Inside the Roben's Nest: A Peek at Fabric Valentine Cards

A bit of nostalgia mixed with a stitched, fabric heart

There’s something about Valentine’s Day that instantly takes me back to childhood.

Construction paper boxes. Carefully chosen cards. That quiet excitement of wondering what would be inside when the day was done.

That feeling, the simple joy of making something by hand, is exactly where this month’s Art Nest Mini began.

For January inside The Roben’s Nest, we revisited classic grade-school valentines and gave them a cozy, textured, mixed-media twist. Same heart. New materials.

Instead of paper hearts, we reached for fabric scraps, thread, and whatever bits were calling to us from our stash. Resulting in valentines that feel personal, playful, and beautifully imperfect.

What We Made: Fabric Valentine Cards

In this Art Nest Mini, we created three different fabric heart cards, each with its own personality and approach.

A collaged fabric heart
Layered with bits of neutral fabrics, grungy textures, and unexpected scraps. This one is all about trusting your eye and letting the heart take shape as you go.
A quilt-inspired stitched heart
Strips of fabric sewn together, trimmed down, and turned into a little patchwork love note. It’s slightly wonky in the best way.
A quilt-inspired stitched heart
A softer approach using fabric as a base, accented with fabric strips, lace, and simple stitching. Sweet, tactile, and perfect if you love subtle detail.

Each card starts with a paper base, but the hearts themselves are fabric scraps from garments, eco-dyed pieces, ribbon, lace, painted canvas, and those “not sure why I saved this” bits we all have tucked away.

Collaged Fabric Heart by Roben-Marie Smith inside The Roben's Nest

Quilt-inspired Stitched Heart by Roben-Marie Smith inside The Roben's Nest

A delicate heart with textile accents by Roben-Marie Smith inside The Roben's Nest

Why This Project Works So Well

This is one of those projects that meets you exactly where you are.

It uses what you already have ~ scraps, thread, and simple supplies
You can sew by machine or by hand
There’s room to change your mind, adjust, layer, and play

Throughout the lesson, I share my thought process as I work, deciding what stays, what gets trimmed, when to stitch, and when to pause and just look. It’s a project that gives you permission to play and experiment.

You don’t need perfect penmanship.
You don’t need matching fabrics.
You don’t even need a plan.

You just start.

Inside the Full Tutorial

Inside the Art Nest Mini video featured inside The Roben’s Nest, I walk you through each card from start to finish, including:

• Choosing fabrics without overthinking
• Layering and tacking pieces in place
• Simple straight stitching that adds so much character
• Deciding when a piece feels “done”
• Ideas for wording, placement, and finishing touches

It’s a fun, encouraging lesson designed to help you reconnect with playful making and trust your creative instincts.

What is The Roben’s Nest?

If you’re new here, The Roben’s Nest is my monthly creative membership where we explore projects like this one through Art Nest Minis, community prompts, swaps, and shared inspiration.

It’s a cozy, welcoming space for creatives at every stage ~ beginners and long-time makers alike. We focus on creating consistently, letting go of perfection, and enjoying the process together.

I’d love for you to join us.

Join THE ROBEN'S NEST

As always, our Nesters brought their own spark to this project by using bold color palettes, soft neutrals, a variety of fabrics, and meaningful scraps pulled from their own stories.

It’s incredible to see how one idea turns into dozens of unique expressions in different hands.