Happy Valentine's Day!

Lately I've been creating some mixed media Valentine's Day cards to send off to Cards For Kindness. Here are a few of my latest designs... I think they came out pretty cute!

All my cards are A2 size (4.25"x5.50") because that's what Cards For Kindness prefers. I usually start out with a white cardstock base and add another cardstock layer (3.75"x5.0") on top of that one using double-sided tape to prevent my cards from warping. This gives me a nice white border around my design. From there, anything goes! 

I like to use my own original illustrations on my cards. I draw the designs on heavy white cardstock and ink them with Micron pens. Then I paint them with acrylic paints and add details to my illustrations with colored pencils (I like Prismacolor pencils the best!). Next I "fussy cut" each design and adhere them to the card base using a UHU glue stick. Sometimes I add Modge Podge Sparkle to my lettering or other small parts of the design, which gives the card a nice glittery finish. I've even been experimenting with sewing on my cards with my sewing machine!

 

Cards For Kindness prefers that all the cards they receive are left blank on the inside... but sometimes I just can't help myself, so I like to add a cute border and a tiny handpainted embellishment on the inside of the card, just for fun! I also add a tiny colorful punched paper heart of the back of the card. So far I haven't been signing my cards... but I think it's OK to initial them on the back if you'd like.

My hope is that my silly designs will bring a smile to someone's day! Cards For Kindness sends cards to all different kinds of organizations... from hospitals to Ronald McDonald House charities to nursing homes, and everything in between! If you'd like to see a list of Cards For Kindness' partner organizations, you can find it HERE.

Wishing you a very Happy Valentine's Day wherever you are! 

XOXO