6 Handmade Valentines Day Cards You Need

Americans have voted to make it official. We need change. So why not change the way we think about Valentines Day Cards? We've always shown our love with hearts and candy and five dollar greeting cards bought from a store. Now is the time for something new?

Why not make your cards by hand, for a change? To steal an overused phrase, make your cards Valentines Day Cards You Need?

Supplies-

Tissue paper

Scrap paper

Blank Cards or Cardstock

Wire

Scissors

Glue sticks or double sided tape (less messy for kids)

A Computer

A printer

Ideas for Grownups-

1-Happy Bailout-tines Day- (Illustration # 3)

This simple idea lets you take that 5 or 10 or 20 dollars you intended to spend and put it right there on the front of your hand made greeting card. Just cut a heart shape from a square of red paper. Tape your cut-out onto the front leaving the top open, like a pocket. Fold your money and insert it so the president's face shows through.

Hand write or use your computer to print your greeting at the top. Add a personal note or your own poem inside. And you've created a Bailout-tines card for your friend. A love note your lover will most certainly cherish and keep forever, at least until a rainy day.

2. Happy Obama-Bidentines Day- (Illustration #2)

Yes, it's true. By February 14 we will be in the first weeks of our new administration, still the honeymoon days. Celebrate your love for change with this card. It's easy to find a picture of the nation's first and second loving couples. Add those and the ubiquitous Obama logo we all know and love; and your greeting is complete. Add your own poem or a special greeting to the inside.

3- An Un-Valentines Day Greeting for Your Best Friend-

Not every one has a true love for whom they want to create a memorable card. Many more have been stepped on by love and need something to warn others who are not yet aware of the pitfalls of romance

For those friends, create your own Un-Valentine card. Decide on your message, "Be Good, Be Nice, Just Don't Be Stupid," for instance. Print it on a blank card. Add a broken heart picture or whatever you choose and a poem inside. Sign it "Happy Un Valentines Day."

For Kids-

Give your kids brief instructions on cutting out a paper heart. (Fold the paper first, for symmetry, then cut) Give them tissue and scrap paper, even ribbon and paper doilies if you like. Hand out the glue sticks and safety scissors with rounded ends; then let them glue paper shapes onto their cards the way only kids can.

1. A Heart Offering- (Illustration #4)

Create a Wire heart (Created using the first few steps from "Simple Heart Earrings" http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/960562/handcrafted_jewelry_simple_hearts_wire.html?cat=2) Stick your Simple Heart onto a big square of tape. Tape it to a tissue square, then add it to your card. Your child may add a personalized greeting or poem inside.

2. Be Mine-

Cut heart shapes and tissue pieces. Glue to a card in the design of your choice and add the traditional Valentine greeting of your choice.

3-All You Need is Love, Love, Love- (Illustration #5)

Help your child create a Valentine background on the computer. Try something simple, like using the word "Love" over and over again.

Print your design on card stock, then fold it into a card and let them add a few unique touches, a poem, a greeting inside. Very easy.

Now go celebrate your year of "Change" with Valentines you need.