DIY: Make a Scratch-Off Photo Valentine

You may have only interacted with a scratch-off card while trying to win the lottery (it's okay, I’ve tried and failed, too). But, did you know that you can easily make your own scratch-offs using dish soap and acrylic paint? It's really that easy.

To take your scratch-off cards to the next level, try following our tutorial below to create scratch-off Polaroids. It will fool your recipient into thinking you gave them an unexposed photo -- that is, until they read the message and scratch away. A perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, this photo trick will surely leave an impression with the one you love. Here's a short video explaining all the steps - you can also follow our step-by-step instructions listed in this post. 

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:


A Polaroid camera and film OR
A 3″x3″ photo print
Black acrylic paint
Dish soap
Scotch tape
Paper plate (or surface for mixing paint)
Piece of paper
Paint brush
Black marker

Get creative and remember that your Valentine will have to do a small amount of work to reveal your photo. What type of secret message do you want to send?

The easiest way to get a Polaroid photo is to shoot one! (Psst, you can find Polaroid cameras here. Or if you need film, Impossible Project makes some!)

If you don’t have access to a Polaroid camera, you can always make a faux Polaroid by cutting out a 3″x3″ photo print and crafting a card stock border. A Polaroid print is 3 1/2″ x 4 1/4″, so cut the border out to be that size and paste your print on top.

A short cut to that is using a Polaroid Postcard to frame your photo print.

Combine one part dish soap to two parts acrylic paint and blend on a paper plate or whatever mixing surface you chose.

We used black paint, but you can use any color (red the color of loooove, mayhaps?).

Use your scotch tape to cover the white edges of your Polaroid photo. The tape will protect the edges from getting paint on them.

Use the same tape to stick your Polaroid down to a sheet of paper. This will be your paint surface.

With your paint mixture and brush, paint over the photo section of your Polaroid.

Use a similar stroke (sideways or up and down) throughout so that your paint dries better. Once dry (about an hour), paint a second coat to completely conceal your photo.

Once dry, remove your scotch tape from the borders of your Polaroid.

Using your black marker, write a note like “Scratch Me” on the bottom of your Polaroid.

Seal it in an envelope (and/or with a kiss) and get ready to surprise your Valentine!