I have created two very different valentines to share—a stricken little monster and a slightly grotesque heart. If you’re like me, and struggle with the sappy messages in many greeting cards, maybe one of my offbeat valentines will be the right fit for your special someone.
Button “My heart is yours” PDF
Button “Could you love a monster” PDF
So what’s the story with the monster? Long ago I sculpted a little clay gargoyle, about five inches tall. I painted him solid white. It was February. I gave him a little heart sign that said, “Could you love a monster?” and sold him at the annual Tiny Art Show at Emerge Gallery for $10. Since then, the phrase “Could you love a monster?” has stuck with me. We’ve all been at that vulnerable place in a relationship where we question whether we are ready to dive deeper into a relationship or not. It can feel like asking someone to love a monster. Gosh, isn’t love lovely, even when it’s devastating?
We all know what Valentine’s Day has become, a competition of who can send and receive the most embarrassing amount of flowers and gifts to their significant other at work. I don’t think any holiday is required to express how you feel to a person, but if having a day marked on a calendar inspires people to step outside their comfort zone and take that risk, I’m all for that. I’m a romantic, really.
Get your Xacto, cutting mat and ruler ready.
It’s not difficult at all to make these simple 4×6″ cards. And if you don’t want it to fold, you can always cut along the center fold line instead of scoring it.
[1] and [2] Scoring the fold: Here’s a little trick of the trade, if you score the paper it will make it easier to get a perfect fold. If you don’t have a paper bone tool, go to your kitchen and find a table knife. Line up your ruler with the fold marks, flip your table knife over so the dull side is touching the paper and run it along the ruler, pressing down with some force. You might want to practice this first on scrap to make sure your knife isn’t tearing the paper.
[3] Check it out, it’s subtle, but there’s a line pressed into the paper.
[4] Get your sharp Xacto knife now and line up the ruler with the crop marks. Be sure not to cut all the way to the edges of the paper.
[5] When you’re done cutting you should have a little ‘picture frame’ of excess paper.
[6] Finally, fold your card in half. It should fold nice and easily with your score line.
Just write your message inside and give it to your special someone.
BONUS: If music be the food of love, play on. Three love songs I particularly like:
Yearling by Jump, Little Children. In the eyes of love, realities change. Favorite lines:
I can hear you sleeping
Like a softly penned letter
That you plan on keeping
Sound asleep next to me
Under the ink of a drying sky
Lovesong by The Cure. A good song to carry a torch for someone to. Adele’s version is good, too.
However far away, I will always love you
However long I stay, I will always love you
Gotta Have You by The Weepies. Nothing warms and intoxicates like love, right? Favorite lines:
No amount of coffee, no amount of cryin’
No amount of whiskey, no amount of wine
No, no, no, no, no
Nothing else will do
I’ve gotta have you