When you think of Valentines Day you think about roses, heart shaped boxes of chocolates and Valentines Day cards. Sometimes you want to give something a bit more special. Often finding that perfect gift for Valentines Day is just as hard as finding the perfect Christmas gift.
Roses are beautiful, but they die within a week. Chocolates are tasty but they only last for a few days (at least in my home – ha ha). Valentines Day cards are lovely and sweet but after the holiday most are tossed out or buried away in a special keepsake box.
This Valentines Day consider giving a gift that will not only last for a very long time but will also be appreciated and enjoyed year round for many years to come. Consider giving your sweetheart a photo book from the Kodak Gallery.
I love photo books. We made up one many years ago with pictures from our trip to Walt Disney World. That book sits prominently on our bookshelf and gets looked at time and time again by everyone in our family. The kids love to look at it and ask questions about the things they see in the book. They were both so little when we went there (2 and 4 1/2). They don’t remember much at all. My husband and I look through the book fondly, reliving memories of that very special time. Truly, reliving memories through photographs hits differently. As Printed Memories photo book creator has mentioned: “beautiful memories in print form connect people with their loved ones in ways that it’s not possible to do over the screen”.
Recently my husband surprised me with a photo book for our anniversary (15 year anniversary of our first date). He took pictures from my recent trip to Hollywood and put them together to make a keepsake book for me. I love it! I can’t even tell you how many times I have looked through that book. I love sharing the pictures with my family and telling them all about the wonderful sites I saw while I was out there.
A photo book from the Kodak Gallery would make a lovely gift for Valentines Day. Fill the book with pictures of you and your loved one. Some day I would love to make up a book of pictures of my husband and from when we first started dating all the way up to this moment in time. Some day I will do that. It will take me a bit to find all the pictures I want to use.
If you are recently married I think a photo book that chronicles your first year as a married couple would be a wonderful Valentines Day gift. Or, if you are celebrating many decades of your life together it would be fun to include pictures of your lives together through the years. I think a photo book would make an outstanding anniversary gift too.
I recently made a photo book from the Kodak Gallery. I haven’t received it as of yet. I am anxious to see how it turned out. I had a medium sized soft cover book made up. I used photos of my family from last year up until January of this year. It’s stuffed with pictures of the summer time, holidays and even parts of my Hollywood trip. Its a beautiful way to capture those special memories. I plan on giving the book to my husband as a belated anniversary and Valentines Day gift. The book he gave me just had pictures of my Hollywood trip in it. The book I made for him has plenty of family photos of not only our immediate family but also our cousins, aunts and uncles. I’m sure he’s going to love it! I can’t wait to give it to him.
I was a little intimiated at first to try out the Kodak Gallery program. I ended up using the option where the system puts the photos together for you called Smart Fit. The photos upload to the book template based upon the date the photo was taken. What really surprised me is HOW the system knew the dates the photos were taken. There are not dates on them! I found that to be pretty weird, but also cool.
The Smart Fit system arranges the photos on each page randomly. Some pages might just have one photo, other pages might have five photos.
After the system created the book for me I went through page by page and edited some things. Some photos I didn’t think needed a full page so I replaced them with photos I wanted to take up the whole page. I also added more photos to some pages and less photos to another. I was able to arrange them in a way that I felt “flowed” better. For example, I uploaded pictures of the big blizzard we had around Christmas. They system put the photos on the pages randomly. I went through and changed them around so one page has three pictures of my daughter in the snow and the opposite page as three pictures of my son in the snow.
Once I got the hang of it I found it pretty easy to work with. I think the hard part is picking out what pictures you want to use. It took me days to narrow down what pictures I wanted to put in the book. Creating the actual book it’s self took me about an hour, give or take.
Here are some great tips from the Kodak Gallery to help you create the perfect photo book.
– Tip # 1: Get Organized: Be sure to organize the photos that you are interested in using to create a photo book into photo albums in your KODAK Gallery account. Don’t forget to name the album for a more seamless book creation experience.
– Tip #2: Proofread and Spell Check: Once you’ve added caption to your book, be sure to use our spell check functionality to ensure your captions are error free.
– Tip #3: Have a theme or design idea: SMARTFIT technology makes it easier to change the background of single pages in your photo book. After adding your photos, choose a background theme that compliments each page.
