valentines cards & the minc

Valentines is this week, people. It's the most wonderful time of the year for us paper-crafting card makers. I mean who doesn't love pretty cards and chocolate?





I have a tutorial today for you using lots of fun layers and the Minc to create some pretty Valentines for all those specials in your life.



To start, gather supplies. Part of my New Year's Back to Basic mindset is to do just this. Gather supplies first. Create a kit from my stash of what I am going to use for my project. It makes the process a bit more stream-lined, and it keeps me focused on what I am going to create with.

For these layered cards I used the following:
Heidi Swapp Hello Gorgeous Paper Pad
Minc Machine
Gold and Pink Minc Reactive Foil
Minc Chipboard Shapes
Heidi Swapp Word Jumble Stickers
Assorted Tags
Crate Paper Valentines Cards
Maggie Holmes Glitter Hearts
Hug Snug Seam Binding
WeRMemory Keepers Envelope Punch Board
small shipping tags
d
vellum

For the pattern paper, I chose about 6-7 sheets of pattern. I just picked what I liked. Did not over think this at all.

So let me walk you through how these came together:

1. The first thing to do is make envelopes. Using the WeRMemory Keepers Envelope Punch Board (a must have tool in my opinion) I created several envelopes in vellum and made them to the 3x4-inch size. These will now fit perfectly the Crate Paper Valentines Cards.

2. Next foil the cards. I foiled half pink and half gold. These cards are going to slip inside the vellum envelope. I like how that shine comes through the vellum in a soft way.

3. Next what I did is trim pattern papers. Two patterns per a card. Remember above where I pulled pattern paper to use for my ‘Valentines kit’? I just stuck with those and made them work. Each card needs two sizes: 4x5-1/2 inches; and 3-1/2 x 4 3/4-inches. Notch the end of the 3 1/2-inch paper.

4. Next I needed to prepare some foiled Chipboard, so before I started to layer it all on, I took Minc Chipboard and gave them some shine. I mean it can’t hurt.

5. Now it's time to start the layering. Here's how it goes: the larger pattern paper first, the notched pattern paper on top, and then the vellum envelope with card inside. The embellishments come next. With the rest of the pieces of my kit I am just going to layer it all up. Again, not over thinking…I got Valentines to make, people!

To start I placed the pieces for each card one on the other. I just wanted to give myself a visual as to where this was going. I did not glue anything down yet. Just layered them in place.

6. After the embellishments for each card were chosen, it was time to create the card: I hot glued the two pattern papers, and the doily in their layers. The envelope has a little space that allows me to punch a hole at the top, so I did that. Then I gathered all the embellishments together at the top and tied them off with the shipping tag string. Remember…no rules…just enjoy layering and adding pretty stuff. Each card was finished off with a bit of seam binding.

Here is an up close and personal look at each:

See how the Minc card shows through in a subtle way.

I also like the sheer effect of that 'happy' sticker.

What I really love about the Hello Gorgeous Pattern Paper is how one works effortlessly with the other. It's sort of like no-fail paper.

A doily seems to just say Valentines.

Minc Foil always adds something special to any paper project.

And that's how I assembly-line a few Valentines Day cards and get them all ready for my people. I love this process and can't wait for another occasion to do it all over again.

Hope you too found some Minc Valentine inspiration here today...

This is a personal blog. All editorial content and projects are intellectual property of jamiepate.com I do receive financial compensation and material product from American Crafts to develop my craft posts, but all ideas and opinions are my own.