Whether you’re in the “Valentines Schmalentines” camp or you’re already dressed in red and pink from head to toe in anticipation for Feb the 14th, it’s nice to get a card that says, LOVE YA.
Here’s a simple paper-cut card template that you can use to make a handmade card (because if we’re really going to go all-out this Valentine’s Day, you might as well make the card by hand!).
Paper cutting is fairly easy with the right tools and you don’t need to be particularly artistic or creative to get beautiful results, which is why my paper cut workshops and parties in London are so popular!
What you’ll need:
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Craft scalpel
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Self-healing cutting mat
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decorative paper to go behind your papercut
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Sheet of graphite paper (this is the one I use)
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LOVE YA template (here’s a free PDF download, just for you!)
TRACE
Print the template page at 100% on your home printer. Don’t scale or fit to the page.
Cut around the dotted line. When printed at 100%, this square should measure 13.5cm x 13.5cm and fit a standard square greeting card.
Open your card and lay it down in front on you. On the left-hand side of the inside of the card, place your sheet of graphite paper face down and then lay your template on top of this.
Trace along the lines of the template until the whole design has been transferred onto your card. If you need to peek to see if you’ve traced it all, just pinch one corner, making sure you have all the layers secure, and lift up the graphite paper.
CUT
Get your scalpel and start cutting! It’s important to always cut towards your body when paper-cutting. Using a fresh, sharp blade is also important in order to get clean cuts. Rotate the card as you work around the design. Remember to cut along all the lines.
GLUE
Choose the backing paper and cut it to size once all the pieces of the design have been cut out. Carefully use a glue stick to apply glue around the edge of the card and along the chunkier parts of the design. You don’t want to get glue on the front of the card, so I usually just do a few dabs here and there in the middle so that the backing paper sticks down.
Place your card underneath a few heavy books until dry.
TA-DA! That’s it. Write a mushy note inside for your #1 and tell them why you love them!
