DIY "52 REASONS I LOVE YOU" CARD TUTORIAL

With Valentines Day fast approaching, I wanted to share with you what I created for my hubby this year.  He doesn't read the blog unless I ask him to, so I think I'm safe!

Since his birthday is less than a week after VDay, I always try to keep it real small, inexpensive and easy to make.  I can't take credit for coming up with this idea, I've seen several versions online and found one through pinterest.

I filled the deck of playing cards with 52 reasons why I love my amazing husband.  I tried to include things he does for me, how he makes me feel, funny stuff, sexy stuff, and things about who he is as a person.  I wanted to really tell him what I love about him and his character.  Because, I love him for who he is, not just how he makes me feel or what he does for me.

Instructions:

1. Find some playing cards!
2. Scuff them up with sandpaper to give them a used feel and look
3. Create a template with one of the spare cards (I used a joker)
4. Punch two holes in each card using the template as a guide
5. Shuffle your cards (if you want, or you can keep them in order)
6. Make sure all of your cards are facing up (I used the two jokers as front and back covers, facing down)
7. Create your reasons labels to attach to the cards (read below on how I created my labels) 
8. Create all 52 of your reasons cards and let the glue dry (I liked how the glue almost made the card curl up a bit and gave it more texture)
9. Thread the binder ring through the holes  (you can find them at your local office supply store)

Reason Labels:

To create the reason labels, I wanted to find some sort of a red, white and black border for my words.  Since I don't have any sort of photo editing software, I had to get creative and found a photo online.  Since I was running out of red ink in my printer, I decided to cut down the frame so that it would fit onto the playing card.  Here was the photo I found on the left.  On the right is after I went into Paint and erased all of the words.

source

Next I went to picnik and added text for my reasons.  The font I used was called "GeosansLight."  Each # was size 40.  Next, I printed the photo onto photo paper and cut it down to fit onto the playing card.

I'm sure there are easier ways to create the labels, for example printing the reasons onto actual labels, however I was really trying to save money.  Since I already had photo paper on hand, it was an easy decision.

Inside of Front Cover (left), Back Cover (right):

The J's and the Park are silver stickers I had on hand and I used my heart punch for the back cover.  This is sort of bare bones but you could use other embellishments if you wanted to be more creative.

This craft project certainly doesn't have to be just for Valentine's Day.  You could also use it for a birthday or an anniversary!  How fun is it?  I would love to be the recipient of a gift like this.  :)

Enjoy!

P.S.

Here is my gift all wrapped up.  I used white crepe streamers to create a bow.  It's sort of a sad and pathetic bow and I didn't have any ribbon to use.  This was the next best thing.  You can download the Valentine's Day Wrapping Paper over at Thirty Handmade Days.