Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Six Creative Valentine Ideas (plus a bonus!)

This post was updated in 2022.

Need some creative Valentine gift ideas for that special someone, friends, or school classmates?  Have you ever come to the right place!!


I've got six creative Valentine ideas for you that are all created online then professionally printed so they are really fun to create (no mess!) and impressive to give.  

Note:  All these ideas, except the bonus one at the end of the post, are created using free templates, so you'll get something personal and top-quality that you can digitally create and order in minutes.  To create, just follow the steps here for opening your free Forever account.  Examples shown are just a sampling--search to find other templates, too!  I'll tell you about another option, too, if you prefer to design yourself and not use templates.

Before we get going with these six creative Valentine ideas, I want to make sure you don't miss this information about Deals (sales).  Prices aren't included in the information below because these items are on sale so often.  (If they're not on sale now, check back in a week or two and they will be!)  Plus, if you're new to Forever, you'll get a $20 coupon just for opening your (free) account, so that's a pretty great bonus, too!

All right!  Let's go.

1- TABLETOP PANEL (photos only or dry-erase memo board)
I think these are fantastic for home decor as well as desktop love at work.  Some designs feature just photos and phrases, while others leave room for writing.  The glossy surface of Tabletop Panels works like a dry-erase board!  

Here are a few of the love-themed template designs available.  Choose portrait or landscape orientation and 5x7 or 8x10:

Click here to create this project.

And here's the same "love you" theme, only as a dry-erase memo board with space for writing.
Click here to create this project.

I made the memo board one last winter with photos of my family and it's our family message board in the kitchen.  I love it!

These make such lovely home decor or at-work connections.  

Click here to make this project.

I've got a tutorial video for you, too, so you can see how easy and fast it is to make a Tabletop Panel.  

And remember--these templates are just a sampling of what's available.  Click here to see all the templates for Tabletop Panels.  

If you'd like to design your own for maximum personalization, keep an eye out for Artisan information near the end of this post

2- REASONS I LOVE YOU BOOK or LOVE STORY BOOK
If you want to gift something truly unique and unforgettable, a "reasons I love you" book is it!  Use one of two templates and fill in your own photos and text for something special.  (Plus, Forever books are highest quality!)

Click here to make this project.


Click here to make this project.


Or, tell your love story!  This is a precious way to re-live falling in love.

Click here to make this project.

There are many other book templates available that would be suitable for telling a love story, or even writing your favorite things about someone, such as this Follow Your Heart book and this Always book.

If you've never made a book using Forever's Design & Print templates, don't worry!  It's really easy.  I go over the basics in this video.  This video is geared toward preserving a year's worth of photos in one book (a Yearbook), but the same information applies to whatever kind of Design & Print book you're making.  Look how easy:

Book prices vary based on Deals (sales), too, but they also vary based on size (8x8, 10x10, 12x12) and on binding (hardbound or softbound with top-quality PUR binding), so choose what works best for you and be sure to snap up a sale!

3- CANVAS PRINTS
This is a fun way to show a Valentine your love!  Canvases are printed on premium, archival quality satin canvas and feature a 1   1/2" gallery wrap with premium black backing.  Hanging hardware is attached.  Canvas prints come in many sizes, ranging from 8x8 to 36x24.

Here are a few love-themed designs.
Click here to make this project.

Click here to make this project.

Click here to make this project.


4- MUGS or WATER BOTTLES or FROSTED GLASSES
These are everyday gifts for your Valentine to use all year!  Mugs come in 3 sizes (11 oz., 15 oz., and 18 oz.), and Water Bottles are 17 oz. and stainless steel (hand-wash only).  (I love mine!  It keeps my water cold for hours!)  The frosted glasses are 16 oz. 

Click here to make this project.

Again, the beautiful designs are done for you, then you just add a photo and some personalization in text.  (Keep reading if you'd rather design one of these projects yourself.)

Click here to make this project.

