I've had a number of requests for my 'Woven Heart And Hand Valentine' so I've decided to create a mini tutorial on how you can make your own. My Mother taught me this technique when I was a little girl, and its always been a favorite of mine.
Step1:
With a pencil, trace your hand (from wrist to wrist) onto the back of a decorative paper . I've used old sheet music. Refine the lines, by straightening them - making elegant fingers.
Step2:
Flair out your tracing at wrists on both sides - creating cuffs.
Step3:
With scissors, cut out hand and cuff.
Step4:
Using decorative scissors (I used a small scallop) cut a curved end where cuff will be.
Step5:
Now cut out a heart from a pretty red decorative paper. I've used a handmade Italian Marbled paper from the Castle. Make sure your heart fits into the palm of your papercut hand.
Step6:
Gently fold hand in half lenghwise, without creating too hard of a crease.
Step7:
Fold heart in half as well, matching lobes.
Step8:
Now place folded heart over folded hand, so that the heart lies upside down in the center of your hand palm as shown. Make sure folds are tight together.
Step9:
Holding your heart and hand together, cut 5 slits into both layers, making slits equal distant apart and equal distant in length, and slanted up towards heart curves. Be careful not to cut slits beyond hand papercut. I like to start with the center slit and then cut slits above and below.
Step10:
Pull heart from hand and turn so that the hand and heart are facing upwards together. Place heart on top of hand, and gently slip each cut notch of heart into cut notches of hand.
Step11:
Now gently push down on each tip (starting from top) so that another heart layer shows through.
Weaving will vary depending on length and width of your cuts. Try a heart with more than 5 cuts for extra complexity! Hint: odd number of cuts will always give a pretty end result.
Step12:
Finish off your hand by adding a crepe-paper or doily cuff on the end.
Sign the back and send to your Valentine!
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!
