Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Do you know what you are going to give those special people in your life? Yeah, me neither. When doing projects around my home, I really like to use what I already have as much as possible. So I thought it would be fun to explore some ideas for Valentines that were using items you may already have laying around and/or are homemade. Nothing says “I love you” more that going the extra mile to put a personal touch on a gift.
Whether you use wire and yarn to spell it out for them, or an old light bulb and a scrap piece of wood, get your craft on to make a one of a kind gift that can be displayed. I love this idea because not only is it a gift, but you can use it year after year as Valentine’s Day decor. Every time you look at it, you can remember when it was made and received.
Instead of purchasing cut flowers, consider making some out of scraps of paper you already have on hand. You could even get your kids involved in making them. They could also be gifts for your child’s teacher at school. Or you could give a potted plant that will last far beyond February 14th. Decorate a pot for it or make a small card on a stick and place it in the dirt.
This is a favorite gift at our house. Who doesn’t love homemade yummy food? Red velvet waffles? YUM! My boys would love this for a special breakfast. I picked the cookies shown here because I have actually done this. Only instead of our names, I baked cookies that spelled out a phrase. I actually think everyone should have alphabet cookie cutters, especially if you have kids. They come in handy for all sorts of projects and learning activities. We also have a tradition where on Valentine’s Day evening, we eat a dinner that is all red and pink foods. Sometimes it is pretty eclectic, but the kids have fun with it.
This may not be something that everyone feels they have the skill set to do, but I think most of us could figure out a way to create a custom piece of jewelry for our significant other. It could be something as simple as stringing some beads all the way to fusing recycled glass.
Do you need ideas for something the kids could give their friends? Or maybe just what you could give your kids? I made these crayons years ago and they were a big hit, and I have made them a couple of times since. Ours were just round but I love the idea of using a heart mold instead. Paint swatches are free at home improvement stores. I love that these are not only valentine cards, but can also double as a bookmark. Chances are it won’t just get thrown away like most cards. Plus the hearts that you punch out could be used as confetti to decorate your dinner table or mantel.
As a sentimental person, I have to say this is one of my favorite options. I have a tendency to keep little mementos from date nights and vacations. I also have an affinity for mason jars since I bottle things from my garden. I adore this idea to make a memory jar. I also love this log picture holder. I think it would be cute to make several and have them all lined up on a shelf or mantel. I have a tree that fell due to a horrible wind storm and I have been trying to use pieces of it for as many projects as I can so it is put to good use. I think I may make some of these!
I challenge you to think outside of the box this year and get creative with your gifts. The environment, your wallet, and your loved ones will thank you!
