YourCover Magazine Covers

After working throughout the day, coming home to a dirty house, and then having to make dinner, you remember it's your brother's birthday coming up and you haven't gotten him anything.

Shoot, another "I don't wanna" on your forever growing to-do list. What do you do? Well, if you're like me, struggling to make rent, and have a spoiled brother that has everything (literally) then the best birthday gift ideas are ones that come from the heart.

You really can't go wrong with a personalized birthday gift, one that says, "You're the greatest little bro ever!" or "Thanks for not telling mom I over-watered her flowers" or "Bro and Sis Team up for the best karaoke duet!!"    

I mean let's face it, getting birthday gifts for guys can be a challenge, and no one needs a challenge when they're already EXTREMELY BUSY. If you want to get a gift that really makes a statement, get personal and make a magazine cover with YOUR picture and YOUR headlines. It's so fun and easy and it will mean more than any other gift.

The best thing about a gift like this? You don't need to drive all over town to find the store, wait in line, or worry about exchanges. Everyone loves getting a gift with a personal touch. Even big tough guys like my little brother...

I tried something new last week, something I wasn't sure I was going to like, but it was actually a lot of fun!! FISHING... it was a little boring at first, but as soon as we caught our first fish, it was such a rush. 

That made me think of all of our customers who have created a custom magazine cover with the "star" person and their big catch!

I never understood why people would take such pride in their catches, but after a long day of fishing and only catching little bait fish, I got the point right away.

If you or someone you know likes to fish, you probably have a great picture of them holding their great catch.

Fake magazine covers would make the perfect gift for that fisherman in your life whether it be a birthday, anniversary, or a gag gift! It's fun, it's inexpensive, and it's personal! And...you really can't beat an instant gift that delivers instant smiles...

Hello to all of our readers out there! Kristina and I are starting a video blog! This is the first of many videos that we'll be creating to keep you up-to-date and entertained! 

Come get to know us a little bit so you know who you're talking to when you call YourCover for help!  



Remember: YourCover.com is a great place for a unique personalized gift and we're fun too! So don't be shy, if you have any cool video ideas, let us know. We love making our customers and fans happy! Stay tuned for more YCTV!

Finally, the hot weather is here! I don't know about you, but I'm such a beach bum. I love the hot sand between my toes and I can't wait to start working on my tan!

But the sun and sand isn't for everyone. I'm sure most of you enjoy relaxing indoors with the cool breeze from the air conditioner, sipping on iced teas and lemonades.

If you find yourself sitting at home one of these days, here's a great way to do something productive, while maintaining a seemingly unproductive day... 

Is there an event coming up? Someone's birthday that you're going to celebrate, an anniversary, or just a party for no reason? Let YourCover help you make it super memorable! You can make a custom magazine cover for your event as a gift, invitation, or party keepsake. This unique personalized gift is easy to make, inexpensive, and guaranteed to please. Did I mention it's an instant gift too...for all you last minute shoppers out there...

Now is the perfect time to sit back, relax, and do something fun and creative. Who knows what you'll think of! Remember, life is a beach so let the good times roll...onto the cover of a magazine cover...

Have you've heard about P. Diddy getting his sixteen year old son a brand new silver Maybach (valued at $360,000)? Some people are criticizing this extravagant gift for a sixteen year old, but I think P. Diddy is right when he defends himself saying he doesn't have to answer to anyone about how to raise his kids, after all, we don't know how he raises his kids anyway.  

My mom always said that one of the joys in her life was that she works so hard so that she can provide for my brother and me. Okay so a car is out of the question, but I'm sure if she had the income like P. Diddy, that Maybach would be in my driveway too... or maybe a baby pink Corvette...

Let's stop worrying about all of the things we don't have in life and start cherishing all the great things we do have. For all those who don't have Diddy's cash flow (and that's most of us) don't worry, we can still party like rock stars! A photo magazine cover is the perfect sweet 16 gift for a guy and a girl.

Let them know how much you love them and how much they mean to you. Trust me, their friends will get a kick out of it and they'll be jealous that they're not starring on the front of their own custom magazine cover. 

Anniversaries are so important because they mark another year of being truly committed to the person you love. The start/end of a year is a time to reflect on the great memories of the past and also create goals and discuss hopes for the future. 

For this June, our Cover Of The Month was made by Marcia A. who comes to us from Washington. It's a great example of how wonderful personalized anniversary gifts are.  
Congratulations to Marcia and Akil for another great year of marriage. We here at YourCover wish you and your family the best and we hope to see you soon!

