Valentines

I love Valentine's Day. OK, not necessarily Valentine's Day itself, but I love cards. I'm not talking the cheesy generic Hallmark cards that people spend way too much money on and the receiver throws away without a second thought. (Sorry, I'm not trying to sound unthankful for any of the cards I've received over the years-on the contrary, I save more of them than I should--it's just for my own giving, I would rather make one than buy one.)

I really love old fashioned or homemade cards. It seems like such a lost art. Even just a thoughtful handwritten letter seems like such a rarity today. I have boxes and boxes of letters from my family and friends that I treasure. I think that one day my girls will love to read the handwritten notes from my best friend starting twenty years ago, the encouraging notes from my mom and sister while I was at college and even the few sentences written on the bottom of cards through the years from Joel.

I especially love OLD Valentines. I am so fortunate to have a couple of antique Valentines that Joel's Grandmother had saved through the years. I treasure these cards--their colors, the artwork and the beautiful handwriting on them. If I needed another thing to collect (which I guess I technically don't) I would love to collect antique Valentines. The artistic handwriting on the backs-the way no one writes anymore, and the wondering about the relationship of those sending and receiving the cards, is so intriguing to me.

Here are a few of them:
Look at the date: Feb. 14, 1909.
This one is really beautiful because of all the different layers that pop up when you open it.
Here is the back:
I also love homemade cards, especially glittery, lacy, and ribbon-y Valentine's day cards. I guess I've always had an interest in making cards. When I was about eight I "created" my own line of greeting cards called "Kute Kards" (I know, I know, real original name) and I sent some of my demo cards to Hallmark with a letter asking them if they would like to carry my card line. Well, I never heard back from them and somewhere in our filing cabinet is a file of various cards for different occasions, all with the same large nose characters I created as a child.

So despite my failure with Hallmark :( I still have enjoyed making cards through the years for family and friends and really try to purchase store bought cards only as a last resort. With so many card-making supplies available now, it is almost embarrrassingly easy to whip out a semi-homemade but beautiful card. My neighbor recently "commissioned" me to make a card for her to give to her oldest best friend. The friend had make a beautiful Victorian pillow with words of friendship sewn on it. I was amazed to find at Michael's crafts store, paper and supplies to make a card very reminiscent of the pillow. The supplies are endless!

So then comes Valentine's Day, with a definite reason to get creative with card making! Tess has started becoming very interested in making cards and likes to create them as surprises for us. This year for her classmates, the Valentines weren't as labor intensive as last years, but they came out pretty cute. Stapled to the back of the card is a pre-packaged Little Debbie Valentine's Day brownie.
Gracie's were part of a kit (which are usually a little too commercial for my Valentine's Day taste) but we glued individual packs of M&Ms to the back. I think the two years old and under recipients will enjoy them!
For Grandparents I had fun making these cards.

Here is the front:
First flap opened:
Tri-fold opened all the way:
Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day and remember to not be afraid to create a card for your loved ones!