A Celebration of Love and Creativity

In February, Cards & Pockets hosted its First Annual Valentine Challenge, inviting designers to pour their hearts into creating extraordinary Valentine’s Day cards. The response was overwhelming—a beautiful cascade of creativity, and artistic expression that truly captured the spirit of love.

The Challenge

Our call went out to designers far and wide, challenging them to create Valentine designs that went beyond the ordinary. This was an opportunity for our loyal fans, first-time customers, professional stationery designers, artists and crafters to bring all their over-the-top valentine ideas to life.

We wanted to see layers, we wanted to see special shapes, we wanted to see custom printed envelopes and liners—we were basically looking for the finest, frilliest valentine designs in all the land.

Our Part

We got the wonderful experience of printing and assembling all of our entrants’ masterpieces. It was a Valentine treat for all of us here and love was in the air as we pulled together all the custom pieces for each suite. Then we gave them a well-deserved photo shoot.

We once again want to thank our winners for sharing their talent with us, and tell them just how amazing their designs were. Their winning designs are a true testament to their vision and artistry. They will each receive their exclusive box set of 10 of their own designs and a collector’s box featuring one card from each winning entry.

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Have a custom design idea but not sure where to start?

We’ve got you! Our team is here to help guide you through those first steps and bring your vision to life. Let’s make something awesome together!

The Winning Designs

And so, it is with great pleasure that we would love to introduce you to our winners—here they are in the spotlight!

“Forever Inn My Heart” by Gretchen Burcham

“I had so much fun designing these Valentine’s invites! My style leans toward bold and funky with a touch of vintage flair – and this concept was right up my alley. I drew inspiration from nostalgic hotel and motel vibes, which made bringing these to life extra sweet.”
– Gretchen Burcham

Design Recipe

• Printed Custom Laser Cut Paper Shape in Bright Red and Ionized
• Upload Your Own A6 Euro Flap Envelope in Bright Red
• Upload Your Own A6 Euro Flap Liner in Pink Quartz

“Lovable Labrador Valentine Card” by Farren Celeste

“I created the “Lovable Labrador Valentine Card” to honor the memory of my beloved yellow Labrador Retriever, Callie. She brought so much joy to my life with her playful spirit and love for tennis balls. I wanted to share that same heartfelt joy and love in the form of a card as a tribute to her.”
– Farren Celeste

Design Recipe

• Custom Laser Cut Paper Shape in China White, Factory Yellow, Ebony, Bright Red, Bitter Chocolate, White Cover Weight
• Custom Printed Laser Cut Paper Shape in China White, White, Dusty Rose
• A6 Euro Flap Envelope in Dusty Rose

“Sweethearts for my Sweetie” by Jennifer Gibson

This design brought us back to the charm of those classic Valentine’s Day cards from elementary school. It even has a perfect spot for a box of candy hearts—because what’s Valentine’s Day without a sugar rush? The scalloped edges and frilly illustrative details perfectly capture the sweet, sentimental charm of a classic Valentine, giving this design a playful yet nostalgic feel.

Design Recipe

• Printed Custom Laser Cut Paper Shape in Heavy White Stock with Custom Scoring

“Love Story Valentine Card” by Adriana Heim

“This Love Story card design was inspired by the story I have with my own Valentine… all the chapters of life we’ve walked through together, both good and difficult, have only strengthened our love for each other. Additionally, I always loved storybooks and fairy tales growing up, so I wanted to combine these things into one card celebrating the love story God is writing for us, and is writing for every couple who walks hand-in-hand with each other through the ups and downs of life.”
– Adriana Heim

Design Recipe

• Upload Your Own 4.5×6.25 Folded Card in Cover Weight Vellum White
• A6 Euro Flap Envelope in Burgundy

“Candy Shoppe” by Tori Henderson

This design beautifully blends watercolor with a playful candy shop theme, creating a vibrant and whimsical look. The hand-painted elements bring a colorful and artistic touch, making each piece feel like a delightful treat. We love how the Candy Shoppe theme is woven throughout, and that painted lollipop accent? Amazing.

Design Recipe

• Upload Your Own 4.5×6.25 Flat Card in Heavy Photo Gloss
• Custom Printed Laser Cut Paper Shape in Heavy Photo Gloss
• Custom Laser Cut Envelope in White (Custom Request)
• Custom Laser Cut Envelope Liner in White (Custom Request)

A beautifully illustrated card is always a win—but add a clever pun, and it’s even better! This lighthearted design combines soft watercolor artwork with a playful balloon liner, bringing everything together in a fun and thoughtful way. It’s a charming reminder that a touch of humor makes any Valentine even sweeter.

