Creating and designing with PicMonkey a tutorial

Happy Valentine's Day!I thought what better way to celebrate than by sharing something that I love.All year, I have been sharing with you free printable monthly memory verses.I shared one with you last week.

I wanted to let you in on a secret.

For years, I have used PicMonkey to edit pictures, make collages and design images.

PicMonkey is a fantastically easy program to use 

{you don't need an advanced degree to use it like you do with photoshop!}

and there are so many options for creating.I wanted to share with you how I made the image above in PicMonkey's new design setting.Start by selecting Design and the size that you would like to design in.I chose square for the picture above, but you could do any size, even custom.

Select your canvas color.

For the memory verse this month, I picked white.

For instructional purposes, I am showing you in blue.

The next thing I do is pick my font.

There are lots of fonts to choose from.

The next step after picking the font is choosing the color you want the font.

So many choices!

I typically design small segments of text a little at a time so that I can manipulate them easier.

For example, you can stack words, change font sizes and move words around more easily if you do them in little segments.

As you can see below, I am working with the word "all".

The other awesome thing about using PicMonkey is that you can include shapes that they have in their library like this heart.

Once again, the color of the shape you use can be changed.

The process is simple.

Work slowly, shift things as needed, experiment with colors and then save and share!

It's as easy as that!

PicMonkey is a free program

but their Royale program is amazing!

There are fonts, shapes, textures and techniques you have access to with the Royale feature that you wouldn't otherwise.

To join the Royale program costs just $4.99 a month. 

That's just $33 a year!

If you would like to try a free day of Royale, please

follow this link and get started!Try PicMonkey today!

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Classroom Valentine's Round up

We finish with one holiday and are quickly moving on to the next. I like to make the kids Valentine's for their classes every year, and I know a lot of you do to.If you follow me on Pinterest, you will know that I have been pinning some classroom Valentine ideas.I like to choose cheap and easy Valentine's that can be mass produced for about 25 students.I thought I would share some of the ones I found with you today.

Martha Stewart has these candy dot hearts that seem like a snap to pull together.The Coterie blog has these cute sucker Valentine's.You could easily make the tags in your Silhouette SD software or on PicmonkeyThese little matchbox Valentine's from inchmark are super cute.Who doesn't love a little present to open?The Fry Family offers up a free pdf copy of this i dig you! shovel valentine.I love free!My youngest son is addicted to origami.Pretty sure this is the Valentine that his friends will be getting.Head over to A Kiss of Colour to see the full tutorial.This little Valentine is super cute.And I have the typewriter file in my Silhouette library already.I'm thinking this would be perfect for my 5th grader.sourceI made these years ago for my son when he was in pre-school.It's an oldie but a goodie from Jolly Lollies.A Small Snippet provides the free bag topper for these pop rocks Valentine's.I'm kind of a big fan of these pirate Valentine's.They are free from Mer Mag.  All you have to do is cut out the felt heart and sew it on.These Valentine envelopes from Nest of Posies would be adorable if you didn't have to make a zillion of them!  They would be great if you had a small class, or fun to make just for your own kids.
I love a clever Valentine that doesn't need candy to make it awesome.These Rebus Valentine's found free on Martha Stewart are pretty cool.Again, no candy needed!Love these {and don't even have to change the name for my Owen!}from dandeedandee has lots of fun Valentine's day ideas.Love this magnifying glassthese friendship bracelets are pretty fun Valentine's too.  Also from dandee.A Creative Cookie made cute monster covers for little nerds packets.These goldfish crackers would be fun for the pre-school crowd.You can see the full tutorial at Backless ShirtStitch/Craft offers up these free Lego Valentine's.Just add the glow stick and you are set!If I had been thinking ahead, I would have stocked up on 1 cent rulers at back to school time.These are another great non-candy Valentine that comes in handy.Go to Thompson and Spring for the details.I made these felt mustaches and cards for my son last year.and these were the Valentine's my daughter gave last year.Love the bookmark idea for the older kids.from 30 daysAnd for your {bigger} Valentine, don't miss out on this free coffee cup printable from eat, drink, chicDid you get any ideas for your Valentine's?Which is your favorite?

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Baby prints and PicMonkey

My husband and I both had cousins that had babies last month.

I made these birth announcement prints for those sweet boys.

I've really loved using Picnik to make prints for the babies in our lives.

Remember this one I made around Christmas time?

I'm going to miss Picnik.

Just when I think I have it all figured out, 

it's closing down.

Story of my life.

Good news though

 I hear PicMonkey is very similar.

I can't wait to try it out.

Have you tried PicMonkey yet?

What do you think?

ps-would you mind taking a second and voting for me in the top 25 creative mom blogs contest?It only takes a second and doesn't require anything more than a click...no signing up for anything, no forms.Promise.  Just a second of your time.

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Handmade Valentine's

There are lots of great ideas for handmade valentine's.  

I pinned a few then asked the kids what they liked.

Of course they both gravitated to the mustache valentine's.

I was inspired by this one from Six Cherries On Top

With Picnik closing soon, I was able to recreate a personalized version for Owen

Once I printed it, this is what it looked it.

I wanted to pair it with a felt mustache for the kids, so I used this printable from Ewe Hooo

I pinned the pattern on top of the felt and cut around it

Here are a few that I cut out

I added a sticky dot to the back of each mustache so the kids could wear them

And of course, a valentine's day gift isn't complete without chocolate!

All that was left was adding the "to"

That's it! 

All bagged up and ready to give to his friends

My daughter really liked these heart bookmarks from Thirty Handmade Days

But we didn't think the fourth grade boys would be too excited to get them so I printed up the ones from Six Cherries On Top

And I made these for the girls

And now to personalize them

and they are ready!

Don't forget to follow me with linky followers.
You would be my favorite valentine if you did!

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Dates that changed our lives

I love pinterest.

There are so many great ideas out there and it is nice to keep them all in one spot.

Not to mention how easy it is to find other great ideas.

Like this one.

I saw this personalized art date print from The Memory Gallery and immediately was inspired to make my own.

This is a copy of the one I made in picnik.

It has all of our families birth dates.

I printed it off on photo paper at Walgreens for $2.99

and then put it in a frame I had laying around the house.

So easy to make!

You could add anniversary dates, wedding dates, proposal dates, birth dates, the possibilities are endless.

What dates would you use?

**Update: I've had several people ask me what font I used.  For the dates I used FF Confidential and for the written script I used Marcelle Script.  I made it in Picnik which is closing on April 19.  Don't forget to make one before then!

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