I love “love” paper. Who can resist the beautiful colors and sentiments? But it can be hard to find love paper that isn’t, well, cutesy – or just too limited to Valentine’s Day. I mean, unless you are making Valentine’s Day cards for everyone in your child’s class, who really needs dozens of papers that say “Happy Valentine’s Day” or are covered with huge glittery hearts?!

This is why I was so excited when I first heard about the Love Notes collection by Making Memories. Making Memories doesn’t really do cutesy (which I’m quite happy about), so I knew it would be fabulous when I saw the first piece of paper. (FYI – this is now the second love collection by MM in 2 years that I’ve fallen in love with — if you can find any of last year’s Love Story collection, pick it up – now!)

The collection includes 7 sheets of double-sided patterned paper, 2 sheets of die-cut paper, 3 Kraft paper sheets,  2 specialty papers, and various embellishments including several different kinds of brads, felt clips, metal charms, ribbon, stickers and — my favorite — a spiral journaling book.

After playing (and creating) with some pieces from this collection,  here are my impressions.

STYLE

The papers and embellishments from this line are truly beautiful. They have a homespun – yet elegant – quality to them that’s sure to please most any scrapbooker.  The colors – a deep red, cream, pink and kraft – blend beautifully, and the designs are very intricate and sweet. Just look at this beautiful array of projects from the Making Memories blog.

QUALITY

As with all other Making Memories products that I have used, the quality of the Love Notes collection is excellent. The papers are a nice weight, and the embellishments are made to last.

COMPATIBILITY

One of my favorite things about crafting with products by Making Memories is how easy they are to work with. Because each collection includes so many different kinds of coordinating papers and embellishments, I feel like the layouts almost create themselves. Love Notes is no exception to this rule; it would be very easy to make two (or ten, or more) more layouts using these products and practically nothing else. Here is one that I created with several papers and embellishments from this collection, and just a few other basics items from my stash. (Yes, I am well aware that it may be the only layout in the world featuring a meat mallet.)

VERSATILITY

This is part of what sets this love collection apart from many of the rest: it is very versatile. Yes, there are hearts — but there are also flowers, words, lines, dots and other shapes. In other words, this is not another collection of paper and embellishments that just say “Happy Valentine’s Day.” (In fact, I don’t think those words appear often, if at all.) You can use these products for projects about all kinds of love – not just romantic love. And, frankly, you can also use them for layouts that having nothing to do with love! Now that’s what I call a useful love collection!

BOTTOM LINE

Whether you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day in style — or create any kind of project with some beautiful papers and embellishments – you can’t miss with Love Notes. Warning: Once you look at just one piece, you’ll want it all.

Love Notes by Making Memories is available at Two Peas in a Bucket. Pieces of the collection range from $.70 for select papers to $20.00 for a mini-book kit.