Homemade Valentine Cards: Save Money (and Paper) by Recycling on Valentine's Day

Although there are many different theories concerning the history of Saint Valentine and his influence in the creation of Valentine's Day, one certainty is the popularity of this holiday. Every year, the Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentine cards are sent. Valentine's Day, which comes less than two months after Christmas (a holiday that calls for an estimated purchase of 2.6 billion cards), only adds to the heap of paper used in the winter season. In the spirit of this Valentine's Day, save some money (and paper) by making a homemade valentine card.

Homemade Paper

If you're environmentally-conscious, but still love sending holiday cards, try making your own paper for homemade cards. Pay attention to the gifts you receive and their wrapping over Christmas. Tissue paper is an excellent addition to homemade paper. Maybe you have leftover confetti from a New Year's party (or maybe you recycled your tissue paper for this use). Use whatever paper scraps or dried flowers you have saved to give your paper texture and color.

You will need:

· Mould and deckle (found at an art supply store) or an embroidery hoop accompanied by outdoor furniture fabric with holes to allow water to drip through.

· Pulp (collection of paper scraps)

· Water

· Blender

· Large tub

· Sponge

· Sheets of paper or cloth for drying material

· Texture items

The pulp is the most important part because it is what gives your paper consistency and substance. You can use whatever saved paper scraps you have to make the pulp. If you have specific themes in mind, try to separate your scraps by color first. Then, you'll first want to shred it all into small pieces and soak it in water overnight.

After you have given the paper it's first soak, you should drain that water off, add fresh water, and then begin to blend it (in small quantities so as to not overwork your blender). You might need to add more water (up to two cups) during the process.

When completed with this step, pour the pulp, which should now have the consistency of oatmeal, into the tub and add cold water or any added elements for texture. The more water you add, the thinner your paper and vice versa. When you are satisfied with the contents of your tub, take the mould and deckle (or hoop and fabric) and dip it into the tub, pulling towards you to gather the pulp onto the deckle or fabric.

Shake gently to allow the water to drip through, and then flip onto paper sheet or cloth. Using the sponge, press as much of the excess water out as possible, and then carefully remove the mould. You can now see the consistency of your paper and can make any textural changes. Add more cloth or paper on top of the homemade and continue process until you have used all of your pulp.

Place the stacked sheets under a book or similarly heavy item to press them down. Allow them to dry completely (should take at least a day).

Now What?

So you've got your homemade recycled paper and now it's time to make your customized valentine cards. Following are a few ideas of how to be creative with your card-making.

Add Personal Effects

Use your knowledge of your valentine to your advantage. Include personal stories or memories on your cards. This could be as simple as the recollection of your meeting your valentine or even a recent act of shared feelings.

Add Quotations

There are so many great quotes about love, but strive to find the uncommon. The hardest part of giving cards is buying into clichés. You can state your own feelings in poetry, or take favorite lines from movies, songs, books, or poetry.

Book/Art -- Brian Andreas, Storypeople
"I read once that the ancient Egyptians had fifty words for sand & the Eskimos had a hundred words for snow. I wish I had a thousand words for love, but all that comes to mind is the way you move against me while you sleep & there are no words for that."

Film - MansfieldPark, based on the book by Jane Austen
"Surely you and I are beyond speaking when words are clearly not enough."

Song - Dean Martin, Memories Are Made of This
"Take one fresh and tender kiss
Add one stolen night of bliss
One girl, one boy
Some grief, some joy
Memories are made of this."

This Valentine's Day, become inspired and do something different.