Monday 11 February 2008

5 Valentine's Day Craft Ideas

We could all spend a little extra on a really nice meal or buying your partner some perfume that they really like. But if you really want to show your partner your romantic side then why not also present her or him with a gift that you have made yourself. Not to mention it can be loads of fun. Below we provide 5 different Valentine's Day craft ideas which you may want to consider trying for this coming February 14th.

1. Candy Filled Heart - Take some white or pink paper (not too thick and not too thin) and cut out two identically shaped hearts. Then take one heart and decorate this using glitter etc, and when dried attach to the other but leave the top of the heart open so that you can place a number of beautifully made heart shaped chocolates inside. Then seal and present to your loved one.

2. Heart In Your Hands - For this you will need to scan your hand into a computer and then using a program such as ClipArt or PhotoShop place a heart in the center of the palm. Then very steadily insert a picture of your loved one into the center of the heart and on it place the saying "You Have My Heart in Your Hands". Once prepared, print off the picture onto some heat transfer material and then transfer the image on to a piece of clothing of your choice.

3. Mouse pad - If your partner spends hours at their computer each day why not present them with a mouse pad on which you can place a message of love that they will be able to read and treasure throughout the year. To make it even more special why not go for a heart shaped one rather than the more traditional square or oblong ones.

4. Love Scrapbook - If you have the time why not make up a book of the time that you have been together and which you can then present to your loved one on Valentine's Day. It is a good idea to keep hold of little mementos from days that you have spent together such as ticket stubs of places that you visited (cinemas, theatres etc). Also, include within some pictures and words that mean things to you.

5. Valentine's Wreath - Again if you have time get hold of some various sized wooden hearts and then paint them. Ideally use colors such as pink, red and white for them and then write words that are important and special to you both. Once dried stick them onto a grapevine wreath and add a ribbon to it so that it can be hung up for all to see.

Along with the Valentine's Day craft ideas we have provided above for you, a quick search of the internet and you will find plenty more. Making something yourself will really show the person to whom you are giving the gift just how much they really mean to you. It's often the effort that shows the love.

Jason Parker is a rep at
St Valentine's Day Gift Baskets where the sweetest and tastiest gift baskets are available.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_S._Parker

Tuesday 5 February 2008

Cupid Quotient

Love and romance, mankind has paired into couples ever since Adam and Eve, but what makes some relationships sizzle and others fizzle? Some say it may well be the romantic nature of the individuals who make up the couple. However, whether you are single, searching or happily married, it is human nature to seek romance and love.

So why don't you take my quiz and test your Cupid Quotient?!?

1. In what country would a man send a woman a Valentine letter containing a rhyme and signed with a series of dots to represent his name? According to this country's tradition, if the woman guessed his identity correctly on Valentine's Day he would reward her with a gift.
A. Denmark
B. Italy
C. England
D. America

A. Denmark

QQ. In Denmark, a man would send a woman a Valentine letter containing a rhyme and signed with a series of dots to represent his name. If the woman guessed his identity correctly on Valentine's Day he would reward her with a gift.

2. In what country would young ladies awaken before sunrise and look out their window? According to tradition, the first man they saw would be either the man they would marry or someone who looked like their future husband.
A. Denmark
B. Italy
C. England
D. America

B. Italy
QQ. In Italy, young ladies would awaken before sunrise and look out their window. Tradition said the first man they saw would be either the man they would marry or look like their future husband.

3. In what country would a suitor leave a basket of gifts on his beloved's doorstep and run off?
A. Denmark
B. Italy
C. England
D. America

C. England
QQ. In England, a suitor would leave a basket of gifts on his beloved's doorstep and run off.

4. In what country would young ladies write their names on slips of paper and at Valentine's Day party young men would draw names.
According to this country's tradition, the young man would then wear the name of his lady on his sleeve for days to claim her as his valentine, originating the saying "wearing your heart on your sleeve."
A. Denmark
B. Italy
C. England
D. America

D. America
QQ. In America, young ladies would write their names on slips of paper and at a Valentine's Day party young men would draw names. A young man would wear the name of his lady on his sleeve for days to claim her as his valentine, originating the saying "wearing your heart on your sleeve."