– Tip #4: Save As: You can create various photo books without leaving the SMARTFIT app. Our “Save as” feature will allow you to create a photo book save it, adjust the book and “save as”— for two separate copies. This feature is perfect if you are looking to create personalized books for everyone in your family, with just a few clicks.
– Tip #5: Mix and Match Page Layouts: Create an interesting story by altering the layout of each page. Tilted, margins and no margins options can make your book look professionally made with little or no effort.
I wish I had the book to show my readers. I just ordered it so it might not get here until closer to Valentines Day. When it does arrive I’ll take pictures of it to show my readers.
To learn more about the Kodak Gallery please visit www.KodakGallery.com. You’ll find more then just photo books there. You can also upload your photos to make a variety of other photo gifts too like calendars and mugs.
You can save up to 25% on photo books and save 50% on shipping using the discount code 50SHIP. Please see the site for more details. Both promotions end on February 8, 2011.
The last day to order for Valentines Day is February 9, 2011 (overnight shipping rates will apply).
Kodak Gallery would love to award a lucky winner a $35 gift certificateto the KodaK Gallery so yo can make your own photo book (or other photo gift). Thank you Kodak Gallery!
To enter please visit the Valentines Day gift section of the Kodak Gallery website, www.KodakGallery.com/Vday. Check out the gift ideas on the Valentines Gift Matchmaker section and then come back here and comment on a specific gift idea you would love to give someone or have someone gift to you this Valentines Day.
For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional.
– Subscribe to She Scribes and/or Connect with Google Friend Connect. Both options are found on the right side bar.
– “Like” Kodak Gallery on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/KodakGallery.
– “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.
– Follow Kodak Gallery on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/GalleryExposure.
– Follow She Scribes on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/She_Scribes) and tweet about this giveaway. Be sure to include @She_Scribes in the tweet so I can see it too. This is limited to three tweets per day.
– Use any or all of the social networking buttons found at the bottom of this post to share this giveaway with others on Facebook, Digg and/or Stumble Upon. Be sure to tell me what you did and please provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.
This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on February 14, 2011 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply or a new winner will be chosen. The gift certificate will be sent via e-mail.
For other awesome giveaways please check out the right side bar under “Win It”.
Kimberly
*I am received a free sample copy to review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own. Kodak Gallery will be providing the gift certificate.
Nicole-Lynn says
The photo calendars from Kodak are the best! I’ve received one in the past and it came out great. I’d like to receive one this year or sometime soon!
This giveaway would be great to use as a guest book for our wedding, and display our engagement pictures inside.
Thanks for the opportunity!
Seasidesmitten@aol.com
Nicole-Lynn says
I follow via GFC (Nicole-Lynn)
Seasidesmitten@aol.com
Keyomi says
i want the kodak photo book! 🙂 love kodak!
Keyomi says
email subscriber
Keyomi says
GFC follower
Keyomi says
like She_scribes on FB
Keyomi says
like u on twitter (@spellbound18)
Keyomi says
hav ur blog button on mine.
SANDY says
love the calendars- usually do them but scrrewed up and didn’t- beautiful memories each month
agordon10 says
My wife would love a photo calendar
Kim says
I’d love to give this – Sterling Silver Necklace
Kim says
subscribe to u
Kim says
like u on FB
Linda says
I would like to get a coffee mug with the grandkis picture on it for my valentine.
Linda says
I follow you on GFC(Linda G)
Sharon says
I like the ceramic black mug with the black and white photo. I think that looks very classic and somewhat like a couple of Kim Anderson travel mugs I have.
Sharon
alsam66 at gmail dot com
jkebeans says
I liked Kodak Gallery on facebook…
jkebeans says
I liked She scribes on Facebook
VintageTen says
I really love the photo calendar – Hubs would dig that a lot I think 🙂
Denise B. says
I would create a photo book.
Denise B. says
I “Like” Kodak Gallery on Facebook.
pattychase1 says
I love the photo book
mframe says
I would love to give my husband the Pillowcase with our children’s picture on it.
mframe says
GFC blog follower- mframe00
mframe says
“Like” Kodak Gallery on Facebook- Michelle Frame
mframe says
“Like” She Scribes on Facebook- Michelle Frame
mframe says
Follow Kodak Gallery on Twitter- @mframe00
deb c says
I would love to give my mom the Woven Throw.
deb c says
email subscriber
deb c says
follow gfc-missdeb1
deb c says
like you on facebook-debbie coyle
Kristi Co says
I would love to give the woven blanket.
