LOVE IS IN THE AIR…

I think it is rather fitting that February should follow January. While January brings with it the call for reflection and new resolutions, February follows with an invitation to focus on those we love. For some this has been one of our foremost resolutions, as we resolve to show and share our love and devotion to our families.

Millions of people from nursery school through old age send out declarations of their love on this holiday. Many of these declarations are valentines created by sticky fingered, lollipop welding toddlers while master artists create others. All are created with the same message whether in scribbled crayon or exquisitely penned Iambic Pentameter…you are loved.

I shared with you last year my memories of the red and white decorated boxes, which in grade school held the beloved and much anticipated cards. Many of you had those same memories. I wonder if that is what caused my love of giving and receiving cards. What a thrill to take a hand full of cards to school and return with a bundle of cards from your friends at the end of the day. Not even the pink frosted cupcakes or the yards of crepe paper decorations used in the classroom could compete with that thrill!

Card making is experiencing a resurgence or revival and the crafts stores are full of booklets and supplies. We are fortunate that with our computer and imageart we are at the ready for any hobby. Bearing this in mind, I sent out a call to some of my online buddies for photos depicting the essence of Valentines Day. My hope is that you will enjoy these pages and find a way to use the ideas for your own cards and pages.

Valentine Day knows no boundaries of age or interest. Cards are sent to friends, spouses, sweethearts, teachers and classmates Toddlers happily cut and paste and professional artists create classics and all spread joy to the recipients.

Let’s look at what we have to offer you ….

Project 1: Young Couple

Andrea, a wonderful message board friend sent these adorable photos! Could they be any cuter?? I was thrilled with the opportunity to play with them. I kept this page very simple to let the photos speak.

1. I created a background from one of the colors in the photo by using the color picker.
2. I added the hearts from Valentine Bears Creatable and used the embossed function on them to make them stand out a bit more.
   *See how simple getting started can be!
3. I added a shape to create the mats and then used the border tool in DIP9 to frame them.
   

Project 2: Mature Couple!

This is what love looks like! Donna another wonderful MB friend, sent me this photo of this beautiful and loving couple strolling on the beach. Again, I kept the page simple and let the photo and the poem speak.

1. I did this in Adobe Photoshop Elements 2. I used the bevel effect and adjusted the bevel until it included the couple’s feet.
2. I then put another duplicate photo on top and softened it so their feet would be on top of the frame to look as if they were actually entering the framed photo.

Project 2a: From the Romance collection by Olivia Myers I chose this lovely background..

1. I added the background to the page.
2. Then choosing a color from the page with the eye drop color picker, I added color to a mat.
3. I then used the page curl effect to curl up the corner of the page.
4. I then added a poem underneath the curl.

Project 3: Valentine Stand

My friend Chally always come through with adorable photos to share.

1. I created a square 12 x 12 page and added a background to match the color in the photo and the hearts.
2. I added shape, and then stretched the square to fill a small Pro section of the page.
3. I added the strip of white to create a bit of contrast and then added the heart images from Valentine Bears.

Project 3a: Swinging Valentines.

Another cute photo of Chally’s kids. This photo had so much going on that it didn’t need much. You could add this photo to your album as it stands as an 8.5 x 11 page.

1. I decided to make a cute Valentine Card from it.
2. I used the entire photo as the front of the card
3. I added a little image from Bearing All Seasons on the inside.

Project 4: Daddy’s Little Angel

Deidre from my Yahoo club shared this photo of her hubby and new baby. I love these photos and wanted to do something simple and sweet.

1. I used the pink background and birds from Precious Little Ones.
2. I added the photo and then used the add border function in DIP.
3. I added the ribbon and tiny sun to finish off a simple but sweet page.

Project 5: Merging two backgrounds for a page

1. I created a new landscape page and added two backgrounds from Precious Little Ones.
2. I added the solid pink pages side by side and then added the striped page and using the "make transparent gradually" feature, I melded it into the solid pink page.
3. I then shaped my photos and added edges, mats and shadows using DIP.
4. I added a metal tack from the stamp function in DIP.

Be sure to check back with us next month….I received so many wonderful couple photos that I didn’t have space for them all but I loved each one of them. Valentines Day is not the only time we should show our love for our family and friends as well as our sweethearts. Let that be your goal for this wonderful February, the month of love. Find ways to show those around you that you care. Be creative and have fun!!

You know what comes next……

And now for your assignments should you decide to accept them:

1. Create some valentines. Pretend you are 7 years old again and let your imagination go.
2. Take some photos of your family and friends in hugs and kisses.
3. Send someone an e card created from your photos.
4. Be the first to say I’m sorry after a disagreement.
5. Be the first to kiss and make up.
6. Hug someone!
7. Take a photo of someone whose shop you visit or someone who waits on you and create a page or card for them.
8. Be sure to say thank you to the kids at McDonalds or Burger King, etc., when they take your order.
9. Write your spouse or Significant Other a list of 10 reasons why they are special to you.
10. Tell those you love that you love them.
11. Hug someone!
12. Make up a Valentine Song for your kids.
13. Meet me back here next month!!

Until then………..Happy Scrapping!!

Gentle tip for the month:

Save an untouched high resolution copy of your photos either on your hard drive or on CD. Take digital photos at a high resolution. If you lower the quality to save space and get a wonderful shot you will wish you had a better photo later. A great number of low quality photos is not better than a few high quality photos.