TikTokers Are Swapping Out Valentine’s Cards For Victorian Puzzle Purses

We’re no stranger to TikTokers getting a little crafty online – but this trend brings back one very niche fad from the Victorian era. And with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Victorian puzzle purse tutorials are taking off on the app. Here’s everything you need to know (plus how to make your own).

What Is A Victorian Puzzle Purse?

A puzzle purse is an intricately folded paper craft used to convey sentimental and romantic messages. Inspired by Japanese folded letters (itogami), they were popular in the Victorian era and followed the tradition of ‘letterlocking’, hiding messages for their intended under multiple layers of decoration.

The design unfolds to reveal hidden messages, poems, loves notes and symbolic motifs – with a central message at the very end. The ‘puzzle’ element refers to both the challenge to open and refold the purse into its original (closed) form.

@fennuala I’m obsessed with making these!! a Victorian Puzzle Purse I made as a wedding present for my brother and sister in law hand painted using water colours #handmade #craft #art #watercolor #painting #puzzlepurse #smallbusiness #vintage #victorian ♬ BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish

Victorian puzzle purses were traditionally crafted from thick paper and decorated with ink and watercolour illustrations. Occasionally, small tokens were also folded into the puzzle, like locks of hair, although we recommend not doing this in the present day (you’re more likely to scare off your lover than endear them to you).

And today still they make lovely romantic gestures – especially for Valentine’s Day.

How To Make A Victorian Puzzle Purse For Valentine’s Day

Fancy giving the crafting a go? We’ve laid out the steps to make your own Victorian puzzle purse below:

What You’ll Need

• A square piece of paper (you want the dimensions to be divisible by three – for example, 21cm by 21cm)
• A pen or pencil
• Decorative materials (watercolours, paints, stickers)

Instructions

1. Prepare The Paper: Start with a square piece of paper. Fold it into thirds vertically and horizontally to create a grid of nine equal squares. (You might need to go back over the folds a few times to ensure they are crisp.) Once done, unfold the paper.
2. Write The Central Message: The centre square of the grid will be where your message goes. Either write your message now, or make a faint mark in pencil so you don’t lose track of the square.
3. Create Diagonal Creases: Fold the paper once more, this time diagonally in both directions to form an ‘X’. Once done, unfold the paper again.
4. Create Pinwheel Folds: Turn the paper over so the grid lines are face down. Fold each corner of the square into the centre point of the grid (the intersection of the ‘X’), so that you form a pinwheel shape.
5. Go Back Over The Creases: Go back to the central square and reinforce the creases around the area. As you do this, pinch and twist the corners to form a raised pinwheel structure.
6. Add Messages To The Arms: You can write short messages or poems on each arm of the pinwheel (four in total) – or again, make a light mark with pencil and come back to decorate them properly later.
7. Fold Into A Puzzle Purse: Fold one arm of the pinwheel inward toward the centre, then continue folding each arm in an anti-clockwise direction, overlapping them as you go. Tuck the last arm under the first to secure it the puzzle in place.
8. Decorate: Now for the fun bit – decorate your puzzle purse with illustrations, quirky messages and Valentine’s motifs.

TikTok Tutorials We Love

1. By @fennuala

@fennuala I made another puzzle purse!! I’ve been so excited to share this one with you all!! All hand painted using watercolours, I wanted to include lots of symbols associated with Valentine’s day, as well as my usual floral motifs and intricate patterns I’m so excited to say that this Valentines puzzle purse is available to buy as a digital download template that you can edit online and print at home! I also have a new folding tutorial for this up on my brand new Youtube! or if you don’t fancy printing your own, I have some pre printed and folded cards available to buy as well! Both the digital and physical products are up on my website and Etsy shop! The link is in my bio I hope you guys love it! #valentinesday #valentine #handmade #art #watercolour #painting #puzzlepurse #diy #craft #victorian ♬ Ballerina – Yehezkel Raz

2. By @illustrons

@illustrons Save this for later handmade gift ideas ✨ template available on my shop #creatorsearchinsights #handmadegiftsideas #artist #puzzlepurse #victorianpuzzlepurse #valentinepuzzlepurse #puzzlepursevalentine #watercolorpainting #handmadecard #giftforher #lovecard #origami #origamiartist #loveletter #artistsoftiktok #handmadecraft #diycard #diylovecard #valentinesday ♬ I’m Not Them – Them & I

3. By @papier

@papier Recreate the #romance of an old-fashioned #loveaffair Our design partner Susannah Garrod shows us how to make a #Victorian #paper #puzzlepurse perfect for #valentinesday. #valentinesdiy #valentinesdaygift ♬ original sound – Papier

4. By @viktorie.sidova

@viktorie.sidova Don’t show him yet♥️ #artist #art #artistsoftiktok #arttok #artforboyfriend #boyfriend #love #victorian #puzzlepurse #puzzle ♬ 初光 (golden hour 中文版) (唯美钢琴) – 刘宪华/JVKE

5. By @seminamari

@seminamari #lovepuzzle #loveletter #victoriangoth #victorianpuzzlepurse ♬ оригинальный звук – MARIA

Featured image: @fennuala on TikTok