There’s something extra special about a card that opens up and wows the moment you expand it — and this open bay window card for Valentine’s Day does exactly that. With bold red panels, layered heart details, and a dimensional center that feels almost like a little paper stage, this design turns a simple Valentine into a keepsake. If you love interactive cards that look complicated but come together with thoughtful scoring and layering, you’re going to enjoy this one.
Supplies Used
- STAMPS – Endless Love
- PAPERS
- Real Red, Pretty in Pink & Basic White Cardstock
- Made with Love 12” x 12” Designer Series Paper (DSP)
- Vellum Cardstock
- Clear Acrylic Sheet
- Basic White Medium Envelope
- DIES – Perennial Postage Dies, Retired Sweet and Sassy Heart Dies in two sizes (Use whatever heart dies you have that come close.)
- INK – Real Red ink
- EMBELLISHMENTS – 2025-2027 In Color Flat Pearls in Strawberry Slush, Bubble Bath 1/8” Faux Linen Ribbon
- TOOLS – Paper Trimmer, Clear Stamp block D, Stampin’ Bone Folder, Cut and Emboss Machine, Stampin’ Seal Adhesive, Tear and Tape, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Take Your Pick Tool, Scissors, Simply Shammy.
Cutting Measurements
- Real Red Card Base – 5 ½” X 10”, score at 1 ¾”, 3 3/8”, 6 5/8”, 8 ¼”
- Basic White Cardstock – Inside center back 3 1/8” x 5 3/8”, 2 inner left and right panels 1 ½” x 5 3/8”, 2 front side outer edge panels 1 5/8” x 5 3/8”
- Made with Love DSP – Inside center back 3” x 5 1/4”, 2 inner left and right panels 1 3/8” x 5 1/4”, 2 front side outer edge panels 1 1/2” x 5 ¼”
- Real Red Strips – 2 pieces of 1” x 10”, score at 1 ¾”, 3 3/8”, 6 5/8”, 8 ¼”
- Basic White Cardstock for top and bottom front strips – 2 pieces 7/8” x 3 1/8”, 4 pieces 7/8” x 1 ½”
- Made with Love DSP for top and bottom front strips – 2 pieces ¾” x 3”, 4 pieces ¾” x 1 3/8”
- Clear Acrylic Sheet – 1 ½” x 5”
- Vellum Cardstock – Start with 3 ¾” x 5” piece (Will be die cut down during assembly.)
- Real Red for heart – 3 ½” square
- Pretty in Pink for heart – 3 ½” x 3”
- Basic White “LOVE” – 1 ¼” x 2 ½”
- Basic White Cardstock – Backside layer 3 ⅛” x 5 3/8”
- Made with Love DSP – Envelope Flap – 2 ¼” x 6”
Step by Step Assembly
- After cutting and scoring the large Real Red panel, fold it as a gate card: Valley-Mountain-Mountain-Valley. Repeat for the two Real Red strips.
- Take large Real Red back panel and adhere the Basic White and DSP layers to the inner center back and the left and right inner sections.
- With the Back panel of Basic White, go ahead and stamp your sentiment and hearts in Real Red ink. Adhere the stamped panel to the back of the Real Red card base.
- Take the Real Red top and bottom strips and adhere the Basic White and DSP layers to the center section and the left and right inside sections. (Refer to photo.)
- Place adhesive on the two strips to adhere to the card base. Make sure to align top or bottom edge and side edges of the cardstock to the cardbase.
- Once the top and bottom strips are placed, now cover/adhere with the final pieces of Basic White and DSP to hide them completely.
- Add Tear and Tape to the top and bottom of the Clear Acrylic strip. Center and affix to inside of top and bottom strips.
- Using the 2nd to the largest of the Perennial Postage Dies, die cut the vellum. Now flip the die over so the cutting edge is up and turn the vellum 90 degrees in the die. Align the already die cut edges within the die and run through again to create an approximate 3 ¼” square with the postage stamp edges.
- Before assembling the focal point, die cut the hearts, stamp the “sending you” in Real Red, stamp the “LOVE” on Basic White in Real Red ink. Fussy cut out the love with scissors. Put 3 Dimensonals of the back of the “LOVE” tag.
- To assemble the focal point, adhere the two hearts together. Affix the “LOVE”. Tie a bow with the Bubble Bath ribbon and affix with a glue dot as shown in photo. Please practice placement of the focal point on the vellum. Be careful where you will be applying the Stampin’ Seal because you don’t want it to peek out from behind the hearts or the vellum. Once you’ve decided, affix the vellum first to the clear acrylic, then the heart layers to the vellum.
- Finish card by affixing the embellishments.
- Adhere the DSP to the envelope flap and trim with scissors.
Watch the Tutorial
Final Thoughts
This open-bay-window-card proves that Valentine’s cards don’t have to be flat or predictable to be meaningful. With just a few extra folds and layers, you’ve created a design that feels polished, intentional, and full of heart. Whether you’re making this for a spouse, a grandchild, or a dear friend, it carries that handmade touch that store-bought cards simply can’t match. And the best part? Once you make one, you’ll start imagining this layout for birthdays, anniversaries, and even Christmas.
Now I’d love to hear from you — would you use this open-bay-window-card for Valentine’s Day only, or can you see yourself adapting it for other occasions?
Leave a comment below and tell me who you would send this to or what other occasion you might use it for. And if you make one, be sure to share it with me — I love seeing your creativity in action!
Keep the Creativity Going
If you enjoyed learning this technique and making these cards, here are a few ways we can keep creating together:
Download the free printable tutorial
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Want to create these cards too?
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*The products used in this project were available while filming the video and writing this blog post. If something does not show in the list, it is no longer available. Feel free to be creative and make your own substitutions from what you may have on hand.
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Happy crafting,
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