Quick and Easy Embossed Valentine's Day Cards to Make

Last year, I frequented a stationery store and took classes on how to make my own greeting cards. I became hooked on making my own handmade cards and ended up spending nearly $30 on the last heat gun in stock. Of course, the other ladies were angry at me for taking the last heat gun, but I didn’t care. I had fallen in love with the process of embossing my own cards.

I made a few cards last Christmas, using the embossing technique. But since the color red is associated with Christmas and Valentine’s Day, I do have some red stationery left over from the holiday season. This means I can use what I have, and I don’t have to buy anything when it comes to stationery.

The stationery store moved to another part of town, so I decided to spend my money at craft stores that will offer me cheaper supplies. Anyone who uses stamps to design handmade cards and crafts already knows that individual stamps can cost anywhere from $7.50 and up. A friend suggested that I make my own stamps by carving linoleum block, but I don’t have the time. Like everything else, a person has to shop smart, and that includes hobbies and crafts.

I did find a box of four Valentine’s Day stamps for $6.00, which was a welcomed change for spending a minimum $7.50 for just one. With Valentine’s Day coming up, this is how I made my embossed cards:

Supplies

Heat gun (a curling iron will not do because it does not generate enough heat)

Stamp

Stationery (cards and envelops) or card stock

Embossing powder

Watermark stamp pad

Directions

1. Plug in heat gun.

2. Take stamp design and stamp it in the watermark stamp pad.

3. Cover watermark with embossing powder.

4. Return excess powder to embossing powder container.

5. Use heat gun on watermark design until the design becomes shiny. This will take less than a minute.

6. The card is ready to give or send in the mail.