52 reasons I love you...

So the hubby & I just passed up our ten year anniversary… I decided that even though we have never given the traditional gifts, I wanted to do something different this year.  That being said, year ten = aluminum/tin.  So me being my somewhat clever self, decided I would get him an iPad, since he is always traveling.  I asked the sales clerk what material it was made of, to which he answered aluminum… perfect!!  I even topped it off by using tin foil to wrap the gift.  I pretty much outdid myself, but I wanted something a bit more personal to add to the mix, and that's when I remembered seeing a fun little project on pinterest, or you can see it here.

Now enter the crafty Nelou.

First up, find the playing cards… Not that we don't have 50 million packs of them already, but none of them seemed to fit the bill.  My next trip to the flea market… paydirt, vintage playing cards.  I combined the best of 2 packs, and got to work.  First off, I set up an off-limits room where I could spread out the supplies I needed:

{self healing mat, exacto, triangle, sharpie, double-stick tape, cardstock, number stamps & stamp pad, hole punch, circle rings, & the playing cards of course}

I used heavy-weight craft gift tags, and was able to cut 2 from each tag.  

Once I had them all cut, I hand-wrote my 52 love notes.  

 Next, using a joker as a guide, I hole-punched the cards 

& secured them together with the rings.

 After I had them in the order I wanted, I got busy stamping.  And I must say 

I loved the imperfections when a small smudge would occur, or I would 

happen to press a little too hard, leaving a little corner of ink from the stamp.

 Lastly, I used the double-stick tape to attach them to each card.

 and voila!  52 reasons I love you… 

Sadly, this took me a little longer than expected, so the hubby didn't quite get it on our anniversary… it became a Christmas present instead.  So if you are starting to think towards Valentine's Day, and think this is a fun idea… start now!!  

Not only will it make your loved one melt… but you'll remember 

all those important little reasons you fell in love in the first place.