If you're having a hard time trying to figure out what to get for your significant other for a personalized anniversary gift, try making a custom magazine cover. It's easy, inexpensive, and means so much more than cards or flowers.

And you can be our Cover Of The Month Winner too! Make a great cover and let us know you want to enter the cover the month contest for a chance to win a free magazine cover print and beautiful wood frame!

Your Face, Your Words, YourCover.  Get started today! 

According to Askmen.com here are the TOP TEN gifts for Father's Day:

10. Grill Tools
9. Alcohol
8. Fishing Gear
7. A set of Golf Clubs
6. Leather Wallet
5. Wine
4. Driving Gloves
3. Meat
2. Sports Tickets
1. Landscaping Services

Just looking at most of those gifts make my wallet hurt and they all seem over-done. If you're looking for an inexpensive gift that will make your dad happier than any of these gifts could, you should consider creating a custom magazine cover starring your dad on the front cover!

Father's Day is already this Sunday and with a downloadable version, this unique personalized gift is not only a perfect gift, but an instant gift. 

When women hit a certain age, they become overly concerned with how they look. Do you see these wrinkles? Is that a grey hair? What happened to my butt? And with all of these products that promote stopping or slowing down the aging process, women (and even men) are spending so much time and money on trying to look younger.

I don't know if I'll ever hear my mom stop complaining about how much she's aged in the past few years and I'll probably be doing the same thing when I get to be her age (which isn't very old), but I think she's absolutely gorgeous and looks great for her age! And I'm not just saying that because she's my mom...

My mom takes great care of herself and I want her to feel as young and glamorous as I think she is. Here are some tips I've learned from my mother on how to look your youngest without spending a fortune on plastic surgery and cosmetics.

1) Exercise is so important! Keep that body in shape by going for a nice walk! My mom loves to walk our dog everyday. It keeps both of them in shape.

2) Be sure to be extra gentle when you cleanse and moisturize your face. Being rough with the skin your face causes unseen damage that can surface as you age. 

3) Stay out of the sun! I know this is hard because who doesn't like a nice tan?! My mom says sun damage is the worst and causes wrinkles. She always uses sunscreen and wears a hat to protect her face from sun damage.

4) Stay active and participate in fun activities. Laughing, having fun, and surrounding yourself with positivity really does wonders for your mind, body, and spirit.

5) And most importantly, tell that special woman in your life, whether it be your mom, grandma, aunt, or wife that she is beautiful everyday that you can. It's hard dealing with getting older so make them feel good! They deserve it.

If telling them isn't enough, do what I did and try making her a unique personalized gift.  A YourCover magazine cover is perfect for expressing how beautiful she is by using your favorite pictures of her and personalizing your own headlines! 

It was so easy to make and I had a lot of fun choosing family pictures and remembering all the fun we've had together. I know my photo magazine cover will make her really happy and that's the most important thing. 

This makes for a great gift for any and every occasion, even for a "just thinking of you" gift. For more unique photo gift ideas, check out www.yourcover.com

My family is super important to me. We're all really close because we grew up together. I was raised by my parents of course, but also my grandparents and my aunts and uncles. My cousins became more like siblings and to this day, we're all inseparable. Unfortunately it's also getting harder to spend time together since we've all grown and grown to be extremely busy! 

When we finally do get that chance to all get together, it's one of my most favorite times. Catching up, hanging out, and simply laughing together. You never really know how much your family means to you until you don't have them there with you 24/7.

My family gets together a few times a year. We don't really call it a family reunion, but in a sense, that's exactly what it is. 

Don't you think that YourCover's unique photo gifts are the perfect way to capture all the great moments of a family reunion?

It would be such a great parting gift for grandparents and family members of all ages. It's great for putting together all the highlights of the reunion such as the family softball game, hanging out with grandma and grandpa, and of course the huge family picture!

Q:  What's better than an instant gift that delivers instant smiles? 

A:  An instant gift that delivers instant smiles and is inexpensive and hassle free!

Someone you love is about to turn 15! It's such a wonderful age, especially for a girl who's about to celebrate her very special Quinceanera. So... what do you get the girl who has everything? A YourCover custom magazine cover is a great Quinceanera gift to give and receive because it's really that personal touch that can make an event unforgettable.

There's no better way to make your special girl the center of attention than making her a Quinceanera magazine cover for everyone to enjoy.

It's such a unique gift idea because it allows you to get creative! Not only with your own design, but also with the different uses.

