Countdown to Valentine's Day: Card 1

The heart block card

Valentine’s Day. A day that is seemingly either loved or hated with equal intensity by all of humankind. Whatever your feelings on the day, however, Card Tricks is going to devote the next few weeks to Valentine’s Day cards.

So, if you jump for joy every time February the 14^th comes around, you’ll soon have lots of great ideas for crafting cards for that special someone in your life. If you cringe at the very mention of the day, at least give me the chance to show you that not all things related to the day are evil and vile. Many of the card designs that will be revealed during this series can easily be adapted for other occasions (for example, you can replace the hearts on today’s card with flowers, snowflakes, balloons, etc. to celebrate Mother’s Day, winter holidays, birthdays and so much more) or you can simply use them as is (with different sentiments) for anniversaries or weddings. Heck, you can even alter them for Anti-Valentine’s Day purposes, but I’ll leave those creative modifications up to your own imaginations.

There are two different methods you can use to make this card. The second method is easier and faster to do. In fact, I only did the first method because I wanted to get some practice doing paper weaving for future projects.

Supplies:

·      Sheet of 8 1/2” x 11” dark pink cardstock

·      Sheet of 8 1/2” x 11” light pink cardstock

Equipment:

·      Paper trimmer

·      Bone folder

·      Large heart paper punch (cutouts should measure approximately 1 3/8” x 1 7/8”)

·      Glue stick

·      Wax paper

·      Heavy book

Additional Equipment needed for Method A:

·      Pencil

·      Metal-edged ruler

·      Craft knife

Directions for Method A – The Weaved Card Option:

1.     Use the paper trimmer to cut a piece of dark pink card stock, measuring 5” x 10”. Hold on to the scraps to make the hearts in step 4.

2.     Fold the 5” x 10” piece of dark pink card stock into a 5” x 5” card with the bone folder.

3.     Cut the light pink card stock with the paper trimmer to get a 2 1/2” x 11” strip. Trim the strip so that you have two pieces, each measuring 2 1/2” x 5”. Hold on to the scraps for step 4.

4.     Punch a total of four hearts, two each from the scraps of the dark pink card stock and the light pink card stock. Punch the light pink card stock in a way that leaves you a piece of card stock that is at least 4” x 8”. Hold on to that piece to make this coming Wednesday’s card.

5.     Open the dark pink card and make guidelines for cutting a horizontal line in the middle of the inside left panel (2 1/2” from the top).

6.     Use the craft knife and metal-edged ruler to cut along the guidelines from the edge of the card to the fold.

7.     Close the card. Take the first strip of light pink card stock and weave it into the left side of the front panel (right up against the fold) so that the top of the strip is underneath the front panel and the bottom is on top (to create a checkerboard pattern). Glue the strip into place.

8.     Weave the second strip of light pink card stock into the right side of the front panel (right up against the other strip) so that the bottom of the strip is underneath the front panel and the top of the strip is on top. Glue into place.

9.     If there is any overlap of light pink card stock along the edges of the card, trim it off with the paper trimmer.

10. Glue the light pink hearts on to the dark pink squares and the dark pink hearts on to the light pink squares.

11. Place the piece of wax paper on top of the closed card. Put the book on top and press until the glue is dry.

Directions for Method B – The Square Blocks Option (easier and faster):

1.     Use the paper trimmer to cut a piece of dark pink card stock, measuring 5” x 10”. Hold on to the scraps to make the hearts in step 4.

2.     Fold the 5” x 10” piece of dark pink card stock into a 5” x 5” card with the bone folder.

3.     Cut two 2 1/2” square pieces of light pink card stock. Hold on to the scraps for step 4.

4.     Punch a total of four hearts, two each from the scraps of the dark pink card stock and the light pink card stock. Punch the light pink card stock in a way that leaves you a piece of card stock that is at least 4” x 8”. Hold on to that piece of card stock to make this coming Wednesday’s card.

5.     Glue the first light pink square on to the lower left corner of the card and the second square on to the upper right corner, making a checkerboard pattern.

6.     Glue the light pink hearts on to the dark pink squares and the dark pink hearts on to the light pink squares.

7.     Place the piece of wax paper over top of the closed card. Put the book on top and press until the glue is dry.

Remember to hold on to the remaining light pink card stock to make Wednesday’s card. See you then!