Put a little DIY love into your Valentine's Day this year by making your own card. Here are five beautiful DIY cards that are so easy to make!

1. ACCORDION HEART CARD

Photography by Joshua Marquez

MATERIALS

• Dinner plate (about 11")
• 8.5" x 11" ombré scrapbook paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• 8.5" x 11" white cardstock
• Glue gun

HOW TO

1. Centre the dinner plate on the scrapbook paper. Using the pencil, trace the plate onto the paper and then cut it out.

2. Using an accordion fold, fold the paper lengthwise in 1/2" widths, making sure the folds are sharply creased each time.

3. Fold the accordion paper in half and glue the inner flaps together. Squeeze the sides together to ensure the flaps adhere properly.

4. Fold the cardstock in half widthwise. 

5. Place two dabs of hot glue on the back of the accordion heart and then centre it onto the folded cardstock.

2. HEART ENVELOPE CARD

Photography by Joshua Marquez

MATERIALS

• Large heart template (download and print heart template below)
• 12" x 12" heart-patterned scrapbook paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Cutting mat
• Glue stick
• Paper heart cut-out or sticker

HOW TO

1. Using the heart template, trace the heart onto the scrapbook paper using the pencil.

2. Cut it out using sharp scissors.

3. Place the paper heart on the cutting mat, patterned side down. (Tip: Use a cutting mat to ensure your folds are perfectly straight.) 

4. Fold the left side of the heart toward the centre, so the edge aligns with the middle of the heart. Repeat on the right side.

5. Turn the heart upside down. Fold the bottom part toward the top, aligning it with the edges of the folded heart.

6. Then fold the top part toward the bottom.

7. Secure the envelope closed by gluing a heart cut-out to the flap or using a sticker.

3. OMBRÉ HEART CUT-OUT CARD

Photography by Joshua Marquez

MATERIALS

• Pencil
• 8.5" x 11" cardstock in 4 shades of pink
• Cutting mat
• Ruler
• X-acto knife
• 5/8" heart lever punch
• 8.5" x 11" white cardstock
• Glue stick

HOW TO

1. Using the pencil, mark 1 3/8" lengthwise on one of the pieces of pink cardstock.

2. Stack the pieces of cardstock together and place on the cutting mat. Using the ruler and X-acto knife, make a cut at the mark.

3. One at a time, place the strip of cardstock in the heart lever punch and punch out a heart. 

4. Fold the white cardstock in half lengthwise and then again widthwise.

5. Starting with the lightest colour, apply glue to half of the back of the cardstock strip and adhere to the left side of the folded card. Repeat with the remaining strips, progressing to the darkest shade.

6. Flip the card face down and cut off the excess strips using the ruler and X-acto knife. If there’s any white showing on the front of the card, simply trim it off. 

4. HOT AIR BALLOON CARD

Photography by Joshua Marquez

MATERIALS

• Small heart template
• 8.5" x 11" light pink cardstock
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• 5/8" heart lever punch
• 8.5" x 11" dark pink cardstock
• 5" x 7" pre-folded kraft paper card
• Fine black marker
• Metallic gold and white twine
• Glue gun

HOW TO

1. Using the heart template, trace 6 hearts onto the light pink cardstock using the pencil.

2. Cut out the hearts using sharp scissors.

3. Fold 3 of the hearts in half lengthwise. Take one of the folded hearts and apply glue to one of its exterior sides. Place a second folded heart on top of the first and press firmly. Then apply glue to the first heart’s other exterior side and place the third folded heart on top and press firmly. Repeat this process with the remaining 3 hearts.

4. Using the heart lever punch, punch out 2 hearts from the dark pink cardstock. 

5. Apply glue to the back of the folded hearts and place on the left side of the kraft paper card. Repeat with the second set of folded hearts, placing it on the right side of the card.

6. Glue the punched-out heart about 1.5" from the bottom of the folded hearts. Repeat. 

7. Draw 4 lines from the folded hearts to the punched-out heart using the marker. Repeat.

8. Cut a length of twine and tie a bow in one end. Hot glue the bow to the bottom of the folded hearts on the left side. Take the remaining twine and loop it around, securing the other end with hot glue.

5. VEGETABLE STAMP CARD

Photography by Joshua Marquez

MATERIALS

• Celery 
• Paper towel
• 8.5" x 11" pink cardstock
• White ink pad
• Fine black marker

HOW TO

1. Using a sharp knife, slice about 2" off from the root end of the celery. 

2. Set the root end face down on a folded piece of paper towel and let sit for about 1 hour to remove as much moisture from the celery as possible.

3. Fold the cardstock in half widthwise.

4. Take the root end and dab it directly onto the ink pad, making sure the surface is completely covered.

5. Press the root end firmly onto the cardstock. Repeat as many times as you like. 

6. Add a subtle flourish by drawing a stem and some leaves using the fine black marker.

ALL MATERIALS ARE FROM MICHAELS, EXCEPT THE CUTTING MAT WHICH IS FROM DESERRES.