5. The tradition of pairing lovers in February comes from:
A. A pagan festival called Lupercalia when young men and women drew names to choose partners, exchanged gifts and often married after the festival pairing.
B. Geoffrey Chaucer who chose the date because the 14th of February was the day birds began to pair for the spring nesting season.
C. Pope Gelasius chose Feb. 14th as the day to honor St. Valentine.
D. The Romans once honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, the god of nature, during a festival on Feb. 15.
E. They are all true

E. They are all true
QQ: Interesting how many reasons there are to become a couple on a specific date!

6. Valentine's Day-celebrated Feb. 14-is a festival of love and romance. Its history can be traced back to which civilization?
A. Rome
B. Greece
C. Celts
D. None of the above, it was created by the greedy card, chocolate and flower companies.

A. Rome
QQ: While admittedly the holiday has become excessively commercialized, it is not a manufactured holiday but one with a long tradition extending back to Rome

7. Why was Cupid chosen as the symbol of Valentine's Day and lovers?
A. He was the Roman god of love.
B. A celebrated marksman from Greece, he won the hand of his beloved through an archery match.
C. According to Celtic tradition, Cupid was an unfortunate suitor killed by the arrow of an outraged father who refused to let his daughter wed for love.
D. There is no reason other than the fact greedy card, chocolate and flower moguls thought that was the cutest design created by their marketing staff.
E. All are correct

A. He was the Roman god of love.
QQ: Sometimes we get a little silly

8. The original Valentine, who was sainted after his death, was:
A. A Christian priest who lived in Rome and was jailed and later beheaded for aiding persecuted Christians in 270 AD
B. Was killed on the site of ancient altar to Juno (the Roman goddess of women and marriage).
C. A bishop of Terni who was persecuted for converted Romans to Christianity and performing Christian marriages.
D. Was actually two different Christian martyrs.
E. All are correct

E. All are correct
QQ: You couldn't miss!

9. Deep red carnations tell your loved one that...
A. Your heart is broken.
B. Celibacy
C. Friendship
D. True Love

A. Your heart is broken.
QQ: Your heart is broken because they mean "alas, my poor heart".

10. Roses are among the most popular flowers for lovers to give, but what does the gift mean?
A. Hopeless love
B. Be mine
C. Love
D. Farewell

C. Love
QQ: That one was easy, wasn't it?

11. However, the combination of white and red roses sends what message?
A. Unity
B. Declaration of love
C. Farewell
D. Distrust

A. Unity
QQ: You could get bonus points for that!

12. If you hope to propose, what flowers should make up the bouquet you present to your intended?
A. Ivy
B. Blue violets
C. Globe amaranth
D. Rose
E. Any and All

E. Any and All
QQ: I think combining all these flowers would make a beautiful gesture as: Ivy means fidelity and marriage, Blue violets mean faithfulness, Globe amaranth means unfading love, and Roses mean love

Article Source: http://www.SponsorDirectory.com/Free-Content

You can find more trivia fun at The QuizQueen and Trivia Tidbit. Submitted with Article Distributor.

Decorating The Home With Valentine’s Day Decor

Valentine’s Day comes hot on the heels of Christmas, New Year and the Chinese New Year, occasions when decorations, plus special home and garden décor, are at their most abundant. While people do not generally decorate their homes extensively for Valentine's Day, now you have got in the decoration mood, why not have a few special Valentine ornaments about the home to signify the day?

If your Valentine's ornaments are well chosen, they may even fit into your home decor at other times too. Special Valentine ornaments can also make unusual Valentine gifts, for supplementing the roses and chocolates, or even as gifts for Mum and Dad.

There is, of course, nothing like the vast choice of Valentine ornaments as there is for Christmas. But that does not mean there are none in the stores or online; and you can always make your own. If you have children, you may even find the younger ones make you something at school.

However, assuming you want to buy special Valentine’s ornaments and décor, then here are just a few ideas of the type of things to look out for.

Ideas For Valentine Décor

Vases
If you are buying, or expecting, roses on Valentine’s Day, then an appropriately designed and tastefully decorated vase may be a choice accompaniment. A red vase in an attractive design may prove opportune for Valentine’s Day, but can also play a part for your summer cut flowers when your garden is in full bloom; that is, if it is not over adorned with Valentine Day graffiti.

Welcome Signs
As with Christmas, a cheerful welcome sign to hang on or by the front door is great way to greet people who arrive at your home on and around Valentine’s Day. By signifying your home is a place of love and romance, visitors should be immediately warmed by the greeting. Some of the best examples are also very attractive.

Sun Catchers
By their very nature, sun catchers are very cheerful and optimistic, so are ideal for a heart warming Valentine’s Day, reflecting not just the sunlight but the light coming from your heart too. Coloured in reds and pinks, and with heart shaped decorations, if you are lucky enough to find a good Valentine sun catcher, it will be an attractive feature for some time to come.

