Esther Howland, The Mother of the American Valentine's Day Card

Hi Everyone!

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I did some research into this holiday and found some interesting information about a lady by the name of Ms. Esther Howland.  She is considered the Mother of the American Valentine's Day Card.  I thought it would be good to do a video report about her since so many of us scrappers are now making Cards for Valentine's Day.



This is Esther Howland and one of her many Valentine's Day Cards that she created.  

Esther Howland was born 1828 in Worcester Massachusetts Her father was a store owner who sold books and writing stationary. She attended Mount Holyoke College and graduated in 1847.  Shortly after that, one of her father's business associates gave her an English Valentine's Day card.  She really liked the card and decided to try and make some on her own.   She ordered the paper, lace, and roses from England and made a few sample Valentine's Day Cards and sold them through her brother who was a salesman.  She also ran an ad in the local newspaper.  She received $5000 in orders!  People loved her cards and her business took off in no time.   She named her company "The New England Valentine Company".  By the time she retired in 1881, her company was grossing $100,000 a year.

I made a replica card from the picture above.  I used dollies and lace with some paper roses and seam binding to replicate her design.



I used white dollies and lace on the envelope.  I also added pearl bling. 

I put a large pink paper rose on the envelope in place of the emblem used on Esther Howland's Card

The Pink Scrapbook paper came from  the Le Tres Chic Stack put out by DCWV

Here on the back I used a rose pink handmade flower that I had in my stash.  



Happy Valentines Day!!