Inexpensive Valentine Craft Ideas

As much as we all complain that we don't need a special day to say we love or are loved, we all love to receive even a small token of love and appreciation on Valentine's Day. Here are some quick, easy and inexpensive ideas for crafts you can make for that special someone (or even for a classroom of children!!).

A handmade card. Now this can be a quick and simple project or as intricate and detailed as you'd like. Some ideas include:

1. Taking pictures from old magazines and gluing them on folded paper to make a card.
2. A computer generated card is wonderful - after all you have to put your time and energy into it!
3. Writing down your feelings for someone and making that into a card.
4. Put your elementary art skills to work and make hearts with lace etc.
5. If you like to be a bit more artistic and crafty - try rubber stamping or other paper crafts!
6. Absolutely anything you can create can be considered a beautiful handmade card!

If you want a little more than a card, might I suggest you haunt out some of your local dollar stores (or Target's dollar spot!). From there I've found some of the following:

1. Adorable mini metal mailboxes! I found mine at Target but I've also seen them in Oriental Trading's catalog and I'm sure they can be found other places. They come in red and white and I'm using mine as Valentine's gifts for my daughter's pre-school class. They can be decorated with paper, paint or left plain and can be filled with candies, small toys, erasers, mini cards - you name it!
2. Small handled pails. These come in various colors and can again be decorated using paint, paper, stickers or anything that you can adhere to the tin. You can also tie small pieces of ribbon along the handle for a cute look. Then again you can fill the pail with anything your heart desires.
3. Unfinished wood boxes. I've found these in many sizes and shapes and these are really adaptable. You can paint, varnish, rubber stamp, decoupage or sticker them! They make great gifts by themselves or filled with any kind of reasure.
4. Vases. There is so much that can be done with vases! You can decorate it simply with just ribbon, or you can step up your crafting ability with rubber stamping or glass etching (or a combination of the two!). Simply put in a few real or silk flowers and viola! A beautiful gift for much less cost!

If you wander away from the $1 section you can find many other ideas.

1. There are some wonderful and cute foam craft kits. These are easy to follow and result in adorable projects.
2. Get into the scrapbook rage! A wonderful gift would be a small (or large if you are ambitious) scrapbook. The wonder of this is that you can completely make it your own. Your topic can range from a specific event or moment with that special someone, to a review of all of your times together. It can be as easy or complicated as you'd like.
3. Hunt around your local craft store and see what strikes your fancy. Is there something you've always wanted to try? Beading, cross stitching, knitting? Give it a try!

Push your fears and trepidations aside. Don't worry about the gift looking perfect, if the person receiving it loves you then it will automatically be perfect. A handmade gift is truly special, it is a gift that encompasses who you are and your feelings for the recipient. It is a gift that surpasses any other, it is a part of yourself.


By Heather Ribellino