Why Don't You Make Me?: Block Printed Valentine's Card

This Valetine's Day, spread some love (that won't result in a rash) by making this handcarved, handprinted, hand-addressed, snail mailed Valetine for your Sweetie. 

For this project you will need:

• 1 carving block
• carving tool(s)
• pencil/eraser
• a brayer (or a paint roller)
• a scrap piece of cardboard
• a spoon
• cardstock or thin cardboard to print on
• a stamp

To begin, draw your image directly onto the carving block using a pencil with a slightly rounded tip.  *If the tip is too sharp it will puncture the surface and not mark properly.*  If you've chosen to do words, keep in mind that you will need to write the words backwards onto your carving block.  Luckily for me, writing backwards is my secret super power. 

  (I'm the first to admit this is not a terribly useful super power but it's the only one I've got so please try to act impressed.)

When you're satisfied with your design, begin to carve out the area around your letters using your carving tool.

Continue to carve until you're happy with your image. 

Next, prepare your brayer.  I don't have a brayer so I used this small paint roller that I have.  Using some cardboard as your surface add some acrylic paint and roll it until your roller/brayer is evenly covered.

Then roll the paint onto your carved block until it is also evenly covered.

Now, rather than picking up your block and trying to set it down on your printing surface, bring your printing surface to your block.

Lay the paper down on top of the freshly inked surface and using the backside of a spoon, rub the back of the paper to burnish the image onto the paper.

 (Thanks for teaching me that trick (and word) Atara!)

Remove paper and there you have it!

For an added touch, add glue to the heart,

and coat in Glitter, obviously.

When the paint & glue is dried, turn over and address your post card to the lucky recipient of your choice, add a stamp (it may cost slightly more than a regular post-card stamp, check with the post office) and drop it in the mailbox. **

There is nothing more special that recieving something handmade from someone who loves you...except for recieving money maybe but I don't know how to make that.

Happy Valentine's Day!

**If you don't have a Valentine my co-worker Zach said you can just send the card to him, because he's a giver.

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Inspiration for this project came from Jennifer's amazing Christmas card:

Thanks Jennifer!

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