Happy Valentine's Day.....if you even participate anymore. I happen to feel like once you get past the age where you pass them out in class, store bought Valentines are no es necessito. I mean.....flip one over....go ahead.....I'll wait............At LEAST $4 right? INSANE. For what?? Paper that you will presumably tuck in a drawer one day until you get that feeling that you need to purge the entire house of ALL of the clutter. So you finally ditch it along with all of those holiday family photo cards that people send you that you have no idea what to do with past January 1st. I guess I feel like if I wait long enough I won't feel as bad throwing people's children in the garbage. It's either that or I have stuff to make the creepiest scrap books of all time.
Plus.......a store bought card says...."I love you so much I completed a fiduciary transaction!" Big freaking whoop! But what if you MADE the card! Oh man......You're true love would see it, know how much you love them, and truly appreciate the care and thought that you put into this token of love! At least, they better.........
STAY HOME!!! IF YOU DON'T HAVE STUFF TO MAKE A CARD IN YOUR HOUSE YOU'RE JUST NOT LOOKING HARD ENOUGH....DID YOU CHECK THE RECYCLING BIN? :
- 2 pieces of construction paper- I chose pink and black because.......c'mon....you know.......like sexy lingerie....sexy construction paper lingerie..........Great, now I'm blushing.
- glue sticks, tape, crazy glue, Mod Podge- Choose your favorite or most available adhesion method. I think we all know I'm on team Low Mess. I went with good ol' skin-bonding crazy glue! Even used a bit of tape for good measure. Turns out I'm out of glue sticks, lost my Elmer's, and running dangerously low on staples. Need to make a craft run. Maybe I'll just jump into the world of glue sticks! Dare to dream.
- fun stuff- Heart candies, lace, little flowers or pictures that you've removed from old cards, maybe even use those heads of the thoughtful families who sent you those holiday cards. Draw a little pair of wings on those heads and BOOM. Recycled cherubs that you already know and love..........yup.......still weird. I DO NOT know what you want me to do with those.
- emotions- While they do not have to be out in the open for the whole free world to see, they should be located somewhere in the depths of your soul. Failing to locate, acknowledge, and/or use said emotions will result in the immediate forfeiture of your handmade card.
- stick on letters- Unless you have the gift of penmanship. But you're definitely going to loose that ransom letter charm that comes with my card.
- Line up your two pieces of construction paper and fold in half. You've seen cards right? Put tiny dabs of glue on the corners of the inside of this situation. So then the inside will be one color, and the outside, the other. Otherwise it looks like a weak little book instead of a big strong card.
- Add your fun stuff! I happen to have those red doille hearts already. I also took the liberty of cutting out a silohuette of Darth Vader in super sparkly self adhesive smooshy foam. They sell it by the sheet in the scrapbooking section. Made that little $2 investment for my "fire flower bridesmaid bouquets" and I'm still finding uses for it.
- BE HILARIOUS while thinking of what you want to write in your card. You can't write something serious in a homemade card with Darth Vader on it. Actually. Scratch that. We're going to be very serious. DEADLY serious. DARKLY serious. MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
- Wait until your lov-AH goes to bed, or get up WAY before them.....and place your card in the first place they will look in the morning. Unless that's the back of the toilet. Then maybe just put it by the coffee.
- Reap copious amounts of gratitude and smooches from someone who hasn't even brushed their teeth yet. This is true love.
Now instead of running out to the store, or trying to make a last minute reservation, you can just rummage through your home in your comfy pants. Just hide away in a room claiming a Valentine's Day surprise is in the making and you've got a couple hours of peace and quiet all to yourself. And so do they! And truly isn't that the best gift of them all?
:) Brooke