Valentine Keepsake Tutorial

My most favorite days working were the years spent at Gooseberry Patch. I couldn't wait to pick-up conversations left unfinished between the calls I took from customers. Laughter buoyed our spirits late into the night. We forgot we had families and homes waiting for our return.

With each new publication shared with my customers, creative images filled my mind's eye waiting for the opportunity to come to be. You have seen in nearly every photo posted my Christmas Keepsake Frame, a project featured in "Gooseberry Patch Christmas All Through the House", finally, one for the other Red Holiday on the calendar, a Valentine Keepsake Frame.

SUPPLIES: 8x10 white frame (I painted a wooden document frame), printed paper cut to size of glass, cardboard, Valentine Hankie (one half, cut in half), fat-quarter fabric, med. sized rick rack, embellishments, hot glue.

STEP 1: (Steps 1-3 preform on ironing board) Iron fat-quarter in half lengthwise. Pull fabric one inch from center (finger) towards center creating a pleat, iron. Repeat left of center.

STEP 2: Lay frame on top of pleated fabric to determine how wide fabric pocket should be. Push outside of fabric towards center of fabric to create a pleat just inside frame edge, iron.

STEP 3:  Position hankie in a pleasing way. Fold hankie edges under itself to match pleat edges (finger), iron edges.  Excess hankie will go behind pocket front and between pleats in back of pocket.

STEP 4:  Position frame over pockets to determine to how deep you want them to appear in relationship to  the open space above pockets.  Cut two equal pieces of cardboard measuring from inside edge of frame. Slip cardboard between layers of fabric.

STEP 5:  Place paper on top of glass, position pockets (cardboard edge flush with bottom of glass), fit within frame, tuck fabric towards exposed glass, replace frame backing, push down metal tabs. Now for the fun part - EMBELLISH to your HEART is CONTENT!

OH MY GOSH! I did not notice at first that I had chosen a Valentine and cookie cutter that tells the story of my photograph of my very first boyfriend. "Rain or Shine, Benny. Won't you Be Mine?"

Of course my frame includes my lifetime's Valentine, my husband. How cute is his First Grade photograph! Do you notice the little tag I have created from a greeting card Maker's Mark? "Forget-me-not". So sweet!

Oh how I loved my days at Gooseberry Patch, and oh how I do love my Valentine Keepsake Frame!