Homemade Miniature Lace Valentines' Day Cards

You can easily make your own miniature Valentine's Days cards with only a few arts and crafts supplies. These homemade miniature Valentine's Day cards can be handed out in place of traditional Valentine's Day gift cards. Or, you can give out these miniature Valentine's Day cards to a group of your favorite people. These miniature homemade Valentine's Day cards may also be used to adorn any homemade Valentine's Day food gift.

Age Appropriateness for the Miniature Homemade Valentines' Day Cards

This Valentine's Day card craft is appropriate for adults and for children who are old enough to safely use scissors. This particular arts and craft project does require some fancy and detailed work with scissors.

This idea for homemade Valentine's Day cards may be adjusted for younger children, or those not as agile with scissors, simply by removing the miniature element from the project. If you need to, use bigger pieces of paper for this craft and it will turn out just as lovely.

Arts and Crafts Supplies for the DIY Miniature Valentines' Day Cards

White paper - any type of plain white paper will do
glue
Tissue paper that is red or pink or black

Tools for the DIY Miniature Valentine's Day Card:

Ruler
Small scissors

Optional Arts and Crafts Supplies:

glitter
glitter glue
tiny hole punch

How To Make the DIY Miniature Valentines' Day Cards

Step One for the DIY Miniature Valentine's Day Card: Make Hand-Cut Lace

Take a piece of white paper and fold it in half. Then fold it in half again. Use a ruler to measure a height of two and a half to three inches from the center of the paper and mark it with a pencil or cut it immediately. Next, do the same for the width.

Cut out the small square from the center of the paper.

Tip: Before moving on to the cutting portion of the DIY Miniature Valentines' Day Cards, unfold the paper to ensure that it is still in one piece. Fold it back up, noting where the center of the paper is.

Start cutting out small shapes and lines. This is the same technique that you would use when making a paper snowflake.

Cut out a heart shape in the middle. Also cut out little curved shapes. Have fun. You can also make the edges of the paper curved or round, rather than straight.

When you have cut about half of the paper out, unfold it to see if you like the design. Fold it back up and continue it. The goal is to make the paper look like lace, so cut away.

Tip: You could also use a very tiny hole punch to make a very symmetrical and even punch outs on the paper.

More ideas on cutting techniques for the DIY Miniature Valentine's Day Card:

Turn the paper as well as the scissors to cut out lines in the paper, without cutting out pieces. Be careful not to cut to the edge of the paper, or you will cut the homemade lace design in half.

Time Saver:

Also, from the folded square shape you can fold it again to make a triangle shape. The paper will be harder and thicker to cut, but this will save you time if you are making a collection of these DIY Miniature Valentine's Day Cards.

When you are finished cutting, gently unfold the DIY Miniature Valentine's Day Card and admire your design. Sometimes the edges get stuck together from the cutting portion.

Step Two for the DIY Miniature Valentine's Day Card: Make the Liner

Place the open and finished cut out on top of a piece of pink or red tissue paper. Cut a square around the outside of the cut out lace that is bigger than the homemade lace. Do not worry about precision, that comes later.

Spread glue on the tissue paper to make the liner of the DIY Miniature Valentine's Day Card.

Tip: it is easier to spread the glue on the tissue because the homemade lace may tear if handled too much. Gently press the hand-cut lace onto the glue. Turn the papers over onto another piece of paper or work surface. Use your fingers to smooth down the tissue paper, the glue and the lace. Add glue where the hand-cut lace is not sticking.

Trim off the excess tissue. It's okay to follow the shape of the DIY Miniature Valentine's Day Card.

Step Three: Fold the DIY Miniature Valentine's Day Card

Turn the paper so the the points of the paper (if it is still square) are facing North, South, East and West. Fold in the edges first and then the bottom. Glue the bottom to the sides.

Cut out a small piece of paper in another color, like red or black (if you have a silver or gold pen). Write a word or a small message and slip it inside. Slide the note inside. Use a tiny glue dot or sticker to seal the DIY Miniature Valentine's Day Card.

Leave the front of the DIY Miniature Valentine's Day Card blank, or write the recipient's name when making more than one DIY Miniature Valentine's Day Card.

Happy Valentine's Day!