Mini Album: LOVE...Let Me Count The Ways

I wanted to do something special for Valentine's Day...don't we all?  I saw a mini-album made from a deck of cards recently and thought I'd create my own twist on the concept.  I started by picking up a pack of pink - Breast Cancer Supporting - playing cards at a local store and then compiled all of the Valentine's themed paper, embellishment and stickers I could get my hands on.  I thought I gathered a nice little pile...the pile ended up being a bigger than expected, but I figured hey...the more the merrier!

I had pre-cut chipboard rectangle pieces (laying around from another project) to serve as the base for the book.  I also had a basic hole-punch to put a binder-ring through to bind the project together at the end.

For everything else, I used the following:

• Creative Memories Talking Tags (which I LOVE and will discuss again in a later blog),         "P.S. I Love You" Title Stickers, colored cardstock, vellum quote, Puzzle Maker, Paper Ribbon,
• Authentique cardstock
• Jolee's Cupid 3-D stickers, gold hearts
• Tim Holtz idea-ology mini word stickers
• Martha Stewart icing border stickers
• Recollections flowers, glitter chipboard, adhesive rinestones, metal frame
• Other miscellanous elements collected over the years

***Remember, this is all about you trusting your talents and

creativity to make something truly special.***

As I worked on the project, I fell more and more in love with it.  I had intended to make it simply as a pretty little valentine album to keep in my soon-to-be craft room.  What I realized, however, was that it would make the perfect personalized valentine gift for my boyfriend.  For one, he enjoys poker so the whole "playing cards" idea fit perfectly.  Second, he's pretty much a-m-a-z-i-n-g, if for no other reason, than because he supports and really seems to like my scrapbooking! :)

To personalize the album I found a vellum quote by Elizabeth Barrett Browning which states "How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways."  I chose to use six of the pink playing cards to enhance the top-six ways/reasons I love my boyfriend.  I decided not to finalize the project just yet (hey, I have to keep some of it a surprise!).  I will later add my journaling into the empty pink journal spots.  Also, using the Creative Memories TalkingTags, I will record short voice messages for him as well...reading what is written on the page to give the words more meaning via my voice.  Like I said... I LOVE the TalkingTags!

So here we go! Here are some pictures of the (almost) finished project! Hope you like it!