3-D Valentines...Circle Frames, Hearts, and Flowers by Anne Thompson

3-D Valentines for gift tags/home decor/ornaments...

These were so much fun to put together!

I started with some papier mache-ish circle and heart ornament forms that I purchased ages ago at a local craft store. The circles are about 3 3/4" in diameter and a little less than 1/2" thick, and they already have the gold cord attached for hanging them up. The first thing I did was to color the edges and overlap a bit onto the front and back of each shape using a red Memento marker. That way none of the kraft paper showed once I added the decorative papers and die cuts.

Let's look at these two first, inspired by this month's pink and red challenge.

I used the same dies for each of these:

the 3.7" circle die from (fall 2017) WRAPPED CIRCLES 30114
PINPOINT HEART CIRCLE FRAME 94106

For the one on the left, I covered both the front and the back of the circle form with white cardstock Wrapped Circles. It was important to use Scor-Tape to attach the papers to the cardboard form. On the front I used the Pinpoint Heart Circle Frame cut from a nice red cardstock, attaching it with glue dots under each of the hearts. I then added tiny pink roses between each of the hearts and popped up the central heart from the die cuts with three more tiny roses on it. I added a pink bow and another rose at the top, on the edge near the gold cord loop.

For the one on the right, I used a shimmery pink cardstock for the Wrapped Circles on the front and the back. I added the red cardstock Pinpoint Heart Circle Frame, popped up the center heart, and added tiny red pearls at the ends of the vine spirals. I tucked some red stamens and three tiny red roses under the center heart and popped on two larger roses. I then finished it with a large pink satin bow next to the gold loop at the top.

For the one on the left, I cut Wrapped Circles from red/white dot paper. I added the SCROLLWORK HEART CIRCLE FRAME 94114 cut from white cardstock. A cluster of flowers in the center, some small white pearls on the frame, and a white satin bow finish this one.

For the one on the right, I cut Wrapped Circles from red cardstock for the front and back of the form. I then cut the BRIGHT HEARTS 94120 from white cardstock before cutting it again with the Wrapped Circles die and then placed it on top of the red circle. I used a few red pearls to emphasize the hearts and a larger one in the center before adding a few red stamens and a red/white polka dot bow at the top.

This heart-shaped one was a little different. I didn't have a heart die that was exactly the right size or shape, so I traced the cardboard heart on the back of the red dot paper. I cut it out a little bit smaller than what I traced to make it fit, one for the front and one for the back. What did work really well with this shape was the center section of the NEIGHBORHOOD HEART FRAME 94102. I cut it from white cardstock and added a cluster of white flowers, some red and white stamens, and a white satin bow on top of the gate. Because I'd already used a bow, I decided to attach pearls around the outer edge, graduating them from largest to smallest on each side of the gold loop.

No forms to work with? Die cut (or punch) circles or heart shapes from cardstock and layer them up to make a thick base. Or use cardboard from cereal boxes or packing boxes or fun foam. You can always cover the edges with narrow ribbon or cording.

Valentines Day is coming soon! Now if I can just stop eating the candy I've already purchased to go with these ...

Happy Crafting!