Valentine’s Day. Do you remember your first Valentine’s? Maybe you were in grade 2, only a lovely summer morning, and the teacher announced your name as one having received a card? How exciting was it? Especially if it was that cute boy or girl you always wanted to hold hands with during lunch break?

Today, it is both for those who have secret (and not so secret) admirers, as well as couples. A celebration of romance, the sort we were often brought up on with fairy tales and princesses finding their princes.

Make your own Valentine’s Day card.

What is a Valentine’s? It’s not just a name, but an object. And that object is a card intended as a sign of affection. Long before Valentine’s Day became an industry, it involved people making their own cards.

Of course, we have the materials you need to do your own.

Here’s how to make a very special card:

Beautiful watercolours.

What you’ll need:

• Blank white stock card or watercolour paper, which is paper that is 180gsm or more.
• Watercolour paint, a thick painting brush, a thin painting brush, and a palette.
• A blank envelope.
• A calligraphy pen if you can, though any pen will do, and a light pencil.
• Heart-shaped stickers.

Making the card.

1. Write a personal message inside the folded card. Use the pencil to write the message.

Here’s a thought starter for your message:

Dearest x,

Since we meet you’ve made me feel ________. I feel like I’ve __________ with you.

You have given me ________________.

When we’re apart, I feel ___________. And when we’re reunited, it is like a _____________.

I want to be with you forever.

Forever yours,

Your Valentine, _______________.

2. Write the letters thick, with empty space in them. This allows you to do the next step.

3. Use the water coloured paint and paint the letters using blues, purples, and greens with the thin brush. Then paint the rest of the card in red, pink, and light orange with the thick brush.

4. Viola! Once the paint is dry – and it shouldn’t take long – you can do the cover of the card. Draw something cute, like two elephants with the pencil. Next, you paint them, possibly blue and pink, along with little hearts. Then following you painting the elephants, use the pen to outline them.

5. Place the card in an envelope and delicately write the name of your Valentine on it with the calligraphy pen.

6. Finally, place some of the heart stickers on the envelope.

She or he is sure to enjoy it – because it comes from the heart.

Literally a sweet card.

You can make a card out of sugar cookies – we think this makes for a genuinely sweet gift!

1. For how to make the sugar cookie, visit this tutorial. But make sure the sugar cookie is shaped like a heart. Alternatively, you can make the sugar cookie large and rectangular, like a card.
2. Next, buy a food decorator pen. This is a pen that is often used by bakeries for writing edible words on birthday cakes, etc. You can get one at most crafts stores at their food section.
3. Use the pen to inscribe your Valentine’s Day message on the card. You have the opportunity to make a cute message, like: Be my sweetheart.

So, here’s to love. And here’s to the spirit of romance.

Happy Valentine’s Day, from all of us at PNA.