By Haley Pierson-Cox
Get cute and crafty this Valentine’s Day by sending your pals, lady-friends, and gentlemen callers a handy sewing kit valentine!
Materials
Paper scissors
Text-weight colored paper, at least 6 sheets in your favorite colors
Pencil
Circle punch or compass, one in a 1″ size and one slightly smaller
1/8″ hole punch
White glue
2 small buttons
Mod Podge, paper formula
Wax paper
Note card
Straight pin
Sponge paintbrush
Sewing needle
Embroidery floss, a yard length of 2 colors
Sewing thread, three colors wound into loose loops
3/4″ x 1 1/2″ craft felt
Step 1: Make a symmetrical heart pattern by folding a piece of paper in half width-wise, then drawing half of a heart at the fold. My heart is about 6″ tall. Cut out the pattern and open it.
Step 2: To create the card, fold a full sheet of colored paper in half width-wise then line up the heart pattern so that the top edges of each side meet the fold. Trace the shape onto the paper with a pencil then cut out the card. Take care to leave the tops of each side connected at the fold.
Step 3: Selecting your favorite contrasting color combinations, cut out 25-30 1″ circles and 25-30 circles that are slightly smaller than 1″ using punches or a compass. (I used 2 punches that were labeled 1″, but were slightly different in size.)
Step 4: Glue a smaller circle to each larger circle using white glue.
Step 5: Using scrap paper, cut out an additional small circle. Fold the circle in half twice, then use the folds as a guide to place the buttonholes. Punch the holes with a 1/8″ paper punch, then use this template to add buttonholes to the rest of your circles.
Step 6: Glue the buttons to the front of the card using white glue.
Step 7: Once the buttons are secured, place the card on a sheet of wax paper and seal the outside of the card with Mod Podge, allowing it to dry overnight or until it’s no longer tacky to the touch.
Step 8: Write your message on a note card, then use a pin to create evenly spaced holes for stitches.
Step 9: Using paper in a contrasting color, cut out a heart that is slightly smaller than the pattern that you made in Step 1. Center the note card with the lettering, then use a pin to transfer the stitch holes onto the heart.
Step 10: Using 2-ply embroidery floss, use the stitch holes to backstitch the message onto the heart.
Step 11: Using 2-ply embroidery floss, attach the buttons and sewing thread to the heart, knotting the floss on the back side. Next, insert the pin and sewing needle into the felt piece, then glue the felt in place along the top and bottom edges using white glue.
Step 12: Using paper in a contrasting color, cut out a second set of hearts to line the inside of the card, following the directions in Step 2. Glue it in place using white glue.
Step 13: Glue the heart with the message and sewing tools to the inside of the card.
Step 14: Wish your special someone a happy Valentine’s Day!
About the Author:
Haley Pierson-Cox is a Brooklyn-based craft writer who loves granny glasses and loathes extraneous apostrophes. She blogs about crafts, cats, domestic bliss, and DIY goodness at The Zen of Making.
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