Julehjerter, a traditional Danish paper-cut craft, meaning “heart of Christmas,” is a traditional Danish Christmas decoration. There are hundreds of variations, from traditional, simple checkerboard patterns to more intricate ones, which are displayed as Christmas ornaments.
We thought the sweet heart motif was perfect for Valentine’s Day. Small heart baskets made from two pieces of paper that are woven together. We decided to put a message card inside and use it as a Valentine’s Day envelope.
The weaving process may seem a bit complicated, but don’t rush and take your time. We enjoyed combining colors and patterns, and ended up with many heart baskets.

About Templates

Free printable templates make it quick and easy to create the paper you need. We have prepared three types of templates for you to use.
*When using the template provided here in actual size, please use it for a 15 cm square piece of origami paper cut into three equal pieces.

To Make without Printing Out

Julehjerter with the simplest checkerboard pattern: Cut a square and a half-circle in the middle of the combined shape into three equal sections. Prepare two pieces of this in different colors, and weave them together.

Instructions for making

Step 1. Cut the Paper into Thirds

Fold the origami paper in two. Cut the folded paper into three equal pieces on the long side. The cut paper will be the same size as the template.

Step 2. Cut the Paper According to the Template

Align the template with the paper. At this point, align the dashed line of the template with the folded part of the origami paper (the bag-shaped part). Tape it lightly to facilitate the cutting process. Cut the paper along the lines of the template. Cut another piece of colored paper in the same way.
For this project, we used pink, brown, and white to create a combination of colors for the two hearts, inspired by Valentine’s Day.

Step 3. Weave the Paper

Weave the three strips together, alternating between the inside, outside, and inside of the other strip, respectively.
The finished product will open up like a basket inside.

Template Variations

As you can see, even with the complicated cut template, the basket is woven. The process is the same for all of them.

As a Valentine's Day Card

We placed cards cut into heart shapes inside. My daughter wrote a message on each card to hand out to her classmates. You can also put candies and other gifts in the cards as well.