Bravely Bohemian Favorites

It’s Boho Valentine card time again!

I live in a place where winter hits us hard in January and February. Let’s just say we put up with lots of gray, cold, snowy days. So I especially enjoy wandering into my warm art studio and bringing out bright colorful supplies to craft with.

Each year I spend a day designing boho Valentine card ideas to share with you. Sometimes I pick a theme or run with an idea. This year, I decided to play with untraditional Valentine colors. So no traditional red or pink heart cards. And I love to use all sorts of embellishments in my cards. So here is what I came up with:

Boho Valentine Card #1: An American in Paris Card

One of my favorite classic movies is An American in Paris, a 1951 musical starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron, that follows several artists trying to find their way in Paris after World War II. In the movie, there is a famous (and rowdy) artist’s party where everyone is dressed in black and white. Some guests are in black tie, while others, like Gene Kelly’s character, are dressed much more like a Pierrot clown or mime. I took inspiration from that party scene to create this boho valentine card.

This card starts with white card stock. I cut a strip of black cardstock for the right side. Once attached to the cardstock, I punched 7 evenly spaced holes down the right side. Then I also punched 7 staggered holes on the left side of the card. These can be done with a long-reach hole punch or with a hammer and punch tool from an eyelet setting kit. Next I took black and white twine, taped the end to the inside of the card and laced it back and forth through the holes several times. When I was happy with the pattern, I opened the card and secured the second end on the inside with tape.

Next up, I cut a strip of red paper and wove that through some of the twine. In my stash, I found red metallic circles (2 1/2″) and chose that to be the background of the centerpiece of the card. You can also cut this circle with your Sizzix or Cricut or a large circle punch out of metallic cardstock. Using my Sizzix, I also cut the heart shaped dreamcatcher in black cardstock. Before gluing it to the red circle, I added more embellishments from my stash: a piece of white feather and part of a metal and crystal branch I found on clearance in the bridal aisle of a craft store.

On the left side of the card, I added a strip of harlequin black and white ribbon. Then to finish off the card, I glued 3 felt hearts to the top left side of the card, followed by 3 gem hearts to the bottom right side of the card.

My trick to keeping all of these layers in place? A touch of papercrafting glue, like monoadhesive, plus I use lots of 3-dimensional tape. I like this card, because even though it has a lot going on, it is complex and interesting. It is also attention grabbing just like the over the top party in An American in Paris.

Rookie Advice: If you design as you go like I do, curate your card. Figure out where you want the focal point to be, then fuss with your layers and embellishments until the card feels right…It should have visual appeal and some sort of balance.

Boho Valentine Card #2: Gold is Great!

The next boho Valentine card is themed in gold. There is something very romantic and subtle about using gold in artwork.

I started with cream parchment cardstock for the background. I had a stash of pre-made gold patterned tags and decided to arrange them in a group of 3. The background needed a little more so I used one of my absolute favorite craft supplies: Sheer cream organza ribbon to help direct the eye to the middle of the card. Then on top of the 3 gold tags, I found faux wax seal stickers that add a lot of dimension to the card. I put one seal on each tag. To finish off the card, I used 2 strips of gold organza ribbon to frame the card.

Rookie Advice: When designing your cards, it often needs a little more or a little less. DON’T glue or tape anything down until you are satisfied with how you want the card to look.

Boho Valentine Card #3: Bright Feather Time!

It’s time for some color for Boho Valentine card #3! For this card, I started with the embellishments. I knew I wanted to build a card around the wood colorful wood feather buttons I had hanging out in my craft stash. From there, I chose the turquoise card stock. I then found a fantastic feather embossing folder, so I sent the front part of the card through my Sizzix machine to give the background of the card some texture.

Rookie Advice: Before using an embossing folder or intricate cutting die, gently mist your cardstock with water. This will keep the layers in the paper from cracking in the machine.

Next up, I cut a 1 1/4″ strip of aqua cardstock and placed that horizontally across the center of the card. I then took two scraps of red paper, 1/4″ wide each and set them vertically down each edge of the card. Across the middle, I used 6 multi-colored wood feather buttons and arranged them so they alternate direction across the center of the card. To finish things off, I used a cutting die and my Sizzix machine to cut the love arrow in red cardstock.

This card is fairly simple but I love the dimension and the way colors pop.

Boho Valentine Card #4: Frilly Victorian Simplicity

As you know from other posts in my blog, I love me some steampunk vibes and Victorian history in general. Being from the Northeast, we are still surrounded by the remnants of an era of influential wealth and architecture. The late 1800s was a time of innovation but also a time of extremely proper ettiquette. Yet many people thrived in that atmosphere. Some were caught up in the wealthy keep up with the Joneses mentality. Some spoke out on human conditions to change the lives of the poor and working class immigrants. And some people just found a way, as always, to make life unique despite the cultural norms of the time. How very bohemian!

For Boho Valentine Card #4, I went with a very traditional Victorian card. I started with cream colored cardstock. Using a Stampin’ Up stamp set I’ve had for next to forever, Love Always, I stamped the large heart on extra cream cardstock in clear pigment ink (or you can use a Versamark pad) and then used bright gold embossing powder and a heat gun to set the heart. I then cut the heart out. On the actual card front, I used smaller flower stamps and stamped them on the top and bottom of the card in clear pigment ink. I then also embossed them these 6 flowers in the same bright gold embossing powder. Next, I cut two strips of cream colored classic double sided satin picot ribbon. I secured the ribbon to the card and then arranged the heart on top.

This card is simple, but elegant and perfect for Valentine’s Day or even a wedding.

Boho Valentine Card #4: Textured, Tender Hearts

And for the last boho valentine card, I decided to play with groups of 3 again. Somewhere along the way, I purchased some really pretty wood cut hearts and flower tags that remind me of Victorian wallpaper.

I started with white cardstock this time. I loved the pretty tags, so I overlapped 3 of them onto the card front. If you don’t have precut tags, you can use a cutting die and your Sizzix or Cricut to create your own. Next, I added the wood hearts. Using three different hearts gives the card some extra interest. I cut two lengths of cream double-sided satin picot ribbon and arranged them above and below the wood hearts above the tags. Then I cut three shorter lengths to knot onto the top of the tags and trimmed the ends of the tag ribbons at an angle.

This card was easy to assemble. I like that the tag ribbons hang off the top of the card and the wood hearts add dimension to the front of the card.

I hope you’re enjoying these boho valentine card ideas! I also hope they inspire you to go visit your craft stash and create your own.

For more boho card inspiration, click here and here.

To shop Sizzix machines, cutting dies and more, click here.

Shop Cricut machines and supplies here.

And click here to shop a wide range of heart cutting dies.