Six DIY Gifts to Say, ‘I Love You’

on February 6, 2013
Courtesy of Do Small Things with Love

Great Hearts

Celebrate your loved ones this Valentine’s Day by giving your sweetheart (or sweethearts) something thoughtful and creative. The proliferation of craft and mommy blogs and the popular online photo-sharing site Pinterest make do-it-yourself gifting easier than ever. We’ve enlisted six crafty bloggers to share their favorite gift ideas. This year, think outside the jewelry box and show a little DIY love.

Courtesy of ThriftCore

Valentine’s Basket

Put to good use that can of chalkboard paint you bought on a whim. Vanessa of the blog ThriftCore suggests upcycling a traditional, flat-lidded picnic basket into a creative Valentine’s Day activity box. Apply paint over the top surface of your basket in thin layers, allowing an hour or so to dry between coats. Allow the basket to dry overnight and then use your new chalkboard to declare your love, romantic sentiments, or witty information about the contents of the basket. Fill your basket with your valentine’s favorite treats and enjoy an afternoon outdoors together.

Courtesy of Six Sisters' Stuff

Witty Sentiments

Fill your picnic basket with sweet ideas from The Sisters of the blog Six Sisters' Stuff. Create witty homemade tags and attach to simple gifts. They suggest giving a bag of nutty treats to tell your sweetie how “nuts” you are about them, or using a fizzy beverage to tell them how they make your “heart bubble over.” Download and print the sisters’ original tags, or blank ones if you are feeling poetic.

Courtesy of Third Handmade Days

Suspenseful Celebration

For sweethearts of all ages a bundle of small-but-meaningful gifts is a thoughtful way to say, “I love you.” Keep your loved one guessing on Valentine’s Day by wrapping several small presents and writing a specific hour and minute to open each gift. Make this year exciting and suspenseful with this “On the Hour” gift idea from Thirty Handmade Days.

Courtesy of Scrapper Girl

Heart Garland

Shelley at Scrappergirl suggests making a garland of heart-shaped photo strips. Print 2-inch by 6-inch photo strips like those dispensed from old-fashioned photo booths (Many online and 1-hour photo shops offer this service), and cut strips of your favorite stationary or scrapbook cardstock of the same size. Make an ornament with a single heart or use coordinating ribbon and string the photo ornaments together for a garland. Visit the ScrapperGirl blog for a full tutorial!

Courtesy of Do Small Things with Love

Stitched with Love

Nancy at Do Small Things with Love offers projects for needleworkers of every skill level—from novice to advanced. Follow her “Love Birds” or “Valentine’s Hearts” tutorials for hand-stitched crafting that takes the homemade gift to a new level of adorable. A step-by-step tutorial for hand-stitched iPhone and iPod cases will keep your loved ones’ gadgets cute and cozy.

Courtesy of Money Savvy Michelle

Coupon Commotion

Satisfy sweethearts of all ages with a coupon book filled with inventive ideas from Michelle at Money Savvy Michelle. Offer the kids one night to stay up past bed time or one day without chores. For adults, offer to do a week’s worth of chores you know they hate or one free movie night of their choice without complaint. Download coupon designs from her blog or get creative on your own!