3 DIY Valentines cards

Love is in the air! Create your special someone a DIY Valentines card and show them how much they mean to you. With our three simple DIY Valentines cards inspiration, you won't be short of romantic ideas, all of these designs are interactive too making them a real treat to open.

Handmade cards with an interactive element always have an added ‘wow’ factor and give so much joy to the recipient. Plus, they’re huge fun to make! Here we show you how to make three cards for Valentine’s Day each using different folds and techniques. They might look complex but it’s actually a lot simpler than you might think to make these special cards. Both all the design could easily be customised with your choice of sentiment or image to suit any occasion.

If you like these tutorials on DIY valentines cards, you might like to try some of our other categories of kinetic cards, here on Gathered. Why not try this double slider card, or how about this fabulous penny slider card? We love this invisible slider card!

If you’re in a crafty mood, why not check out the best glue gun and best die-cutting machine. Thinking about buying a craft printer? Check out our review of the best printer for card making.

We love seeing what you make, so don’t forget to share your craft projects with us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, too!

Below you'll find three fabulous DIY valentines cards to choose from, see the image below for a preview of the designs and you can click the link below to jump to your favourite design and find out how to make a valentines card:

Jump to your favourite design:

Design #1 DIY Valentines card - magic shutter card
Design #2 DIY Valentines card with secret message
Design #3 DIY Valentines card with hidden message

DIY Valentines cards

How to make a Valentines card - magic shutter card - design #1

Clever assembly and lots of layers are all it takes to create this magic shutter card! Read on to find out how to make a valentines card.

This card design is guaranteed to surprise and amaze the recipient! Simply open back the gatefold panels of the card to reveal the magic window nestled within the centre. A basic gatefold card base is magically transformed by attaching a flap to the inside of each of the side panels and an aperture panel over the top. When the card is shut the flaps will hide the secret sentiment, then, as the card is opened the sentiment under the circle aperture is slowly revealed as the wings are pulled away. The magic shutter card is slightly more complex than the peek-a-boo card but, yet again, it really is a lot easier to make than it looks.

You will need

Basic card kit
Blue and white card
Patterned paper
Stamps
Nesting dies – scalloped and straight-edged circles
Ink pad
Heart-shaped die

Step 1

Cut a 22 x 14cm piece of white card. Score at 5.5cm from each end. Fold each side along the score lines so that the sides meet in the middle to form a gatefold card base.

Step 2

Cut two pieces of floral patterned paper to measure 4.5 x 13cm, and two 5 x 13.8cm pieces of blue card. Layer the floral on the blue, then attach to the two side panels of the card base.

Step 3

Open out the card base. Cut two pieces of patterned paper to measure 4.5 x 13cm, layer onto 5 x 13.8cm pieces of blue card and attach to each of the inside side panels.

Step 4

Cut some patterned paper to 10 x 13cm. Layer on 10.5 x 13.8cm of blue card. Attach to the centre inside panel. Stamp a sentiment (we've gone for Always & Forever) on a 7cm square of blue card and stick it in the centre.

Step 5

Cut two pieces of white card to 8 x 8.5cm. Score and fold 1cm from the left side of one to make the left side flap. Score and fold 1cm from the right side of the other piece for the right flap.

Step 6

Cut two pieces of 7 x 6.5cm patterned paper. Layer onto 7.5 x 7cm pieces of blue card and attach to each of the side flaps. Draw a vertical line 3.2cm from the edge opposite the flaps.

Step 7

Mark the central point on the line – this should be 4cm in. Working inwards, cut from the corners to the marked centre point to form a fishtail shape on each piece.

Step 8

On the right side, measure 2.8cm down. Attach the right tab to the right panel, lining the edge with the fold. Repeat on the left. Arrange the fishtail points to interlock.

Step 9

Cut white card to 8x16cm. Score at 1cm and 15cm and fold in. Layer with a 7 x 13cm piece of patterned paper, mounted on blue card. Place a 5.5cm circle die 4cm from the top and die cut.

Step 10

Stick the top flap centrally inside the card in line with the top edge of the card base. Stick the other flap along the lower edge so the panel sits over the interlocking fishtail tabs.

Step 11

Stamp a sentiment onto some blue card and snip into each side to form a fishtail shape. Attach on the inside panel of the card with sticky foam pads, near to the top edge.

Step 12

Cut a heart from the patterned paper, attach it to a 7.5cm circle of blue card with sticky foam pads and layer it on an 8.7cm white scalloped circle. Attach to the left panel of the gatefold.

Cut a heart from the patterned paper, attach it to a 7.5cm circle of blue card with sticky foam pads and layer it on an 8.7cm white scalloped circle. Attach to the left panel of the gatefold.

How to make a Valentines card with secret message, design #2