I like to think of Valentine’s Day as being an opportunity to tell everyone I love, not just a significant other, how much they mean to me. In Lang Leav’s new collection of poetry titled Love & Misadventure, she beautifully tells many stories about the different types of relationships we all go through. While quite somber at times, Leav’s poetry in Love & Misadventure prompts readers to both reflect on and appreciate all our loved ones, past and present. It’s beautifully written and has something for everyone. Some poems are silly and simple; others are deep and introspective. Leav writes about every relationship’s highs and lows, and how each relationship we have impacts us in some way. Leav’s book, along with some Pinspiration, gave me the idea to make little cards for all the people in my life to hand out on Valentine’s Day. A little DIY project is a great way to relax after the stress of a long day of classes or take a night off from going out. So, inspired by Love & Misadventure, here are some cute cards you can make that are totally affordable, and really meaningful:
Supplies:
I went to a craft store and picked up:
- A set of 25 note cards and envelopes ($4.99)
- 12″ x 12″ Cardstock ($0.59 a piece)
- Doilies (30 pack for $1.99)
- Foam hearts ($4.99)
You can also use construction paper, which is very inexpensive and would look just as nice! Now, all you need is some glue, scissors, and a pen or sharpie! And, of course, a copy of Leav’s Love & Misadventure!
Card One:
Take three different colors of cardstock, all different shades of pink, and layer them on top of each other. Then, trim each piece down so that it fits whatever card size you choose to use. Then, using this tutorial, I outlined in pencil and then went over in sharpie the poem “First Love”:
Before I fell
in love with words
with setting skies
and singing birds—
it was you I fell
in love with first.
I chose to leave the inside of the card brown for a more vintage-y look, but you can mix and match the cardstock to make a more colorful card as well! This card would be great for a longtime boyfriend or girlfriend and the fact that you made it yourself makes it even more personal!
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Card Two:
Using one color of cardstock, cut the sheet so that it matches evenly with the size of the card. The yarn on this one was actually an accident—I cut the paper too thin and ended up having an uneven sheet that made some of the brown show. Using glue, go over the edge of the card that you want to cover with yarn (I did the whole left side of the card) and then wrap the yarn or ribbon back and forth to whatever width you prefer. I found some buttons lying around in my drawer and went ahead and glued them onto the yarn, but you could use anything to garnish it! Try paper flowers, cut out hearts, or even some cute stickers. Then, I wrote Leav’s poem “A Thank-You Note”:
You have said
all the things
I needed to hear
before I knew
I needed to hear them.
To be unafraid
of all the things
I used to fear,
before I knew
I shouldn’t fear them.
I thought the inside looked too plain in this card, so I glued on one of the foam hearts. Because the hearts are blank, you can write your own personal message on top of them. This card could be given to anyone who helped you at any point in your life, because, as the title says, it is a thank you note!
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Card Three:
Instead of folding this card in half, measure your paper so that it fits the whole card. Then, line the bottom of the card with ribbon or yarn for a “fancier” look, if you want. I wrote Leav’s poem “Xs and Os” to fit the whole width of the card:
Love is a game
of tic-tac-toe
constantly waiting,
for the next x or o.
Instead of writing out “x” or “o,” I found tiny clothespins ($0.99 at A.C. Moore) to make a little clothesline. To do this, first cut three separate pieces of yarn or ribbon and make little knots at each end. Glue the yarn at the knots in three loops that connect at the ends to the card. Then, cut out an X and an O, and a little square to write “or” on out of a different color cardstock. Finally, attach the cut outs to the yarn with the clothespins (they actually work!)
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Card Four:
The simplest of the four cards, take two different colors of cardstock out of your leftover scraps and glue them to the bottom ¾ of the card. Because my scraps were different sizes, I added a doily in the center to act as a sort of centerpiece. Then, I used the last stanza of Leav’s “A Timeline” as my quote:
The briefest moment
shared with you—
the longest
on my mind.
Very cute and easy to make, and because of its size, you could use any quote or saying you want! And the back is empty for a personal note.
So, take some time out of your busy schedules to make some cards for the people you love this Valentine’s Day. And, pick up a copy of Love & Misadventure!