3 -D Matchbox Valentine Diorama's

I've said it before, I love to make things with little matchboxes, so it should be no surprise I am still coming up with things to do with them!

I was just sort of making this little diorama for myself for fun, when my son saw it. He really surprised me how much he loved it! So I thought, I could hide it away and give it to him for Valentines Day.

 I had to make a second one for my daughter too!

My daughter is quite the little writer these days, so she got a little wolf typing away! 

Typing on a Robin's Egg Blue vintage typewriter of course! 

Here is how easy this was to make;

I just used a regular old small matchbox.  Instead of elaborate decorating I simply covered everything with a black sharpie marker in one coat. Very smelly, but provided quick and easy results!

I traced the background for size, and did a simple illustration in pencil, added color with watercolors,and went back over the pencils lines with black pen so they stood out. 

I used regular white glue to attach to the back.

To create a 3-D effect, I made 2 more layers, same technique, paper-pencil-watercolor-pen. I cut the image out, but left a tab to attach to the inside of the box, and colored over the tab with black sharpie so it does not show.

The top layer needs it's tab to be the thickness of the inside of the box, so that it stands on top. The tab of the layer below should be half the thickness, so it rests in the middle.

Fold all the layers inside the box, and your little diorama is ready for someone to love!

I kept it simple for the covers (as you can see above) and just glued another drawn image to the front.

Matchbox Valentine Keepsake

Here is a fun Valentine you can make with an empty matchbox.

The best part is the surprise inside.

A little diorama of arrows and a lacy Valentine heart.

But that is not all, one of the arrows is on a stick, so you can slide it from side to side to reach the bulls-eye. 

There you go.

Stick Puppet Stage Valentine

I personally love nothing more than a handmade Valentine, from just about anyone!

Even more, I love to make them for others. So I will share here one idea that is pretty fun.

This will go to one of my children.

Here we set the stage!

Just pull up the curtain flap....

To reveal a sweet couple, and cupid waiting to take aim.
They look 3-d, but there is another surprise...

They are also stick puppets so the recipient can interact

and make their own story.

This is really not to difficult to make, whether you draw your own or not.

Just gather some supplies;

*Thick, card-stock paper

*toothpicks

*tape/glue

*colored pencils, drawing materials if you choose to draw your own, or magazine clippings and/or photos

if you wish to use that.

The card measures 5 1/2" wide x 3 1/2" tall, closed. (7"open)

The stick figures measure about 2" give or take.

You can easily customize this if you are not using an envelope, and make any size you want.

If using an envelope to mail just check the sizing. Here is an example of some options in standard envelopes.

You can glue or tape the toothpick securely to the back of the puppets. I ended up just

using tape, since they were pretty lightweight.

Once you have decided on your size, time to design the stage!
I drew my own, which I think could be really cute if drawn by a child.
But if you prefer to go the printed image way, here are just some examples 
that can be found with google for stages. Print out, and glue to the inside of the card.
Trace the negative space inside the curtain, for your opening flap-curtain.

As I said, you can draw your own characters, as I did, or use images of people you know, such as

you and your significant other, your kids, your pets! Personalize it, make it your own, because that

is what makes the handmade Valentines so special.

Mini Chalkboard Heart Messages

My kids do enjoy picking out those boxes of store bought valentines every year,and they are 

a quick easy, way to give cards to a huge number of people.

 But it is always really special when you get a handmade card. 

It can be simple or complex, but it lets the person know you were thinking of them when you made it!

These chalkboard hearts are a cute, handmade way to leave your valentine a message.