For example, we had one customer tell us that she was making a poster print for her daughter's party so that she could have everyone sign it. Another customer made several copies and included one in each gift bag for her guests. Other ideas include using it as an invite, thank you card, or table center pieces.

This amazing personalized birthday gift is inexpensive and is sure to be a crowd pleaser at any party or occasion. Celebrating a Quinceanera only happens once in a girl's life so make it extra special by showing her that she's a star in your eyes.  Start your unique Quinceanera gift today and she'll cherish it forever!

Advertising and marketing on a budget can be difficult, especially for small and local businesses/events. What's going to make you stand out? A great, inexpensive, and effective way to advertise your business, event, or product is a YourCover custom magazine cover.

For example, I really love to garden and I also think that it's really important to think locally. I'm always trying to help local businesses when I can. I made up an event flier to demonstrate how our unique magazine cover templates can really make quite the impression the next time you need inexpensive advertisement.

Creating the magazine cover was also very easy to do. You don't need to hire an artist to make a YourCover magazine cover look fantastic. This DO-IT-YOURSELF project will save you time and money.  These days, everyone can use a little more saving!

All you have to do is upload a picture and customize your headlines to your specific needs. YourCover.com also has an option to create a back cover, which is perfect for those who need more space to add pictures or text. I made up a sample back cover and used the space to add great pictures and more information. 

You certainly don't have to use the back cover if you don't want to, but here are a list of great uses for the back cover:

1. ADDITIONAL PICTURES
2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION
3. Co-Advertising (Split Costs)
4. Coupons/Giveaways/Gift Certificates

A YourCover magazine cover is really a creative way to advertise and it's something your competitors will surely wish they thought of first.  If you find that you are someone that needs to advertise on a shoestring, try creating a custom magazine cover. The possibilities are limitless.



  

Many people may already know that the traditional anniversary gift for the first year is paper. Paper! Paper is used for so many different things that it can make getting a gift for the first anniversary quite challenging.  

A great way to give paper as a gift is a custom magazine cover.  They say a picture says a thousand words, but actual words don't hurt either. At YourCover, you can create personalized anniversary gifts that are so unique, anyone would love it. 

Our system is easy to use, the hardest part is deciding which picture you love the most to showcase on a custom magazine cover! After you load your photo, add some personal headlines to make the magazine cover your own.  

Great things that people have put on their anniversary magazine covers have been things like lyrics to their first dance, mentioning their first date, beautiful poetry, or funny stories!  


You'll never realize how important "firsts" are until they are long gone. Make your first year anniversary unforgettable, just like the day you said "I do".   

For most men, turning the big 5-0 is kind of a big deal. By now you probably have an established career, a home, and probably a family.

It's also around this time that you're hitting the gym hard, working off that gut that started developing once your metabolism gave up on you.  (Those beers didn't help either.)  You might even catch yourself envying the twenty-something-year-old men around you with their six-pack abs and full head of hair.  

But then you say to yourself, "Hey, being 50 isn't so bad.  At least I can do what I want without telling mom and in about five years, my senior discount will kick in."  

We've all heard of the mid-life crisis and some have suffered the consequences of said affliction, but if you ask me, turning 50 should be a great moment in someone's life.  I mean really, did you know that in over 10 countries the average life expectancy for men is under the age of 50 ? 

Just in the past few days here at YourCover, we've received some of our best covers yet (to me at least)!  They weren't the best because they were identical to a real magazine.. They were the best because the person who made them really took the time to get personal about his friends who were all turning 50! They were so funny and fantastic AND I even felt like I got to know his friends (just from his headlines). I loved the covers so much, I can't even imagine how his friends are going to react to them.  

It's hard to think of ideas for 50th birthday gift and birthday gifts for guys in general are tough. A YourCover photo magazine cover is the perfect way to "remember the good ol' times" of youth, comment on the things that haven't changed, and mention the great successes. They are just as fun to make as they are to receive so if you have to celebrate someone's 50th birthday, go be creative and dig up those memories and make that person laugh about his age. Laughing makes you younger (I think...)

Father's day is fast approaching.  What are you getting for your dad this year? Another card?

According to www.chiff.com, "Nearly 95 million Father’s Day cards were given last year in the United States, making Father’s Day the fourth-largest card-sending occasion."

Can you believe that?! 95 million cards! Also, why are neckties always associated with Father's Day? I remember making necktie arts and crafts in school whenever Father's Day was coming.  Don't you think dad has enough cards and ties by now? 

