I am looking forward to the next Holiday-Valentine’s Day. Could anything be nicer than to give and receive sentiments of Love or Friendship?
I love to make all kinds of small things, little love tokens. I like simple & handmade things for this day because it really is “the thought that counts.” Thoughts of love and affection are inspirational. I decided on Bookmarks for all the readers, Journals for the writers, cards for loved ones & small gift boxes for family. And since I have so little time-they must be easy. Fortunately, Loose Ends has fabulous paper and so many trims to accommodate every taste.
First, the bookmarks; I wanted to make some for friends in the Book Club. I used Italian Renaissance Handpainted Ribbon & backed it with ‘Dusty Mauve’ Papiers Wrinkle Ribbon and some antique style Valentine “Vintage Visions”. Using a fancy edge scissor, I added some trim above and below the cupid picture. This was so easy and really works for making multiples. I made another one with Frosted “Seafroth” Papier ribbon & backed it with the Dusty Mauve again. Using the same Italian Renaissance ribbon, I cut a stylized heart shape then layered a Handprints marbled ribbon with some pink in it. Finally I added Lingerie ribbon & printed a Valentine saying.
Special friends get a card, using a Handmade Paper from the Island Fiber Group called ‘Tropical Straw’. It’s has an interesting flecked background & occasional pieces of colored straw. I ripped an 8 ½ X 11 piece & printed “You Are Loved” in the bottom right hand corner so I could just fold the paper in 4ths. I used “Strawberry Crinkle Rose Petals’ in the small size to create a flower & added one of our paper buttons in the middle.
There were a series of the reduced size Vintage Valentines printed right next to each other, all in a row. So, I made a small accordion book with them on the back and Valentine sayings on each panel inside.
Here’s a combination card & gift. This is so easy because the envelope makes the presentation. Using a ‘Paper Pouch’ that is decorated with a pulp white heart on a paper circle, measure the size of the paper to fit easily into the envelope. On regular computer paper I printed a poem in the lower right. Then I cut a large heart shape out of Parisian Apartment “Hold to Light” Paper, Rochelle – Red.
Using this same paper, I covered the end papers in a Paper Crinkle Journal & added just a little Valentine note on the last end paper. Adding to an existing journal is such a simple way to make a gift personal for writers. On the first page of a ‘Loose Thoughts’ journal, I embellished it with a Valentine picture & sentiment.
Finally for gift packaging, I removed the cane fiber pieces from the top of a Red Cricket Box and put a Vintage Vision Valentine in the window. To cover up the removal on the inside, I just traced the top heart shape on Parisian Apartment “Hold to Light” Paper, Rochelle – Red & glued it to the inside top.
Itook a small Ridge Pillow box, with a little gift inside, wrapped red Abaca ribbon around the box, cut out the center square of Renaissance Handpainted Paper Ribbon ‘Heart Collage’ as a final embellishment.
All of these were quick and easy. Kids can assemble them, they can be made in multiples for a group or be dressed more elaborately for someone special.
So enjoy & we’d love to see what you’ve created!
