Every Feb. 14, people take the time out of their busy schedules to stop and smell the roses; to make the people they love feel special. Some couples even take the day off work on Valentine's Day and plan a special day of fun with their sweetheart.

Others celebrate with a quiet dinner alone together and a gift exchange. Among the most popular gifts given on Valentine's Day: cards, chocolates, flowers, jewelry and lingerie.

This year, dare to be different and get your sweetheart something they'll cherish, but never expect - a memory brought to life in a big way.

"Pictures are among the most cherished presents you can give or receive. They bring back memories that bring a smile to a person's face.

"Imagine how big that smile will be if the picture comes in the form of a mural that takes up an entire wall rather than just a little eight-by-ten inch frame," said David Penn, general manager of Murals Your Way, a Minnesota company that specializes in custom wall murals.

Wall murals have been around for a long time. Businesses use them to decorate their conference rooms and lobbies; restaurants use them to bring their themes to life; and now they've become so widely accepted and affordable, people are using them to decorate their homes as well.

"We've had people send in photos of all kinds of things they want made into a wall mural - images of their kids, pets, flower gardens - but every year as we get closer to Valentine's Day, there seems to be a rush on images featuring scenery," said Penn. "People will want to get a mural made of a place they enjoyed visiting during their honeymoon or on a favorite vacation, and give it to the person they love." Penn said this time of year, his staff processes a lot of images taken by customers in Europe, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and other tropical locales.

Murals from the gallery cost $7.95 per square foot; custom murals run $8.95 per square foot. There are also 25 in-stock images in a set-size of 13 feet by 8 feet available for $129.95 apiece. The murals are printed on Type II, commercial-grade vinyl wall covering with a fabric backing. The ink used is fade resistant to five years outdoors and 20 years indoors. The paste needed to secure the mural to the wall is included.

For more information about the murals offered by Murals Your Way, or to place an order, log on to www.muralsyourway.com.

By ARA Content