I have four free templates you can download to make these card designs!

Tool and Supply List:

Cardstock
Clean scrap paper
Bone folder
Metal ruler
Craft knife (X-Acto or something similar)
Palette (could be a real ink palette or plastic lid, piece of freezer paper, etc.)
Cutting mat
Pencil
Eraser
Rubber stamps (Valentine themed, postal themed, alphabet stamps)
Stamping ink pads and re-inkers in the following colors: Black, dark brown, rust brown, red, lt. ochre, hot pink, lt. gray, lt. tan
Acrylic stamp mounting blocks
Scoring tool
Double-sided tape
Paper cutter
Heart shaped punches
Alphabet stencil (optional)
Markers (optional)
Colored pencils (optional)
Standard hole punch
Scissors
Decorative scissors with postage stamp perforation pattern or deckle edge pattern
Glue stick
Masking tape
Unused white plastic eraser with flat sides (like Magic Rub)
Small heart cookie cutter (for Card 4) or heart punch or stencil

Card 1 – Faux Postage Valentine

• Download template “Faux Postage Valentine” and print out on cardstock if you are able, otherwise print on text-weight paper.http://www.carolynsstampstore.com/catalog/members/valentines_2016_1.pdf
• Cut out the two viewfinders and if you printed out the template on text-weight paper laminate to scrap cardstock or chipboard with a glue stick for durability. Cut out the two centers and keep for tracing.
• Stamp background stamps in a variety of light to medium colors on light colored papers. For my samples I used inks in the neutral range on pastel and neutral papers.
• Use the viewfinder labeled “Viewfinder for inner piece” and trace in pencil on the backs of your stamped pieces a number of rectangles for the inner pieces. Make more than you need in case you make any stamping mistakes and need extras. Cut out pieces.

• Choose ink colors for the edges of the inner pieces. Squirt a little ink onto a palette and use your flat-sided eraser to apply to all the edges. A color of medium intensity or darkness is a good choice.
• Next we will be adding the letters L, O, V, and E to these pieces. An easy way is to stamp the letters with alphabet stamps in black.
• A variation is to stamp a plain heart stamp in red and pink in the pieces first then stamp a smaller alphabet set in black. Make sure the heart ink is dry first before stamping the letters or the ink may blur (see below).

• Another option if you want to use a smaller stamp set is to stamp hearts in brown then glue on heart shaped punch-outs that have been stamped with letters in black (see below).

• If you have an alphabet stencil in the right size range you could also add the letters by tracing with marker and coloring in with marker and colored pencil. Markers can make some rubber stamp inks smear so test first before coloring (see below).

• Next select some patterned papers that would make good edges for your lettered pieces. This is a good way to use up some scraps if you have them in harmonious colors. Use the viewfinder labeled “Viewfinder for edge piece” and trace in the window in pencil on the backs of your patterned papers. cut out an assortment of rectangles with patterned scissors – stamp perforation and deckle edge patterns are particularly effective for simulating the look of a postage stamp. See what inner pieces look best on which outer pieces and glue down when you’ve made your choices.
• Arrange your letter pieces on a piece of scrap paper and stamp some accents with small stamps that reinforce the postal and Valentine themes.
• Choose a piece of cardstock that would make a good ground for your card and cut it into an 8″ x 5.25″ piece. Score it down the middle and fold in half. Flatten well with bone folder.
• Choose a background stamp that is about 3″ wide and stamp it on the front of the card at an angle according to the sketch. If you don’t have a suitable background stamp you can glue on a piece of decorative paper instead.
• Cut a 1″ wide strip of light colored paper with decorative scissors and glue it across the card front according to the sketch. Trim off the edges.
• Glue down letter pieces on front of card as indicated on sketch.
• Stamp a faux postmark in a dark color at the upper right, or a different stamp that fits the theme if you don’t have a postmark stamp.
• If you like, stamp a credit stamp on the back of the card.

