Hello friends!
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and today I’m sharing a Valentine card I created earlier, built around a layered wreath design using the Mini Delight: Expressions of the Heart Stamp & Die Set as the main focus. This compact set provided everything needed to build the wreath and create the overall design, with only a few optional supporting products added along the way. The result is a cohesive wreath card that highlights how versatile this Mini Delight set can be.
Before starting the card, I spent some time thinking about the color combination. Since this Mini Delight Set naturally leans toward love-themed projects, the color palette plays an important role in how the card feels overall.
I often struggle with classic Valentine combinations like red and white or traditional pinks, as they can quickly feel too predictable. For this design, I wanted something more grounded and slightly rustic. After some experimenting, I settled on a deep red and green color palette and chose Crafty Necessities: Marshland Cardstock for the background to help soften the contrast and anchor the wreath visually.
CREATING ZERO-WASTE DIE-CUT PIECES
To build the wreath, I started by die-cutting the zero-waste heart design from the Mini Delight: Expressions Of The Heart Die Set.
I die cut the design:
- Twice from Crafty Necessities: Heart Beat Cardstock
- Once from Crafty Necessities: Forest Glades Cardstock
This single die cut produces a variety of small pieces in one pass, which makes it perfect for assembling a detailed wreath without additional dies. I set all of the pieces aside and moved on to preparing the card base before assembling the wreath itself.
BUILDING A DIMENSIONAL FRAME
Before assembling the wreath, I created a dimensional frame to support the design.
I used a larger frame die from the Picture Frame Die Set and die cut it five times from Crafty Necessities: Marshland Cardstock.
I stacked the layers together using liquid glue to create a sturdy frame. This approach adds dimension while keeping the frame stable and clean, avoiding the uneven look that foam adhesive can sometimes create.
Once assembled, I adhered the frame onto an A2 panel, also cut from Crafty Necessities: Marshland Cardstock, creating a solid foundation for the main focal point.
ASSEMBLING THE WREATH DESIGN
With the frame in place, I began assembling the wreath itself.
I started by arranging the red die-cut pieces into a loose circular shape. Once the base of the wreath was established, I tucked the green die cuts in and around the red elements.
Layering the colors this way helped create depth while keeping the wreath balanced and visually cohesive.
Next, I placed two hearts in the center of the wreath—one red and one green. I popped them up slightly so they sit at about the same height as the dimensional frame. This keeps the center of the wreath visually connected to the rest of the design and prevents it from feeling recessed.
CREATING SENTIMENTS THAT BLEND INTO THE DESIGN
For the sentiments, I used the coordinating stamps from the Mini Delight: Expressions Of The Heart Stamp Set.
I white heat embossed the sentiments onto Crafty Necessities: Grapevine Cardstock and trimmed them into narrow strips. Each sentiment was popped up with foam adhesive and placed directly onto the wreath.
INTEGRATING SENTIMENTS INTO THE WREATH
Rather than treating the sentiments as separate elements, my goal was to make them feel like part of the wreath itself—almost like decorative accents woven into the design.
FINISHING TOUCHES AND EMBELLISHMENTS
To accentuate the design, I added the smaller heart shapes created by the same zero-waste die. These tiny elements were adhered around the wreath to fill small gaps and reinforce the circular flow of the design.
I also added Red Cosmos Enamel Dots in the Grapevine color as embellishments. Since the grapevine cardstock was already used for the sentiments, I wanted to repeat that color elsewhere on the card to keep the design visually balanced.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This wreath card shows how much you can create with a single thoughtfully designed product. The Mini Delight: Expressions of the Heart Stamp & Die Set made it easy to build a layered wreath while keeping the process efficient and approachable. And since it’s a Zero-Waste product – you’re left with a cute cover plate design to use in another project.
By using a restrained color palette, stacking die cuts for dimension, and treating sentiments as part of the wreath design, this card feels cohesive, balanced, and easy to adapt for other love-themed occasions.
I hope this card inspires you to give the idea a try, and don’t be afraid to experiment with non-traditional color combinations.
SUPPLIES
If you’re curious about the supplies I used, they’re all listed below. I use compensated affiliate links where possible—meaning I earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Just click the letter codes to shop from your favorite retailers: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Altenew (AN), Scrapbook.com (SC), Amazon (AZ), Spellbinders (SB), Papertrey Ink (PTI), and more.
I truly appreciate your support!
 Altenew Mini Delight: Expressions Of The Heart Stamp & Die Set Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Picture Frame Die Set Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Crafty Necessities: Heart Beat Cardstock Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Crafty Necessities: Forest Glades Cardstock Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Crafty Necessities: Marshland Cardstock Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Crafty Necessities: Grapevine Cardstock Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder Click A Shop: SSS | AN |
 Altenew Red Cosmos Enamel Dots Click A Shop: AN |
