14 Free Cupids for Pixel or Print

While visiting the office.microsoft.com templates page the other day, noticing their current selection of free Valentine templates, I re-discovered this funny little Valentine that I created while contracting there, and wanted to say a few words about this versatile Valenttine's Day Countdown Calendar which was created as something to be enjoyed in either printed format or in PowerPoint.

The opening screen (or front of the card) of this Valentine features 14 numbered doors with cupids delivering love letters through the mail. What the doors reveal is totally up to you. While the download file has already been preset with images and text - you can easily change these. (The first image below shows the doors - and the second image shows a couple of doors still closed but others revealing images and text).

I haven't had a chance to explore this myself, but I think it would be fabulous to do a version on actual paper. Basically, you would print screen the scene with closed doors, and then print screen the scene with all items revealed. On just the front image, cut in such a way that the doors would swing open. And again, you can customize the back image to contain your own text, images, photographs, etc. Glue the two pieces together around the frame of the doors - and you've got a cool interactive Valentine! (The image below is a mock-up of how this might appear, doors ajar):

If you want to do use this digitally on PowerPoint, this help article (How to create a personalized Advent calendar), while it actually discusses a similar type of PowerPoint template, (an Animated Advent Calendar I had created for Christmas), the basics hold true for updating this Valentine.

Happy Valentine's Day 2012...!!!

Free Spooky Stuff via Microsoft Office Online

This past weekend was all about touching up the www.bindlegrim.com website... decorating the framework with spooky Halloween imagery from "The Pumpkin Dream" illustrations:

And... installing a new section for FREE! Halloween and Christmas templates that can be used with Word or Powerpoint. (These are templates I worked on during my contract employment with Microsoft Office Online)... and, if I do say so myself, include really fun countdown calendars, coloring books, and stationery sets that are now part of their free download template library. I thought it was worth including these links on the website to direct you there.

NOTE - I should state right off that in this case the art for the templates below was sourced from the Microsoft template library. They have a ton of holiday oriented clip art. (Sadly I can't remember the name of the art contributor - but she has some of my favorite collections) -- see MS Clip Art - Style 1450 in the Office Online Art Library.

Basically, I downloaded the vector art, broke them down in the respective program (that's right - Word can manipulate some vector images now!), re-arranged them, colored them, etc., and turned them into the brand new templates you see below. Microsoft encourages you to do the same, (as well as join and share your creations with their online template community). So here were my contributions to the template library:

Halloween Stationery Set (Nine Items) - Word

Eight Page Halloween Coloring Book - Word

Animated Halloween Countdown Calendar - PowerPoint

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Sumer Santa Stationery Set (Nine Items) - Word

Eight Page Christmas Coloring Book - Word

Animated Advent Calendar - Powerpoint

As with all templates - these are offered to use as is - or better yet - customize with your own images and content before printing and/or sharing.