Love Letter Postcard

It's the day before Valentine's Day - do you know where your Valentine cards are? If the answer is 'no,' don't worry, I have yet another idea for you! Last week I shared a fun scratch-off, lotto-style Valentine tutorial, as well as 10 ideas for creative, handmade Valentines. Today's post is a little more serious and romantic - I'm going to walk you through making an old-fashioned love letter Valentine's card.

To make this card, you'll need a postcard-sized piece of white or cream card stock, a damp tea bag (trust me - just save one from your morning cuppa), a tiny envelope (which you can make by hand), a few tiny sheets of paper, and a gluestick. For an extra romantic touch, you'll also need some sealing wax and an object to stamp the wax with your chosen design.

Okay, now you've gathered all your supplies, here's how to get started (I apologize for not having step-by-step photos - you'll just have to wade through the text on this one). First, sponge the damp tea bag all over your card stock, taking care not to get the card too wet. This will give you that aged paper effect (you may remember the technique from grade school school projects back in the day - it's just like making a Magna Carta or a Declaration of Independence!). Set the card stock aside to dry.

While your paper is drying, you can pen your tiny love letter. Make sure that your paper sheets fit inside your little envelope and that the envelope is smaller than your tea-dyed card stock. If you're unsure about what to write, copy a few quotes or a favorite poem - anything your loved one might enjoy reading.

By now, your card stock should be nice and dry. At this point, you can leave it blank, cover it with a love note or poem or, as I did, the names of famous couples from literature and history (I warned you it would be serious and romantic - if you're looking for something more playful, try these). When your card is ready, affix the tiny envelope to the card with a gluestick and press down to secure.

The last step is to seal your letter with sealing wax or, if you'd prefer, a cute sticker.

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