Like most, you too must be excited about Valentine’s Day. You might have even started planning to make the day extra special. However, it’s always the gift that gives one sleepless nights. Let’s face it, once you have spent several of these occasions with your partner, it’s hard to think of unique presents. However, a quick little DIY is a savior in such scenarios. So, this Valentine’s Day, make this ‘Shared Places’ DIY, which is the perfect last-minute gift as it takes only a few minutes.
This craft highlights the places that are most special to you and your significant other. Right from your wedding spot and the place you first met to the places where your children were born or the places you have traveled to together, you can pin them in this meaningful and fun DIY. It’s entirely up to you which places you feel are extra special for you and your partner. It’s a sweet, handmade present, unique to you and your love that also doesn’t cost much. You don’t even have to be crafty — all it takes is a little bit of know-how, access to a color printer, and a frame.
Materials
- A photo frame that holds at least four photos (or as many places as you want to include)
- Photos of four (or more) places that are special to you and your partner
- A color printer
- Push pins (optional)
Procedure
- To make the ‘Shared Places’ DIY for your Valentine’s Day gift, first go to Google Maps and search for the locations on the map.
- Take a screenshot. Press Command + Shift + 3 on Mac, and for Windows, use the Print Screen key. Alternatively, Windows users can use the Windows logo key + Shift + S to take a screenshot.
- Then, paste the image into Paint and save your image if you are working on Windows. If you are on a Mac, the image will automatically be saved to your desktop.
- Repeat the second and third steps for each of the places you want to display in the ‘Shared Places’ DIY.
- Then, open Canva (or any other graphic design platform) and create a custom dimension image of 1200 x 1800 pixels for better resolution. Once you are done, upload the screenshots to Canva.
- Next, drag the first screenshot into the image field. You can add the next image once you are done with the first.
- Then, filter the first image until you are happy with the look. Copy the filter code and apply it to all images.
- You can write on the maps using the text tools, add hearts or other images — even photos, as per your wish.
- Once satisfied with the result, download the image.
- Open your Downloads folder, where there is a subfolder holding the four images separately. Print and frame.
Voila, your ‘Shared Places’ DIY is ready for your partner to receive as a gift on Valentine’s Day. You can either stop at Step 10, or you can take it up a notch by adding your personal touch. For example, instead of a single frame, you can use a bunch of single photograph frames and arrange them on a wall. You can also use heart-shaped push pins to mark the shared places.
If you want to make the craft more cohesive, collage all your special places into one image and use push pins to create a heart outline. Then, use red string to wind around them, so the heart is very obvious. If there are lots of special places that you want to incorporate in this DIY, cut heart shapes out of the maps. Then, arrange them in rows and frame them. If the places are local, try to get your hands on the old road maps. This will add a unique touch to your DIY gift for Valentine’s Day.
You can even add some fun to your ‘Shared Places’ DIY by using it as a “map” for your Valentine’s Day plans. Simply mark the places where you will have breakfast, catch a movie, go for lunch, watch the world go by (like a park, riverside or lakeside location, etc.), and so on for your partner to know all about the itinerary. The ideas are endless with this Valentine’s Day craft. So, wait no more, make this ‘Shared Places’ DIY today, and surprise your partner in the cutest way possible!
