Scrapbook WAHM

Valentine’s Day is a time to show our partners how much we love them. It’s a time of flowers, chocolates, and special dates. And last but not least, it’s a time for Valentine cards.

Greeting card companies make lots of money in the weeks before Valentine’s Day. After all, no one wants to be the one who neglected to give the love of their life a special greeting! But you don’t have to buy the same cards everyone else is giving. Creating your own is so much more special.

You don’t have to be a celebrated artist to make a great Valentine card. Even if you can’t draw, paint or even cut out shapes, you can still create a memorable greeting for your love. Here are some ideas:

* Use greeting card software to design a card and print it out on card stock. You could use a ready-made design and verse, but most programs will also allow you to create a card from scratch. You can include clip art, photos, and your own special message.

* Are you a scrapbooker? Use your scrapping skills to create a beautiful Valentine. Find some pretty card stock, add photos and embellishments, and write a thoughtful message. You could use photos of you and your partner throughout the years, pictures from your honeymoon, or favorite candid snapshots.

* Hearts made out of construction paper add a whimsical touch to a handmade Valentine card, and they’re really easy to make. Just fold a piece of construction paper in half, draw half a heart with the center at the fold, cut out, and unfold. Glue the hearts onto paper doilies before adding to the card for an endearing look with very little effort.

* Are you brimming with design ideas but unsure what words to use on the card? Quote a poem or some song lyrics. You might even want to include a CD single of the song or a recording of someone (perhaps you) reciting the poem.

* Include some coupons. Not grocery or car wash coupons, but coupons that are good for favors and special nights out when presented to you. You could make coupons for backrubs, dinner and a movie on you, a trip to an event of your significant other’s choosing, a walk in the park, and all sorts of other things.

Creating a special Valentine card for the one you love is a sweet and inexpensive way to let him or her know you care. Whether you simply add a special message to a predesigned card made with greeting card software or break out the craft supplies and make something totally unique, the thought you put into it will make your Valentine feel truly special.

One of the best things about scrapbooking as a hobby is that you can take as little or as much time as you like. On those days when you have plenty of time, you can while away the hours creating your scrapbook masterpieces. However, when you don’t have as much time to spend, you can still create quick and easy scrapbook layouts you can be proud of.

If you’ve spent any time looking at scrapbook supplies (and it’s hard to believe anyone who does scrapping not doing so), you’ll know that you can buy pre-printed pages. These are the some of the quickest ways to complete a scrapbook layout in ten minutes or less.

You choose the page you would like to create, match the photos that will fit the theme, and then write a little bit of explanation in the journal box. How much easier can it be than this? In fact, if you’re using the pre-printed pages you may be able to complete more than one page in ten minutes.

Scrapbook theme kits are another way to create great pages without a lot of effort. Kits include the themed paper, die cuts, stickers, journal boxes, and even photo boxes. You pick and choose what you want and put your pictures with it. It’s so easy, and so much fun!

What if you have a few minutes while you’re waiting in line at the grocery store? Take along a notebook that you can use to sketch out layout ideas. Instead of having to completely create the page, you’ll be using those few minutes to put some ideas down on paper. That way, when you have more time and all of your supplies with you, you’ll be able to complete that idea that you captured earlier.

Did you just get back from vacation, have a party, or has a holiday passed? Use items from these events to create quick and easy scrapbook layouts. How do you do that? Here are some ideas:

* Vacations – Most likely when you were on vacation you picked up something to remember your time there. Whether it’s postcards or pamphlets from someplace you visited, you can include those on the page with your pictures of you there. These items will take up extra space on your page, so they won’t take as long to complete.

* Parties – Did you have a themed party for someone in your family? If so, you may have napkins or other party goods left. Incorporate those items into the page with pictures you took at the party.

* Holidays – There are so many die cuts and stickers available for the holidays, no matter which one you’ve just celebrated. Take advantage of the supplies that are available to you to make creating your scrapbook pages a snap.

You don’t have to labor over your scrapbook to make it look colorful, fun, and enjoyable. It is possible to create quick and easy scrapbook layouts in less time that are just as good. Use some of these ideas and see what you can create in a short amount of time.