Paper DIY Valentine's cards. Paper DIY Valentine's cards.

DIY valentine for your loved ones

Bring back the charm of paper cards with a sustainable twist.

January 16, 2026

In the age of text messages, emails and social media, there is something special about receiving a physical valentine. Remember the excitement of sharing Valentine’s cards in school? Someone chose that paper, that pattern and wrote words meant just for you.

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This Valentine’s Day, bring back the charm of paper cards with a sustainable twist. Find everything you need at your local MCC Thrift shop to craft whimsical, one-of-a-kind cards by hand. Find lace, scrapbook paper, ribbons, scissors, tape and more, all waiting for a second life. It might just be love at first thrift. Every thrifted find also helps MCC turn care into action by sharing hope around the world. What’s not to love about that?

Want to sprinkle a little extra whimsy and wonder into the lives of the kids you love? Turn this into a family craft night. Gather around the dining room table, share some laughs and transform it into a one-stop shop for Valentine’s fun worth swooning over. 

DIY valentine's day cards.
Create a homemade gift from the heart. The cards featured were created using thrifted scrapbook paper, plain paper, craft scissors, bow stickers and lace. (MCC photo/Abby Taylor)

Step-by-step Instructions

  • Scrapbook paper/scrap paper*
  • Markers and pens*
  • Lace or any other embellishments including glitter, sequins, ribbon doilies, etc.*
  • Glue stick* and/or double-sided glue tape
  • Scissors and craft scissors*
  • Stickers*

* Look for these items at your local MCC Thrift shop. If your location doesn’t have them in stock, try borrowing them from a friend or neighbor.

  1. Spread out newspaper or cardboard to add a protective layer to your workspace.
  2. Gather your supplies so they’re ready to go.
  3. Decide on the design you want, how many layers of paper and what textures and/or embellishments you want to add.
  4. Start crafting your valentine.
  5. Use markers to create a loving message for a partner, family member or friend. Messages like “you are loved”, “you are special”, “my dear friend” and more are some examples that work for the different loved ones in your life.

  • If desired, do a Google search to find inspiration online or on apps like Pinterest.
  • Choose a design that you can do with the materials you have gathered.
  • Pick a simple design to start as you get the hang of it (if you’d like).
  • Optional: use glue tape for trickier materials like lace or a glue gun to secure more substantial embellishments.
  • Optional: use craft scissors to add more shape and texture to parts of your design.