Handmade Valentines

Start with a purchased card base and some fun pink fabric to craft a simple and sweet card. Mount a swatch of fabric on the front panel, and add a square of card stock with a decorative edge. A stamped "XO," a heart cut from card stock, and coordinating accents bring it all together. (upper left)

SOURCES: Card, Making Memories. Rubber stamps, Hero Arts.

Hand-cut a heart-shape window in the card front using a die cut or dingbat font as a template. Back the window with a printed transparency -- make your own or buy one -- and frame with strips of card stock and nailheads. (upper right)

SOURCES: Card stock, Bazzill Basics Paper. Fonts, Marcelle (small script); Black Jack (large script); off the Internet. Nailheads, Scrapworks.

Use child's art as the focal point of a handmade card. Adhere the art -- resize using a color copier or a scanner and image editing software if needed -- and add computer-printed text for a design that's easy to mass-produce. A fun patterned bow finishes the look. (lower left)

SOURCES: Card stock, Bazzill Basics Paper. Font, Andy, off the Internet.

Use your computer to create a custom accent that can be used time and again. Layer text and images in your editing software, and print the finished piece on photo paper for a slick finish. Add a length of printed ribbon to cover the seam where the two colors of card stock meet. (lower right)

SOURCES: Card stock, Bazzill Basics Paper. Font, An Unfortunate Event, off the Internet. Digital brushes: 8Nero.

Designs by Cathy Blackstone (upper right) and Erica Hernandez