Create a Personalized Valentine Gift

Are you having a hard time knowing what to get that special person in your life who has everything? Do you want to give a gift that shows how much you care without breaking the bank?

I will teach you how to make a quick, easy, and inexpensive customized Valentine’s Day gift.

We will take an ordinary album/journal and personalize it by designing a cover.

A handmade gift, especially a Valentine’s Day gift, is always appreciated. Let’s face it, Valentine’s Day is about love, friendship, and romance, so give a gift that shows you put a little extra thought into it.

How to Personalize Your Valentine Day Gift.

Supplies:

1. Pre Made Journal – Etsy, https://amzn.to/3sqcnrv
2. Decorative Paper – https://amzn.to/3nLPv2m, https://amzn.to/3sCVNVE
3. Glue or Scor Tape – https://amzn.to/3qm3MEv
4. Scissors

The album above can be found on my Etsy site Photogarnish. I hand-make and customize albums and journals. But they are also readily available in retail stores and Amazon for this project.

Personalizing the Cover

I chose a heart for the album cover.

The album cover measures 8 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches, and the overall heart design measures 5 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches.

I cut the heart out of card stock using my Silhouette, but it can easily be cut by hand. It measures 4 x 4 inches…. make sure your design is in proportion with the album cover you choose.

Next, cut the heart vertically into even-numbered strips. I cut the heart down the middle first and worked outward. Also, the strips don’t have to be even in width, be creative when making your pattern.

Now the fun begins; cut the decorative paper using the card stock pattern. I choose papers that coordinate with each other, but anything goes!

Once you have the design cut…glue them onto a piece of card stock. I used white cardstock, which measures 4 3/4 by 4 3/4 inches so the heart design would pop. I added a colored borderline for interest, which can be done using a colored pencil or colored marker.

Tape the cardstock with the heart onto another slightly larger cardstock measuring 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches. The layering of cardstock gives dimension and again added interest.

Next, tape or glue the card stock onto the album cover. I used a one-inch double-stick tape from Scor Tape, and it can be found here.

Glue would also work; just make sure it will adhere to the album surface you have chosen.

How to Personalize the Inside

For further personalization, I made a small decorative pocket for the inside cover.

To make the pocket… cut a piece of card stock 5 inches by 10 inches in a coordinating color or design.

Next, score the card stock 1/2 inch on each side and horizontally at 5 inch.

Glue would also work in place of the Scor Tape.

If you choose to decorate the front pocket, cut the decorative paper 1/4 inch smaller than the pocket on each side, allowing a 1/8 inch border. This pocket is 4 inches wide by 5 inches. I cut the decorative paper 3.75 x 4.75.

Cut a slightly smaller card stock for the inside pocket, 1/2 inch smaller, will allow for easy insertion and removal. I cut two hearts and glued them together to add interest.

I made the semi-circle on the pocket by using a circle punch. Place the circle punch halfway on the edge of the pocket… this showcased the heart a little more.

Tape or glue the pocket on to the inside cover.

Lastly, I added a heart stamp to the first page.

An inscription would be nice if it were for a special occasion or for sentimental reasons.

There are many ways to decorate the pocket and the front of the album. Use your imagination and personalize to the person you are giving the gift to.

Let me know what you thought of this upcycle.

Would it be something you would like to give or receive as a gift?

Disclaimer: On my blog Designgarnish, I may sometimes use affiliate links, which means a small commission is earned if you purchase via the link. The price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.