Veiled valentines … well-chosen scraps personalize the greeting

Sunset, Feb, 1990

Veiled valentines ... well-chosen scraps personalize the greeting Special cards for special occasions--Valentine's Day, a housewarming, "bon voyage"--these greetings add a personal touch. Sheer tulle sewn to a paper card encases beguiling items, and what isn't glued down floats behind the veil.

Making these collage cards may turn you into a pack rat; you'll start saving ticket stubs, maps, foreign coins, brochures; eye-catching ribbon, fabric, sequins, stamps; and words or pictures from magazines.

Snip, glue, stitch, stuff

Besides trinkets, you need medium-weight colored paper, scissors, a glue stick, and white tulle (sold in most fabric stores). Use a sewing machine or stitch by hand. Cut and fold the card to any size, or to fit a particular envelope. Next, cut a piece of tulle slightly larger than the card front. (A word about cutting tulle: in the store, it's usually cut diagonally across the grain; for easier sewing, cut your piece along true grain as closely as possible.)

Divide items into those you want to glue down and those to float. Unfold the card, and arrange and glue selected items on front. Carefully cover with the tulle. To keep material from pulling out of shape, begin sewing along the edge cut closest to straight grain. Sew along the edges, using either the straight stitch or zigzag set on longest stitch. Or sew by hand.

For inserting floating objects, leave an opening an inch or two long, insert items, then stitch closed. Backstitching isn't necessary. Trim tulle as needed.

Ideas for veiled valentines

Prowl fabric stores (or your own sewing basket) for lace, tiny ribbons bows, and other adornments; check at craft stores for doilies and heart-shaped sequins. Clip words out of magazines to spell out "I love you" or "Be mine," or write them--perhaps with a metallic-outlining marker. Scavenge your mail for cancelled "love" stamps. If you have expendable snapshots, cut out pictures of you and your sweetheart; or photocopy pictures. Pressed flowers work well, too.

To create the sachet heart (top right in the big photograph), make a heart-shaped paper pattern; with a pencil, transfer shape onto the tulle and cut out. Open card, then stitch heart to front, following closed to the tulle's edge. Leave a gap to pour in floral potpourri. Once filled, stitch shut. Trim tulle as desired. Sew a square of tulle to cover the entire face of the card. These cards were inspired by the work of Spokane artist Louise Kodis.