I think the card looks like it is covered in confetti!

Items needed:

To make the final handmade Valentine’s card, you are going to need the following items:

• White card stock base
• Heart shape template
• Pencil with a rubber end
• Red ink
• Distress ink in shades “Picked Raspberry” and “Spun sugar”
• Cling film
• Valentine’s stamp sentiments
• Clear sparkle embossing powder
• Heat gun
• Anti-static powder
• Washi tape / low stick tape

Step 1 – Prepare the base and pencil:

Start by creating double-sided tape with your washi tape or low stick tape. This will make it easier to remove from your card later. Place this onto the back of your heart cutout and stick this to the middle of your card. I used the heart shape from the previous card that was cut out.

Then grab your pencil and cover the rubber end with a small piece of cling film. This will protect the pencil from becoming stained with the ink.

Step 2 – Ink up the card

Using the cling film end of your pencil, dip this into your red ink. Then, proceed to place red ink dots over your card. Place these around the heart template, with some dots half on the template and half off of the template. Continue to add dots until the card has lots of red dots over it.

Then, clean the ink off the cling film, and select the darker pink coloured ink ‘Picked Raspberry’, repeating the process above. Repeat this process with the lighter pink shade ‘spun sugar’ until the card is filled with round ink dots.
Keep adding until you are happy with the amount of dots on your card. You want the concentration of dots to be more intense closer to the heart, gradually moving outwards.

Step 3 – Remove the template and stamp

Once the ink dots have dried, it is time to remove the template from the card. You should now have a blank heart in the middle of your card with dots like confetti coming from the heart. Looks good, doesn’t it?

Then it is time to grab your stamp sentiments and mount this to your stamp block. Before stamping, give the heart part of the card a quick swipe over with the anti-static powder. This will make embossing the sentiment easier and cleaner. Stamp your sentiment.

Whilst the ink is still wet, sprinkle over the clear sparkle embossing powder, so that the sentiment is completely covered. Shake off any excess and re-place this back into the embossing pot. Heat up your heat gun and gently heat over the sentiment. You will see the embossing powder change and become shiny with a hint of sparkle.

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Then the third handmade Valentine’s card is complete!

Which one do you prefer the best? Let me know in the comments below! Also, if you want to design your own envelopes, then why not check out these 3 awesome envelopes by Fransic Verso.

Handmade Valentine’s Card – Video:

Here is a video tutorial of how to make these wonderful Valentine’s cards:

Handmade Valentine’s card – Pin it!

Enjoyed this post? Why not share the love and pin it for later!

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Check out a more DIY/Craft posts!