How to Make Valentines Using Rubber Stamps

Homemade valentines have that special quality you just can't get with store-bought ones. Here's how to make your own with ink and stamps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Brushes
• Rubber Stamps
• Watercolor Brush Cleaners
• Watercolor Paintbrushes
• Blank Cards
• Acrylic Paints
• Calligraphy Pens
• Embossing Powders
• Glitter
• Ink Pads
• Metallic Ink Pen
• Scrap Papers
• Watercolor Paints

1. Pick stamps that reflect the mood of the card. Are you feeling romantic? Roses work well. Silly? Cute animals and hearts will do the trick. Sentimental? There are plenty of antique-looking stamps out there.
2. Look for red and pink as well as silver, gold, maroon, and violet inks, markers, watercolors and acrylic paints.
3. Buy greeting card blanks at your local craft store. These come with matching envelopes.
4. Unfold the card blank and lay it flat to make it easier to work with.
5. Practice with the stamps on scrap paper. Get a feel for how much ink and pressure to apply and how the designs will look together.
6. Stamp the design onto the card.
7. Make a plain stamp fancy by adding watercolors, acrylic paints, color with markers, glitter or embossing powder.
8. Let the design dry completely and refold the card.
9. Scrawl your intimate or heartfelt message inside with a calligraphy or metallic-ink pen.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that simple is better than busy. Keep your design pleasing by using just two or three designs and no more than four colors.
• The inside message can be a poem, a valentine's riddle, a confession or a love coupon. Use your imagination!