Be My Valentine?

If Valentine’s Day is a holiday invented by Hallmark to sell cards, then consider this my formal declaration of rebellion...or at least polite dissent.

This is hardly anything new. My husband and I have always preferred handmade notes of love instead of a corporation’s interpretation of acceptable emotion. Handmade cards are all about the personal and honest touch, admitting that bed head is never attractive, but that the love in this relationship is far more powerful. 

Nothing against Hallmark, since some of their cards are quite hilarious and endearing, but some levels of intimacy, honesty, and nerdiness require that personal touch.

The past month has been pretty nutty, so I’ve actually been contemplating buying a card. (gasp!) This might be a first in our nearly seven years together! Not ready to fully drop the authentic feel of a handmade card, I turned to Etsy and all of its magical wonders. 

Who knew they had so many clever, nerdy, and honest cards! Today, I’d like to share a few of my favorites with you all.

Letters of Love Take Flight

Valentine's Day has come and gone. Can you feel the love?

Since I share my birthday with the annual commemorations for the St Valentine, the holiday has always had a special place in my heart. The day of whimsical love always served as a reminder to me growing up of the love for all the people I care about, friends and family.

Now for seven years, this holiday has been even more special as I spend them with the man of my life. But the holiday isn't about Hallmark cards and pre-packaged candies for us, so we almost always create something personal for each other to truly express our love.

Update: The full length video seems to have been removed from YouTube, so here's the Trailer version.

Recently, my fella shared this adorable video with me. This short from Disney is about a man who falls in love at first sight with a woman he passes at the train station. He sees her again in the building across the way, so he tries to get her attention with one paper airplane after another. The ending is magical, so I won't spoil it for you. This video inspired me for this year's Valentine's Day love note. Care to see how I made it?

Pop-up Valentine's Day Card

If you are a devoted follower of Pinterest, like myself, then perhaps you have often seen the same DIY craft repeated over and over again. Sure it sounds like a good idea, which is why it's so popular. But who has actually tried this craft?

Well, part of my mission here on Tried&Twisted is to try out these popular posts to see if the results are just as stunning as the professional's. Is it easier or harder than they said? Can I add my own twist to the design?

Today, I'll share my experiences with making the popular I <3 U pop-up card for Valentine's Day. Homemade cards have so much charm and personal care. What better way to show that you love and care for someone than to take the extra time to create a love note just for your fella?

DIY Celtic Knot Heart Pillow

With Valentine's Day on its way, it's time to deck the home with an ode to love. In a quest for unique and cozy Valentine's decor, I created this lovely Celtic knot heart pillow. Made of comfy knit jersey, this Celtic knot pillow makes a statement in the room while also providing a cozy place to snuggle up during the holiday of love.

Celtic knots are a design that are near and dear to my man due to his part-Irish ancestry. My search for a new way to use the Celtic knot pattern, led me to Cut Out and Keep's tutorial featuring the idea to twist a long rope-like pillow into a Celtic knot pattern. I love the idea because it is unlike any pillow I've seen at the average department store.

Ready to give it a try?