DIY Victorian Puzzle Purse (Love Token)

Create Your Own Charming Victorian Valentine’s Message ❤️

To celebrate love, I invite you to (re)discover how lovers exchanged sweet messages in Victorian England.

Since mid-January, I’ve received about fifty emails with “Valentine’s Day” in the subject line. It started to get a bit annoying, not to mention that most of the messages felt empty—I wasn’t even opening them anymore. So, in this week when love is supposed to be in the air, I wanted to return to something timeless (and more sustainable): paper, as a way to express affection.

I’ve always been passionate about all things paper, stationery, and creativity in general. That’s how I once stumbled upon a blog that not only explores these topics but also aligns with my love for the world of Jane Austen.

The very interesting blog, « Her Reputation for Accomplishment« , is a wonderful source of inspiration with a strong historical appeal. There, you can learn more about the love notes we’ll be talking about today and even discover examples from the Victorian era. Having lived in England, I had already heard of “Puzzle Purses” or “Love Tokens,” which use origami-like folding techniques to conceal a hidden message. But I had never looked into them deeply until last year, when I randomly came across several articles—including the blog mentioned above—about this romantic and highly creative tradition.

This type of love note is somewhat of a predecessor to the modern Valentine’s Day card. The earliest known version dates back to 1797—contemporary to Jane Austen’s time—and later became especially popular during the Victorian era. While originally part of the art of courtship between lovers, it isn’t limited to romance. You can also use it to share kind words with close friends or family members.

That’s exactly what I chose to do with my own « Puzzle Purse », which I created with a botanical theme. Because let’s be honest, ladies—most gentlemen today aren’t particularly interested in receiving love notes, and I doubt many would take the time to craft something this creative for their beloved! Instead, my « Puzzle Purse » is a birthday gift for a dear friend, paired with a book and a handmade bouquet.

I designed it to feature two quotes on the themes of gardening and friendship. The first is one of my favorites from Cicero: “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” The second is a lovely quote from Marcel Proust: “Let us be grateful to the people who bring us happiness; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

For the illustrations, I included reading recommendations for gardeners on one side and a guide to the flowers representing each month of the year on the other.

Instructions & Video Tutorial

To start your Puzzle Purse, use a square sheet of paper (21 x 21 cm) and fold it into thirds in both directions. Follow the folding steps in the video to hide your secret messages and turn it into a tiny envelope. Since the folding technique can be a bit tricky at first, you’ll also find a video tutorial below to guide you.

You can choose floral patterns, go for hearts and little poems, or decorate it with calligraphy using a dip pen. If you’d like to illustrate your love note yourself, grab a watercolor set and paint delicate flowers or simple motifs like a clover.

Here’s a tip: Start decorating after you’ve completed the folding. Open it up in reverse order as you illustrate—it’s much easier than working on a fully open square sheet, where you might not know exactly where to write or draw. I had to redo mine several times before I got it just right!

If Valentine’s Day isn’t your thing, you can use this lovely Victorian tradition for a birthday or another special occasion—just as I did. Adding personalized recommendations (books, films, museums, etc.) is always a hit and makes this little keepsake both charming and meaningful.

What you will need

• A4 paper, trimmed into a square (21 x 21 cm)

• Calligraphy dip pen

• Brushes and watercolors

• Stamps

• A ruler