My Valentine this Year

 Every year I make a homemade valentine and remail it from Loveland, Colorado.  I have been doing this for a very long time. My hometown is Loveland.  This year they are celebrating the 80th year of Valentine Remailing Program.  I was lucky enough to drop off my valentine's there in Loveland.

I usually just mail them in a giant envelope to the Loveland Postmaster. There the volunteers stamp the outside with a special cachet, and the post office cancels with the Loveland postmark. 

Usually, I have a new idea for next year's valentine after I have mailed this year's valentine. I usually go through a few drafts before I settle on an idea. 

1st draft

2nd draft - mainly work with the Cricut

I got a Crayola marker air brush for Christmas.  I was influenced by Kristan at Friendsartlab.  

It is such a blast to play with so below is my design for 2026.

Valentine Card 2025

 

Well making this Valentine was a journey. This is a hand cut bird out of envelopes and specifically the security envelopes. I started by making full size birds.  

Then I shrunk the design.  I wasn't happy with the envelope in the bird mouth.  I had made a lot of them before I realized. I should change it.

This project has evolved since about June.  Yes, I have been working on these for quite a bit.  These birds are really addicting for me to make. I will probably make some more.  I have amassed quite the collection of envelopes. 

Each of these are unique.  Dear friends if you sent me a letter in an envelope, I probably recycled it into art. 

Time to make Some Valentine's /Re-mailing

I like homemade Valentine's. I grew up in the Sweetheart city of Loveland, Colorado. Valentine's is a big deal in Loveland, Colorado which literally stamps 1,000's of valentines in its valentine remailing program. If you are interested in making homemade valentine's and having them stamped. NOW is the time to get those in the mail or if you want your pre-bought cards stamped. Details in graphic below - link

UNSOLICITED HOMADE CARD ADVICE

Sending good mail feels good. It doesn't need to be perfect. Mine usually look like they are made by a Kindergartner. The thought does count. Adding a sticker, doodle, or a stamp to a premade card counts. Don't do this if it stresses you out. THIS ISN'T A COMPETITION!

2024 Valentine

Well, this one I struggled with this year. I made it harder than it needed to be. This is the first Valentine I ever created with a cupid. I thought that was interesting. My youngest claimed this looked like Cupid's tombstone. Now I can't unsee it. I had several variations of this card. I even included Cupid jokes in some of them. I used my Cricut and some blank cards.

I was inspired in part by Martha Stewart's valentine. Sample below

Time to Think About Homemade Valentine Cards

 Yes, really it is especially if you plan on remailing through Loveland Colorado. Valentine's Day is a month away. Above is a sneak peek of this year's valentine. So, my Cricut is winning. It is Heather zero and circuit 2 new mats. I am lucky enough to have a Cricut Maker. You definitely don't need one to make a homemade valentine.

Need some ideas. Check out some of my favorite previous Valentine's below

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Look at these two cuties.  Happy 53rd Wedding Anniversary Mom and Dad.  They were wed in the "Sweetheart City" Loveland, Colorado.  

Valentine Card 2023

 

I made this year's card with the Cricut maker.  I live near Roswell NM, so I had to include UFO's. I think the stick figure alien family on the back is cute. That was a request of my husband. I got a late start for me on these cards. I really had too many ideas once again. I remail my Valentine's through Loveland Colorado and they get a special cachet and Loveland Colorado post mark. 

Dead People Files- Valentine Birthday

 

I thought it would be interesting to research an ancestor with a Valentine's Day birthday.  This ancestor is from my Lendman family tree.

Hannah Sutliff Hopkins- My 6th Great Grandaunt

Hannah was born to Abel and Charity Sutliff on February 14, 1787, in Waterbury, Connecticut.  Hannah was born in the same year as the Constitutional Congress approved the Constitution on September 27, 1787. Hannah's father, Abel, was a Revolutionary War soldier.  Hannah married Timothy Hopkins. Timothy's father was also a Revolutionary Soldier.  There is quite a bit known about Timothy who was born in Plymouth Pennsylvania. It was said that Timothy killed a bear with an ax and 2 dogs while living in Pennsylvania and Tim's Run was named after his exploit. Timothy and Hannah were early settlers to Morgan County, Ohio and settled near Wolf Creek. Timothy was a farmer. Timothy and Hannah were Methodists and one of their sons, James, would become a Reverend. Timothy was also a Justice of the Peace.  Timothy and Hannah had 5 sons and 4 daughters. Hannah lived along life dying at the age of 84. Hannah died August 22, 1871, in Chesterhill ,Ohio.

Interesting Fact.

Did People Celebrate Valentine's Day in the 1700's?

It was popular in the 1700's to write special notes and letters on Valentine's Day. It wasn't until the 1800's that preprinted Valentine's would become popular.