This year, make something really special for dad. A custom magazine cover is perfect. You can say so much more than you can with a plain old card you pick up at the grocery store. My dad is kind of a food snob, loves nice wine and cigars, and absolutely loves golf. Me, a poor "just out of college graduate with no money" can't really afford to take him out to a really nice dinner or out for a round of golf.  

This cool custom magazine cover is great because I can still say Happy Father's Day and touch on his favorite things, mention some of his silly habits, and get really personal all without breaking the bank.  

Moreover, the chiff.com article continued to say that, "Sons and daughters represent 50 percent of the Father's Day card purchases whereas nearly 20 percent of Father’s Day cards are purchased by wives for their husbands. That leaves 30 percent of the cards which go to grandfathers, sons, brothers, uncles and someone special." 

This unique personalized gift is perfect for everyone.  Your dad is not the only Father! You can make one for a brother, grandfather, an uncle...whoever! Replace boring cards with a gift from YourCover.com where gifts come from the heart!  

My brother just graduated this past weekend.  CONGRATS BRO!  It's so nice and exciting to have him home again!  

This is the season for graduates and college students to come home!  I'm sure many of you have great pictures of the graduates in your family!  I know my mom and aunt couldn't put the camera down.  Instead of just sharing these photos on Facebook, use those photos to make a a truly unique personalized gift.  

Custom gift ideas like a YourCover photo magazine cover are a great way to make a graduation celebration even more special!  You can add little details about your graduate such as his/her studying tips,  his/her weird eating habits (the ones you only develop being at school), his/her plans for the future... these great little tidbits are what make a YourCover magazine cover so wonderful.  It's so much more than just a photograph and with our downloadable option, this makes for a great instant gift.  Design it, print it - all from your own computer desk in just a manner of minutes.

A Graduation, whether from kindergarten, high school, college or grad school, is a momentous occasion. Making and giving a YourCover custom magazine cover would be the icing on the cake.   

Making a YourCover magazine cover is easy and fun to do, but here are some of my personal tips to help you along the way...
1) A Picture Says A Thousand Words

The most important part of your custom magazine cover is starting with a great picture.  What does it mean to have a great picture?  Photo quality is key!  We recommend an image with a pixel dimension of 1024x1280.  The higher the resolution the better!  Keep in mind that most photo-sharing sites such as facebook or snapfish do not provide images with a high enough resolution. 

You also don't want your photo to be too busy.  In fact, if you are making this for someone special, make them the center of attention by choosing a photo where you can see them clearly. 

2) Don't be afraid to get personal!  

The best magazine cover orders we've received have been the ones that have headlines all about the person on the cover!  Yes, we do have some great default headlines AND a fantastic headline library, but that doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't come up with your own headlines!  Talk about something funny that happened, mention an inside joke, or gush over how much you love that person!  You may think it's embarrassing, but the more personal you are, the more memorable the gift!

3) Less is MORE

Choosing fonts can be tricky because we have so many great fonts to choose from, it's hard to figure out which one looks the best! My personal tip for making your magazine cover look more like a real magazine cover is to pick one or two fonts.  When it comes to how many different fonts you use, less is more!  The same goes for the color of the font - keep it to one or two colors.  

4) Think Outside The BOX

Literally.  You aren't completely confined by the text boxes we provide on our custom magazine covers.  In fact, you can use your space bar and "enter" key to manipulate the position of the text so that it can move further down the page to improve spacing or to remove the text from on to someone's face. 

5) Finding Inspiration

I almost always have actual magazines around me for inspiration.  If there is a magazine out there and you want your YourCover to look like it, use it as your inspiration. and by using our font choices and font colors you can emulate that particular magazine's title and style.  Another place I find inspiration is the YourCover gallery where you will find some fantastic magazine covers that have been made by our customers.  I find that having something to look at while I'm creating makes it easier for me to decide what I want and what I don't want on my covers.  

My little sister is going into fifth grade this coming fall and believe it or not, her school is requiring her to have a laptop. It's crazy to think how quickly technology is becoming a necessity in everyone's lives. Exposure at such a young age can be bad in some ways (too much time inside instead of outside playing), but I think it is a good thing in many ways too.  

Children are learning how to problem-solve, research, and be creative in all different ways, thanks to technology.  The computer is just one way they are learning, but it's also making them tech savvy in a way that will prepare them for using very sophisticated technologies in the future.  I see how my mom still struggles with her cell phone and Blackberry and then I look at my 10 year old sister who's playing games on her Nintendo DSi and iPod Touch.  

