DIY Customized Valentine's Day Cards That Steal Hearts
Valentine's Day isn't just about romantic gestures; it's a celebration of love in all its forms.
Last year I made these customized Valentine’s Day Cards for the folks that are closest to me and they loved them. When I shared them, some folks asked for a tutorial or at least some help creating these cards on their own. This year I’m sharing how I made them and offering you the opportunity to order them for your loved ones!
Inspiration
I saw some cards on Pinterest, and they felt fun but a little too romantic, plus they didn’t have the craftiness I was looking for. Then I came across a card one of the creators I follow on IG created for her boyfriend. I liked the general vibes of the card, and luckily, she was selling a template on Etsy. I bought the template, but I found that it didn’t quite line up when it was time to print, so I made a couple changes and switched out some of the spots where she had text - you know, remixed it!
Customization
So in the original template there was writing on the flaps of the card, but I replaced mine with an image of clouds that I pulled off Pexels. I kept the primary message in the center and adjust the horizontal line that gets cut so the top of the envelope can tuck into the bottom. I also added anywhere from 5-10 photos of me and the recipient (or of the recipient alone) to my cards. This was a nice touch because I feel like people don’t print photos anymore, we just look at them on our phones. A few weeks ago, I went to my friend’s place and she had some of those photos on her refrigerator.
This is an example of a friendship-oriented Valentine’s Day card. You can see the message really centers friendship, and I’ve preached this before but in case you want to hear the gospel of big friendship - Check out the first lab and follow up lab of Dope Labs Podcast that touches on this!
Printing
This gets printed on cardstock or similar heavy weight paper. This does not work with thin printer paper, so prepare for that. Also, I used a cutting mat and X-acto knife to make sure everything cut really clean and didn’t look raggedy along the edges. As an extra touch on the printed photos, I used a puncher that created rounded corners so the photos felt super finished. A little touch of DIY luxury there.
Sharing the Love
After sharing a video of the process on Instagram, I was flooded with messages from people eager to try this DIY themselves. It was heartening to see the joy of creating and giving personalized cards resonate with others. As we approach another Valentine's Day, I invite you to embark on your own journey of crafting love-infused cards. Whether for friends, family, or a special someone, these personalized tokens are bound to steal hearts.
Additional Tips:
Personalize based on the recipients’s preference
Consider incorporating quotes or lyrics that hold sentimental value
Experiment with different card shapes and sizes for added uniqueness
Embrace imperfections – it's the handmade charm that makes each card special
Share what you make on social media to inspire others in the spirit of DIY love
Another Option
If you like the final product, but crafting just isn’t your thing - order a card from me. I’ll make it and send it directly to your boo. I’m partnering with Upstream Solutions to make my crafty Valentine’s Day dreams come true!