Recycled map valentines - close-up

Valentines from Recycled Maps – “Follow Your Heart”

While hunting for quick Valentines ideas, I saw a sewn Valentine craft on the Housing a Forest blog. They looked super cute, and Nora is quite comfortable with the sewing machine after taking classes from Crafty Stitches.

I had some handmade paper with that nice soft texture, so we started by cutting that into 3 inch x 3 inch squares. We also had a box of medium-sized red, orange and yellow hearts from when I decorated Nora & Russell’s bedroom doors for Valentines Day a few years ago.

Decorated bedroom doors from February 2010
Decorated bedroom doors from February 2010

I found some shiny wrapping paper and we started to cut out smaller hearts. But then Nora remembered how I had made my new Trashmagination business cards from a recycled map. We decided to cut all the small hearts from the map. Thank goodness Nana volunteered to help!

Nana & Nora making recycled map valentines
Nana & Nora making recycled map valentines

At first Nora thought she would write “Show me the way to your heart” on the Valentines, but that seemed a little emotional for class Valentines. So we kept making the cards, and she came up with “Follow Your Heart.” Both are such perfect sentiments but I especially LOVED Follow Your Heart.

Mommy & Nora making recycled map valentines
Mommy & Nora making recycled map valentines

With Nana and me helping with the cutting and sewing, we made more than 50 cards for all the sixth graders and teachers. Phew!

Nora's "Follow Your Heart" Recycled Map Valentines
Nora’s “Follow Your Heart” Recycled Map Valentines

Russell went the easy route this year and used Valentines that we printed from an old Ranger Rick PDF and pasted on cardstock.