With its two scallops on top and V-shaped point at the bottom, the heart icon is one of the world’s most familiar symbols, found everywhere from sparkly necklaces to emojis to the Valentine’s Day decorations. Speaking of Valentine’s Day, with that date right around the corner, blog contributor Sachiyo Omitsu wanted to share some love with all of you by creating a layout that makes our hearts pitter-patter with scrapbooking glee! Prep for the love-filled occasion ahead by creating this Valentine’s Day scrapbook layout today!
Sachiyo’s Inspiration
In Japan, we celebrate Valentine’s Day a little bit differently than other countries. In the “traditional” way, a girl is to give chocolates to the boy that she likes. That kind of chocolate is called “honmei-choco” — which is chocolate gifted exclusively to a significant other. In addition to that, we have other types of chocolate such as “giri-choco,” or chocolate given to male friends, family members and/or work colleagues, as well as “tomo-choco,” or friend chocolate, gifted between female friends.
Basically, Valentine’s Day in Japan is the day girls give chocolates to boys. Sound unfair? No worries! We have a reply day called “White Day” on the 14th of March. Men are expected to present girls with gifts roughly three times the value of what they had received a month earlier. Would you prefer celebrating the American or Japanese way?

To create this layout you will need:
- Love Wins Paper Pack or (Shop Canada | Shop Australia)
- Love Wins Stickers or (Shop Canada | Shop Australia)
- Navy Solid Cardstock or (Shop Canada | Shop Australia)
- Custom Cutting System with Circle Patterns or (Shop Canada | Shop Australia)
- 12-inch Trimmer or (Shop Canada | Shop Australia)
- All-Purpose Scissors or (Shop Canada | Shop Australia)
- Repositionable Tape Runner or (Shop Canada | Shop Australia)
- Foam Squares or (Shop Canada | Shop Australia)

Step 1: Cut the soft pink hearts patterned paper to measure 11-3/4″ x 11-3/4″. Adhere it to a piece of Navy Solid Cardstock. Use this as the base of this layout.
Step 2: Fold a sheet of Navy Solid Cardstock in half. Draw lines at 1″, 6″ and 9″ from the bottom. Using the large Custom Cutting System Circle Pattern and the Green Blade, start cutting from the 9″ point of the folded side until the blade crosses the 6″ line. Using the 12-inch Trimmer, cut from the 6″ point to 1″ line on the folded side. (Note: The images above with white paper are to show you the different lines.)
Step 3: Fold a sheet of Navy Solid Cardstock in half. Draw lines at 1-1/8″, 6″ and 9″ from the bottom. Using the large Custom Cutting System Circle Pattern and the Red Blade, start cutting from 9″ point of the folded side until the blade crosses the 6″ line. Using the 12-inch Trimmer, cut from the 6″ point to 1-1/8″ line on the folded side. (This larger navy heart will serve as a base to the smaller navy heart you’ll add pieces of paper to, seen below.)
Step 4: Cut 12 pieces of pink bubbles patterned paper to measure 12″ x 1″.

Step 5: Adhere strips horizontally to the smaller navy heart, spacing 1/8″ in between the strips as shown. Trim the excess.
Step 6: Cut five pieces of Navy Solid Cardstock to measure 12″ x 1-1/4″. Adhere two pieces of pink bubbles patterned paper and three pieces of stripes patterned paper to the navy strips. Add them on the heart vertically, spacing 1″ in between the strips as shown. Trim the excess. Add it to the larger navy heart.

Step 7: Adhere stickers, using Foam Squares on some for added dimension.
Who will you be creating this gorgeous Valentine’s Day scrapbook layout for this year? Let us know in the comments below!
Thank you Sachiyo – your notes about Japanese culture are always enlightening. I really like this page.
Thank you for such a great layout
Another winner Sachiyo! You share some wonderful customs and traditions.
Beautiful page! What a nice tradition! Thanks for sharing with us!
I’m going to try it, beautiful
I love this and am going to copy it for my son’s engagement pictures.
As an avid traveler I love hearing of wonderful customs of your culture. My daughter spent several months in Japan years ago and several years ago the family returned to see the beautiful country. I scrapped a picture of them all in a hot tub of WINE!
Beautiful! And thanks for the detailed instructions. I will be trying this.