Card Making Ideas: Free Instructions for How to Make an "I Love You" Card

If you need some card making ideas, perhaps you'll enjoy these free instructions for how to make an "I Love You" card.

Craft Supply List:

Small heart shaped embellishment- I used a page from the Clear Scraps heart-shaped keychain mini album.

Rubber Stamp: You'll need a sentiment stamp that says "I love you," or something similar. I used a rubber stamp by PSX to make the project sample.

Scrapbooking Papers: Patterned papers by Autumn Leaves and Daisy D's were used in the sample card, but you can use any pretty papers you like. You'll also need a scrap of solid colored cardstock to stamp the sentiment on.

Ink: Use the stamping ink of your choice; you could use either pigment ink or dye ink, depending on your preference. If you'd like to color an embossed acrylic piece as I did in the sample, you'll also need Stazon ink or a similar solvent ink.

Ribbon

Card Base: Heavy paper such as Strathmore Bristol Board

Adhesive

Acid-free marker made for scrapbooking or paper crafts

Tools Needed:

Circle template

Bone folder or Scor-Pal tool

Decorative Scissors: I used Fiskars Paper Edgers in the Mini Scallop design, but you could substitute a different design if you want to.

Optional: Cuttlebug Machine, or any similar machine that is compatible with Cuttlebug Embossing Folders

Optional: Cuttlebug embossing folder - the textile embossing folder was used in the project sample.

Greeting Card Instructions:

Using a piece of Strathmore Bristol Board and your bone folder, create a card base by cutting the paper to the size you want it and scoring the paper down the middle to create a crisp fold. Set this aside for a moment while you cut and assemble the other elements for the card.

Cut a rectangular piece of scrapbooking paper the same size as the front of the card base. Apply ink around the edges if you'd like the edges to stand out a bit.

Cut a smaller piece of contrasting patterned paper - recommended dimensions are about a half an inch smaller than the larger rectangle, all the way around. Ink around the edges. Center this paper on top of the other piece and attach it using adhesive.

Cut a piece of ribbon about a half an inch longer than the width of the card. Using my project photo as a guide for placement, attach this ribbon horizontally on top of the layered papers; fold the extra length of ribbon to the back of the patterned papers and stick it down using adhesive. This piece will be stuck down to the card base, no one will see these ends of ribbon. I like to sandwich the ends of ribbon like this so that they don't fray or come un-stuck from the card.

Attach this entire piece to the card base.

Stamp your sentiment onto a scrap of solid-colored cardstock. Using a marker and circle template, trace around it. Cut around the circle with decorative scissors. Color in the border between the circle and the scalloped edge using the same marker you used for tracing. Attach the stamped image on top of the other elements on the card base.

Now it's time to add your heart embellishment. If you'd like to copy my sample card exactly, here's how to do it:

Emboss the heart-shaped acrylic piece; click here for instructions on how to emboss clear acrylic.

Ink the embossed acrylic piece using Stazon ink.

Attach the embossed acrylic piece on top of your card base. Notice how you can see the ribbon and the stamped image through the heart shape; isn't that cool? :)

You could use a heart-shaped die cut or rubber stamped image instead of the clear acrylic piece if you prefer.

Cut a small piece of ribbon and tie it into a bow. Attach it to the stamped image as shown in the photo.

If you're ready to send the card to someone special, personalize the inside of it with a greeting. Otherwise, add it to your card stash so it is handy the next time you need to send a handmade "I love you" card.