Wind Chimes
Easier to find than sun catchers, Valentine wind chimes are a good choice for those who appreciate the gentle chime of these popular indoor and outside ornaments. Again you will find heart shaped decorations are common, but you may find the occasional fairy and other decorous feature added to make the wind chime even more attractive.

Candle Holders
One of the easier types of Valentine décor to find is Valentine candle holders. Jar, tea light or pillar candle holders can all come with a Valentine theme, or you can simply choose a romantic red and buy some richly scented candles to go with them.

I am sure with a bit of thought and searching you can come up with many more ideas for Valentine Day decorations, whether to buy or to use your craft skills to make your own.

Article Source: http://www.SponsorDirectory.com/Free-Content

This Valentine Day article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Romeo and Juliet Valentines and Gardens and Decor web sites.

Secret Romantic Love Poems

Romantic love poems are the poem of choice by many, although there are other great topics and all sorts of other types of poems, romantic love poems is what people automatically think of when the word poem comes up.
Back in the days when Romeo and Juliet written by Shakespeare, ruled, you can be sure Romeo tried and tried to seduce Juliet, and one of his many tactics was the all o mighty romantic love poems, and the reason being is they always work by capturing your lovers heart almost instantly.

Even today romantic love poems are a great tool used by many men trying to impress or win the love of a special lady in their life, there are many ways romantic love poems can be used, but a more widely used method of choice is the online email transfer. People are sending their loved ones romantic love poems by the thousands every single day.

Writing your own romantic love poem or finding one already written for you. if your a very creative person, you can write your own material, but if your not creative, you probably do not want to take the chance of using your own words, you could destroy the whole idea. So, the best thing to do would be to surf the internet for the best romantic love poem that suits you best or maybe something you seem to agree with more.

Just by typing the word "Romantic Love Poems" in your favorite search engine you would get thousand of results to choose from, you could also use the word love poems, even though its a bit broad you would still get some decent results. Then search through the material cause there's going to be a whole lot of it, and find that perfect romantic love poem for your special partner. Put it in an email, subject a romantic I love you poem. You can guarantee whoever see's that is going to open it as soon as they can, just waiting to see what you have written.
The secret they will never know if you wrote the poem, or had someone else do it for you, so make sure when you find a romantic love poem for you and her that it will not be so easy for them to find aswell, just in case they do search to see if you did write it or not.

Romantic love poems are on of the most efficient way's of expressing your true love to that special person in your life. If you would like more info about romantic love poems please visit the site. 2flavorlove.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_P_Archer

Sunday 3 February 2008

Valentine Flowers Are For Lovers & Friends

Valentines Day Flowers are such a nice way to acknowledge those you love. Often Valentine flowers are sent to those who are married, engaged or in love. But these aren’t the only reasons to send Valentine flowers. If you are married, engaged or in love giving Valentine flowers is always a good idea. This is one holiday when florists are always busy and have many orders.

You can also send Valentines Day Flowers to your parents, grandparents, favorite aunt or uncle or even the kids. It is the perfect time to remember the people you love.

It’s a good time to thank people, too. Think about all the people in your life that you would like to thank. Maybe it’s a coworker or boss, special friend or teacher.

Valentine flowers will brighten the day for those residing in care facilities. If you have a friend or relative in the hospital you may want to consider Valentine flowers.

There are many choices when you want to send Valentine flowers. Roses are always a favorite but you might want to choose tulips, lilies, orchids or a stunning combination of exotic flowers.

You can choose from many different containers for your Valentine flowers. There are vases, baskets, bowls and more. There are also other gifts that can be added to the bouquets. You might want to choose candy, a stuffed animal, candles, ceramic figurines or balloons.

If you would like to send Valentine flowers to someone you will want to place your order several days before Valentine’s Day. When you do this you will have a good selection and make sure that the flowers can be delivered by Valentine’s Day.There is more than one place to order Valentine flowers. You can go to a local florist. Your local florist will be able to design a Valentine flower bouquet for you.

Flowers Across America - Same Day Delivery
Grocery stores often have floral departments. You can get your Valentine flowers at the same time you pick up a few groceries. If you happen to wait a little too long to have your Valentine flowers delivered you may be in luck at the grocery store, if they still have any flowers left!

A really convenient way to order Valentine flowers is online. Online sites have excellent choices and you will be able to look at all the Valentine flower arrangements and pick your favorite. You can pay online and the flowers will be delivered when and where you designate.

