Cute Crafties: Accordion Valentine

When opened, this valentine expresses your love four times over on its accordion folds. Constructed of assorted fine papers and assembled with convenient craft-glue dots, it's both easy to make and lovely in presentation.
Tools and MaterialsAssorted fine papers
Accordion-valentine templates
Cutting board
Bone folder
Ruler
Craft-glue dots
Accordion Valentine How-To1. Cut four hearts in graduated sizes using our downloadable accordion-valentine templates. For each heart, choose a different kind of paper.
2. Cut a 6-by-19 1/2-inch strip of paper for the base of each card.
3. Using the ruled lines of a cutting board as a guide, lay down a ruler 2 inches above the edge of the paper, and use a bone folder to score a line. Score seven more lines at 2-inch intervals.
4. Once you've completed the scoring, crease the paper back and forth to complete the accordion fold. The 4-inch remainder will be the back of the card -- a suitable place to write a personal message.
5. Find and lightly mark the center of each folded peak. Start at the back peak, and place a glue dot over the center mark.
6. Center the largest heart in place, making sure it does not extend beyond the card. One by one, glue the remaining dots to the card, folding each "peak" over the last heart glued to help guide placement.


Read more at Marthastewart.com: Accordion Valentine - Martha Stewart Holidays 

Cute Crafties: Valentine's Day Glittered Greeting Cards

Tools and MaterialsInk stamp
Pigment-based ink
Card
Glue pen
Glitter
Pen
Soft paintbrush
Glittered Greeting Cards How-To1. Start with stamp rubber-side up. Ink the stamp by lightly tapping with ink pad. Once the stamp is completely covered, lift it straight up. Hold stamp an inch from your mouth and "huff" on it to remoisten the ink.
2. Using a ruled cutting mat as a guide, find the center of your card. Stamp the image onto card. Let ink dry.
3. Highlight details with a fine-tip glue pen. Sprinkle glitter. Let dry.
4. Sign name in ink color that matches stamps. Brush off excess glitter with a soft paintbrush.


Read more at Marthastewart.com: Valentine's Day Glittered Greeting Cards - Martha Stewart Crafts 

Cute crafties: Block Print Valentines

A Valentine's Day card is even more special when it's handmade, and there are a number of techniques you can employ to create your own cards at home. One especially distinctive method is block printing. Dating back to ninth-century China, block printing involves transferring an ink impression of a design carved in wood, linoleum, or other engravable medium to another surface. Once a design is chosen and then carved, it can be used to make an unlimited number of prints. If you're creating multiple cards, reapply ink to the block after each print, and wash the block with warm water, drying it with a lint-free cloth after every three prints.
Tools and MaterialsDesigns of your choice
Tracing paper
Pencil
Speedy Stamp
Large spoon
Linoleum cutter
Various linoleum cutter blades
Block-printing ink
Wax-coated paper plates
Soft rubber brayer
Card stock
Block Print Valentines1. Choose a design to use on your card, such as a heart, a photograph, a favorite pattern, a leaf, etc. Using tracing paper, trace design with a pencil. Center tracing paper facedown onto Speedy Stamp, and rub the entire surface of the tracing paper with the back of a spoon to transfer your design.
2. Using linoleum cutter, carefully carve out design. The blades come in different sizes for more and less detailed work. Alternate between blades as needed until your design is fully carved.
3. Squeeze out a small dollop of block-printing ink onto a wax-coated paper plate. Roll brayer over ink to spread it. The brayer should be thoroughly covered with a thin, even layer of ink before it's rolled over the block. Roll brayer over stamp, coating the raised areas.
4. Place your card stock facedown onto stamp, and lightly rub the surface with the back of a spoon. Gently pull paper away. You may also place the block facedown on the paper, pressing gently and evenly.


