Victorian Heart Card in a Woven Paper Envelope

A handmade gift is a gift from the heart. The envelope for this beautiful Victorian card is made with a woven paper crafting technique that seems intricate, but is pretty simple in execution.

Supplies

Computer with document software and printer
Ruler Pencil Scissors
2 (12" square) decorative sheets of paper for envelope
1 (8 1/2" X 11") sheet cardstock Victorian scrapbook embellishments (sticker, buttons, bows)
Adhesive products (Zots 3-D adhesive dots, double-stick tape, white glue)

Directions

To make the envelope pattern, open your document program and type the capital letter "U". Highlight the "U" and select the Century Gothic font at 500 points. Print it on a sheet of white paper from your computer.

Mark the "U" so that it is 4 1/2 inches long. Then, use a ruler to draw a line across the width of the "U" at the 4 1/2-inch length mark.

Cut around the outer rounded part of the "U" and across the straight part, trimming it 4 1/2 inches long. Do not cut along the interior line of the "U".

Divide the "U" into 3 equal sections across the width. Use a ruler to draw 2 lines from the straight part up to 3/4-inch from the rounded part of the "U". Cut slits along these lines starting from the straight part - do not cut through the rounded part.

You've made the heart envelope pattern!

Fold the decorative paper in half. Place the pattern on the paper, lining up the pattern's straight edge with the decorative paper's fold.

Trace the outer edge of the pattern and trace the 2 cut lines in the slits. Cut out the pattern from the decorative paper. Repeat the process with the other sheet of decorative paper.

Refer to the video for this step. Start with 2 outside strips on each decorative paper piece.

Weave the strips together in an over under pattern. But, make sure the you insert the strips inside each other with each weave. For example:

The floral "weaving" strip is inserted into the green strip.

Then, the middle green strip would be inserted into the floral "weaving" strip.

Finally, the floral "weaving" strip would be inserting into the last green strip.

For the next row, start by inserting the green strip into the floral strip, or the opposite of what you did for the first row, to create the woven look. Continue weaving strips until you've finished the woven heart envelope.

Place the envelope on the cardstock and trace it. Cut the heart shape out of the cardstock.

Decorate the envelope and card insert with Victorian-style embellishments. Slip the card into the envelope and give it to mom on Mother's Day.