For this year's Father's Day, I'm going to be working with her on a Father's Day magazine cover with a golf theme. My dad loves golf and my sister is old enough now and tech-knowledgeable enough to work on this gift with me, even though we're in different states.

A YourCover magazine cover is a great gift for anyone.  They make awesome birthday gifts for guys, unique gifts for mom, a gift for coach or teacher, and pretty much any occasion you can think of! They're so easy to make, even your kids can do it!  Unique photo gift ideas are a fun family project to work on and it doesn't take too much time!  

Just imagine how excited your kids will be when they get to take part in making a gift for mom or dad, or grandma and grandpa, or even a great teacher or coach! Being a part of making it will definitely make gift giving quite the experience for them.  AND you'll get to spend some great quality time with them too!

At YourCover, we believe that the best gift ideas are the ones that come from the heart. Share the experience! Make a photo magazine cover today!

I don't know about you, but my to-do list just seems to be getting longer and longer!  Among the normal things like laundry and vacuuming; I've also been meaning to do a late spring cleaning, set-up my vegetable garden, go for a hike, read a good book, etc. There's just so much to do and so little time.  

On top of all of that, there are several birthdays and occasions coming up that I need to start working on!  I'm the type of person who absolutely loves gift giving, even more than receiving them! Unique photo gift ideas are the best and easiest ways to show someone how much you care. The great thing about a YourCover magazine cover is that we provide you with a downloadable option, making it an instant gift!  An instant gift is perfect for someone like me who has a lot on their plate, but still likes to make occasions very special.  

If you're constantly on the go and you have a million things you need to get done, make a YourCover magazine cover for your next gift.  You can do it anywhere, as long as you have a computer to use and download it in a instant!

This past year has been really hectic for me.  Everything is changing so fast.  Even the day to day weather is unpredictable!  The transition from being in school to being in the "real world" has been, to say the least, interesting...

Since I've been back from school, I've been working harder on improving myself, trying to stay positive and taking better care of myself and the people around me.   

I'm really into music.  For me, music is a great way to externalize my feelings.  There's nothing like screaming All American Reject lyrics when you're ticked off or chilling out to Bob Dylan while you're getting ready for work in the morning.  My favorite is making summer playlists of really happy upbeat songs.  

One song that I love is "You're My Best Friend" by Queen.  This song just makes me so happy and whenever I hear it, I think of my best friend.  He radiates an incredible positive energy and never fails to be optimistic.  He's the type of person that makes you wants to be a better person.  I think good friends are really important and letting them know how special they are is equally as important.  My friends are my pillars of strength and I would be nothing without them.
 

I don't really need an occasion to tell my friends how awesome they are because they are awesome ALL the time.  I may be a bit biased, but I really think that making a special gift for a friend is the perfect way to express how much they mean to you and the perfect gift for doing so is a personalized magazine cover.  With so many different magazine cover templates to choose from, it's easy to make one for any one of your friends.  

Personalized photo gift ideas like a YourCover custom magazine cover gives you an opportunity to make your friend feel like they are a star in your eyes.  Inside jokes, your favorite song lyrics, funny quirks, anything your best friend does that you absolutely love, can be the basis for a headline on the custom magazine cover!  More importantly, just spread the love!  If you have a best friend that makes you feel good and makes you happy, make them happy too and let them know how much you appreciate them!

"A friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself." - Jim Morrison

Let loose and have fun this Cinco De Mayo!

What is Cinco De Mayo?  Literally it means May 5th in Spanish.  

According to vivacincodemayo.org Cinco De Mayo is a Mexican holiday celebrating the day (May 5th) that Mexican soldiers defeated the French army, who were there to collect Mexican debts. Because the war took place in Puebla, Mexico, the significance of this holiday seems somewhat regional; however it has become a holiday that many Mexicans and Americans enjoy celebrating!

I once heard that Cinco De Mayo is like a Mexican St. Patty's day because everybody just drinks and has a good time!  Here at YourCover we believe that there is nothing wrong with having fun and everyday should be a celebration.

Is it someone's birthday?  It would be really cool to be born on Cinco De Mayo and a YourCover custom magazine cover is the perfect unique personalized gift for any one.  By using your own picture and personalizing your own headlines, YourCover makes it easy and fun to create a fake magazine cover for friends and family.  

So while you're sitting back with a nice cold Corona, you can also be productive and make someone happy with an awesome gift from YourCover.