Design Recipe

• Printed Custom Laser Cut Paper Shape in Snow White with Custom Scoring
• Printed Custom Laser Cut Paper Shape in Snow White
• A6 Euro Flap Envelope in Candy Pink
• Upload Your Own A6 Euro Flap Liner in Snow White

“Cherry Heartbreak” by Olivia Mendizabal

This design is a perfect mix of creativity and fun, bringing a fresh twist to classic Valentine’s Day themes. The interactive elements and clever functionality make it a standout, while the mirrored illustrated shape on the envelope adds an extra layer of thoughtfulness. And that cherry pattern with the laser-cut details brings a strong retro charm.

Design Recipe

• Printed Custom Laser Cut Paper Shape in Bubble Gum
• Custom Laser Cut Paper Shape in Red
• Upload Your Own A6 Euro Flap Envelope in Red
• Upload Your Own A6 Euro Flap Liner in Candy Pink
• Grommet Add-On

“Picture Perfect Match” by Leneike Michel

“My card design, titled “Picture Perfect Match,” features a Polaroid camera with a pull-out tab that says “I ❤️ U 4 eva.” As a Product Designer, I’m always finding inspiration in the little things around me—and in the random moments that bring me joy. My friends and family know I can’t resist stopping to take a picture, and over the past 10 years, I’ve ended up with a crazy 60K photos on my camera roll. This collection of photos has had me go back to my roots as a 90’s kid, rediscovering the joy of using Polaroids and disposable cameras. While I love all kinds of physical photos, Polaroids are definitely my favorite—there’s something so special about getting an instant picture in your hands, especially when you’re with the ones you love. This design is a tribute to my fiancé, with whom I’ve shared so many amazing adventures and photos. It represents the memories we’ve made and all the ones still to come as we continue to capture our journey together.“ Here’s to love, laughter, and countless more moments to treasure.”
– Leneike Michel

Design Recipe

• Custom Laser Cut Paper Shape in Heavy Photo Gloss
• Custom Printed Envelope in Azure Text Weight (Custom Request)
• Custom Laser Cut Envelope Liner in White Text Weight (Custom Request)

“in love with love” by Darpan Musale

“While going through SO many ideas for the designs, and planning Valentine’s Day gifts at the same time, I went in designing the card set with something I wanted to give to my loved ones.
I just couldn’t decide on a theme to stick to in the few days I had and submitted multiple cards/envelope/miscellaneous designs I felt could fit with each other — experimenting with texture and patterns and ribbons and lace — leaving it to the Cards & Pockets, Inc. team on which pieces pair well together (thank you so much, you guys are amazing!). 
Overall, when it came together I loved how chic but whimsical it felt, yet at the same time I really wanted the items to be generic enough that anyone could use for any event while hoping to embody the season of love.”
– Darpan Musale

Design Recipe

• Printed Custom Laser Cut Paper Shape in Cipria
• Custom Printed and Laser Cut Envelope in China White (Custom Request)

“How Sweet It Is” by Rachel Wiedenfeld

“When it came time to create my 2025 Valentine’s Day card I set out with “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” by Marvin Gaye bouncing around in my head. I am a sucker for oldies love songs. From there I just started playing and having fun with various elements and it really took on a life of its own. I wanted to craft something that felt elevated and nostalgic but still captured the joy and vibrancy of the holiday. This is my second annual Valentine’s Day card that I’ve sent out on behalf of my Studio and I have no plans to quit this new found tradition. It’s my way of showing my appreciation to friends, family, and followers for their support. On a day that can be fraught with so many mixed emotions, it’s my joy to remind people how deeply loved they are.”
– Rachel Wiedenfeld

Design Recipe

• Upload Your Own 4.25×5.5 Flat Card in Snow White
• A6 Euro Flap Envelope in Red
• Upload Your Own A6 Euro Flap Liner in White

Well, that’s a wrap!

Be sure to give these winners a follow to see more of their beautiful work. Coming together as a creative community gives us the opportunity to learn from each other and be inspired. We can’t wait to see what they will be creating in the future.

We can’t wait to see what incredible designs next year’s challenge will bring. To all our participants and winners—thank you again for sharing your creativity and love with us.

XOXO,
The Cards & Pockets Family

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Feeling Inspired?

Go ahead—dream BIG! We’d love to help turn your vision into something real (and really amazing).