A Manly Valentine: Introducing the Malentine

Now is the time to answer the age old question: what do you give a guy for Valentine's day? It better not be all sappy and pink and heart-shaped! OK so here is my solution, parts one and two. Part one is the card. Although I managed to slip in a tiny heart, here is my end result, painted on heavy duty watercolor paper, then folded in half.



Simple. Gets the point across. You wouldn't believe how long I spent trying to choose a font. That I could hand draw. And still looks good (not like scribble). After a very serious hour-plus, I finally settled on what I call the e.e. cummings. This font has a real way of bringing out the awwwe. Watercolor, rubber stamp (thanks to Walmart's amazing dollar bin), and pen and ink.

Part two is the jewelry. It was inspired by a cute bracelet I came across somewhere on the internet for an outrageous price. I would post the link, but I can't for the life of me remember where I saw it. Anyway... I made a set: one for him and one for her (AKA: me.) Because we go together like peas and carrots, I decided that was appropriate verbage. I was/am so excited to be using my new metal stamps!


Here is a pic of another bracelet I made of a similar style. Notice this one is shrinky-dink rather than metal, and has no clasps but just a knot instead. I post this photo to demonstrate what they look like on a wrist, and how they are intended to be worn. But of course creativity is always encouraged in my house, and if Ben wants to wear h is bracelet wrapped once around his head or wrapped ten times around his big toe, I don't care, as long as he keeps it creative :)