Give these gift certificates to your favorite Valentine and let them enjoy the gift of giving all year long depending on how many you make!
Why we love this project
A scratch off is a fun and unique gift to give for Valentine’s Day. You can easily personalize these cards when you go to print them, making them fun for Mother’s Day, Anniversaries, Birthdays, or really any occasion you’d like!
Helpful Project Information:
- Age Level: 6 and up
- Mess Factor: Medium
- Level of Difficulty: Easy
- Time to Complete: Less than 30 minutes
- Cost Estimate: Less than $5.00
Craft supplies you will need
How to Make A Scratch Off Valentine Gift Certificate
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this project. Please scroll down to simply print out the instructions!
Below (in the printable instructions) I have provided both a PDF pattern for the gift certificates with predetermined gifts and a Word document so you can edit it and make your own. You may notice that the fonts are different when you open the document in Word. Here are the fonts in case you don’t have them, listed in the order in which they are in the document:
- Pea Diana
- Pea How Sweet Eats
- Pea Make it and Love it
- The rest of the text is News Gothic MT, which is probably already installed on your computer, but just in case.
- Mix together one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and 2 teaspoons of red metallic paint.
- Place contact paper, backing side down, on work surface. If it curls, anchor the corners with heavy objects to hold it flat. Paint the contact paper with the red paint mixture and allow the paint to dry for several hours. Repeat for a second coat. Allow the paint to dry overnight.
- Next, make your cards. Use my template (below in printable instructions) or create your own simple gift certificates in Word and center align everything. Use a title such as “Valentine Gift Certificate” and if you wish, customize the color, size, and font.
- Print off your gift certificates and when you are happy with the size and placement, use a paper cutter or scissors to trim.
- Use a glue stick to attach the printed certificate to patterned card stock.
- Use a paper cutter to trim the card stock, leaving a border around the certificate.
- Cut hearts from red painted contact paper. Peel off the backing and adhere the heart over the top of the gift section of the certificate.
- Use your fingernail or a coin to scratch off paint to reveal your prize!
Expert Crafting Tips
- Suggestions for the blank space include (for kids) sick day, today, birthday, etc. (for adults) today, Sweetest Day, Anniversary, birthday, etc.
- Below that type the treat (i.e. trip to the park, back rub, etc)! Remember to leave enough space above and below the treat for the scratch-off heart.
These scratch off Valentine gift certificates are a great way to give the gift of love for Valentine’s Day! Great for kids, parents, or a special someone.
More Valentine Crafts
- Secret Message Valentine
- Conversation Marble Magnets
- Valentine Hugs
- 123 Free Downloadable Valentine cards, tags, and bag toppers
- Valentine Hugs
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Scratch Off Valentine Gift Certificates
Supplies
- Colorful patterned card stock
- White copy paper
- Glue stick
- Red metallic paint
- Contact paper approximately 12”x6”
- Dishwashing liquid
- Editable Word document OR printable pattern
Craft tools
- Paper cutter
Instructions
- The paint will need time to dry, so do that step first. Place contact paper, backing side down, on work surface. If it curls, anchor the corners with heavy objects to hold it flat. Mix together one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and 2 teaspoons of red metallic paint. Paint the contact paper with red paint mixture and allow paint to dry for several hours. Repeat for a second coat. Allow paint to dry overnight.
- Meanwhile, make your cards. We used Microsoft Word, but any word processing software will do. You could also write these out by hand if you want to. Create a simple gift certificate in Word and center align everything. Use a title such as “Valentine Gift Certificate” and if you wish, customize the color, size and font.
- Print off your gift certificates and when you are happy with the size and placement, use a paper cutter to trim.
- Use a glue stick to attach the printed certificate to patterned card stock. Use paper cutter to trim the card stock, leaving a border around the certificate.
- Cut hearts from red painted contact paper. Peel off the backing and adhere the heart over the top of the gift section of the certificate.
- Use your fingernail or a coin to scratch off paint to reveal your prize!
Expert Tips & FAQs
This post originally appeared here on Feb 5, 2019 and has since been updated with new photos.
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Paula says
I am here and I just love the Valentine Gift Certificate cuties! :))
Paula says
revision: I am new herea and I just love the Valentine Gift Certificate cuties! :))
Tom says
‘red metallic …’ what kind of paint? Tempera? Model enamel? Poster?
This is quite a cool craft- thanks for sharing it!
Amanda Formaro says
It’s acrylic craft paint :)
Mike says
The reason it took 4 coats is because there is too much soap. All you need is a couple drops to 1 teaspoon of paint. Then you can get the opaque look with one coat.
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks for the tip!
Kathy says
What a great idea! I’m going to have to do something similar on my blog one day.
Thanks for the idea! Love your tutorials, too, by the way!
Bobbie says
These are great!
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks Bobbie!
Ketka says
Thanks for the reply
Ketka says
They are lovely! Can you, please, explain what a contact paper is? I can´t really imagine what it is like. Is it something like wallpaper or something completely different? Where could I get it from? Thanks
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Ketka. Contact paper is an adhesive backed strong paper that is often used to line cabinets and shelves. Here’s what I used http://www.amazon.com/Kittrich-Corporation-999300-Clear-Contact/dp/B002HNYZ40
Mique says
These are so cute Amanda!
Amanda Formaro says
Tanks Mique!
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
I love scratch-offs! What a neat homemade Valentine!
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks Brenda! Really easy and fun to make :)