Telling a girl you like her

I have been a friend with this girl for about 6 months now, and we've both talked and texted a lot with each other. I' ve talked to her parents and am good friends with all of her family. When i first met her i liked her and i also heard that she liked me, but I've kinda been dancing around the truth that i do really like her for the past 6 months or so. I've never let her know that i like her, but i've kinda hinted to it at times but that is the extent of it. So here's my question, should i try to gradually let her know that i like her or should i just come right out and tell her?.....i guess i'm just asking which way you would want to have a guy go about it if it were you...thanks.....

Unless you are about 8 years old a common way of showing someone how you feel is to get intimate with them - you know, kissing, sex, that kind of thing

Ask her out on a date instead. And yes then try to hold hands etc to show how you feel. Expressing feelings verbally right away will scare them off because it's too much to handle all at once. Save it for when you are officially in a relationship.