Don’t forget the Valentine flowers for those you love or care about.

http://flowers-list.com Everything you need to know from silk to real flowers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Francis

Romantic Valentine Gifts

Unique Holiday Cards
Selecting a Valentine's Day gift can be a very tough job as it is not always easy to find a gift that is romantic and unique, and really conveys the depth of your love. There are a variety of romantic Valentine gifts available in the market but in order to be different you have to give a unique gift. Romantic Valentine gifts can be great fun to shop for but you should start looking for ideas well before Valentine's Day or you will have to rush. The only gift you might want to leave until just before Valentine's Day might be a bunch of roses, considered to be the traditional gift of lovers throughout the centuries. A spectacular crystal rose is a romantic Valentine's gift as well as a luxury gift.

Another one-of-its-kind gift could be a lovely painting signifying some moment that you both had shared and want to cherish. Or, you can select a romantic snap of the two of you and put it in a heart shaped photo frame or put on a coffee mug and gift it to your sweetheart. An exclusive selection of gold, diamond and pearl jewelry which includes bracelets, necklaces, earrings and pendants are favored romantic Valentine gifts. A cute white teddy bear wearing a white t-shirt imprinted with a heart-felt romantic love poem can be a singular romantic Valentine gift.

Romantic getaways, romantic books and personalized champagne bottles are popular Valentine gifts. In case you are in doubt as to what romantic Valentine gift to offer, a gift certificate can be an ideal choice. Many online stores also offer Valentine gift certificates that are convenient and easy to redeem. By presenting a gift certificate, the receiver has the option to choose something that is useful and can be enjoyed.
Other valentine gift idea: Music Box Attic Gifts of Love


Romantic Gifts provides detailed information on Romantic Gifts, Romantic Gift Ideas, Unusual Romantic Gifts, Romantic Gifts For Her and more. Romantic Gifts is affiliated with First Wedding Anniversary Gifts.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Seth_Miller

Chocolate - Friend or Foe on Valentine's Day

When it comes to temptation, nothing packs a punch like chocolate. For centuries, chocolate has been loved by the people of the world, from drinking it in cocoa to eating it in bars. So what is a woman who wants to lose weight supposed to do about the delicious box of chocolates she receives from her true love?

If you enjoy your chocolate in moderation and cut back on other calories throughout the day to compensate, you'll be fine. Think of moderation as one or two truffles. Period. Not one or two truffles a day for the entire month of February. Now for many women trying to lose weight, having a pound of chocolate on the kitchen counter will not work. The temptation is far too overwhelming. So here's some advice about what to do with your chocolate love gifts:

1. Eat only dark chocolate. Give all your milk and white chocolate pieces away to your skinny friends. Enjoy dark chocolate that is at least 70% cocoa. Research shows that flavonoid-rich foods like dark chocolate may keep high blood pressure down and decrease your risk for heart disease. So as long as you're indulging, make it dark chocolate.

2. Give yourself a chocolate allowance. Enjoy 2000 calories worth of chocolate throughout your Valentine's celebrations, or have five pieces of chocolate, or one piece of cake. Decide beforehand what you are going to do. Indulge all at once by ordering that rich cake for dessert on Valentine's Day or savor your chocolate over a longer period of time (like one piece of chocolate, five days in a row). But after you have your allowance, you are done. Finished. Just like when you were a kid and your parents gave you a dollar a week, once the dollar was spent, you didn't have money to buy anything else.

3. Get creative with the leftovers. Chances are you're going to have some chocolate left after you've had your allowance. You can wrap chocolate pieces and give them away to your friends and neighbors with notes of appreciation. Or if your truffles came from your husband who doesn't really want to see his hard earned money going to buy chocolates for the neighbors, you can put the chocolate in the freezer and have a celebration when you hit your goal weight.

4. Ask your family for help. Tell your husband you would love to get some chocolate for Valentine's Day but just a little bit. Ask for something without calories like flowers.
When you focus on the true source of love in your life, the chocolates you see lining the supermarket shelves will take a backseat this Valentine's Day. Be moderate with chocolate but lavish in showing love to your friends and family!

Today's Action Step: What will you do to indulge smart this Valentine's Day?



Je t'aime Valentine's Day Gifts Hearts + shipping discounts

Arlene Pellicane, mother of a toddler and infant, helps women lose their baby weight and thrive as wives and mothers. Her weekly podcast "Losing Weight After Baby" is full of practical ideas that work for busy moms. Visit Arlene's website for FREE articles and exercises at http://www.losingweightafterbaby.com and
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arlene_Pellicane


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