Paper Heart Pockets for Valentine's Day

These heart-shaped checkerboard-patterned paper pockets are not only a great Valentine, they open up to hold candy. a gift card, jewelry or whatever. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to make these fun Valentines.

To make these paper pocket valentines, you will need:

> Construction paper in red, pink and white

> Scissors

> Pencil

Optional items are gifts and tissue paper to put inside the pocket, glitter or stickers for decorating, pens or markers for personalizing the valentine.

Grab your supplies and select two colors of construction paper. You can use pink and white, red and white (as shown in our photos) or pink and red.

Place the two sheets of construction paper together and fold them in half widthwise as shown.

First Cut

Now cut this in half. You will be able to make two Valentines.

Round each corner with the scissors, on the opposite edge from where the fold is. This will form the rounded heart shape.

Second Cut

Now make three cuts of equal widths, beginning at the folded portion and going up to where the rounded edges are. Do not cut all the way to the edge. Make sure all the cuts are equal length.

Separate the two pieces and begin weaving them together to form the checkerboard pattern as well as the inside pocket. Begin weaving along the top near the rounded edges and work your way down to the "point" of the heart. Be careful not to tear the paper as you are weaving.

Catch the weave

Continue weaving, and don't worry if it looks a little funky, it's easy to straighten it out. Just be careful not to rip the paper.

Almost done!

Now, just make your final adjustments if any of the weaving is crooked, and you're all done! If you like, you can add stickers, glitter, or color on the handmade checkerboard paper pocket valentine. Don't forget to put something in the pocket. Wasn't that fun? So easy, crafty and inexpensive too! Happy Valentine's Day!