This video tutorial walks you through how to make a mug using Design & Print by Forever and its beautiful, easy (and free!) templates.  We were done in about 4 minutes!  Plus--there's a bonus in this video:  Mug Mix recipes.  Made in the larger size mug in the microwave in less than 2 minutes, these single-serving recipes are perfect for college students or just a snow day at home!  



Click here to make this project.

The love-themed frosted glass template available is so simple--just personalize with two names and you're done!
Click here to make this project.

5- MOUSEPADS
Here's another practical idea for everyday use that reminds your Valentine you love him/her, again with simple designs that you can create in no time.

Click here to make this project.


Click here to make this project.

And this design will look familiar!  
Click here to make this project.


Last but certainly not least, here's idea #6.  And a bonus item, too!

6- COASTER SETS
Coaster sets are such a fun and unique gift!  They measure 3.75x3.75 and have rounded corners.  Coasters come in a set of 4 and are made with a high gloss finish on top of a sturdy cork backer.  Any non-photo designs can be swapped out for photo designs, too--I'll show some examples!

Click here to make this project.


Click here to make this project.

Click here to make this project.

These creative, personalized Valentine ideas are all printed on highest-quality products and include a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  If you're looking for a Valentine gift that is guaranteed not to be re-gifted, here you go!

Before we get to the bonus item, which is great for school classes, friends, kids, adults, and true loves, here's the information I mentioned before about stepping outside templates.  The templates I've shown here are fantastic because they're free to use and are already designed so that you can make these beautiful gifts in minutes.

But if you'd like more flexibility than templates offer and you'd like to design a book, mousepad, water bottle (etc.) yourself, you're going to love Artisan digital scrapbooking software.  This is a basic overview of this powerful software program by Forever.  I have had so much fun with it, designing whatever beautiful, meaningful projects I want, in my own style which allows me the amount of text and photos I want every time.

You can even get a 30-day free trial of Artisan here.  (And be sure you check out Deals before purchasing Artisan because it's almost always on sale!)
 
BONUS:  VALENTINE GIFT TAGS
One of the special things about Artisan digital scrapbooking software from Forever is that it offers a few extra products that aren't available in Design & Print.  One of those products is business cards.  And because you can create anything you want with Artisan, you can make business cards into Happy Valentine's Day tags!

These tags made from business cards can be tied, taped, or stapled to any gift.   Is your 2nd-grader giving pencils to her class this Valentine's day?  Tie this pretty tag on with a ribbon.  Are you giving chocolates to some girlfriends this year?  Tape this lovely tag on the box.  Handwrite a "to" and "from" and you've got a gorgeous addition to a sweet gift.

tag created by Jennifer Wise using Artisan software by Forever

Business cards come in sets of 50, so you'll get a couple of years (or a couple of elementary school classes) worth of Happy Valentine's Day tags.  They measure 3.5" wide x 2" tall.

Because I made this myself using Artisan software, it's not a template and not something you can find on the Forever website like all these other products.  

But I'd love to share it with you!  Open your free Forever account and then email photoandstorytreasures@gmail.com to ask me for the PDF of this project.  I'll reply with the PDF which you can download to your Forever account and simply order!  

Happy Valentine's Gift-Giving!

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8 comments:

  1. Jennifer, you always have such creative ideas for any Holiday!

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    1. Thanks, Lori. :) I love how much help I get from Heritage Makers templates. ;) These really do make fun and meaningful gifts--which is the best kind to give!

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  2. Absolutely love the idea of using the little business cards as treat holders! Just the right combination of creativity without going over the top. Thanks for including on #wanderingwednesday!

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    1. Thanks, Mrs. T. I love that, too. Darling, you make it once and you get 50, and it's creativity without going over the top. :) Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. Great ideas. I like the canvas prints and coasters! Thanks so much for linking up at the Unlimited Link Party 96. Shared.

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    1. Thanks, Dee. I like those, too--such a fun way to share some love with everyday items. Thanks for sharing, too.

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    2. CONGRATS Jennifer! Your post is FEATURED at the Unlimited Link Party 97!

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    3. Oh, I'm so happy about this! Thank you, Dee!

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