A heart-shaped photo collage is a thoughtful Valentine's Day gift that can be made electronically or by hand.
Story last updated at 2/8/2012 - 11:16 am
St. Valentine must have a hilarious sense of humor. A holiday all about eating chocolate and candies, enveloped in the idea of "love," just after everyone has settled into their New Year's resolution groove? Millions of lovebirds worldwide are falling off the resolution wagon each year because love and chocolates have weaseled their way in via Mr. Valentine's sweet siren call.
Is it possible this was not his plan? That love, not love handles, is the reason for the season? If you are a believer that love can come in crafty, nonfat packages then try out the projects below to show your valentine what it truly means to love their whole heart.
HEART-FILLED PHOTO COLLAGE
Show your loved one how much his or her heart means to you by making a photo collage of your happy moments together.
Handcrafted: If you like to get your hands in glue and glitter then gather together some printed photos, scissors, tape, colored paper and any other decorative elements you have around the house. Choose a variety of photos including close-ups, wide shots and some to cut out and layer in unique ways. Add thoughtful handwritten notes and memories near the images to tug on your valentine's heartstrings.
Computer crafted: If you're more comfortable in front of a keyboard than a cutting mat, create a collage online and print it up. Many websites are available for this type of collage, where you can upload images, pick a collage format and theme and print. One such site is www.shapecollage.com, which allows you to simply enter the URL where your photos are stored (for example, your Flickr account), pick a shape and your photos will be collaged for you. Then, send the collage on to friends and family or post it to your favorite social network to spread the love.
COLORFUL CRAYON HEARTS
Instead of baking heart shaped cookies or muffins, use that tin to remelt crayon ends into a multi-colored marker and write a special note to your loved one.
All you need are crayon pieces, a heart-shaped muffin tin and an oven. First, heat the oven to 250 degrees F. Place the different colored crayon scraps in the muffin tin and bake until the crayons melt, about 10 to 15 minutes. Let the hearts cool and smooth any rough edges on a sheet of paper. Then, write a truly colorful note to your loved one for their special day.
FRUIT HEARTS FOR YOUR SWEETHEART
Make a plate full of love with heart-healthy morsels made from fruit. Sliced strawberries are both red and heart-shaped and look great next to watermelon slices cut into heart shapes. Or take two apples, one red and one green, and carve a heart from each (use a small heart shaped cookie cutter as a guide). Then, insert the red heart in the green apple and vice versa for an adorable touch of heart-healthy love.
Author's note: Article information may have been exaggerated for emphasis and in no way is the author opposed to delicious dark chocolate-flavored valentine shaped morsels sent to Alaska Crafter care of the Capital City Weekly.
Tanna Peters Studt is a crafter and designer from Juneau. View her latest creations at www.alaskacrafter.com. She may be reached at tanna.craft@gmail.com.