Favorite Loveland Valentine's

2019 

 I thought I would share some of my favorite Loveland, Colorado Valentine's. I have framed my favorites because some of them are really works of art.

This one is one of my favorites.  I am not sure of the year, though.

Once again not sure of the year.  I just love the landscape.

In Loveland, Colorado they place hearts with messages on the light posts. This is a fundraiser for the local rotary clubs.  I think they sold out in 2 hours this year.  My sister and I got one for parents for their 50th anniversary.

This is a visual of their love lock wall.  People put their love locks on the metal love scuplture.

The above one is from 2018.  

Link to this year's design  - Loveland Valentine 2023

House to Home - Valentine Vignette

 I am missing my love wall.  I did make a little Valentine Vignette above my China Cabinet.

The R is from a salvage store. The wooden heart was purchased from the local Walmart from nonprofit group that houses homeless people. The love was purchased from Walmart.  The picture is a framed Loveland Colorado Valentine card.  See better picture below of Valentine.  Loveland holds a competition each year for the Valentine card design and cachet verse.   My parents usually send me one of the Valentine cards.  

Operation Valentine

 

Just a tiny sneak peek of my valentine for 2023. It might seem early to think about Valentine's Day cards, but I am actually behind.  I remail my cards through Loveland Colorado and will need to have them mailed there by at least the first week of February if not a bit earlier.

I literally had a dream about Valentine Cards.  I abandoned my earlier idea and I literally had 4 really good ideas.  Last year's card below.

I want to encourage you to send good mail.  Remailing valentines through Loveland Colorado is easy and it doesn't have to be a homemade valentine.  More Details here

House to Home - Valentine Shelfie

 

Too Soon? This is all stuff minus the canister from my Loveland/Valentine collection. I am just so so with the current set up. 

Glass Canister from the dollar spot at Target - Large canister $5 and 2 smaller canister set $5.  I like the little hearts at top.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hey,

 Happy Valentine's Day

I don't know if this graffiti has any special meaning, but I thought it was interesting. How desperate do you have to be to graffiti hay bales? Asking for a friend.  By the way, I felt like a total stalker taking this photo. This hay is near a busy 4 way stop. Yes, that is a pile of big dirty snow too.

Operation Valentine Card

 

In honor of my 50th year on the planet, I would like to send out 50 semi homemade valentine's. I have been thinking about this since the fall.  Many of you are familiar with my 50 Sunrise/Sunset project.  I have been inspired by Elise Joy and her various make projects.  This is along the same lines.

I hand cut the envelopes.  I punched hearts out with my Sizzix and small hand punch.  I turned the small hearts into stickers with xyron. Some of the hearts are made out of recycled security envelopes. The lettering was done in my cricut.  Hey, I used all the tools of the trade.  Luckily, we were stuck at home during our big snow, so I was able to accomplish a lot.

I made 50 cards but fell well short of mailing all 50.  I don't know 50 people to mail cards to. I did mail out a record number of cards for me. It was a good goal. I think it always a good idea to send good mail.

What is Saving Me?

We have reached the midpoint of winter and I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's "What is Saving You " I am always reminded it is really the little things that are saving me.  I live in the PNW where it is really dark during the winter.  

Creative Projects

I have been working on two projects inspire somewhat by Elise Joy Cripe.  One is a 50 Sunset/Sunrise picture project.  It is also inspired in part by Shannan Martin and "Just Look Up" and "Human Sunrises"

Secondly, I was inspired to make 50 homemade valentine cards. Picture above is last year's valentine designs. I know that I did not reach my goal of actually sending all 50 cards as the post airs. Turns out I don't actually know 50 people to send cards to. I need to work on that. I am calling this Operation Valentine. Everyone should send some good mail. My hometown is Loveland, Colorado aka The Sweetheart City. 

These creative projects keep my spark going.

Mom Food

I was influenced by Jessica Fischer-Good Cheap Eats.  She makes herself Mom food.  My mom food is a healthy salad. I have been prepping my lunch. I had fallen into some unhealthy habits, so I have been at least having a healthy lunch. The key for me is it is not good enough to JUST buy the green stuff, but have it prepped because my default is easy and really bad for you. I don't want my vegetable crisper to turn into a vegetable hospice if you know what I mean.

Nail Polish

I don't do many girly things but lately I have been wearing red nail polish.  Prior to this I have maybe put on nail polish once or twice a year. I also have some mishaps with red polish. I keep choosing red. My favorite reds are Unbreakable Heart and Cinnasnap

Future Me Mindset

Venison for Dinner, Kate, is always talking about taking care of future me. That has really influenced me. I am not a homesteader and don't have any intention of ever being one. However, Kate's mindset of doing little things to make tomorrow better has really been a game changer. Anytime I think I won't pick up my kitchen before bed or not make something ahead, I hear her words ringing in my ears. This also relates to Mom food too.