An airplane chased by a lovey-dovey contrail, a heart-shaped lock with skeleton key, two little lovebirds sitting on a wire -- these garland-style cards simply require ribbon, cord, or twine. Mixing patterned and solid-color papers helps create contrast and adds visual interest.

This accordion card gives you an opportunity to celebrate your sweetheart's many virtues, call up special memories, and showcase tiny trinkets. Fill the envelopes with handwritten notes, assorted mementos, and little presents such as gift cards or movie tickets.

When you really care, you just have to get all up in their faces -- and these pop-up cards pack a (loving) punch.

A chalkboard valentine allows for countless changes of heart. Make the prop out of foam board covered with chalkboard self-adhesive paper. Write a message for one love, take a picture, and then erase it and write another note. Mail or email the photos.

A crush can be more powerful than a locomotive. It can also be as sweet as a hand-delivered note, or as cheerily optimistic as an upturned mailbox flag. These clip art illustrations require a few simple cuts and a couple of pieces of tape. The little envelope acts as a card within a card, containing a secret love note or special gift card.

What better way to communicate your love to your main squeeze than with an accordion-fold card? A quick print, cut, and crease is all it takes to make a card with a trio of hearts, a big LOVE, or sweet old XOXOs.

Stamping tools constructed from corrugated cardboard and a wine cork make beautiful flower motifs. To make the cards below, round the edges of colored paper with scissors or a corner punch, apply the markings, and attach to card stock with spray adhesive.

Classic valentine messages never go out of style. You can shape individual strips of paper, curling the ends as you would a ribbon, to form letters that resemble calligraphy. Use carefully placed dabs of craft glue to hold each letter in place on a card.

Paper doilies make delightful, lacy sleeves for hand-delivered valentines. Fold different kinds of doilies to show off particular elements of their patterns -- a starry mandala, a ring of wheeling snowflakes, a fragile open heart. With the embossed side of the doily face up, fold in the sides, then fold up the bottom.

Dating back to ninth-century China, block printing involves transferring an ink impression of a design carved in wood, linoleum, or other engravable medium to another surface. Once a design is chosen and then carved, it can be used to make an unlimited number of prints.

These valentines can be stamped out by the dozen, but each one will still be unique.

Cultivate affection with customized packets of seeds.

Softly hued hearts and delicate stitches give this card its romantic appeal.

Tug at your valentine's heartstrings with an embellished envelope.

The petals of these romantic flowers are overlapping paper hearts, inscribed with words or single letters that spell out a message. If you make them with wire stems, the valentines can be displayed in a vase; with ribbon stems, they can be tucked into envelopes.

Friends will be aflutter over envelopes that turn into Valentines.

This clever pop-up valentine is designed so that when you open it, the two people kiss -- a unique way to say I love you.

With just a little TLC, colorful hearts flourish as the petals of a new flower variety -- one with a lollipop center and stem.

Propagating seeds is a little like nurturing relationships: The more attention and care they get, the more likely they are to flourish and thrive. Give flower seeds with little pots that they can take root in. Put seeds in plain white coin envelopes available at stationery stores, and label with an eraser stamp. Use a rubber stamp or make a heart with thumbprints. Put growing instructions on back, noting when seedlings need to be transplanted.

Send whimsical, sweet greetings with an old-fashioned flair to your loved ones this year.

Add some sparkle to your message this month with a glittery token of affection.

Opening a mysterious gift packet is even more thrilling when the wrapping itself turns out to be a beautiful valentine. Start by selecting decorative papers; origami paper is best because it folds neatly and easily. Other papers can be used, as long as they aren't too heavy or stiff to fold crisply. Also consider double-sided papers, since both sides will be visible.

When opened, this valentine expresses your love four times over on its accordion folds.

Your valentine will never guess that these lovely cards were made using items commonly found your grocer's produce department!

Create a little romance with inexpensive paper doilies. Their pretty cutwork is just right for lending a touch of nostalgia to Valentine's Day.

This Valentine's Day, you can personalize an envelope, enhance a blank greeting card, or even design your own stationery with a customized rolling stamp.

Create this card by making signs out of construction paper, doilies, and adhesive letters from an office-supply store. Photograph your child holding the signs, then tape the pictures to construction paper and fold the card accordion-style.

Tell your special someone you love them this Valentine's Day with this one-of-a-kind heart card.

Secure a small satchel of Valentine's Day treats with this festive fastener.

When arranged in a heart shape, the crayon shavings we used to create colorful butterflies as children can reap decidedly more romantic results.

As early as the 1790s, sweethearts exchanged "puzzle purses." In this version, a poem runs along the edges, starting outside the folded square. The text, embellished with stamped and painted designs, is revealed in stages as the card is opened.

Dressed for the occasion, these cards are great for dealing to friends en masse.

Enclose a thoughtful gift -- such as custom stamps, which you can create online using your own pictures -- in a charming heart-shaped envelope that doubles as a card when you write a note inside.

Share your sentiments with a card filled with sweet sayings and quilled hearts. 

Kids can use craft punches to create playful cards that double as bookmarks.

Heart shapes embroidered in ribbon send unique messages of affection to loved ones on Valentine's Day.

The dreamy curves of marbleizing lend themselves to a number of decorative paper crafts, including this Valentine's Day card with a heart cut-out.

Use our printable clip art to create a secret message only your valentine can decipher. 

Earn bonus points for original packaging with these deconstructed Valentine's Day notes: The envelopes don't hold the cards -- they are the cards.

The intricate, three-dimensional, paper-cut cards that charmed Victorian celebrants serve as the enchanting inspiration for this project.

Embellish handwritten poems, messages, and family photographs with intricate combinations of quilled shapes.

Send a touching message with valentines traced from little hands. Just cut from construction paper, and then decorate. You can hand over sweets or a toy ring, or let someone know he's your hands-down favorite.

Send a special greeting with this cute critter card. Choose from fish, lovebirds, turtles, and owls.

More Valentine's Day Projects

• Handmade Gifts
• Crafts and Decorations
• Valentine's Day Desserts