I’ve run out of fingers to count the times that I’ve been bombarded with Valentine’s Day merch while walking into Walgreens or Marshall’s this past month. Even though January has felt a bit too long (an event that’s weirdly getting more prominent as each year goes by), it’s clear to see that February is upon us. By that I mean, Valentine’s Day season. Prepare yourselves for a plethora of stuffed teddy bears and flower bouquets and chocolates and cards and… you get the idea. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m kinda into it. Valentine’s day decorations are just so cute this year, what with all the pink and red… and yes, I also happen to have a valentine this year BUT that’s not the point! It’s just a cute time. Nonetheless, I’ve always thought about how gifts around this time are always a bit generic and predictable. That’s why I’ve taken it upon myself to look for more creative ways to express love during this holiday.
- Personalized Picture Portrait
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This idea takes the concept of gifting pictures of you and your SO to the next level. Rather than just placing a photograph into the picture frame, you could add pressed flowers and little love notes. It’s basically an opportunity to put to use any scrapbooking skills you have (even though you’re not technically decorating a page in a book, but you get the idea). This project will perfectly showcase some beautiful memories you have with your other half.
2. “Care Packages” or Personalized Gift Baskets
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Now, I know that gift baskets are a common gift for Valentine’s Day, BUT the exception here is that you get to build it on your own depending on what you know your partner likes. This idea is basically a spin on the trending “boo baskets” during Halloween last year. These usually consisted of filling a cute basket with goodies such as: candles, blankets, candy, snacks, flowers, socks, mugs, and any other little trinket they might like. For this occasion, you get to fill it with Valentine’s day themed gifts! (PS Marshall’s has amazing decorations for this occasion)
3. Personalized Flower Bouquet
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What differentiates a personalized flower bouquet from just a normal bouquet is the stuff you put into it, apart from flowers! With personalized bouquets, you might not even have to put flowers in to begin with. You could make them out of chocolate covered strawberries, for example. Whatever you decide to go with, you can even complement it with something else, like a letter, a gift card, or tickets to an event… whatever you please. Let your imagination run wild.
4. The Good ol’ Jar With Messages Inside
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An oldie, but a goodie. Everyone remembers when this type of gift was trending. Whether it be to fill up a jar with positive quotes or fun things to do while bored, it was just a fun gift to give. To make it more Valentine’s Day themed, this time you could add in cute date ideas, things you like about your partner, or even just memories you have of them. You could either use an array of colors to color code each paper, or just use the usual colors associated with Valentine’s, which are pink, white, and red.
5. Hand-Painted Mug
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Now this idea, this idea I love. If your partner is an avid coffee/tea drinker, or just loves to eat food in mugs, don’t just buy them any mug, decorate it yourself! This project requires a mug with no design (which you could get at a store that sells “home stuff”), acrylic paint, brushes, and a bit of artistic skill. Still, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Remember that at the end of the day, what matters most is that you’re the one giving the present.
6. DIY Valentine’s Day Cards
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Last but not least, you can make your own Valentine’s Day card. There are a bunch of videos out there using different methods to make your cards all the more special, what with adding drawings of cartoon characters or origami hearts. This is a chance to use your creativity and challenge yourself a bit. You might just find out you love arts and crafts.
So, what we can all learn from this article is that in order to give a significant other a nice gift, one does not necessarily have to spend a ton of money or hit the stores. Sometimes, hand-made gifts one can make with stuff at home, are far more special than expected. So, I urge you to go on and get creative for your special person, they’ll really appreciate it.