This Valentine is from my collection of Victorian Valentines. It is one of my favorites because of the subject and the quality of the artwork. Most of my valentines have girls, hearts, doves, angels, etc..   this one is unique in that it has two boys.  I disassembled the card, scanned and cleaned up the artwork and then scaled it so that you can make a full size card AND a miniature for your dollhouse.

Begin by using the link below to download the pdf file which contains the artwork for the project.  This is a high resolution scan, so please allow adequate time for the document to download.  It will automatically open on your screen.  Save the document to your desktop.

TO PDF DOWNLOAD

 There are two pages.  Print these pages out on cardstock weight paper, using your best quality printer settings.  They will print out the correct size if you print them at 100% with no other scaling, portrait orientation.

After you have printed the pages, you may want to apply a couple of coats of Preserve It spray or a satin acrylic spray on sealer.  This will help prevent fading of the ink.

All you need to complete is scissors, glue, ruler, Xacto  and tweezers!


Cut out the large background piece first.
Notice that about 3/4 of the way down toward the bottom there is a white line across the piece.  Place a ruler along the line and hold firmly.  Use a stylus, dull needle or other sharp object to SCORE the cardboard across this line.  DO NOT cut all the way thru,  we just want to make the cardstock bend easily at this point.

Fold the bottom of the card up along the fold line and crease well. 
In the center area of the card back there are two black lines.  Use an Xacto to cut thru these lines making a pair of slits. 

Cut out the white front greeting piece.  Turn the background piece over and lay face down, upside down. The greeting piece matches the bottom section of the card, above the fold line.  Apply glue to the entire back surface of the greeting section and glue to the back of the background section matching edges.

If your edges are not an exact match, just allow the glue to dry and then go back and cut thru both layers at the same time and trim up the edges. 

 

 
Fold the bottom section up again and this is what you should have.
Cut out the long A strip.  Fold the bottom marked section to the back along the solid line as shown here 

Slide the top end of the strip thru the pair of slits that you made on the card back.  As you do this, remember that the little foot you folded under at the bottom should be facing toward the card back.

  .  Glue the bottom portion of the strip to the rectangle marked on the card background, just in front of the fold line.

This strip is what supports the card and allows it to be opened and closed over and over without wearing out.
 This is what your card should look like at this point.
Cut out the two darling Valentine boys.  Fold the bottom end of the white strip FORWARD this time. 
Cut out the strip marked #1.  Fold along both lines, creating a U shaped piece as shown here. 

Glue the front leg of the strip to the center back of the boys, about in the head area as shown here.
Glue the bottom of the paper strip to the box indicated on the valentine.  The boys should be facing forward. 
                   

On the back side of the boys, apply glue to the outer leg of the U shaped tab as shown here.

Next is the trick to making this all work! 
  Lay the strip out flat on the back of the boys and hold there with your finger.  The portion at the top of the photo is the part with the glue on it.
Now, keeping that strip against the back of the boys, carefully fold the valentine closed.
The area with the glue will come in contact with the back of the card, at just the spot it needs to be positioned so that the card opens and closes properly. 
  Press down firmly and allow the glue to dry a bit before opening. 
  When you open the card, this is what you will see between the boys and the background. 
  And this is what the card looks like from the front at this time. 
  Fold under the tab at the bottom of the roses. 
  Glue this tab directly over the tab from the boy's strip as shown here. 
  Cut out and fold the remaining paper strip and fold into a U shape.  Glue one leg of the U to the back of the roses.
 
  Apply glue to the other end of the strip and once again, flatten the strip out against the back of the roses and carefully fold the entire card closed. 
  Press firmly and let dry. 
  When you open your card, this is what you will see! 
I love glitter, so I brushed some glue on some of the rose petals, the boys hats, and the wooden hoop and sprinkled on some very fine crystal glitter.
  This is a bit complex to do in miniature, and most of us would NOT want to fold the card up anyway, but want to just display it in a scene.
So.. simplify a LOT.
Score the line across the background piece.
Glue the front greeting section into position on the back of the background. 
Omit the support strip that is threaded thru the back.
Glue the boys into place using the bottom end of the connected tab.
Make a U shaped strip and glue between the background and the boys. Placement is not crucial if you are not going to fold the card.
Glue the rose into place using the tab at the bottom of the piece.
Again, add a U support between the back of the rose and the boys.
 All finished!!!
 

 

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Copyright 2012 - Cynthia K Howe