Read more at Marthastewart.com: Block Print Valentines - Martha Stewart Crafts 

Cute Crafties: Valentine Rolling Stamp

This Valentine's Day, you can personalize an envelope, enhance a blank greeting card, or even design your own stationery with a customized rolling stamp. As stylist Helen Quinn demonstrates, with some self-adhesive foam, colored ink, kraft paper, and a little creativity, the process is easy and sure to yield memorable holiday greetings.
Tools and Materials1 1/4-inch wooden dowel
2 two-inch screws
Self-adhesive foam
Inkpad
Low-tack tape
Kraft paper, cards, and/or envelopes
Rubber or latex gloves
Valentine Rolling Stamp How-To1. Cut the dowel to a length of 1 to 3 inches, stand it on one end, and drill a hole slightly smaller than the diameter of the screws into the center. Repeat for the other side. Insert the two screws, leaving 1 inch protruding from the handle on each end.
2. Cut out a design, such as a heart, from the self-adhesive foam. You may find it easier to draw it first on the back of the foam. If you want to make letters, draw them on the back, and place them in reverse order on the roller. Remember to cover as much of the roller as you can; don't leave large gaps.
3. Lay the kraft paper, card, or envelope down on a smooth surface, and tape it down using the low-tack tape. Roll the foam-covered roller on an inkpad until it's thoroughly coated. Wear gloves to prevent the ink from staining your fingers. Roll the inked roller across the paper, card, or envelope from one edge to the other. Re-ink, re-roll, and then allow it to dry. The roller can be washed with soap and water; allow it to dry before printing again or using a different color.


Read more at Marthastewart.com: Valentine Rolling Stamp - Martha Stewart Crafts 

Cute Crafties: Paper Heart Wrappings

Opening a mysterious gift packet is even more thrilling when the wrapping itself turns out to be a beautiful valentine. Start by selecting decorative papers; origami paper is best because it folds neatly and easily. Other papers can be used, as long as they aren't too heavy or stiff to fold crisply. Also consider double-sided papers, since both sides will be visible.
Tools and MaterialsTemplateDecorative paper
Pencil
Bone folder (optional)
Ruler
Ribbon (optional)

Paper Hearts How-To1. Print out template; if necessary, enlarge it on a photocopier so that the square in the center is large enough to fit whatever you want to tuck inside (these envelopes work best for flat objects). Trace the outline of the template onto decorative paper with a pencil, and cut just inside the pencil outlines to avoid having to erase them later.

2. Lay the template over the cutout heart, and make creases along the four lines by lightly folding the paper. Smooth creases with a bone folder or your finger; a ruler will help achieve a perfect line. Remove the template.

3. Fold in each side of the heart, then fold down the top, smoothing each crease with the bone folder or your finger. Slip the point of the heart into the open top, making sure that it fits snugly before completing the fold. If you want to seal the packet with a bow, make slits wide enough to accommodate a piece of narrow ribbon in the top and bottom creases of the square. Multiple hearts can be nested, as long as each fits within the center square of another when folded.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Paper Heart Wrappings - Martha Stewart Crafts 

Cute Crafties: Easy Doily Valentines

Create a little romance this month with inexpensive paper doilies. Their pretty cutwork is just right for lending a touch of nostalgia to Valentine's Day.
Doilies supply a bouquet of paper posies to decorate Valentine's Day cards. Cut out a mixture of blossoms -- Queen Anne's lace, daisies, camellias -- and glue them to the front of a folded piece of card stock. Snip, arrange, and glue green card-stock stems and leaves, too. For a less flowery card, write a heartwarming message in white gouache or ink, as we did; seal the envelope with a single lacy bloom.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Easy Doily Valentines - Martha Stewart Crafts 

Cute Crafties: Rosy Stationery

Leafy vegetables make great-tasting salads -- and sumptuous floral-shaped stamps, too. Here, the end of a head of Treviso radicchio yields a roselike print. Cut off stem end with a sharp knife, and stand stem on a paper towel, cut-side down, for 5 minutes to dry. Press cut side onto a large stamp pad, then onto cards, stationery, and more, blotting on paper towel between presses. Vary stamp shapes with other vegetables, such as romaine lettuce stems or even brussels sprouts cut in half.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Rosy Stationery - Martha Stewart Crafts