How to Make a Victorian Puzzle Purse (Free Whimsigoth Printable!)

Dating back to the 1700’s, vintage folding letters have been a popular method for sharing love notes and secret messages. Often decorated with romantic imagery, including flowers laced with hidden meaning, Victorian puzzle purses are intricately folded to reveal a message within.

Download the Free Ethereal Goth Puzzle Purse Template

I’ve designed a free puzzle purse printable, so all you need to do is write in your personalized message and fold it! Join the newsletter to instantly unlock the hand-drawn printable, then watch the video below to learn how to fold it.

Materials Needed

• Your printed puzzle purse template (regular printer paper or lightweight parchment works best for folding)
• Glue stick (I recommend gluing each side rather than printing double-sided to avoid ink bleed)
• Scissors (to trim the square)
• Bone folder (optional, but highly recommended for crisp creases)
• Ribbon to tie it closed (optional)

Step-by-Step Folding Instructions

Cut out each side of the puzzle purse with scissors or a paper trimmer.

Using a glue stick, apply glue in an X across the back of each square, as well as along the edges. Make sure they’re aligned by ensuring that the top of the heart and the butterfly are both facing in the right direction.

Once they’re glued together, write in your message on the large black square on the inside.

Fold the square diagonally in half to create a triangle. Repeat in the other direction.

Next, fold the paper in thirds, using the design as a guide. Repeat in the other direction so that you’ve folded a checkerboard pattern.

At this point I recommend following along with the YouTube video, as things get tricky and it’s hard to describe in writing. It’s called a puzzle for a reason!

Fold all four corners inward, then pinch each small corner and twist gently. Use the heart as a guide – you want all four pieces of the heart to come together.

Fold in each triangle so that the lily of the valley design is visible. Tuck the final triangle in.

As an added touch, you can wrap it in a small piece of ribbon.

How to Use Your Whimsigoth Puzzle Purse

Vintage folding letters were traditionally given as Valentines or romantic gestures, but you can use them for plenty of other things! If you’re into junk journaling, why not tuck it into a pocket as a dark academia ephemera piece? Or write a poem in the center square and mail it to a friend. You can also use it as an envelope to hold flat items like pressed flowers or stickers.

Enjoy!