Finding the one right way to say “I love you” can be difficult, so why not try it eight different ways? This unique Valentine’s Day card, created for us by designer Spencer Harrison (AKA Spenceroni), takes the form of a miniature zine, complete with a slipcover and eight pages to sing the praises of your one-and-only. It uses standard letter-sized paper, so you can create a bespoke one-off for that special someone, or run it through a photocopier and send the sweetness to all of your loved ones. Check out all of the directions after the jump! —Max

Materials

Red paper

White letter-size paper

X-Acto Knife

Cutting mat

Ruler

Small glue stick

Pencil

Pens and markers

Directions

1. Fold a sheet of letter paper into 8 divisions as shown below.

2. Using an X-Acto knife and ruler, carefully cut a slit lengthwise down the middle crease between the two outer folds.



3. Fold the paper in half and push the two sides of the paper together to form a cross.

4. Fold the arms of the cross together to form a little booklet. This will be the basis of your mini zine.

5. Place your mini-zine on the red paper and cut a strip of of red paper roughly 1 inch wider than the zine.

6. Fold the red paper around the mini-zine to create a cover. Cut off the excess paper.

7. Using a ruler and pencil, mark the width of the zine on the red paper. Cut the excess red paper off of one side and cut the other side on angles to create tabs as pictured below.

8. Turn the slip over and use the X-acto knife to die cut a heart or other shape into the front of the cover.

9. Run some glue along each of the tabs, fold over and glue to other side to create the cover slip. Your zine should slide easily into the cover.

10. Now the fun bit! Use pens and markers to draw the cover and the inside of your zine. You could even paint, use collage or any of your own favorite techniques. Some ideas for Valentine’s subjects for your zines could include:

I love you more than…

My favorite things about you are…

Things you do that make me smile…

6 reasons you should be my Valentine…

11. Once complete, slip the zine inside the cover and give it to your valentine!

