I'm thrilled to introduce you all to another fabulous guest today. I invited Dani from Live Creatively Now to be my guest during our Valentine Countdown Party because she shares some fabulous Valentine's Day crafts on her blog. Today she is showing us a fun gift she made for her husband.
Hi!
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| Me and Hubby at Squadron Christmas Party! |
Thank you so much for having me!! I am Dani from Live Creatively Now! I live in the Florida panhandle *score* with my amazing husband and my furry babies, Dixie (rabbit) and Mineki (cat). I am new to married life, military life, Florida, and blogging, but I am a long-time crafter! {My craft hoard can testify} Advice on any of these is much appreciated!
Over at Live Creatively Now I share tutorials and inspiration on any and all types of crafts. I tend to become obsessed with one method or theme before moving on to a new one and thus have sewing, jewelry making, bow making, and all other manner of tutorials!
But onto the main event, making an awesome valentines gift for anyone!
But onto the main event, making an awesome valentines gift for anyone!
So what do you get the military man for valentines day? Chocolates? Doesn’t eat them. Teddy bear? Lol, no. Roses? . . .
This is where I found myself about a week ago when I walked into wally world and realized I am running out of time until V day. Personally, I hate all the manufactured insanity of all those blank-staring bears and pink boxes of chocolate so I did the only thing to do: Make something!!
What I finally settled on are I *heart* cards!! Playing cards each with a little message with something you love about the giftee. Every night my husband and I tell each other one thing we love about the other person, no matter what. It makes going to bed angry after a fight very difficult. By putting these little messages on cards, he will still be able to read one thing I love about him each night even when he is deployed overseas. Yay!
Don’t think this is just for a deploy-able hubby though! How cute would these be to read to your little one each night at bedtime? Or to send to your parents to let them know that you might not call but you still love em! I can't think of anyone that would not love to receive such a personal and thought-filled gift.
What you need:
- Deck of cards
- Scrapbooking paper
- Mod Podge
- Permanent marker or other writing implement
- Scrapbooking decorations of various natures. . .
- *optional* A little box for storage
Since I intend my husband to take these with him when he deploys, I chose some “manly” scrapbboking papers to cover my cards with.
Cut up your papers to fit your cards! On the paper with the grids, my cards were 5x7 small squares. I just used strips of the grid paper to draw lines on the regular paper so everyone would be the same size.
*Tip* I spent quite a while cutting 52 pieces of scrapbook paper before I realized I would not be using all the cards. . . If you want them to fit back in the card box you only need 30-40 depending on the thickness of your papers. If you are using a little gift box for storage, cut away!
Apply a generous layer of Mod Podge to the faces of the cards and a thinner layer to the cover paper. I let them get just a little tacky before squishing them together.
Trim off the little bit of paper that hangs off the corners.
Realize that you only can fit about 30-35 in the box after covering 52 cards. . .
If I wasn’t making these for my hubby to take with him overseas, I would use one of those cute wooden boxes from the craft store as storage. Wouldn’t that be so cute all covered with your little paper scraps?
I cut some super basic shapes out of plain scrapbook paper to write my I *heart* messages. Mine are super plain because, well, I don’t think hubby would appreciate a bunch of frillies as much as I would. Plus I doubt he would notice any further decorations. . .
Do this with all of your cards, varying your messages and decorations! Here are a sampling of mine.
Keep in mind that this is an incredibly personal gift. Use whatever messages and decorations fit the person you are making it for! I made two samples of what you could do for a teen girl, mostly because I really wanted to use some pretty papers and some bling!
Imagine having the loving words of a family member to read whenever you need a little boost. Or just everyday as a little pick up!
{Hugs!}
~Dani
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Hey lady! have loved all your posts. Can't believe our carnival is almost over. Went by fast.
ReplyDeleteI am now following your cute blog via LF:> Visiting from the blog hop.Would love for you stop by and follow back.
http://blissfulanddomestic.blogspot.com/
Hopped over from the Linky hop and have become your newest Linky follower. I hope you have a chance to visit and perhaps become a Linky follower of mine as well.
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