Valentine's Crafts... The Digital Way

Pity the techno-geek in love. It's not that he doesn't want to do something special for the equally special lady in his life. But the average Valentine's Day crafts project is not for him. In fact, he hasn't been allowed to use non-safety scissors since kindergarten.

And what of the woman more skilled with debugging Web servers than knitting needles? Surely there are crafts more suited to her talents and her Valentine than an incompetently rendered scarf.

When making a personalized gift for your Valentine this year, don't fret if you're not good with traditional crafts (and no, no one's interested in your Popsicle sticks and glitter). The digital age has provided a whole new set of opportunities to show your love in a creative way with the click of a mouse. Fire up your computers, 'cause here's a few ideas.

Photo Albums of the Future

Apple's commercials are all too eager to plug a photo album made with iPhoto and a template, and you can get similar products from many a digital photo service. It beats spewing out a photo of your first date on the office printer, and makes for a classy addition to the coffee table, but you can get even more creative with your computer.

If you know your way around desktop publishing software (something more impressive than Word, please), you can break the mold and give her something you designed yourself. Especially if she already knows the way these straight-off-the-press books look. No need to go generic for Valentine's Day!

Image is Everything

But maybe pure photography alone is not for you. Are you good with Photoshop or similar image-editing software? You can make a plain old picture into something new! Make a head shot of your wife into a faux 'Monroe' in the style of Warhol, or feature your boyfriend in a poster in the style of his favorite genre of movie. If you want to make it really personal, get yourself in on the act. Your imagination and technical skill is the limit; you can own the world's only copy of a poster-sized picture of you and your favorite guy riding a unicorn into Fenway Park.

Not a Photoshop type? If Illustrator is your thing, make a vector art design. Capture your love in curves and shades. They look unique and it's guaranteed to make everyone ask where your lucky someone got such a neat thing.

It's easy to get these works of art printed up; for example, Cafepress will do you a 16x20" or 23x35" poster for less than the cost of a fancy dinner. Swing by your local crafts shop for a frame, and presto. (Alternately, maybe you'd rather have your masterpiece featured on a shirt, calendar or undergarment. Your choice, really.)

Weave a Web

If you're in a long-term relationship with a true sentimentalist, you could make a Web site as a tribute to your bond; fill it with sappy poetry, pictures of the two of you on vacation together, et cetera. Not a one-size-fits-all solution for every couple, but an unusual crafts suggestion nonetheless.

The Inevitable Mix CD

... doesn't count. This used to be something only the hardcore technophile could pull off, but the nineties are over and everyone's got iTunes. This is not to say you can't do this, but don't make it the sole gift. Crafts projects are not easy ways out for cheapskates. (Still, if you do this, use some of your skills and make a nice cover. The computer enthusiast knows how to list her boyfriend's favorite Primus tracks without just scribbling on an insert.)

If All Else Fails

Suck it up and make her a nice picture frame or something-using directions from the Internet so you can pretend the computer helped. Hey, sometimes computers can't solve everything. Just remember, it's the effort that counts in relationships-and crafts-and especially where the two collide.