Kristi Co says
email subscriber
Kristi Co says
follow and tweet http://twitter.com/#!/5memb/status/34643830875627520
Marci says
I would like the leather keychain.
Marci says
Email Subscriber!
Marci says
Follow with GFC!
Marci says
FB Fan!
Marci says
Twitter Follower!
tomato says
I would make a photo calender for my husband!
Monique Rizzo says
I love the woven blanket.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
Carole S says
I would love to have the 50 X 60 Fleece Blanket with our family picture on it as a Valentine Gift. I never knew that a picture could be turned into a blanket!
blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com
Carole S says
I follow via GFC (Carole Spring)
blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com
Carole S says
I like you on FB (Carole Spring)
blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com
Carole S says
email subscriber: blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com
Carole S says
I follow you on Twitter (@cspring31971) and I tweeted.
http://twitter.com/#!/cspring31971/status/35253334449455104
blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com
debi says
Sterling Silver Necklace
3 | products from $59.99 any of these
debi says
email
debi says
google friend
debi says
like u on fb as debbie jackson
debi says
like them on fb as debbie jackson
debi says
follow on twitter as jacksondeb
diane r. says
My best friends son is getting married this summer-to one of my daughters’ best friends….I think that making them a personal
photo guest book would make a wonderful gift from my granddaughter-who will be the flower girl in the wedding!
diane r. says
I am an email subscriber
Kimberly says
I’d love to receive a photo coffee mug with my husband and I’s picture on it.
Kimberly says
I Subscribe to She Scribes.
Kimberly says
I follow with Google Friend Connect.
Kimberly says
I “Like” Kodak Gallery on Facebook,
Kimberly says
I “Like” She Scribes on Facebook,
Kimberly says
I Follow Kodak Gallery on Twitter.
@winsome6
Janice Crespo says
Everest Eco Care Frame (Black)
janicecrespo AT gmail dot com
Janice Crespo says
Email Subscriber
janicecrespo AT gmail dot com
Janice Crespo says
Your Google Friend
Janice Crespo
janicecrespo AT gmail dot com
Janice Crespo says
Like you on Facebook
Janice Crespo (janicecrespo1)
janicecrespo AT gmail dot com
Tricia says
a photo mug would be a wonderful Valentines day gift
nightowlmamablogs at gmail dot com
Tricia says
I subscribe to emails nightowlmama at comcast dot net
Tricia says
I like you on facebook
Tricia F
Tricia says
like Kodak on facebook
Tricia F
Tricia says
STUMBLED
nightowlmama
Tricia says
following Kodak on Twitter @Nightowlmama
Tricia says
following you on twitter @Nightowlmama
http://twitter.com/#!/Nightowlmama/status/36616075525230592
Tricia says
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/NightOwlMama/posts/194386373923117
shared on FACEBOOK
Elizabeth says
I am in love with this photo book idea since I did a giveaway on photo cards and I really love all the ways you can make your own unique book! That is definitely what I would pick and I would make it all my own with perfect color backgrounds. I am so sad that all of my pics seem to be on memory cards! This is the easiest way to take care of that. 🙂
Elizabeth says
I am a new follower via GFC. 🙂
Elizabeth says
I have already been a fan of Kodak Gallery on FB. Love the classic! 🙂
Elizabeth says
I “like” you on FB!
Erica C. says
I’d love to get the Woven Blanket.
ky2here says
I’d do the photo wall art with black borders.
ky2here at msn dot com
ky2here says
Following galleryexposure on twitter as ky2here1.
ky2here at msn dot com
ky2here says
Twitter follower ky2here1, here’s my tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/ky2here1/status/36882942626246656
ky2here at msn dot com
Theresa says
I would love to get a woven blanket with a family picture on it!
Thanks!
Theresa
Theresa says
I follow you through gfc (Theresa Mahoney)
Thanks!
Theresa
Theresa says
I like Kodak Gallery on facebook (Theresa Haga Mahoney)
Thanks!
Theresa
Theresa says
I like She Scribes on facebook (Theresa Haga Mahoney)
Thanks!
Theresa
Theresa says
I follow @GalleryExposure on twitter (@marison459)
Thanks!
Theresa
Theresa says
I follow you on twitter (@marison459) and tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/marison459/status/36996482741698560
Thanks!
Theresa