Card 2 – Valentine With Three Postal Collages

• Download and print out template.
  http://www.carolynsstampstore.com/catalog/members/valentines_2016_2.pdf
• Cut out and make viewfinders as you did for the first card.
• Take half of an 8.5 x 11 piece of cardstock and stamp all over in a light neutral color with stamp that fits a Valentine or postal theme.
• Glue down four real Love themed postage stamps. If you don’t have any real stamps you can make some Valentine Faux Postage or use Valentine themed stickers. Some faux postage is here: http://www.chasenfratz.com/wp/valentine-faux-postage/
• Punch eight small hearts out of variety of paper scraps in harmonious colors and glue down.
• Stamp a variety of postal and Valentine themed stamps in a medium color such as rust brown. This type of collage can be used in a variety of projects so while you have all the parts out you might want to make several collages.
• Use viewfinder to choose and cut three pieces (1.25 x 1.5 in) out of your collage.
• Glue these onto three pieces of paper (1.5 x 1.75) cut out with decorative scissors.
• Stamp edges in a dark color with the flat sided eraser.
• Highlight with postal themed stamps in a dark color.
• Choose a piece of cardstock that would make a good ground for your card and cut it into an 8″ x 5.25″ piece. Score it down the middle and fold in half. Flatten well with bone folder.
• Glue a 5.5 in x 2.25 in piece of decorative paper across the front of the card.
• Stamp a border accent stamp above and below the paper strip. You could also use a sticker or a rub-on.
• Glue your collages down.
• Stamp credit stamp on the back if you want to.

Card 3 – Valentine Tag Card

• Download and print out template.
  http://www.carolynsstampstore.com/catalog/members/valentines_2016_3.pdf
• Cut out tag and envelope templates.
• Trace tag onto back of collage and cut out tag piece. Punch a hole where indicated.
• Stamp edges of tag with dark colored ink with a flat eraser on both front and back of tag.
• Stamp around hole in a dark color with small heart stamp or a circle stamp if you have one.




• Stamp a light colored heart on the back of the tag followed by a sentiment in a dark color.
• Tie a piece of string or ribbon onto tag.
• Choose a piece of cardstock that would make a good ground for your card and cut it into an 8″ x 5.25″ piece. Score it down the middle and fold in half. Flatten well with bone folder.
• Cut a 1″ strip of decorative paper and glue it down the left side according to sketch. On this strip or any of the other paper strips you can use decorative scissors if you want to.
• Cut out a wider strip of contrasting paper and glue it down at an angle across the top of the card.
• Cut out another 1″ wide strip in a light color and stamp a sentiment on it. When ink is dry, glue in the middle of the wider angled strip.
• Use pocket template to trace on decorative paper and cut out. Trim if needed and burnish glued pieces well.
• Fold down flaps on pocket.
• Trace the small heart cookie cutter with pencil (or use a punch or a stencil) and cut a small heart shape out of the front of the pocket.
• Put double-sided tape onto flaps, trim if needed. Press pocket down on the front of the card. Burnish with bone folder with a piece of clean scrap paper between.
• Stamp the back of the card with a credit stamp if you want to.
• Slide tag into pocket.

Card 4 – Collaged Heart Card

• Download and print out template.
  http://www.carolynsstampstore.com/catalog/members/valentines_2016_4.pdf
• Cut out the two hearts on page 2 to use as templates.
• Make a collage of Valentine themed paper scraps on cardstock.
• Cut a heart shaped piece out of your collage using the inner smaller heart on the template as a guide.
• Choose a piece of cardstock that would make a good ground for your card and cut it into an 8″ x 5.25″ piece. Score it down the middle and fold in half. Flatten well with bone folder.
• Choose a piece of decorative paper that contrasts well with your collage and the background of your card. Trace around the larger heart and cut out.
• Glue the smaller heart onto the larger heart and glue all to the front of the card.
• Trim card and stamp the back of the card with a credit stamp if you want to.