Happy Valentine's Day: DIY Metal Valentine's Card

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Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! This is a little different from the cute-cutesy stuff I normally post, but when I heard I heard about this project, I was totally enchanted and had to find out more. My bf is a machinist and works at an epic machine shop in San Francisco. They make all manner of things out of metal, from gates to signs to architectural flourishes you never even considered, using a waterjet machine.

It's pretty incredible to the layperson (me!) to see the stuff that goes on in there. His colleague Nick Foster found a way to use his shop skills to make a beautiful valentine for his lady, and I was so into it that I wanted to share his process and the final result! Here's how this very special valentine was made, in Nick's words:

all photos by Nick Foster

"The idea for this all-metal Valentine's Day card originally started out as a joke when browsing a selection of spring loaded door hinges. After realizing that small hinges with gentle springs were available, this self-closing Valentine's Day card was designed.

This 4" tall card was cut, along with lettering, on a waterjet machine.  The stainless steel hinge was then welded to the leaves. A short message is pounded into the back of the card using common letter punches and a hammer.
Finally, a heart shape, also cut on the waterjet machine, was fastened to the back of the card via size 0-80 screws. The heart shape is intended to function as a picture frame, holding a picture securely to the back leaf of the card!
 In order to make the card more pleasing to the eye, the front cover is decorated using a technique referred to as 'machine turning' or 'jeweling.' This is an old-fashioned technique which involves spinning an abrasive circular brush against the stainless steel cover in a repeating grid pattern such that light is captured and reflected in an interesting pattern."

Incredibly cool, yes? Enjoy your day, treat yo'self no matter your romantic situation, and get ready to buy a ton of 75% off chocolate tomorrow. XO!