With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, now’s the perfect time to create a keepsake your loved ones will treasure for years to come.
Making a someone personal card is a simple yet meaningful way to hit the mark. If you need a little help, we’ve lined up a few fun card ideas and the supplies you’ll need to pull it off.
For all of these ideas, you’ll need the following:
- Cardstock paper, which can be found at any craft store. We recommend something light colored, such as cream or pink. When you write your personal note, that will make it easier to read.
- A scanner that can capture high resolution photos and images, like the ScanSnapiX1500, which features a large, easy-to-use touch screen and direct-to-cloud scanning.
- A printer and paper
- Craft glue, scissors, markers and perhaps a few love-themed stickers.
Once you’ve lined up your supplies, it’s time to flex your creativity. Here are some do-it-yourself Valentine’s Day cards that are sure to tug at the heartstrings:
Make it Picture Perfect
Sentimental snapshots and family photos instantly conjure happy memories. And you can give them new life by incorporating them into a card. Here are a couple ways you could pull that off:
FOR MOM OR DAD
Dig through your family album and find a nostalgic childhood photo. Of course, you’d never want to cut or paste an original photo—but that’s where technology comes in.
Simply scan your photo and print it on photo paper. With the ScanSnap iX1500 document scanner, you can access direct-to-cloud scanning without the use of a phone or computer for complete ease! If you’d like a higher quality image, you can upgrade to photo paper, which is available at any computer store. Now, with a duplicate in hand, you can cut the photo into whatever size or crop you like.
Fold your cardstock paper in half, horizontally or vertically—whatever works better for your photo. Use the craft glue to adhere it to the front. Be sure you leave some space for text. We recommend handwritten text because that adds to its character and sentimental value.
Underneath the photo, write something simple but sweet, such as: “Mom, you’ll always be my first love” or “Dad, you still give the best hugs.” Or if you have an inside family joke or saying, run with that.
You can also adapt this card concept for other immediate family members, like a sibling. If you find a childhood photo, you could feature one with the caption “I loved growing up with you.”
FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE
Similarly, you can create a card that features you and your significant other. This could be a scanned wedding day photo with a caption that reads, “I’d say ‘I do’ all over again.”
Or, if you can find a photo from your early dating days, scan and feature that with a line that reads something like “You still take my heart skip a beat.” If you have a photo from a fun trip, you could scan and feature that with the caption “I love all the adventures we’ve shared.”
This concept could also be adjusted for a longtime friend, featuring you both in your younger days. You could even add a personal touch, by calling out how many years of friendship you’ve built and write something like “Thank you for 16 years of friendship. That’s sweeter than any candy!”
Whomever you make the card for, be sure you use the inside space to write a heartfelt note thanking them for happy memories. Don’t worry about getting it perfect, either. The thought and effort you put into the card will be evident and surely deeply appreciated!
Get Artsy with Your Kids
FOR OLDER CHILDREN
If you have children, featuring their artwork on the front of a Valentine’s Day card makes it an instant keepsake. Most parents don’t want to part with their children’s masterpieces, but again, this is where technology can save the day.
Simply scan and print your child’s artwork—which ideally, will be very colorful and Valentine’s Day themed, though you can certainly stray away from that. As an added bonus, you can print multiple copies to make several cards for various family members.
Next you’ll cut and paste the artwork image onto the card. You can handwrite a simple caption, such as “This artwork comes from the heart.”
Use the inside of the card to feature a note from your child, if he or she is old enough to write. If not, ask your child to dictate it. And don’t forget to date the card, and perhaps add a little explanation about the artwork (i.e.: it’s title, what inspired it, etc.). As a finishing touch, you can ask your child to add some Valentine’s Day stickers.
FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN
If your children are still babies or toddlers, you can still get creative. Trace their hand in marker on a piece of paper. Scan that image and then print it. Again, you can make multiple copies for several cards.
Cut and paste the image of their hand onto the front of your card, along with a simple caption, like “You’re the best Valentine, hands down.” Again, be sure to date the card and write the age of your child—thank will come in handy when the recipient looks back lovingly many years from now.
You can use the inside of the card to write a note expressing how grateful you are to have this person in your child’s life and explain why.
With a little bit of creativity and some heartfelt personal touch, you’re sure to create a card that will be cherished far more than anything you’d find in a store.