Appliance manufacturer Electrolux is heating things up this Valentine’s Day - in a virtual oven that is. The brand is using their Facebook application to create a little buzz and do some good in return.

The Electrolux Cupcake Maker is a simple way for Facebook users to digitally bake their own cupcakes and post them to their profile or send to friends. As a bonus, Electrolux will donate $1 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund for each cupcake sent - up to a total of $30,000 the $500,000 the company has pledged towards the charity.

Cupcakes couldn’t be easier to make and come with a few cute touches. Just select your frosting type, tin color, topping, candle options, and add a custom message. The end result is a special treat that will not only support a good cause but might serve as a virtual alternative to Valentine’s Day cards.

Of course, the genius and clever brand-appropriate maneuver requires Facebook users to add the application before creating their cupcakes, which is sure to be a huge win for the company if thousands of Facebook users flock to add their app and send cupcakes to friends.

We love the idea, but we’re even crazier about the donations to charity, so go make and share cupcakes!

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Swedish appliance maker Electrolux AB Monday said it will lay off more than 3,000 staff globally because of a slump in the market.

Electrolux spokesman Anders Edholm said the layoffs represent around 5 percent of the company's total work force of 57,000.

Edholm said demand in both Europe and North America has been declining for some time and fell sharply in the second half of November and in December.

As a result, Electrolux won't reach its previous forecast of an operating profit for the year of between 3.3 billion kronor and 3.9 billion kronor ($411 million-$486 million).

It said operating profit had reached 2.7 billion kronor ($337 million) by the end of November and could be negative in December.

The layoffs will come in the fourth quarter 2008 and in 2009.

Edholm declined to specify how many people would leave specific plants. The company said it expects to save 1.1 billion kronor ($137 million) a year from 2010 because of the measures.

Electrolux said it will also continue its previously announced plans to move production to low-cost countries, which will reduce the number of employees further.