Crafting an 'I love you' card for Mother's Day

~ Local scrapbooker Sue Stephens shares her card in time for Mother's Day.

What you need: white cardstock, ruler, plain copy paper, glue, stipple brush, water-based ink, Exacto knife, colored cardstock, ribbon.

To make this card:

1. Cut a 5-by-25-inch piece of white cardstock.

2. Mark dots at 2 1/2-inch intervals so that you can then fold it into 10 equal sections.

3. Draw off each letter pattern on its own 4-inch square of copier paper. Cut out the "center" of each letter. This is called a reverse mask.

4. Your first section of cardstock is reserved to glue onto the card front.

Using a stipple brush (uneven bristled) with a gentle pouncing touch apply water-based ink through the "L" opening onto the fold. (Be sure to clean stipple brush between applications simply by pouncing on scrap paper until it shows clean)

5. With another color do the same for the "heart" opening on the fold.

6. With another color do the same for the "V" on the fold.

7. With another color do the same for the "E" on the fold.

8. With brown ink, stamp random images to fill the white areas of your card.

9. With your stipple brush apply random colors over those images (cleaning between each color).

10. With an Exacto knife cut/detach the sections of letters as shown in sample.

11. Apply a 3-by-5 1/2-inch solid cardstock to front of your accordion card.

12. Apply a 3-by-5 1/2-inch solid cardstock backing to back of card -- be sure to sandwich a 16-inch piece of ribbon between card and backing to bring around and tie in front. Trim ribbons.

Stamps shown are by Acey Duecy, PSX, Rubber Stampede, 100 Proof Press, Paper Garden, Gumbo Graphics, Stampington, Stamp Francisco, Marks of Distinction and Carmen's Veranda.

Sue (Mills) Stephens resides in the Southeast Missouri region. She has taught rubberstamping, scrapbooking and calligraphy in retail stores and at conventions in the Midwest and on the East Coast. She has been a published artist and calligrapher in Somerset Studio, The Stampers' Sampler, The Rubber Stamper, Memorable Impressions and Design Originals.